Frequently Asked Questions:

About Team Mitsubishi Alcan:

Q: Who are you?

A: We're six rally enthusiasts from the greater Portland area. None of us are professional drivers, but we all have extensive rally and race experience. You can read our biographical information on our event blogs.

Q: : Why are you doing this?

A: Because it's a great challenge. The Alcan Winter Rally is the most extreme motor sports event in North America, and possibly even the world. Other rallies may go more miles or through stranger places, but none that we know of are as cold and tough as the Alcan. We're also going because the people who rise to this challenge are some of the most fun-loving adventure seekers we've ever met - and we're going to have a blast!

Q: Why did you choose Mitsubishi Outlanders for your trip?

A: We liked the Mitsubishi Outlander XLS for a lot of reasons. It's got electronically-controlled All Wheel Drive and a nice big V6 engine, so it has plenty of power. It's great in the snow and on the ice. The Crossover SUV body style gives us lots of room to work with, and it's really nice inside. Since we'll spend two weeks in these cars, we wanted them to be nice! The people at Mitsubishi have been super helpful and we're confident that these cars will survive the Arctic and get us home.

Q: Who are your sponsors?

A: We've been really lucky to get a bunch of companies interested in our project. Columbia Sportswear (based in Portland) provided us with cold weather gear to survive in the Arctic, Hankook Tire provided us with studded iPike ice and snow tires to keep us on the road. We got some financial support from The Halton Company (a Caterpillar dealer in Portland). We also received products like fire extinguishers from H3R Performance, Roof Racks from BajaRack, vinyl signs for the cars from Fleet Sign & Graphics in Auburn, Washington, and A-n-T tire in Portland helped us out with getting the studs put in the tires. Finally, KC HiLites provided us some fantastic HID rally lights to cut the winter darkness.

Q: Did you get special training for this rally?

A: We took SkidCar driving lessons from ProDrive Driving School in Portland. The SkidCar is a special car that simulates the effects of driving on ice and snow. It's a great tool for anyone who drives in less-than-ideal conditions.

Q: Are you getting paid to be on this team?

A: No, we are each paying our own expenses to go on the rally. Plus we're each taking time off from work to take this adventure.

Q: What do you expect to get out of this?

A: We expect to have a fantastic experience, and we hope to do well in the rally. This project is about living life to its fullest, and going where most people never get a chance to go. It's a grand adventure.

About the Alcan Rally:

Q: When is the Alcan Winter Rally?

A: February 17-26, 2008

Q: Where does this rally go?

A: We leave from the Seattle area on Sunday, February 17, and head north through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. On Friday the 22nd, we arrive at our northernmost point - Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, at at 69° 26' 20" North and 133° 01' 45" West. That's about 200 miles above the Arctic Circle, on the shore of the Arctic Sea. Then we head south again and end the rally in Jasper, Alberta on Tuesday, February 26. We still have to drive home to Portland after that.

Q: Won't you get cold?

A: Yes. Very cold. Temperatures are averaging about -20 Fahrenheit. Two weeks before the rally, Dawson City, YT was reporting temperatures as low as -60 Fahrenheit. Some places will be as warm as 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Q: How many miles is the rally?

A: From Seattle to Jasper is 4850 miles, but we've already driven the cars 1,000 miles from Los Angeles to Portland, from Portland to Seattle, and then we'll drive home 800 miles from Jasper to Portland, then take the cars back to L.A. So our total distance in the cars will exceed 10,000 miles.

Q: What's the competition like?

A: The Alcan is primarily a Time-Speed-Distance rally. That means that you try to follow the prescribed route at exactly the right average speed. Officials time you at various points to assess how close you came to the calculated "true times." It's harder to do this than it sounds. But there's also ice racing - the organizers set up a course on a frozen lake and teams drive the race course - fast time wins. So there's a variety of competition within the event.

Q: This sounds like fun. When's the next one?

A: Theoretically, in four years - February of 2012. There's usually a summer run two years after each winter rally, though. But if you want to go, it's not too early to start planning your trip today!

Q: Can anyone participate?

A: Yes, no special skills or qualifications are required. But it's a lot of money and a lot of work to go on this event. Start planning and saving up now for the next Alcan and you can make it.

Q: What does it cost to run the Alcan 5000 Winter Rally?

A: That depends. Do you own an all-wheel-drive car that's reliable enough to make the trip? The 2008 Rally costs $2,800 per car (two people), and that includes the rally and your lodgings. But that's just the start. Fuel will cost each team about $1,000-$2,000 (US), plus there's food along the way, and snow tires, and lots of other expenses. Budget about $6,000 to $8,000 per carload, and that doesn't include the cost of a car. Sponsors can help a lot, however.

Q: Is there a map with more information on your route and the places you're going?

A: Yes - here at www.alcan5000.com