Ridgeline Takes on Pro Rally

Not really off road, but about 132 miles of Pennsylvania State Forest dirt road stages at some satisfying speeds. I used my Ridgeline to run as the lead car (Car #0) for the STPR performance rally in the Rally America series this weekend and it acquitted itself well. The stages were all gravel/dirt with many hairpins and lots of elevation changes. The Ridgeline handled extremely well on the fast corners and transitions and was somewhat frustrating when the traction control kicked in at the hairpins and slow corners but very poised in most situations. The steering allows careful placement for corners on what are all 1 1/2 lane dirt roads with closed-in sight lines. The truck was very controllable even when the surface turned to slick, wet, clay.

We averaged 45 mph (full on rally cars avg. 60-70) on several of the stages and frequently hit speeds of 60-70 on the stages. The Ridgeline took the bumps and camber changes and the steering was accurate and gave good feedback. I have to admit some trepidation going into the event as my previous ride was a very well-set-up Jeep Cherokee, but the stock Honda got the job done. Now if I can just figure out a way to defeat the traction control.

My Ridgeline RTS is modified with a Westin Bullbar to mount Hella Rallye 3000 compact driving lights and installation of an ICOM 2 meter radio and a Wolo
electronic siren and a magnetic yellow strobe. Otherwise quite stock. Here's the location of a picture of the truck on the event:

http://www.onalimbracing.com/gallery2/v/2006stpr/IMG_2154.jpg.html

Shortly we'll be taking it out again to use as course closing at the Maine Forest Rally. Then we'll find out how it does on those rough Maine logging roads. I still have to figure out the wiring to install my Coralba rally odometer that reads to 1000's of a mile. If anyone knows what wire carries the distance info from the tranny to the computer please drop me a line.

Bob Lyle, Keene, N.H.

Did you switch VSA off?

Yes, I tried it both with the VSA off and on, didn't seem to make a lot of difference, the truck still shut off the power until it was damn good and ready. The only way to drive around it was with be real smooth on the throttle and not demand a lot of gas out of hairpins.

Interesting. I wonder if there is a problem with your switch? This past winter in the snow, it was very easy to demonstrate how the stability control would cut power when the wheels spun. Pressing my VSA switch completely disabled it and I was freed to do all the donuts I wanted :D . I'm suprised it didn't work for you.

What was the tire pressure like? Isn't it true that if tire pressure is too low, the VSA will kick in regardless?

Also, I think you can try with the VSA fuse pulled... surely tha twould defeat the thing. :)

And it's a blue. That rocks, Bubba.:D

Awesome! I'm jealous