Beyond the cars, the environmental factors, the fuel economy, the final standings, and beyond victory and defeat, competing in an event like the Rallye international vert de Montréal is a unique opportunity, and maybe not for the reasons you’d imagine.
When you watch the World Rally Championship (WRC) on TV where they drive and/or navigate at 200 km/h on gravel roads, barely avoiding trees and being tossed around like so much laundry, it seems as easy as saying your ABCs.
As for us, we had trouble accomplishing a similar feat – while driving safely and oh-so slowly on nearly deserted roads.
A real lesson in humility, that.
Alone, the driver is headed straight for disaster. On the other hand, the copilot can't go anywhere without the driver. Neither is more important than the other, even if in most cases the guy or gal behind the wheel gets all the glory.
Rallying, whether at 200 or 25km/hr is, in reality, a team sport in the same way that hockey, football and soccer are.
To succeed, you have to be more prepared than a Boy Scout, pay attention to the slightest detail, listen to others, have a firm grasp of math, remain calm at all times, and be a communicator par excellence.
If you or your teammate lack even one of these skills, you just won’t cut it. And that’s when something that seems as languid as a Sunday afternoon drive can quickly turn into a nightmare.
Oh, and you need the complicity of Bonnie and Clyde, too. We rubbed shoulders with a few duos last weekend and they, as one, confirmed their relationship had been sorely tested.
If you're not sure you want to live with someone or you're hesitant about popping the big question, a three-day rally will teach you more about the other person than months of cohabitation, trust us.
This goes way beyond a simple sporting event where you flaunt your fuel-saving skills and try to show up at checkpoints on time.
This is a life-altering experience. You get to know yourself better and learn how to relate better to other people. There's no room for inflated egos or a me-myself-and-I mentality – and you realize that pretty darn fast.
That's the beauty of this sport, and why we can't wait to compete again next year!
When you watch the World Rally Championship (WRC) on TV where they drive and/or navigate at 200 km/h on gravel roads, barely avoiding trees and being tossed around like so much laundry, it seems as easy as saying your ABCs.
As for us, we had trouble accomplishing a similar feat – while driving safely and oh-so slowly on nearly deserted roads.
A real lesson in humility, that.
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| Marc-André Hallé and Olivier Delorme with their 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid (Photo: Sebastien D'Amour) |
Alone, the driver is headed straight for disaster. On the other hand, the copilot can't go anywhere without the driver. Neither is more important than the other, even if in most cases the guy or gal behind the wheel gets all the glory.
Rallying, whether at 200 or 25km/hr is, in reality, a team sport in the same way that hockey, football and soccer are.
To succeed, you have to be more prepared than a Boy Scout, pay attention to the slightest detail, listen to others, have a firm grasp of math, remain calm at all times, and be a communicator par excellence.
If you or your teammate lack even one of these skills, you just won’t cut it. And that’s when something that seems as languid as a Sunday afternoon drive can quickly turn into a nightmare.
Oh, and you need the complicity of Bonnie and Clyde, too. We rubbed shoulders with a few duos last weekend and they, as one, confirmed their relationship had been sorely tested.
If you're not sure you want to live with someone or you're hesitant about popping the big question, a three-day rally will teach you more about the other person than months of cohabitation, trust us.
This goes way beyond a simple sporting event where you flaunt your fuel-saving skills and try to show up at checkpoints on time.
This is a life-altering experience. You get to know yourself better and learn how to relate better to other people. There's no room for inflated egos or a me-myself-and-I mentality – and you realize that pretty darn fast.
That's the beauty of this sport, and why we can't wait to compete again next year!