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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 20 February 2008 22:35 |
Day 2 of the Alcan Winter Rally featured three Time-Speed-Distance rally legs, instead of the planned two legs and an ice race. The ice racing course was not able to be plowed, so an extra timed rally leg was added the prior evening.
Team Mitsubishi Alcan Car 1 (Poirier, Smith, Song) gave a solid performance all day long, scoring just 23 points. After 2 days of competition, they are in second place in the computer-equipped SUV class, and tied for third place among all 24 rally competitors.
"We're just happy to be doing well, and the Outlander's doing a great job," said Car 1 driver April Smith.
Car 2 (Zurschmeide, Bockman, Tabor) in the stock odometer class made a navigational error and missed a turn on the first timed leg and scored the maximum 200 penalty points for lateness. However, the team turned in an excellent performance in the second and third TSD legs of the day, giving up just 24 more points. "If we'd been able to run the ice race, I think things would be a lot different right now," said Car 2 driver Gary Bockman.
During their wanderings, the team in car 2 encountered one of the local residents - a mostly-grown Moose, which trotted along the road in front of the car for a short distance before making a quick left turn into the woods. "I'm not worried about the points. We've got eight more days left to compete, and there's a reason they don't give out the trophies until the end," said navigator Jeff Zurschmeide, adding "besides, we wouldn't have seen the Moose if we'd been on the planned course!"
The team is looking forward to tomorrow's single TSD leg and then the longest day of the rally - well over 700 miles from New Hazelton, B.C. to White Horse, Yukon Territory.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 20 February 2008 22:36 )
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Alcan Rally News 
