Legacy Outback wagon conquers Rim rally!

Mako · 05-04-2003, 01:13 PM

Ok, so it was really the road from Spunky Canyon up to the viewing area. As you probably know it was raining like mad and the road was getting greasy and muddy. A big lifted truck was at the entrance with a wheel busted off the axle (!!) supposedly from hitting a deep rut up the road a ways. So I asked the marshalls if I could walk the road and scout it, which I did. The hardest part looked to be the first 100 yards--steep, and off camber. Some idiot in an Evo 8 with street tires tried it and got stuck. I just put new Michelin tires on my OB with as much a dirt-oriented tread as I could find, plus I installed a rear limited-slip diff, so I had to try it.

With Jordi, my Spanish co-driver, hit the hill at speed. Jordi gave the signal to cross from left side to right and hit the off-camber straight, but the tail still swung low, rear tires fighting and clawing for traction, and we made it past the steep off-camber with huge grins all over our faces! We motored on up, picked up a mom/dad/kid to save them the hike, blew through a huge water hole, and made it to the top easily.

Suffered through three hours of cold, wet, wind and misery before the race cars finally came by. We saw SubieGal in her WRX wagon come by honking at us!

Going back down, the road was way more torn up due to traffic and rain and it was slippery. A few fun little slides before the final 100-yard off-camber descent. Took it in first gear and sure enough, the rear end started to slide down the off-camber. I kept a light touch on the throttle, no brakes, but the wagon slid out literally 70 degrees before traction caught and we snapped back straight. Totally fun and crazy and sure, I was nervous as it was happening.

But DAMN it was fun! That's why I bought an Outback--for days like that!! It's just what the AWD was designed for--muddy, greasy dirt roads. It handled it like a champ!!

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sybir · 05-04-2003, 05:07 PM

Damn.

They wouldn't even let us up on Spunky canyon yesterday for the stage

Got there at liek 2 and they sai it was hike or nothing. I would have cranked up that hill if I had had a chance....

sybir · 05-04-2003, 09:39 PM

oh man
i read more, and more, and more

what a mess
(glad you got up to the top, though

)

lushboy · 05-06-2003, 05:47 PM

Whoa.. lucky you! In my worn out street tires, I was stuck in that rut for a good 40 mins before my clutch was able to function again! A few close calls as one WRX came nearly millimeters from my car as they slide sideways up the hill.. so was another Outback wagon.. then another red lifted 4x4 truck just spewed mud all over and inside my car (well, my window was slightly open). I guess it was better than having my car towed since my tires were outside of the white lines when I first got there.

05-04-2003, 01:13 PM	#1
Mako Scooby Newbie Member#: 5770 Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Los Angeles, CA Vehicle: 2000 Legacy Outback Green with Stromung & CAI	Legacy Outback wagon conquers Rim rally! Ok, so it was really the road from Spunky Canyon up to the viewing area. As you probably know it was raining like mad and the road was getting greasy and muddy. A big lifted truck was at the entrance with a wheel busted off the axle (!!) supposedly from hitting a deep rut up the road a ways. So I asked the marshalls if I could walk the road and scout it, which I did. The hardest part looked to be the first 100 yards--steep, and off camber. Some idiot in an Evo 8 with street tires tried it and got stuck. I just put new Michelin tires on my OB with as much a dirt-oriented tread as I could find, plus I installed a rear limited-slip diff, so I had to try it. With Jordi, my Spanish co-driver, hit the hill at speed. Jordi gave the signal to cross from left side to right and hit the off-camber straight, but the tail still swung low, rear tires fighting and clawing for traction, and we made it past the steep off-camber with huge grins all over our faces! We motored on up, picked up a mom/dad/kid to save them the hike, blew through a huge water hole, and made it to the top easily. Suffered through three hours of cold, wet, wind and misery before the race cars finally came by. We saw SubieGal in her WRX wagon come by honking at us! Going back down, the road was way more torn up due to traffic and rain and it was slippery. A few fun little slides before the final 100-yard off-camber descent. Took it in first gear and sure enough, the rear end started to slide down the off-camber. I kept a light touch on the throttle, no brakes, but the wagon slid out literally 70 degrees before traction caught and we snapped back straight. Totally fun and crazy and sure, I was nervous as it was happening. But DAMN it was fun! That's why I bought an Outback--for days like that!! It's just what the AWD was designed for--muddy, greasy dirt roads. It handled it like a champ!! * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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05-04-2003, 05:07 PM	#2
sybir Scooby Specialist Member#: 4615 Join Date: Mar 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Don of the Wagon Mafia Vehicle: 05 STi, 97 Leg OB	Damn. They wouldn't even let us up on Spunky canyon yesterday for the stage Got there at liek 2 and they sai it was hike or nothing. I would have cranked up that hill if I had had a chance....

05-04-2003, 09:39 PM	#3
sybir Scooby Specialist Member#: 4615 Join Date: Mar 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Don of the Wagon Mafia Vehicle: 05 STi, 97 Leg OB	oh man i read more, and more, and more what a mess (glad you got up to the top, though )

05-06-2003, 05:47 PM	#4
lushboy Scooby Newbie Member#: 16360 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sacramento, CA Vehicle: 2002 Legacy LTD OBW Black Granite Titanium	Whoa.. lucky you! In my worn out street tires, I was stuck in that rut for a good 40 mins before my clutch was able to function again! A few close calls as one WRX came nearly millimeters from my car as they slide sideways up the hill.. so was another Outback wagon.. then another red lifted 4x4 truck just spewed mud all over and inside my car (well, my window was slightly open). I guess it was better than having my car towed since my tires were outside of the white lines when I first got there.