Olympus Rally stirs up some dust Contributor: Jill Andrews, JillAgain Travels
First you hear a distant rev of an engine, then dust above the horizon, next the spectators closer to the action ring their cow bells and the car emerges over a jump and into a 180° drift turn and is gone. This is Rally Car Racing on the Hood Canal and it is awesome! Over 40 teams will be returning to the Hood Canal this year for two great rally car races with an international draw. The 2019 DirtFish Olympus Rally presented by Subaruparts.com will be over the weekend of April 27 – 28 with multiple events around Shelton, WA to entertain all ages of race fans. This is the 3rd stop on a national tour for the American Rally Association. Kicking off the weekend is the Parc Expose where the teams line Railroad Avenue in Shelton with race cars. Spectators have the best opportunity to meet the teams and take pictures. The original Olympus Rally was held in 1973. After taking a hiatus through 8090’s, the rally returned in 2006 and has been pulling more teams and spectators every year. In 2018 the race was featured on Discover’s “Shifting Gears” with Aaron Kaufman.
There are no grandstands. Olympus Rally is known for its long and twisting stage roads, some in excess of 25 miles. Some stages cover so much ground, the weather can be different at the beginning and end of a stage. The rally is a test of endurance, both for the cars and the driver's mettle. A world class stage rally event, Olympus has seen competitors from around the globe come and compete to be the fastest in the Olympic Forests.
This is a fun adventure in accessing the viewing locations through nearly 200 transit miles of gravel roads lacing through the hills around Shelton. Race maps and details about the weekend events are available in early April at the local Les Schwab and locations around Shelton. The racing action takes place on Green Diamond Resources forestry land. Spectators should plan for weather, bringing a chair, water and snacks as the conditions are pretty primitive – but definately front row! Wear clothing and footwear to match the rugged terrain.
SAVE THE DATE
If you can't make the April event, be sure to plan on spectating the Tour de Forest Rally, Sept 21, with 200 transit miles of loose and packed gravel through FJORD 36 Olympia, Montesano, & Shelton, WA
36
