We’re two days away from race day. Two days away from two course walks, two race stages, and two hundred and twenty competitors. Yeah, 220.
But actually, the festivities start today. Thursday.
Kito [Brielmaier] and Katie [Lobkovich] of Northwest Rally Association are once again building the world’s biggest rallycross event right here in our backyard. And, sandwiched between Rally Estonia and Rally Finland, the DirtFish team is showing up in full force.
First off, the basics. Rallycross has had many forms through many eras, but this one brings us back to its roots.
We operate on a closed course, one that Kito and our chief instructor, Nate Tennis, work together to create. It mixes gravel, mud and pavement, and comprises of some tight and technical corners, sprinkled with some opportunities to get a little… speedy. We race for time against the clock, one by one.
It’s a blast.
But even before race weekend, Northwest Rally Association is partnering with DirtFish to put on Novice and Advanced clinics. Forty novices and 20 advanced drivers will spend their days warming up for the two days where the stopwatches run.
And the best part? Anything can rallycross. This weekend, we’ll see Volkswagen Bugs, Volvos, Datsuns, Rangers, Mustangs, and even a Crown Vic. Oh, and some Porsches. Oh, and some Teslas.
Katie and Kito know how to put on a show. With two courses running simultaneously, we’ll see dust clouds coming from all over the property. We’ll hear the roar of the loudest engines (and the not so loud ones – and even the silent battery ones).
We’ll break for lunch at 2pm with our favorite food trucks which join us onsite, and all of our visitors will check out our merchandise tent, led fearlessly by the brilliant Kelley [Clausen-Walters] and Zander [Lozano].
This really is one of my very favorite events of the year. Anything that starts and ends with racing makes the cut pretty easily, really. And when there’s a nice post-race beer with some of my very favorite people on the planet involved, it makes it even easier.
Spectating is free, so join us all weekend! If you’re wishing you could be here, but just can’t make it, join us on DirtFish Live Center for all of the updates.
