Andrew Jenkins had waited a long time for this moment. His dog knew what was coming. When DirtFish owner Steve Rimmer opened the hood on one of world rallying’s most famous cars, Andrew stood and stared. His dog lay down, finding shade beneath the iconic rear wing on an Audi quattro E2.
SummerFest delivered on every level on Saturday. The summer side of things was never in doubt, cloudless skies sat above the perfect festival of rallying, food, tunes and vendors.
Alongside the Audi, rally fans who had poured in from across the Pacific Northwest were treated to an ex-Juha Kankkunen Peugeot 205 T16 as well as the Subaru Impreza WRC2002 Tommi Mäkinen drove towards the end of his career 21 years ago.
“Awesome,” was Steve Rimmer’s one-word description of the day.
“The team did a great job putting this together,” he added. “The heat has been incredible and I think it’s testament to the event that we saw such a strong attendance – and people really stayed around for the day as well. It was an awesome achievement and an awesome effort to pull this together.
“And it’s great to deliver for the local community, being able to offer a thrill ride in a rally car is something very special. A day like SummerFest is a great introduction to the school and the sport and to who we are. Today has demonstrated the professionalism – on every level – which runs through everything we do here at DirtFish. Everybody who came down here had a smile on their face and that’s very, very important.”
DirtFish’s Women in Motorsport coordinator Josie Rimmer was similarly delighted with the response to a day which has been months in the planning.
“SummerFest is always one of our best days,” she said. “We get to bring in all of our amazing partners, we show some incredible rally cars to these wonderful people and we’re supporting our partner charities with the raffle at the end of the day.
“You know, so many people don’t get the chance to see rally cars like this up close – so to see the look on people’s faces was really special. And, of course, from the Women in Motorsport perspective, to have children coming over to see us – children who already know what WiM is all about – is so special. We had these girls sitting in race cars and you just know they’re going to be competing in them in years to come. That’s what today is all about: sharing our sport.”
Andrew Jenkins couldn’t have agreed more.
“I’ve read about this car and watched so many DirtFish videos about it,” he said. “To be here and to see that engine and that car is the chance of a lifetime. Thank you.”
No, Andrew, thank you and your fellow SummerFest visitors. See you same time next year.
