Oregon Trail Rally 2016 was underway on Friday April 22 and Portland International Raceways.
This year, we were shocked to hear the loss of BMX legend Dave Mirra in February after taking his own life from depression.
Mirra got his first chance to drive a top specification Open Class Subaru rally car in competition on the final day in 2008 at the Oregon Trail Rally, after swapping cars with Monster Energy teammate Ken Block.
Mirra was nothing short of impressive at the wheel of Block’s 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STi, netting a 3rd and a 4th fastest overall stage time on two of the four competition stages run on Sunday.
The two friends kept things interesting by arranging a car swap with each other! Block literally signed his top-spec Open class rally car over to Mirra on Sunday with a message on the hood that read; “Congrats Dave, it’s graduation day– here’s your new car. Keep the shiny side up!”
http://www.motorsport.com/rally/news/oregon-trail-mirra-block-swap-subaru-rally-cars/
Mirra competed in the Oregon Trail Rally in 2009, 2010 and retiring at the end of the season in 2011.
Mirra struggled deep depression as friends say he continued to feel “lost” despite his important role in the community. Sadly, it appears Dave may have even battled with these issues long before his retirement in 2011.
If you need help, please remove that suicide is the only option. You are worth it and life is worth it! There is help.
1 (800) 273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Day 2 of the Oregon Trail Rally was full of new stages near Goldendale, Washington including the Maryhill Loop Road off of U.S. Route 97.
The spectating view point was incredible to watch. Built in 1911 as the first asphalt road in Washington State, and bypassed by the present U.S. Route 97 after World War II, the road achieved low grades with horseshow curves. The design became the model for the Figure-Eight Loops on the Historical Columbia Highway in Oregon. The road is now owned by the Maryhill Museum of Art.
And most beautifully, each year, from the end of April, through the middle of May, an amazing springtime bloom occurs alongside Oregon and Washington’s Columbia River. Brilliant yellow Balsam root and blue-purple lupine blossom for miles across the meadows, hillsides, and oak-dotted ravines of the Columbia Hills.
David Higgins/Craig Drew and Travis Pastrana/Christian Edstrom rallied their way through the rolling hills of Dufur, Oregon on Day 3 of Round 3 of the Oregon Trail Rally. Between these 2 Subaru team mates, it was nothing short of nail bitting as their times were within mere seconds of each other through the 3 day event.
There was also a battle between Ryan Millen/Christina Tate and Cameron Steely/Preston Osborn as they made their ways in the 2wd class. Steely had a bit of an edge on the final two stages of Sundays rally with the lead over Millen but with a flat on the last stage, Millen/Tate were able to pass Steely on time and take the win.
David Higgins took his 8th consecutive win of the Oregon Trail Rally and was not ready to let Pastrana take away its streak.
For spectators, the stages had some amazing action packed spots to watch.
Thank you to all the volunteers of this event and to the Oregon Trail Rally for making this possible.
– See more at: http://www.rally-america.com/news/entry/battle-royal-between-subaru-teammates-and-ford-honda-manufactures-at-2016-o#sthash.okPB28Fe.dpuf
