2011 Rally Mexico To Feature Underground Stage

[corax]

Swweeett . . . I really wish we had more rally coverage in this country

http://www.ridelust.com/2011-rally-mexico-to-feature-underground-stage/
http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/800px-Guanajuato_Subterra-500x333.jpg

It sounds like something out of a video game: a rally stage where the competition takes place deep underground, through the tunnels of a World Heritage Site. In 2011, the FIA World Rally Championship will make it a reality when they visit Guanajuato, Mexico. The 2011 Rally Mexico will kick off with a special stage run through Guanajuato’s extensive network of tunnels, created by silver mining that took place in the city from the 16th century through the early part of the 20th century. Over the years, some of the mine tunnels have been turned into neighborhoods, complete with residences, shops and museums.

Rally Mexico is the second event on the 2011 calendar, and will start with the underground stage on March 3, followed by a stage through the city’s narrow streets on the following day. Two “super special stages” will follow, held at the area’s Leon Race Circuit on Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5. The street stage will also be held on Friday and Saturday, running concurrent with the super special stages. If you always wanted an excuse to visit Mexico, this sounds like a good one to me.

[Crinale]

dude.. that would be so cool to watch!

[04 Rocko Taco]

straight out of a video game, I love it!!!!!

[slosurfer]

Rad! :thumbup:

[DHC6twinotter]

Awesome! Where can we watch the event?

[Obi..]

Awesome! Where can we watch the event?


Dan, from the chair right next to mine! :flipoff:

:D Thanks Keith, saw the hints on my FB page? :shake: .. Guess someone understands why we're heading down for our vacation aside from our property taxes. Not sure we'll be able to get a spot at the hotel yet, but likely we are going to try to get a spot spectating, as long as it doesn't involve my exerting my back. I'll try for pictures, but at this point the consulate isn't cooperating with my press-pass paperwork. Mostly b/c I am not able to work in any capacity since my injury they're trying to call b.s. on our trip. :chair:

Like we couldn't just take pictures as spectators anyhow, all i wanted was a better spot over the tunnel openings.

Also, Festival's that week, something you shouldn't miss! :)
*Note: Chapala is a 4 hour trip by bus from the race, so figure out your own travel stuff beforehand, don't rely on us.

[Obi..]

FWIW those tunnels are straight out of the colonial period, no way I'd want to ever do more than 30mph through there..
All you Subbi fans will wet your pants b/c Ken Block's already registered for it (although in a Ford now) along with one of the people (customer) from GST Motorsports.
http://www.305rifa.net/giovanni_bazan/guanajuato.jpg
http://images.travelpod.com/users/gringo-gaucho/baja_on_a_bike.1203191160.lascanoasaltas_053.jpg
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/918678.jpg

Here's Ken in his Ford last year..
Ken Block's WRC Mexico Test in the Monster World Rally Team Ford Focus RS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm0euMQwYoY#ws)

[some_odd_girl]

That would be AWESOME... and it's right over my birthday. Bummer I'm a broke college student...

[Obi..]

LOL..we've put over $300-ish just into our passports the last month for the 3 of us. Tickets are cheap through Volaris, round trip like $400-ish each. Somebody will fork over for that room soon enough. Too bad Keith n his lady are in Oregon, he could've been offered it if I'd known he was into this stuff sooner and had tickets for us in hand(and they'd be staying in CA for a bit).

Literally I got my ticket finally after my passport got pushed through two days ago.

Here everyone, enjoy..I plan on being as far away as possible from the crowds since I do not want to get shoved or pushed. Might even just watch from the top of a family friend's villa. I'd be having so much more fun intended if I wasn't still hurt. Still no leaks or word from Toyota Global if they are supporting, sponsoring, or contesting it..

..but since this is a Toyota forum, I'll give this video first spot..yes, that's an AWD Corolla!
Toyota Corolla WRC Action (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW-PLzbK5kg#ws)

Enjoy these too..
Leon Guanajuato Mexico Corona Rally. WRC 2010 Mexico HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmHvO6hr2YE#ws)
Ken wrecks it at 2:43..
WRC 2010 - Rally Mexico Highlights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSkfL4OSNUk#ws)

[DHC6twinotter]

That looks so awesome. I wish we had more of this stuff on our TVs.

Can spectators watch the race inside the tunnels? I'd hate to be in the tunnel when a car runs into a support pillar.

[Obi..]

That looks so awesome. I wish we had more of this stuff on our TVs.

Can spectators watch the race inside the tunnels? I'd hate to be in the tunnel when a car runs into a support pillar.


Not sure, never got down last year b/c of school.

[corax]

Too bad Keith n his lady are in Oregon, he could've been offered it if I'd known he was into this stuff sooner and had tickets for us in hand


Yep, though I will say there are several rallies nearby in OR and WA for me to get my feet a little wetter. Listings like this (http://www.specialstage.com/classifieds/showproduct.php/product/877/cat/13/date/1150732490) aren't uncommon and don't help much ;)

[Obi..]

C'mon man, pull out the mastercard and visa and come down with us. ;)

[Obi..]

Remember those "old shots I had somewhere from when I was at ADT.." conversation, give me a few to pull them from the discs we found with me driving, still haven't found the rollover one. :D

[EDIT]Raquel's laughing so hard right now making fun of me and you doing donuts up at Emigrant Lake that time..not too bad for a guy in an underpowered 3.0 auto 2nd-gen Runner. :angel: Pics in a second..[sorry about the O/T everyone but it works and makes sense to Keith and I]

[DHC6twinotter]

Listings like this (http://www.specialstage.com/classifieds/showproduct.php/product/877/cat/13/date/1150732490) aren't uncommon and don't help much ;)


My little bro bought an '88 All-Trac a few years ago for $350. It needed a LOT of work, and he's not at all mechanically inclined. He sold it in non-running condition for $850 a few months later, after putting in a new fuel tank, pump, and sending unit. Dude that bought it had it running within a couple days. It was an ugly car, but I wish he would have kept it. :(

[Obi..]

^That. Keith, lay off the booze, you can do much better. Wait, let work play itself out for a bit and then talk to me first b/c I have this Jedi sense thing going on right now w/ a couple things in the Toyota world over the next 2 years.

[DHC6twinotter]

This is a sport I could really get into. We need to start our own off-road motorsports TV channel. :D

[Obi..]

^LOL..why when most here have seen those two test ride videos I made up the street. I should have my camera and mount with me more often..again, the whole being hurt plays into this though b/c it hurts to drive just every day stuff..I'm not sure after watching Lance's re-build thread if any of us right now are going to fork out for more go-fast play-things. I know I backed way off from my plans with this economy. Start building your '90 up, I'll provide you the tech, feedback, parts list, and investment #'s needed. I'll sit and heal, watch from the sidelines for now like we'll be doing in three weeks. :flipoff:

*Nevermind being broken, I'm sort-of over trying to "Be Cool/Tough/Fast"..I got a kid now.
:tongueout: :tapedshut: I think Lance said similar or at least the rumor goes that way. :rofl:

[corax]

Wait, let work play itself out for a bit and then talk to me first b/c I have this Jedi sense thing going on right now w/ a couple things in the Toyota world over the next 2 years.


Meh, 2 year plan . . . this year I volunteer and talk to people. I'm mostly interested in having fun anyway (FWD to win, RWD for more smiles per miles).

FYI, Mazda pays contingency for winning with anything, past or present, from their product line - old RX7s are popular, but the front is made of tissue paper. Oddly enough, one of the cheapest, most popular and bullet proof beginner rides is the Swedish brick Volvo 240 (several engines to pick from and a popular axle swap is the Toy 8").
http://www.rallybrick.com/imgs/other_rallybricks/bill-blue-other-photographers/240_Rally.jpg

[Obi..]

LOL..another SCCA ride. You'd be surprised what a Volvo can take and how well you can make them handle. FWIW these days all anyone's running is imports. There are no domestics anymore worth looking at. I started out in an old and overly built AMC Eagle with not enough horsepower. The thing was that crude brown, woodgrain sides, boss called it the "Shitstain on a Fireroad". Seriously, the plate even read SH1TSTN. I'm still not sure how he got that past DMV.

[DHC6twinotter]

Start building your '90 up, I'll provide you the tech, feedback, parts list, and investment #'s needed. I'll sit and heal, watch from the sidelines for now like we'll be doing in three weeks. :flipoff:


Man, I wish I could start a rally build. Right now though, I'm trying to save up for a house and I'm going to also start putting money aside for retirement (social security may not exist by the time I retire).

I need to go to some of the races and learn a bunch too. :D

Those old Volvos are really cool cars. Back when I went to UNCC, there was a local Volvo car club with some sweet old Volvos. One dude had one of those 240s with a massive turbo on it. It sounds great!

[Crinale]

personally if i were to build a rally car (and i was complete with planning stages a few years ago, then when it came to looking for a car i kinda lost interest).. i would build a first gen Eagle Talon TSi (thats the AWD with the 4g63.. basically an Evo 1 with a different body). Lots of bolt on parts such as skid plates, roll-cages etc, and really cheap to find (i decided on the Talon cuz they were a lot easier to find around here in the AWD than the Eclipse).

A La:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/2068727663_2ce6abccca.jpg

edit: img code fail

[some_odd_girl]

Volvo FTW!

[Obi..]

More pics..

[Obi..]

Here ya go! How'd ya like to have to race on this stuff. Side streets are like this, only some of the main tracks have asphalt. :P
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5418013936_2fea333be3_b.jpg

[some_odd_girl]

Oh boy... wait, the brick laid stuff or the dirt with rocks across it?

[corax]

Just had to post this
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/8281956/

"Do you like my hat? It had the flattest brim I could find" :rofl:

[Obi..]

Just had to post this
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/8281956/

"Do you like my hat? It had the flattest brim I could find" :rofl:



Ahhh, that explains what the little twerps are doing in the cul-de-sac out here, practice runs!
tray sliding v2.1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ6mGSMVwMQ#)

[Obi..]

*FWIWI don't even want to remember the budget we had or how many things I broke. Coolest boss and company ever, I miss those days. I'm thinking back and don't feel so bad about what I've spent on our Runner now.

[some_odd_girl]

Ahhh, that explains what the little twerps are doing in the cul-de-sac out here, practice runs!


I need to learn to drift... I was out driving the other night and was scared to take corners too fast because I didn't want to end up in something I couldn't control :P Having to hit the brakes kind of messes with the adrenaline rush lol

[Crinale]

Oh boy... wait, the brick laid stuff or the dirt with rocks across it?

im gonna guess he meant they will be racing on a mix of both :P

and that video isnt drifting... its a front wheel drive Honda Civic with its rear wheels on trays (mcdonalds trays work very well :hillbill: ) and the e-brake pulled so they wont turn. it is amazing fun as long as you do it in a an abandoned parking lot or the like.. and stop as soon as the trays burn through

[some_odd_girl]

Huh... I didn't know you could do that. :thumbup: I suppose I should've realized it wasn't drifting but whatevs... I still need to learn to drift! Taking corners 20 mph over the posted recommended speed is fun but it scares me :P

[Crinale]

drifting your car would scare the crap outta me... haha. its wayy too long and heavy... as well as having way too soft a suspension

[some_odd_girl]

lol true...

[Obi..]

Smurf Blue '80 T-Birds will do mighty fine donuts though. :D

[Obi..]

Crap, if we bring back Chapala Hot Sauce it has to be boxed for int'l transport and checked as baggage and then is subject to customs.

Weak. I can understand having to check it in though, chili sauce in an eye would hurt, but customs over a box of hot sauce?

[corax]

this wasn't as long as I thought it would be . . . meh, still cool anyway

Jason Wong and Yujiro Otsuki in the SS1 Guanajuato street stage.
WRC Mexico 2011 - SS1 - Dodge Neon Roof Cam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ-WQJrVXNI#)

[Crinale]

Ya that wasnt very long of underground, but it was cool