TRS RallyAmerica B-Spec Yaris

[Camberix]

Some of you may have seen Tracey Gardiner's Tag Rally Sport (https://www.facebook.com/TagRallySport) Yaris prepped for American stage rally. She is running with co-driver Tabitha Lohr this year.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1557536_593421727414565_1447117690_n.jpg

I recently went to the annual RallyAmerica 100 Acre Wood rally in Missouri, which is one of the national (aka bigger) rallies on the calendar. I have been to 100AW a half dozen times or more, and crewed for a couple of friends' budget teams. You can get pretty up close and personal with the action in whatever capacity you attend, be it spectator, crew, event volunteer, etc.

A couple of pics I took:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/camberix/rally/SteelvilleService_04_zpse81d452a.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/camberix/rally/SteelvilleService_03_zps0ffa5243.jpg

The car itself is prepared for the B-Spec class offered by a number of sanctioning bodies. Most of the modifications are aimed mostly at safety and parity with other B-segment cars like the Honda Fit, Mazda2, and such. Outwardly, pretty all you see is the air vent on the roof, Braid rally wheels, hood pins, and mud flaps. A light pod goes on for dark stages. Inside is a roll cage, race seats, and not much else. These are technically still road registered, road legal cars.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/camberix/rally/SalemExpose_06_zpsd26ad6c8.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/camberix/rally/SalemExpose_03_zps7faf22ae.jpg

I talked to Tracey's crew chief, who was Irish interestingly enough, and found out the car was prepared overseas. I don't recall where - Ireland assumed - but he says the Yaris is pretty popular in clubman-level rally there. This particular car may have a future rallying in Europe if/when Tracey no longer races it.

Not my picture, but you can see cars aren't treated gingerly.
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1/10003224_249251831915913_283103900_n.jpg

An all-female driving effort, in the lone Yaris no less, was pretty popular with fans. I got Tracey's autograph to bring to my wife, who is a reluctant bystander (http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46765) to my motorsports interests.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l263/camberix/rally/SalemExpose_02_zpsf89de403.jpg

TRS finished second in class at 100AW, so good result.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/1901815_602631613160243_1943103153_n.jpg

NBC Sports will be airing RallyAmerica events in coming months:
http://www.rally-america.com/news/entry/2014-rally-america-national-championship-to-air-on-nbc-sports-network

[xnamerxx]

Kinda wish they did Rallying out west. I would totally do this with the BS car.

[Exiwolfman]

That is awesome

[CTScott]

I've been following them on Facebook since they built the Yaris, and would really like to have the opportunity to see it in action.

[fnkngrv]

It is fun to watch. Met and hung out with Tracey and Co at the New England Forest Rally in Maine/New Hampshire last summer. Can't believe my TTR logo is still "alive" on the bumper with all the rally action.

[Camberix]

Looks like the car had a bit of a prang at STPR in Pennsylvania a few weeks ago.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t1.0-9/10388998_580734665373499_1969505002041855347_n.jpg

NBC Sports channel will probably show the offending maneuver in its coverage on June 28, 8pm Eastern.

[Astroman]

Ouch

[fnkngrv]

Guess she should have taken me up on the offer to buy ChinoCharles's LB for a spare last year.

sent from my m-o-b-i-l-e

[justjesus]

aw man. that sucks

[CTScott]

I am glad to hear though that she is planning on rebuilding. It is a shame though that I cut up the white chassis that I had.

[justjesus]

well, CT, we can't always know these things...