On a brighter note!

I got my new helmet back from the painter last month and had some time to shoot a few photos before it's first outing.

Thanks to West Michigan painter Jeff Kruizenga of Imagine That Graphics for working with me to put this unique design together. Contact Jeff at; www.jeffsairbrush.com.

Also thanks to local photographer, Justin Bruursema. If you need photo work or even a surfboard, he does it all. Check him out here on Blogger; www.burlysurfboards.blogspot.com

Just not our year....

Two bits of bad news for Alba Rallysport this month.

First, a stomach bug meant we weren't able to attend NASA's Hyperfest Rallysprint at Summit Point. The event was a success however with over 100 rides given to aspiring rally drivers.

The second dump of bad news is that the Scottish Hillrally has been cancelled due to lack of entries. Quite honestly, I'm gutted. We've spent the better part of a year planning for this event. We even skipped rallies on the our own calander to be able to attend. It seems the UK economy is also having an impact on motorsport. Regardless, these things do happen and while all involved are disappointed there are hopes of a strong return in 2011.

HyperFest 10

This NASA event held at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia on June 19th-20th is a blend of road racing, drifting and a last minute addition, RALLY! Oh, and there's a Daisy Duke contest thrown in there if you are looking for more than just fast, loud, hot looking cars.

Albarallysport will be there ripping up the gravel stage so stop by, shout "Where's TIM?" and you may just get a few feebies or for a lucky few, a shotgun ride in our SP class Subaru WRX.

For more information drift your way to http://www.hyper-fest.com/

Ice or Mud?

I think I'll take ice over mud given the difference in cleaning time required afterwards...

More ice?

Sno*Drift was icy. Turk Lake probably had more grip the following weekend. For some reason I hadn't had enough of sliding around on the ice but at least there was no risk of hitting solid objects.

The local West Michigan Furrin group lay on some great winter speed events.

Ice Ice Baby

Sno*Drift, Atlanta, MI. Round 1 of the 2010 Rally America championship. It was one hell of a rally. We entered the 2 day regional and crawled our way through the Michigan woods on a couple inches of clear ice. We slid and spun alot but avoided trees. We were up to 4th overall in the regional I think on Friday until we spun on an uphill in the Ranch stage, wedged the car across the road and when we jumped out to get a tow rope and triangle out Tammy slipped on the ice a couple of times eventually popping her knee to the point she couldn't stand. Don Conley and Vio showed up, tugged us free and I strapped Tammy back into the car and we completed the stage. Before the penultimate stage we packed Tammy's knee with some ice (plenty of that around) and pressed on through the last two stages to the final MTC.

The EMT's checked her out then we rushed her straight to the ER in Gaylord. Rally over, she was on crutches and meds. I wasn't too disappointed. The roads were slick and it was only a matter of time before I stuffed it into the trees anyway. Braking from 100mph on a crowned road of ice is a little hairy. I learnt alot and we should go back next year as it was the most challenging rally I've never finished!

Team Illuminata Motorsport/Alba Rallysport 2010 Schedule Announced

With a limited schedule for 2010 the Michigan rally team are focused on preparing, physically and mentally for the Scottish Hillrally in July. Based in Perth, Scotland the team will be driving an FIA spec rally raid vehicle prepared by Maxtraction.

"It's been many years since I've had the chance to be part of the hillrally so it's exciting to be going back home to race. I'm a little nervous!" said David, team driver who continues, "We have the best in the business behind us with support from John Cockburn owner of Maxtraction and a former hillrally champion."
Stay tuned as the team prepare for this epic off-road rally event, said to be the toughest off-road rally in the UK.

maxtraction.co.uk


Team Illuminata Motorsport/Alba Rallysport 2010 Schedule

January 29-30th, Rally America, Sno*Drift, Atlanta, MI
June 4-6th, Rally America, Susquehannock Trial Rally, Wellsboro, PA
July 16-17th, SHRC, Scottish Hillrally, Perth, Scotland
October 15-16th, Rally America, LSPR, Houghton, MI