Saturday, March 7, 2009
Future Rally Champion
Technically he's already completed his first rally (NASA Rally WV, Aug '08) but Allister could not wait to get his hands on the steering wheel! With excellent hand/foot coordination at only 5 days old he's definitely a driver.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
I'll have a TIM-On-Ice...
The best cure for winter cabin fever is to get out on a frozen lake and give the car some wellie!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Design-A-TIM!
Here is your chance to design the 2009 graphics on the TIM/Alba Rallysport rally car. We are excited to have a new sponsor this year and that demands a new look so we're inviting all you budding designers and Photoshop gurus out there to create outstanding graphic concepts. The design that best captures the TIM spirit of rally will be proudly displayed throughout the year, you'll even get your name on the car. Designed by ?
Vinyling tips.
Thanks to our partner rcmvinyl.com, the graphics will be vinyl cut so no printing, painting or wraps.
How to enter.
Register your name and address with Paul at Team Illuminata Motorsport, paul@teamilluminata.com and he will send you a file pack that includes images of the car and the sponsors logos. There are no limits on the number of entries per person.
The Deadline.
All designs should be submitted via e-mail to Paul at Team Illuminata Motorsport by 9pm on March 9th. Include 'Design-A-TIM' in the e-mail subject line. The winner will be announced on Friday March 13th throughout the web world!
Good luck everyone!
Friday, December 12, 2008
2009 Schedule Released!
Stay tuned for updates and photos throughout the winter season.
Merry Christmas and a Happy Hogmanay from Alba Rallysport!
Merry Christmas and a Happy Hogmanay from Alba Rallysport!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
2008 Season
January - The WRX went under the knife and began it's transformation from street car to stage rally machine. 
March - The chassis was completed and the build continued...
May - Final touches were made to the car at Rally Tennessee and we took 2nd in class and 8th overall on this fast and twisty tarmac rally. Not bad for the car's first event.
The car was on display at Delta Subaru during the 4th annual 28th Street Metro Cruise.
September - We worked controls at the POR rally in Michigan then stuffed the car off the road whilst sitting in 2nd overall at Black River Stages in New York. Despite the off, we landed 1st in Super Stock class and 5th overall in the NASA Atlantic Rally Cup. 
Tammy and I would like to say a huge thank you to all our supporters and crew this season. We couldn't have done it without your help. We're looking forward to 2009!
Paul at Team Illuminata Motorsport teamilluminata.com
March - The chassis was completed and the build continued... May - Final touches were made to the car at Rally Tennessee and we took 2nd in class and 8th overall on this fast and twisty tarmac rally. Not bad for the car's first event. 
June/July - The car was prepared for gravel events and tested.
August - To finish first, first you must finish. Rally West Virginia was a rally of attrition. We hung in there and finished 1st in class and 5th overall.
The car was on display at Delta Subaru during the 4th annual 28th Street Metro Cruise.September - We worked controls at the POR rally in Michigan then stuffed the car off the road whilst sitting in 2nd overall at Black River Stages in New York. Despite the off, we landed 1st in Super Stock class and 5th overall in the NASA Atlantic Rally Cup. 
November - Somewhat frustrated at not finishing BRS I stole Tammy's car and went rallycrossing, taking the Prepared AWD class win and Fastest Time of the Day. Sometimes frustration pays off!
Tammy and I would like to say a huge thank you to all our supporters and crew this season. We couldn't have done it without your help. We're looking forward to 2009!Paul at Team Illuminata Motorsport teamilluminata.com
Chad @ Racecraft Engineering
Jan @ Speed Industry
Colin McCleery, Brian Burroughs, Tommy Knight, Corey Franklin, Dmitriy Martynov, Jimmy Brandt and rest of the RCM gang.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
MudCross
After a very short stage rally in New York due to meeting a tree stump in the dark I really needed to race. Life happens and I hadn’t had time to repair the WRX since September. In fact it’s still in the garage in pieces but that didn’t stop me putting the rally wheels on Tammy’s Forester and heading out to Bob’s Family Raceway to take on the guys in PA class. 
After two days of rain, it was muddy, really muddy. This event was a day/night rallycross and we love to race in the dark, even though I couldn’t see a thing with dirty headlights and no driving lights! I threw the car into 2nd gear and matted it on every run for the entire day. The auto box was superb and somehow the car had enough traction in the wet conditions to take the class win and FTD. I was a little stunned to be honest as the competition in PA has really stepped up this year. I put it down to new Hankook tyres and a little bit of luck. The course was great though. During the day it was long and the rhythm was fantastic, pitching the car into each corner and being perfectly setup for the next, speeds where constant. I think this is where time was really gained. It certainly wasn’t because of the ability to accelerate or brake in what only can be described as slop!
After two days of rain, it was muddy, really muddy. This event was a day/night rallycross and we love to race in the dark, even though I couldn’t see a thing with dirty headlights and no driving lights! I threw the car into 2nd gear and matted it on every run for the entire day. The auto box was superb and somehow the car had enough traction in the wet conditions to take the class win and FTD. I was a little stunned to be honest as the competition in PA has really stepped up this year. I put it down to new Hankook tyres and a little bit of luck. The course was great though. During the day it was long and the rhythm was fantastic, pitching the car into each corner and being perfectly setup for the next, speeds where constant. I think this is where time was really gained. It certainly wasn’t because of the ability to accelerate or brake in what only can be described as slop!
I had the opportunity to chair this event and that was pretty cool seeing it from another perspective. There’s a lot that goes into organizing a rallycross and it requires a team of people. Despite the crap weather I think it went well, people had fun but I learned some things and if asked again I’ll be better prepared. 
What’s next for Alba Rallysport?
The final round of the DRSCCA rallycross season is on December 6th in Capac, MI. Next month I'll write up a 2008 rally season review so please logon for that. I’m looking forward to some snow/ice rallycross over the winter with the new secret weapons and of course we'll continue to develop (read: repair) the rally car for the 2009 season.
The final round of the DRSCCA rallycross season is on December 6th in Capac, MI. Next month I'll write up a 2008 rally season review so please logon for that. I’m looking forward to some snow/ice rallycross over the winter with the new secret weapons and of course we'll continue to develop (read: repair) the rally car for the 2009 season.
Photos by Kyle Treder and Kenneth Tsang. Event trophy photos by chrisamosphotography.com
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Lessons Learnt at Black River Stages
NASA Black River Stages, September 26th – 27th, did not go quite as planned for the TIM/Alba Rallysport team.
The team was on a high, entering the final round of the Atlantic Rally Cup leading the Super Stock class having taken 2nd place in class in Tennessee and 1st in class at West Virginia. Sadly for the rookie team, luck ran out in New York.
BRS did not reap the result that the team wanted to end the season with. With regular co-driver Tammy sitting it out at home, the team recruited rally legend Jimmy Brandt to fill the silly seat. The rally comprised of 14 stages over 2 days and with a late change in the weather forecast it was a dreech* weekend. Despite a late start on Friday evening the rally got underway and the team were positioned 2nd on the road entering the 8-mile, Jerden Falls 1 stage,
“The first stage was very slippery, sand and mud mixed with some surface water. I’ve never run this close to the front so it was a new experience having to break the ground.” commented David.
Even though they had never competed together before the crew weren’t completely off the pace, taking 2nd on the first stage. Onto stage 2 and Texas Road was a long awaited new stage for 2008.
“What a fantastic stage!” exclaimed David, “I think I got lost in the notes at one point as the instructions were coming at me so fast but it didn’t matter, we were having a lot of fun.”
The crew snatched the stage win by just a second over the Burke/Holter crew in car #3. With times so close, it was set to be an exciting event.
Stage 3 unraveled that momentary thought. Tidd 1 was a 3.5-mile technical stage followed by a 20 min service. “I might have been pushing pretty hard but it wasn’t a big off.” said David who continued, “Towards the end of the stage we came into a R5 with logs on the outside, down a hill and didn’t make the L4. We just slid off the road, hit a stump and bent the control arm. I should have known that where there are log piles there is usually mud on the road.”
With open diffs the car was stuck but luckily TIM teammates Sladovich/Westcott in car #4 were on hand to tow the WRX out.
With no spares, the service crew dug in and did all they could to try and source a spare and when none could be found they tried to fix the broken part but to no avail. All this with assistance from the service crew of Burke/Holter, this is what makes rally so great. In spite of their efforts the team retired having learnt a hard lesson. “It was just so frustrating. For the sake of a $50 part we were out of the rally. Stupid.” summed up David.
The team was on a high, entering the final round of the Atlantic Rally Cup leading the Super Stock class having taken 2nd place in class in Tennessee and 1st in class at West Virginia. Sadly for the rookie team, luck ran out in New York.
BRS did not reap the result that the team wanted to end the season with. With regular co-driver Tammy sitting it out at home, the team recruited rally legend Jimmy Brandt to fill the silly seat. The rally comprised of 14 stages over 2 days and with a late change in the weather forecast it was a dreech* weekend. Despite a late start on Friday evening the rally got underway and the team were positioned 2nd on the road entering the 8-mile, Jerden Falls 1 stage,
“The first stage was very slippery, sand and mud mixed with some surface water. I’ve never run this close to the front so it was a new experience having to break the ground.” commented David.
Even though they had never competed together before the crew weren’t completely off the pace, taking 2nd on the first stage. Onto stage 2 and Texas Road was a long awaited new stage for 2008.
“What a fantastic stage!” exclaimed David, “I think I got lost in the notes at one point as the instructions were coming at me so fast but it didn’t matter, we were having a lot of fun.”
The crew snatched the stage win by just a second over the Burke/Holter crew in car #3. With times so close, it was set to be an exciting event.
Stage 3 unraveled that momentary thought. Tidd 1 was a 3.5-mile technical stage followed by a 20 min service. “I might have been pushing pretty hard but it wasn’t a big off.” said David who continued, “Towards the end of the stage we came into a R5 with logs on the outside, down a hill and didn’t make the L4. We just slid off the road, hit a stump and bent the control arm. I should have known that where there are log piles there is usually mud on the road.”With open diffs the car was stuck but luckily TIM teammates Sladovich/Westcott in car #4 were on hand to tow the WRX out.
With no spares, the service crew dug in and did all they could to try and source a spare and when none could be found they tried to fix the broken part but to no avail. All this with assistance from the service crew of Burke/Holter, this is what makes rally so great. In spite of their efforts the team retired having learnt a hard lesson. “It was just so frustrating. For the sake of a $50 part we were out of the rally. Stupid.” summed up David.
Regardless of the retirement at BRS the team wrapped up the Super Stock class win in the Atlantic Rally Cup and finished 5th overall, a result not to be scoffed at for the first season in a new car. Paul from Team Illuminata Motorsports, “We’re really happy. We’ve had great fun this year, met great people and learnt a lot. We’ll be back in 2009!”
* Dreech: Scots for wet, misty, dull, typical Scottish weather
2008 Atlantic Rally Cup Standings
http://www.nasarallysport.com/esrc/points/ARC-Points-2008-after-BRS-C.pdf
The TIM/Alba Rallysport team would like to thank Corey and Dmitriy for crewing in far from ideal conditions. Also; Racecraft Engineering, speedindustry.biz, Delta Subaru of Grand Rapids.
teamilluminata.com
albarallysport.blogspot.com
rcmvinyl.com
dirtyimpreza.com
Action photography by Pete Kuncis @ onalimbracing
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