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press on,Is that Jimmy at 18:40?
Thanks for finding that, it had been a long time since I had seen it. My wife and I made it through 2 and a half nights before the electrics finally gave up and we dnf'ed. Managed to patch it back together to get it to Alma and they let us run the final special stage. Great times.
The movie (which I have seen before) is interesting. However, in many ways it does not document what the event was really like.I know it was a different world 35 years ago, but those of us who were fortunate enough to experience rallying in that era can't help but cherish the memories. Rallying is such a different animal now ...
I would have to haul out my '73 book to be sure, but I believe Fishlab, Avery Lake, Camp 24-25, and East Fish Lake were all used in 1973.Unfortunately, none of these stages are used anymore (although the rally might have used some of the stages now part of Sno*Drift). Jimmy or Joe would know.
And, as I was approaching Lewiston last year, I noticed signs for the infamous Sterling Truck Trail.I would have to haul out my '73 book to be sure, but I believe Fishlab, Avery Lake, Camp 24-25, and East Fish Lake were all used in 1973.
Also, it's pretty clear that they only focused on the top teams.However, in many ways it does not document what the event was really like.
For ease of filming, the producers seemed to have spent almost all of their time at the start and finish controls of stages. In addition, they spent a lot of time showing the Mickey Mouse stages at the start and finish of the rally that were nothing more than bashing through mud in some fields and rallycross sites.
Fishlab or East Fish Lake: noI would have to haul out my '73 book to be sure, but I believe Fishlab, Avery Lake, Camp 24-25, and East Fish Lake were all used in 1973.
Doug, if ever you get bored you must write a book about your experiences rallying in the 70ies. I really enjoy reading your stories from that era...what an amazing time it must have been! Keep it coming!The movie (which I have seen before) is interesting. However, in many ways it does not document what the event was really like.
For ease of filming, the producers seemed to have spent almost all of their time at the start and finish controls of stages. In addition, they spent a lot of time showing the Mickey Mouse stages at the start and finish of the rally that were nothing more than bashing through mud in some fields and rallycross sites.
The heart of the event were the magnificent forest stages in the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula and the incredible sand trail stages in the Lower Peninsula.
Unfortunately, none of these stages are used anymore (although the rally might have used some of the stages now part of Sno*Drift). Jimmy or Joe would know.
As for our 24 minute victory margin Mike, we opted for a steady but fast paced drive on the rally. When someone beat us on a stage, we ignored it. As the rally got closer to the finish, we did not slow down.
It is really hard to explain to people today what a challenge an event like this was. The route was 1700 miles long with 85 special stages (none of them repeated). Servicing was free (and had to be pre-planned by each team) but due to the strungout nature of the route, you might have to do 5 to 10 stages before a service.
Yes, you are correct. Rallying is a much different animal today. But I do enjoy today's sport and I think today's competitors would have a blast if they ever had the opportunity to do an event like the 1973 POR.
BTW, regarding the comments about Buffum's pace. In 1972, he had crashed out of the POR when in a tight battle for first place with Harry Kallstrom in the works Lancia Fulvia. For 1973, his co-driver Wayne Zitkus claimed that he was going to attach a string to Buffum's family jewels which he would pull whenever he sensed things were close to going wrong.![]()
"Very Cool"The movie (which I have seen before) is interesting. However, in many ways it does not document what the event was really like.
For ease of filming, the producers seemed to have spent almost all of their time at the start and finish controls of stages. In addition, they spent a lot of time showing the Mickey Mouse stages at the start and finish of the rally that were nothing more than bashing through mud in some fields and rallycross sites.
The heart of the event were the magnificent forest stages in the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula and the incredible sand trail stages in the Lower Peninsula.
Unfortunately, none of these stages are used anymore (although the rally might have used some of the stages now part of Sno*Drift). Jimmy or Joe would know.
As for our 24 minute victory margin Mike, we opted for a steady but fast paced drive on the rally. When someone beat us on a stage, we ignored it. As the rally got closer to the finish, we did not slow down.
It is really hard to explain to people today what a challenge an event like this was. The route was 1700 miles long with 85 special stages (none of them repeated). Servicing was free (and had to be pre-planned by each team) but due to the strungout nature of the route, you might have to do 5 to 10 stages before a service.
Yes, you are correct. Rallying is a much different animal today. But I do enjoy today's sport and I think today's competitors would have a blast if they ever had the opportunity to do an event like the 1973 POR.
yep!
BTW, regarding the comments about Buffum's pace. In 1972, he had crashed out of the POR when in a tight battle for first place with Harry Kallstrom in the works Lancia Fulvia. For 1973, his co-driver Wayne Zitkus claimed that he was going to attach a string to Buffum's family jewels which he would pull whenever he sensed things were close to going wrong.![]()
Yeah, LOL, 35 years later it is kind of funny I made such a dumbass mistake in some last minute car prep of deciding to add an ammeter. Given the nature of the stages back then it's probably amazing that it lasted through the 2 and a half nights. I'm pretty sure we were the last dnf of the event. The other major car problem we had was that something went kablooie in the carburetor soon after the start and the car ran rich and fouled plugs for the whole rally. No problem, gave the service crew twenty bucks and had them buy spark plugs. You could buy a lot of spark plugs for $20 in 1973. We changed them at every service. Oh, and Total was providing free gas for competitors too so fuel mileage wasn't an issue.Foghorn, I was at John's Total in Grayling when you came in with the electric gremlins. Remember to gromet all the firewall wire pass throughs, right?
Ya know, when I read his post I was contemplating just what interesting tidbits stick in your head over the decades! Ya'all don't EVEN want to know what's rattling around in mine, but I am comforted to know others suffer the same malady!So how the hell did you manage to remember that grommet issue after all these years?
That is something that I have been considering doing.Is there a way to obtain the full route of the 73 POR? I would love to get a few friends together and drive the entire route.