If you’re a car enthusiast and you’ve never been on a organized rally, I HIGHLY suggest you run in one, co-pilot or driver doesn’t matter – just give it a try. Lamborghini and Ferrari Club drives don’t count. Come on, let’s be honest – most of these involve eating breakfast/lunch somewhere, asking how many “other” cars are in your collection, standing around your car with your sunglasses on and are quite boring to be honest. BMW CCA or PCA events are better, but too grass roots for me. An organized rally such as Gumball (Which is the grand daddy, gangsta real deal of em all) is often too expensive for most people to participate in unsponsored and I’m sure everyone’s been on their own midnight street runs. Then there’s Targa Trophy – $250 to enter, includes “party” access if that’s your thing and has a solid drive that is well thought out and organized, along with some fun checkpoint markers that are required to keep you in line.
Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, we couldn’t run the Orange County event – which is rather funny considering I was dropped off by a pair of Ferrari’s (458 and 430) to co-pilot/navigate Tye’s GT3. Tye committed us to hit the LA one a month later and here we were.
I slummed it this time and had to drive my own beater to Hollywood – no Ferrari drop offs. LOL.
NOTE: I didn’t shoot a lot during the drive as I was actually busy trying to convince Tye that 1. We were going the right way. 2. To err towards the mountain since I was on the cliff side.
Shot of Tye’s 997 GT3. Interesting note, both times the TT staff wouldn’t give him his stickers or anything until I arrived. As soon as I got there we slapped these suckers on.Â
Taj’s F458 on DPE’s – I should be in the military apparently LOL.Â
Temp as we were leaving the lot. Appropriate song for the day…at this point Tye and I had figured 98 was nuts – we had NO IDEA how hot it was gonna get thru Angeles Crest.Â
Bill Wu’s rented 458 (just for the event LOL)…now THAT’S GANGSTA.Â
First checkpoint was a Gas Station in past Glendale somewhere. To be honest, I don’t even remember the city. I do remember holding 2 iPhones, the actual directions from Targa Trophy and a Nexus S. Tye and I were trying to figure out the best route with New Edition bumping in the background. Rather than take sidestreets as suggested on the Targa Trophy directions, we hopped on the 101 and figured we were WAAAAAAAAAAY behind everyone. We didn’t see any of the other cars – Tye and I were busting up saying we got owned, so he starts doing Mach 3 on the Glendale Freeway. We exit and what do you know, we’re right behind Bill and the boys.
Checkpoint 1: Take a picture of the driver putting gas (exactly $2.50 no more, no less) along with a receipt and upload to AutoHelix Facebook site.
You know how hard it is to upload a damn pic with subject and content line to type while sitting passenger seat in a GT3 going 90 down an uneven side road in a GT3? Let’s just say…it’s like threading a needle on colossus.
Here’s Tye mugging for the camera..and ladies I swear that’s not Vin Diesel LOL.
Bill Wu again – as we entered Angeles Crest. Tye was pushing on him most of the drive – he let us pass about halfway thru.Â
Vid of another guy who let us pass – apparently his car was rubbing hard.
http://www.tubechop.com/watch/201022
Quick props and respect to my buddy Tye. HOMEBOY CAN DRIVE. I knew he had track days, lots of time behind the wheel etc. His previous car was a track purpose build – but I’m never one to sit idly by while someone takes my life in their hands in excess of 154MPH. It takes a lot of guts on the passenger-side especially for those of us who are USED to being in control. All I can say is I’m VERY verbal if I think someone is on the edge and I never said a word thru the twisties or flat out on the straights, even when we ran off a bit LOL (Tye blames the tires, I agree) – My only comment was to push towards the mountain since the majority of time I was on the cliff side. Mad driving skills man – I’ll be your wingman anytime LOL.
Yeah, it got hotter as we made our way out of Angeles Crest and towards Checkpoint 2 – an In & Out. LOL.
At the exit for In & Out in Sylmar…that’s the PoPo bustin a 458, Cali and CLS
Super Trofeo Style Gallardo cutting in – he didn’t want any from the PoPo either LOL.
Checkpoint 2 – In & Out: Buy a small drink, keep the receipt.
I wish I had some pics of this because it was legendary LOL. We pull up and there are at least 7 cars from the rally in the lot, people are running in…there’s a line since it’s right after lunch. I get in line and guys are trying to make deals with customers – “Hey, can I cut and I’ll buy you a medium drink?” etc. I’m just patient, figuring we’ll make up the time because Tye has been driving like I’m in labor. As guys are trying to wheel and deal, an In & Out employee walks to the front, opens a new register and yells “Which one of you is Albert?” – I roll up like I’m accepting an award, give the guy $2 – get my receipt and say thanks. At this point I figure it’s my ultra lee’s celebrity that he recognized so I play it off like I knew it all along…I walk out and Tye’s at the front with the passenger door swung open saying “You get hooked up? I asked this guy outside to help us out”….DAMN…wasn’t my SWAG apparently.
Did I mention it got HOTTER? Yeah, that’s 115 degrees…
Blasting thru to the last checkpoint – we passed a few cars at a pretty incredible rate of speed.
Final Checkpoint – Take a pic of the hotel sign where John Belushi died…yeah, I had to google this one. But we figured it was @Chateau.
Once again they wanted an upload which is just slightly challenging as we’re cutting down side streets LOL.
Finish – I had to take a shot of the Vette we blasted past at Mach 3. Passenger came out and gave me a high five and was like “HOW THE F*CK fast were you guys going?”.Â
Results aren’t up so I’m not sure where we placed LOL. Somewhere in the middle probably, but we had a blast and that’s all that matters.
Special thanks to Tye, Taj and the Targa Trophy team for putting on a great event!
