Dirt & Diagrams: Conquering the Cold, Part Two - The Snowy Safari Rally Report
The 2025 Snowy Safari lived up to the hype! A monstrous winter storm descended on Minden Saturday night, adding an extra layer of challenge to an already demanding event. The rally community braved the elements, gathering at the Minden Curling Club (PMSC rally headquarters) to see who would conquer the snow and emerge victorious.
The atmosphere was electric. Despite the treacherous conditions, teams from across the province arrived, fueled by coffee and anticipation. Organizer Louis Carbodos, while acknowledging the "great condition" of the roads (a rally driver's euphemism if ever there was one), wisely cautioned everyone to drive within their limits.
This overnight rally, running from 10 pm to 7 am, demanded both mental acuity and resilience. The mantra of "stay on the road, stay on route, stay on time" echoed through the room, tempered by the realistic expectation that snowbanks would claim some victims. Two dedicated "sweep" teams were on standby, ready to assist those who strayed off course.
Competitors arrived well-prepared, their cars sporting top-of-the-line winter tires and auxiliary lights. Warm gear, safety triangles, and tow ropes were packed, not in expectation of needing them, but in recognition of the potential for a snowy safari to go sideways.
Light bars blazing! Billy Last reported that understeer and a lack of grip was a constant problem.
Steve Deneka and I, car number two, quickly discovered the challenge ahead. The deep snow kept Steve's Subaru working hard for traction all night. Leg A, particularly Kushog Lake Road with its icy base, was a true test. My navigation skills, aided by the GPS, proved crucial, allowing me to warn Steve of upcoming hazards and help him maintain the required CAS-average speeds. We knew we had to push hard to compete against formidable teams like Carbodos & Leonard, Huber & Johnson, and Hancher & Hall if we wanted to maintain our lead.
Returning to the Curling Club around 3am for a short break, we exchanged route cards and refueled with much-needed coffee. The snow continued to fall, and the last leg of the rally demanded even more caution. A close encounter with a snowbank served as a stark reminder to avoid unnecessary risks. The combination of countless hills, corners, and the late hour began to take its toll. Even simple instructions became muddled, leading to off-route excursions – we experienced one ourselves, thankfully only losing a minute. Motion sickness also plagued some navigators as we noted seeing teams pulled over with a sick navigator by the roadside.
Despite the hardships, the post-rally buzz was overwhelmingly positive. Teams praised the event's organization and embraced the demanding conditions.
The awards ceremony, held over a delicious home-cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs, saw a tie for first place. Christoph Trauttmansdorff and Blake Martin, and Hancher & Hall both finished with a score of 7.6.
https://pmsc.on.ca/
https://www.kwrc.on.ca/
In a nail-biting finish, Trauttmansdorff & Martin took the win by virtue of having more zeroed checkpoints. Ronza and Bartlett claimed victory in the novice category.
A prophetic message
The atmosphere was electric. Despite the treacherous conditions, teams from across the province arrived, fueled by coffee and anticipation. Organizer Louis Carbodos, while acknowledging the "great condition" of the roads (a rally driver's euphemism if ever there was one), wisely cautioned everyone to drive within their limits.
Credit: Ontario Storm Reports
This overnight rally, running from 10 pm to 7 am, demanded both mental acuity and resilience. The mantra of "stay on the road, stay on route, stay on time" echoed through the room, tempered by the realistic expectation that snowbanks would claim some victims. Two dedicated "sweep" teams were on standby, ready to assist those who strayed off course.
Competitors arrived well-prepared, their cars sporting top-of-the-line winter tires and auxiliary lights. Warm gear, safety triangles, and tow ropes were packed, not in expectation of needing them, but in recognition of the potential for a snowy safari to go sideways.
Light bars blazing! Billy Last reported that understeer and a lack of grip was a constant problem.
Here are some photos showcasing the diverse machines that competed in the Snowy Safari Rally.
Alain Cabardos was the lone Expert driver competing in a FWD car also reported bouncing off "just a few" snow banks.
Steve Deneka and I, car number two, quickly discovered the challenge ahead. The deep snow kept Steve's Subaru working hard for traction all night. Leg A, particularly Kushog Lake Road with its icy base, was a true test. My navigation skills, aided by the GPS, proved crucial, allowing me to warn Steve of upcoming hazards and help him maintain the required CAS-average speeds. We knew we had to push hard to compete against formidable teams like Carbodos & Leonard, Huber & Johnson, and Hancher & Hall if we wanted to maintain our lead.
Returning to the Curling Club around 3am for a short break, we exchanged route cards and refueled with much-needed coffee. The snow continued to fall, and the last leg of the rally demanded even more caution. A close encounter with a snowbank served as a stark reminder to avoid unnecessary risks. The combination of countless hills, corners, and the late hour began to take its toll. Even simple instructions became muddled, leading to off-route excursions – we experienced one ourselves, thankfully only losing a minute. Motion sickness also plagued some navigators as we noted seeing teams pulled over with a sick navigator by the roadside.
Despite the hardships, the post-rally buzz was overwhelmingly positive. Teams praised the event's organization and embraced the demanding conditions.
Martin Loverage, Louis Cabardos (organizer), Ross Wood
The awards ceremony, held over a delicious home-cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs, saw a tie for first place. Christoph Trauttmansdorff and Blake Martin, and Hancher & Hall both finished with a score of 7.6.
https://pmsc.on.ca/
https://www.kwrc.on.ca/
In a nail-biting finish, Trauttmansdorff & Martin took the win by virtue of having more zeroed checkpoints. Ronza and Bartlett claimed victory in the novice category.
The champions! Trauttmansdorff & Martin
Trevor Hancher, who finished second overall, admitted to several unlucky moments but thoroughly enjoyed the challenging drive.
Steve and I were thrilled with our fourth-place finish, exceeding our initial expectations. As any rally competitor knows, things rarely go perfectly. A mysterious oil warning light and a dead rally computer added to our adventure. But in the end, we had a blast.
They call it the Snowy Safari for a reason. It's a wild beast of a rally, and I'm determined to tame it, eventually.
They call it the Snowy Safari for a reason. It's a wild beast of a rally, and I'm determined to tame it, eventually.
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