Ben Bradley asks some random questions while competitors are waiting in the tech line on Thursday evening.
Jeremy Wimpey, Co-Driver, #213 Volkswagen Golf
BB: How do you think you guys are going to do this weekend in MaxAttack!?
JW: We're here to have a good time, and have a good race. I think we've got a lot of good competitors here: Lurch, and Lauchlin for certain, Duplessis in the Scion, probably others I'm forgetting right now. Mike O'Reilly's been coming up in that Focus and he's been running really fast. We're looking forward to a deep field of competition in the MaxAttack!
BB: So you don't have a particular person that you think could be the favorite, you just think any one of that group could do it?
JW: I would bet on Lauchlin, but I'm hoping someone can overhaul him. Maybe we'll be there.
BB: Do you feel it's a disadvantage not having a turbo on these roads, or do you think it's just all down to driver skill?
JW: We did recce today and there's a lot of fast stuff for sure, but I think with two-wheel-drive a lot of it's just about keeping momentum and driving the turns fast. So hopefully we'll be able to have something to show there. We'll see. Certainly power can help, but I don't think we're off too far.
Ian Topping, Driver, #244 Volvo 240
BB: How do you think you're going to fare in the MaxAttack! this weekend?
IT: Right now I think we're just going to try and finish and try and be in the top quarter of the field. We don't really have any specific goals
BB: Do you feel that the rear-wheel-drive gives you any advantage or disadvantage? There aren't too many rear-wheel-drive cars entered in MaxAttack!.
IT: No there are not, but it's just fun. That's the only advantage I have. We're here to have fun and that's all it does. It's a blast to drive.
Matt Bushore, Driver, #548 Volkswagen Jetta
BB: How do you think you're going to fare this weekend, Matt?
MB: That's a good question. If the car runs, and I don't roll, which were our two big problems last year, we should be in the Top 10 in MaxAttack!. How many entries are there?
BB: Last I checked, 26.
MB: So we should be in the Top 26. We've got that sewn up. I would think Top 10, I mean, I would hope, easily, so I don't know.
BB: Is there any particular significance of Red Goat Racing on your back window?
MB: I have two goats that live in my back yard. And every time I let the goats into the garage before a rally something happens to the car. So they're not good luck goats.
BB: And what's the story with pants-less raccoons?
MB: Well, as you know, in literature for whatever reason animals are always wearing a shirt, but no pants. That's how I like to live my life. But it's caused problems.
BB: I guess it's not quite acceptable by the social norms that we live under.
MB: Well that's what's great about MaxAttack!. You know, two-wheel-drive isn't acceptable either, so two-wheel-drive will soon become the de facto norm, as will pant-less rallying. That will really be the big push for next year.
BB: Are you saying literally pant-less, or nomex thongs?
MB: Um, there's a lot of hair down there to burn, so probably the nomex thong would be fine. You avoid chafing, but you're still comfortable.
Jim McClelland, Driver, #724 Toyota MR2
BB: How did recce go for you today?
JM: It was good. It was long, it was hot, but it was pretty good. Trying to get 65 cars in and out of recce, they did a really good job today, I was impressed.
BB: How do you think you're going to fare this weekend?
JM: Well, as one of the only rear-wheel-drive vehicles out here, we'll have our share of challenges. We're really lucky with the fact that with our new suspension we'll be able to sit up a little bit higher and dodge a lot of those New England rocks.
