It all started with some talk on the LCML (Land Cruiser Mailing List) about a computer game called 'Screamer'. I don't know why it's named that, there is no screaming, no gore, no killing. It's a game where you must navigate a off-road vehicle thru a timed course. Everyone was commenting on it and I mentioned that I liked it because it combined 2 of my favorite 'spectator sports'; Off-Roading and Rally Racing.

This lead to a response from Robert VanLane, a fellow Cruiser owner  who happens to live in Japan and participates in both off-roading and rally racing himself. Talking to him lead to me connecting with some folks from the Chattanooga Region SCCA. This bunch talked me and Kristian into coming up and working as part of the Rally Staff for the 2002 Cherokee Trails International Pro Rally in the Cherokee National Forest near Cleveland, TN. We worked as Service Marshals for the event. We had a blast and we were hooked. Some pictures are located HERE.

A couple months later, and we were again working as Rally Staff, this time for the 2003 Sand Hills Sand Blast Rally in the Sand Hills State Forest near Cheraw, SC. This time we worked as Course Marshals. Pics from that event are located HERE.

Working was lots of fun, we learned a lot and met a lot of the 'Rally' folks from the all over. This of course only made us more hungry for action. It wasn't long (maybe a month) before our new found friends had talked us into participating in a RallyCross event. The story of that little adventure in Resaca, GA is located HERE.

This 'dirt' event was soon followed by word of a asphalt "RoadCross" which was held in Brentwood, TN at the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home. It was a 'hairy' event. We did real good, coming in second in our class. Pics for that event are located HERE.

Just one week later and we were headed back up to Resaca GA for their big 2 day, mid-season Summer Shootout event. Complete story and pictures are located HERE.

Due to work schedules and postponed events, we didn't do any Rallying in August. But in September, we were headed back up to Brentwood for the 2nd Spokes RoadCross, the "Lucky 13". Pretty fast paced, didn't get many pictures, but did manage to get a little (20 min?) of video. Story and pictures are HERE.

In November we headed back over to Cheraw, SC for the 2nd running this year of the Sand Hills Sand Blast Rally. Had another great time. Those are real good folks to work with over there. Pics and story are HERE.

Not long after Chattanooga's Summer Shootout competition, we started to realize that we needed to find a replacement Rally vehicle for the infamous RallyRanger (which is my daily-to-work driver). So we purchased a 1987 Saab 900 to start building as our 'new' RallyCross car.

So, as the 2003 season drew to a close, the RallyRanger was officially retired from it's brief but fun racing career. Thanks for getting us started.