Has Anyone Run the Alcan 5000?

[williaty]

I'm looking seriously at doing this event this year. Has anyone run it or been involved in a team running it?

[KevinWelker]

There's some folks on specialstage that have recently and in the past.

The AlCan, Dakar, Panamericana, Newfoundland, and rally Thailand are on my list to try to do before I die. Pretty lofty goals, but I gotta try.

[UP2MTNS]

the alcan is on my list as well, but the WINTER alcan. They alternate, every 2 years. So 2012 is my goal for the next one.

Its not that hard on the vehicles, which is nice...in the winter, obviously you have a lot of extreme cold weather prep to do, as well as winter studded tires.

There's a yahoo group for it...
Summer
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alcan5000/

Winter
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/AlcanWinterRally/


Paul Eklund is a guy to talk to as well.


I'm not sure if my Dodge Ram 2500 is the best vehicle for the winter alcan though.....gets terrible MPG in 4x4....

[williaty]

1) winter, definitely
2) To be run in my RS wagon

[UP2MTNS]

1) winter, definitely
2) To be run in my RS wagon

1) then you got some time....this year is summer alcan ;)

2) lots so suby's run it....RS wagon should be good....gotta carry a few spares, lots of survival gear, etc.

I'll see if I can dig up the list I had, I was supposed to co-drive in the 2008 winter alcan, but my ride dropped out about a month before it was supposed to happen.

$2000 for 10 days (including hotels) btween two people is a pretty good deal.

[ZED E85]

I would love to do the winter Alcan...maybe we should start planning a DI multi-car ALCAN 5000 team for 2012

[UP2MTNS]

I would love to do the winter Alcan...maybe we should start planning a DI multi-car ALCAN 5000 team for 2012

fawk yeah...

[williaty]

Works for me. Mutual support is always a good thing.

[wgl]

I've run three Alcan Winter Rallies:

1990 in factory sponsored prototype/pre-production Eagle Talon AWD
1992 in factory sponsored Subaru Legacy Turbo Wagon (1st Overall)
1994 in factory sponsored Ford Explorer

I also won the 1998 Rally of the Lost Patrol (Quesnel, BC to Inuvik, NWT & back) in a factory sponsored Subaru Outback SUS.

The Alcan is a great drive, especially in winter. My first trip up the Dempster Highway to the Arctic Circle is one of my cherished memories. There's nothing else quite like it in North America.

I don't know that I'd agree with the comment about the winter Alcan being easy on vehicles. Depending on the severity of frost heaves (varies from year to year) the suspension will take a severe beating. You WILL return with rock damage on all foreward-facing surfaces (windshield, light lenses, leading edge of hood, etc), even if you try to shroud them with polycarbonate guards. Few teams make it through the event without at least one off-road excursion. Several cars have been balled up and donated to the Queen over the years. Probably best to assume the car is disposable.

While the entry fee looks attractive you have to remember to budget for fuel, food, etc that gets trucked in from a great distance to remote areas of northern Canada. In 1992 fuel in the Yukon and NWT was selling for the equivalent of around US$7.25/gal. I don't know what it sells for today. Cars tend to use a lot of fuel at 40 below...

Greg Lester

[ZED E85]

I already have cold weather work experience (working outside on the flightline in Minot, ND for 7 years), winter driving experience (Minot and growing up in WI), and heated leather seats. Just need to finish my in car PC navigation system, buy a basket for my roof rack, an engine rebuild so it's reliable still when the time comes, some studded tires, maybe a light bar, get some TSD experience and $$$$$. I think I might actually be able to pull this off :)

[ricetiva]

I already have cold weather work experience (working outside on the flightline in Minot, ND for 7 years), winter driving experience (Minot and growing up in WI), and heated leather seats. Just need to finish my in car PC navigation system, buy a basket for my roof rack, an engine rebuild so it's reliable still when the time comes, some studded tires, maybe a light bar, get some TSD experience and $$$$$. I think I might actually be able to pull this off :)


im sure the weather in ND is nothing like it is up there, i was born and raised in ND and im willing to be that when its cold as hell here its warm compared to there!

[UP2MTNS]

I already have cold weather work experience (working outside on the flightline in Minot, ND for 7 years), winter driving experience (Minot and growing up in WI), and heated leather seats. Just need to finish my in car PC navigation system, buy a basket for my roof rack, an engine rebuild so it's reliable still when the time comes, some studded tires, maybe a light bar, get some TSD experience and $$$$$. I think I might actually be able to pull this off :)

I'd co-drive for you ;) (but seriously, I will if you're interested)



and WGL, yes, obviously you're right on how hard it is on cars...I guess I was comparing to stage rally abuse and prep, and obviously you don't need a cage (nor do you want to pull the interior to help shield from -30 degree temps).

BTW, I bet you've got some good stories.....do tell!!

[wgl]

1990 was an exceptionally cold winter in northern Canada and the interior of Alaska. We got to experience -54C in Stewart Crossing, Yukon.

When it gets really cold (below -25F) vehicles do strange things. Adhesives get brittle and trim falls off when you shut doors. Some heating systems can't maintain more than 40F cabin temperature, and most glass frosts over. Brake, clutch & power steering fluids gel. Crankcase breathers ice shut, and crank/cam seals blow out. Control modules, which are invariably buried in some impossible-to-reach location, frost up and malfunction.

[Gnome]

wow, i would love to be in this....
that sounds epic

[247motoring]

did i hear thailand? hehe. let me know if you do go.

There's some folks on specialstage that have recently and in the past.

The AlCan, Dakar, Panamericana, Newfoundland, and rally Thailand are on my list to try to do before I die. Pretty lofty goals, but I gotta try.

[KevinWelker]

I'm going there in June to scout it out, er I mean as a belated honeymoon.

[247motoring]

where you going in thailand? phuket? my buddy just got back from there. pretty cool.

[ProRallyCodriver]

I have a standing invite to do Rally Thailand w/ Nui Srisook. He's done it a couple times, is there now but spends most of his time in the states. I haven't gone yet because of the time commitment w/ baby and now toddler past few years but once he is a little older, maybe.

If you want to codrive an Evo4 in Thailand, I can put you in touch w/ Nui. He's got places to stay and what not so your expenses would probably just be getting there.

Pics here:
http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34712