 The 2000 SPC Rally |
| The 2000 SPC Rally |
| The Super Secret Event During the rally, everyone wondered, "Just what is this event, and why is it being kept so secret?" It turns out that Deebs' brother Chuck is a fireworks & pyrotechnics enthusiast, to put it mildly. And we're not talking about firecrackers and sparklers, but high explosives, large shells, and electronic-control gear. The event was kept secret for as long as possible for a few reasons. The display was meant to be a surprise, and was supposed to be held at Gingerman Raceway after our day out on the track. But since there was rain in the forecast, the show had to be postponed to Saturday night and had to take place in an alternate location - Chuck's front yard in one of Chicago's nicer suburban areas. That brings us to the second reason why things were kept so secret. Because we had to deal with neighbors and the local law enforcement (since this sort of activity isn't very legal), it was decided to do a very quick and small display instead of the full show that was planned.
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Deebs & brother Chuck working on some shells, and setting up the control center for "Project Mayhem".
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The ground display. Many ooohs & ahhhhs could be heard from the crowd.
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| Unfortunately,
I wasn't able to get any photos of the arial shells due to trees and the speed at which
everything took place. I did like the large booming ones though, as you could hear
car alarms going off in the neighborhood and knew that the neighbors were running for
cover wondering what the hell was going on. As we stood anxiously waiting for the last burning pieces to die out, we wouldn't have been surprised to see flashing lights and sirens at any time. We quickly (very quickly) grabbed the ground display, control boxes, all the wiring, and ran for the garage. Too bad we didn't get to see the larger show that was planned to be held at Gingerman. You can bet that if the Rally is scheduled around the 4th of July in 2001, there's an excellent chance that Chuck will fire off some big stuff for our event.
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Later we gathered in Chuck's living room for what has become a rally tradition: the true story of Bill Deebs. Many of us found out about his surprising past and that he's not quite the man we thought he was.
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Rally week came to a close on Saturday evening as people started leaving for home or headed back to the hotel. The Chicago Region SCCA did hold an autocross on Sunday morning, but for most of us, the entire week's activities and track time wore us down. Those who remained Sunday morning woke up late, checked out of the hotel, gathered for breakfast, and headed for home.
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| As you read this account and look at all the photos, just imagine how much must have happened that wasn't (or couldn't be) shown here. Please consider joining the Saturn Performance Club for upcoming events as well as next year's rally. Whether you are a curious spectator wondering what the club is about, or looking to experience some serious track time with a bunch of other enthusiasts - it's always an adventure. You can find information on the club and upcoming events at http://www.saturnperformanceclub.com. If this account of the week's events just isn't enough, Wally should have the rally CD-ROM available soon for around $20. The 1999 Saturn Performance Club Summer Rally Commemorative CD included: Over 750 Pictures at
800x600 Resolution or Higher! E-mail Wally for information on the 2000 CD-ROM or to order your copy today.
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