2019 NER RallyCross Season

Ups and Downs. My main goal this season was to compete in every NER RallyCross in 2019 & Finish in the top 10 overall in ModAWD. And I did it. I learned a ton over this year and have gained back some of the wheel skill I haven't  used in a long while and it feels good. I'm now able to address areas that myself and the car can improve on & then move forward to 2020. 

For 2020 I'm focusing on a complete HillClimb Season and a Complete RallyCross Season. It looks like they overlap on one or two occasions this upcoming year, so I'll be trading one for one where necessary. It's going to be a juggle but I can do it. I'm also hoping for a nice Ice Season so I can at least compete in an ice event. If not I'm looking to meet up with some new friends and go play on some ice. 

2020 could also bring some track racing too. I was presented with an offer to race endurance races so that's definitely on the back burner.

And of course, I've recently become a #SubaruAmbassador. Which is great because unofficially I have been since 2003ish 👍😁. We plan to be at every Seacoast Cars and Coffee in 2020 that doesn't conflict with a race day as well as other various car shows and meets. Swing by for some swag. 

As always, follow our Social Media onslaught for fun times, family times, race times and everything else in between. And keep an eye out for some video action. I've been in the process of editing video and some old music of mine in hopes to get the name out there!!

Lessons

Was back at Canaan yesterday. My performance was less than I had hoped for. But I learned some things and met some great people so all in all worth it. 

Finally got some in car video rigged up, will be posting soon.

1 on and 1 off

We got a RallyCross in at Mt. Okemo but had a cancellation of venue for Rochester. Okemo was a great time though. Good to see the ol' NER RallyCross Crew. 

Also attended the last Seacoast cars and Coffee of 2019. Which is always a great turnout. Cars and Coffee will be doing a Trunk Or Treat 10/19 so we'll be there for that.

The rest of the time is planning for 2 more Canaan RallyCross events (Nov & Dec). Then begins the prep/planning/budgeting for 2020.

Bittersweet

Bittersweet: HillClimb season has come to an end and I'm already looking forward to next year. NEHA is an excellent group of people that are a wealth of experience and knowledge. And I'm super thankful that I made the plunge into their series. This past weekend ended the year with Mt Ascutney. Foliage and a 4mile course laid the way for an exciting adventure. I set a goal for the weekend and beat it so I feel accomplished.

Now on to RallyCross season coming in quick. Next weekend its back to Okemo Mountain in VT with Rochester & Canaan right behind. Been a great year so far and is not over yet.

Car Shows slowing down already but Seacoast Cars & Coffee have 2 (maybe 3) more events on the schedule so look for us out there as well. We have posters available if anyone wants one come see us at SC&C.

September

Here we go. Working on updates on the car and booking up the next few weekends. 9/1 we were back at Seacoast Cars and Coffee. Per usual a record setting turnout. We'll be at Portsmouth Hospital on 9/8 to support Veteran's Count. A great group of folks that do great things for our Veteran's. 9/14 we'll hopefully be at a car show at Broken Spoke in Laconia. Then racing begins. 9/21 & 9/22 we'll be climbing hills again at Ascutney in Vermont. Then on 9/28 back at RallyCross action in Okemo, VT.

Summer Stuff

  First off New England Forest Rally 2019 was a BLAST!!! Extreme heat and humidity made a challenge for all but was totally worth it. This year since I was unable to compete I chose to volunteer myself. Quickly picking up a job as Timing Control for Service Park and Rally Starts each morning. This was a great experience to see another angle of Rally. All of the entrants were super thankful to all volunteers and were thoughtful in moments of my confusion as I learned this job.

My team leader and myself even shared our air conditioned cars with Subaru Team drivers David Higgins and Craig Drew.

Also working service timing was a young couple that drove up from Alabama to watch/volunteer. With a baby in the womb they drove straight to Newry and battled the elements like champs. Safe to say I made new friends and totally respect their dedication through the weekend.

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Earl & I took 1st place in class at NEHA Burke 1 hillclimb early this August. It was a real struggle but we did it!! Burke is SUPER steep and we don't put down quite enough power to maintain high average speeds so it took some pedal work and risk taking to keep Earl moving fast enough. Day 1 I put down a really good time but a Red Light start put me down to my weekend average. Day 2 was neck and neck with 2nd place but a 20th of a second took 1st!!

We didn't make entry for Burke 2 (currently running this weekend Best of Luck to all on the hill) the entry filled fast and our budget didn't warrant a back to back hill adventure.

We will be at NEHA Ascutney 2 hillclimb this September with some adjustments and new parts on the car (Thanks to Andrew of Lost in Maine Racing Team). It'll be a super busy weekend with ALOT of driving but this time I made sure to take the following Monday off from work 👍👍
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RallyCross season will be picking back up sometime soon as well. Between NEFR and SCCA RallyCross Nationals the mid summer becomes a break for NER RallyCross.

Sponsor Portfolio

Well for anyone interested or anyone that knows someone who would be interested here is our 2019 Sponsor Portfolio. Going to be blasting this around the area and see if we can get some assistance to keep going.

PoorBoyRally - 2019 Sponsor Portfolio

Mid-Season

So, sitting tied for 6th in the NERSCCA RallyCross 2019 season. Mt Snow was fun but definitely a challenge. Over the course of the day I was able to pick up my pace.

So now I do some updates on the car and prepare for two HillClimbs in August and wait for the 2nd half of the RallyCross season schedule to be released. Plot and Plan. Also working on a potential trip to West Virginia for some RallyCross action in their mountains.

A HillClimb & A RallyCross

My work schedule has been excessive this past week. So my updates here have been sparse. On Friday the 10th I made the near 4hr drive to Mt. Philo in Charlotte, VT (thanks of course to Dad for swapping out my front strut mounts and broken spring while I was at work on Thursday). Charlotte  is absolutely breathtaking btw. And the view from the top of Philo shows off that beauty from Sunrise to Sunset. 

So HillClimb details: NEHA is a group of awesome folks, full of knowledge, full of support and full of fun. Instantly welcoming to those of us that raised our hands as newbies.  My times got better and better each run but more importantly I stayed on the road and drove home under my own power, Finishing 3rd of 3 in my class. Sad to say due to scheduling I will miss 2 hillclimbs this season but Iam super focused on making 2 climbs in August and another in September. 

After my crazy work week, I was back on the road to Ludlow, VT for another NERSCCA RallyCross, this time at the Base of Okemo Mountain. The weather could be the the best we've had in New England yet for the year 2019. The course was rutted, dusty, buggy but the vibe around the drivers was stellar. Everyone was pushing for quick times and everyone had some insight to share to help push those times. Overall my times weren't fastest in class but I set a goal for myself and hit it. If i read correctly I only slaughtered 2 cones all day so I atleast know my lines were on point. 

Now its back to work. Next few weekends are pretty mellow which is well needed. Couple Car shows and another RallyCross start out my June and a vacation in mid-June for some motorcycling and dog walking. 

CTTC

I want Climb to the Clouds 2020, bad. It's getting close and I feel so far behind. I want my family there. Especially my Dad. Sucks having some bio-clock working against this whole dream. A clock you can't actually see, so therefore you don't know if there is time or not. I keep pressing on, pushing myself to work stupid hours and put my head 100% into this. Fingers crossed this all works out.
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Fxck Cancer

Anxious

Feeling a bit anxious. Nice to break into something new. Not scared of the hillclimb more so im just in anticipation. Its a whole new system, a whole new discipline. New faces I've never met. A whole weekend event without my team there.

More Spring Fun

Northeast Motorsport museum and Seacoast Cars and Coffee kick off were a blast. Now we head into competition mode for 2 weeks. This upcoming weekend in Charlotte, Vermont for a hillclimb and the weekend following we're off to Okemo for another RallyCross. The holiday weekend that follows that will be some wrenching, dog walks and motorcycling. Come June 2nd we'll be back in show mode for another Seacoast Cars and Coffee meet. Check out our Facebook page for SC&C pre-meet with us.

Gear is Here

Finally geared up. Moving forward from rallycross into hillclimbs, rallysprints and stage rally events requires more safety layers. I added to my Racequip helmet some Simpson HANS posts and a Stand21 FHR. Suit, socks, shoes and gloves also from Racequip. This is a good starting point for me and puts me available for the next chapter in this endeavor.

These guys don't hold back. Today at the UNH Car Club "Shifting Stigma" event the UNH wheelchair Rugby team showed us their skill (even on a inclined, cold, windy, narrow, pavement surface). Definitely inspiring to see. Would love to catch them on the court and see them really get down in an official game. They were a great group of guys. This was a great way to kick off the 2019 Car Show season with Earl. Decent amount of cars showed up too. A couple stanced out Subaru's, Audi & Mazda's. A very Dirty Earl as well as muscle cars of today and the past. A great addition to the show was the accessible vehicles on display including a mini van with ramp and 2 trucks with butterfly drivers doors that even had hydraulic lifts. It didn't end up raining but "A Lot" of UNH was super windy and super cold. Earl got props from all sorts of people for being a car you can really get out and use..... (and abuse).

If I had a million Dollars......

Came to the conclusion that if I win the lottery I'm opening a speed shop in Seacoast NH. I feel it would be a hit. There is no where local that deals racing stuff. We have specialized motor builders and a safety gear distributor in Mass but no one that has everything in one place with internet pricing. No one carries the entry level product and the top tier product. I think it would also influence more young kids and adults to get out and learn this craft of racing.

Had to exchange my suit due to it just being to big..... my socks had to be exchanged because they were to small and now I have to rush order some HANS posts because my FHR didn't come with them and didn't mention I'd have to buy them on their own. Trivial issues but had there been a place in the area with fitting rooms and the gear I could afford, I would have not spent 3 weeks searching, measuring and exchanging.

One can dream though, Fingers Crossed.

4/20/19 - NERscca Rochester Spring RallyCross

Photo by: Facebook.com/DaggerSLADEmedia

A 120 year old horse track in the pouring rain is 10x slicker than a lake of ice. This event requires its own set of tires (assuming its raining) and we know that after last October but run what you got... Suspension is showing some age as well. But I'd rather have a bad day of runs than none at all.... so theres that.

 In the coming weeks between work and cars shows will be wrenching to tighten up Earl as best as possible for the next RallyCross and possible hillclimb debut. The budget is tight and the schedule is full so hoping to make it all work.

I ordered the first installment of safety gear as a push to get ready for the hillclimb and RallySprint season too.

And the necessary evil of this all: A possible sponsor in the works. Which will help immensely through the 2019 & 2020 season. That said, I'm also working on a "press kit/sponsor pack" in hopes that I can work out some deals to keep pushing on.

Keep it Slideways kids and follow our Instagram & Facebook.

PoorBoy Blog

So Begins the PoorBoyRallyTeam Blog. I'm still learning this so forgive my chaos at the start here. For all up to date RallyCross, Rally, HillClimb & Car Show things checkout our Instagram.com/PoorBoyRally & Facebook.com/PoorBoyRally

And Of Course a big Shout out to The Family & Friends that support and encourage my dreams, goals, successes & fails.