First rally race in years for DirtFish

DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie will holds its first major race in three years this month. The driving school will host Red Bull Global Rally Cross race, on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27. On Monday, Aug. 24, the Snoqualmie City Council approved a special event permit for the race, contingent on staff recommendations. The rally school, located on the former Weyerhaeuser mill site that was annexed into the city in 2012, is allowed by the city to hold two rally-cross races each year.

By Seth Truscott • September 15, 2014 1:17 pm
A rally car slops through a muddy turn at the finish line of the Global RallyCross heat in April 2011. The race drew international drivers and ESPN coverage to the old Snoqualmie Falls mill. DirtFish rally school plans its first car race in three years later this month.
A rally car slops through a muddy turn at the finish line of the Global RallyCross heat in April 2011. The race drew international drivers and ESPN coverage to the old Snoqualmie Falls mill. DirtFish rally school plans its first car race in three years later this month.

DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie will holds its first major race in three years this month.

The driving school will host Red Bull Global Rally Cross race, on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27.

On Monday, Aug. 24, the Snoqualmie City Council approved a special event permit for the race, contingent on staff recommendations. The rally school, located on the former Weyerhaeuser mill site that was annexed into the city in 2012, is allowed by the city to hold two rally-cross races each year.

The school has not held a big race since April of 2011, when the Global Rally Cross Twin Peaks race drew international attention but also ire from the school’s neighbors.

DirtFish General Manager Mac McInnis told the Snoqualmie Council on August 25 that, with Andretti Autosports, NBC TV and Red Bull on board, this race will be different.

“It will be an event that the community is a lot more proud of,” he said.

This fall, the same type of vehicles—specially built rally race cars—will speed through an obstacle course on the former Weyerhaueser mill. As in 2011, the race will include a jump, and cars will zoom through the long “common shed,” a huge relic of the mill’s heyday.

Also planned is a jumbo video screen, performances by a trick car driver from Europe, and the anthem sung by local favorite Austin Jenckes, of NBC’s “The Voice” competition.

McInnis estimates DirtFish has parking for 7,500 vehicles, and guessed that each vehicle might average two to three spectators. “If it’s sunny, we could do well,” he said.

The school hosted part of the parking for last month’s Boeing Classic. For comparison, Boeing Classic drew 33,000 spectators to the TPC Snoqualmie Ridge on the final day of the tournament, and about 90,000 total over its week in August.

Race times and noise

McInnis said races will be held in mid-afternoon, wrapping around 5 p.m. daily. The event is permitted from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The school’s rally cars can’t run louder than 96 decibels, and typically run in the 80s.

The Global RallyCross cars, he said, run between 80 and 104 decibels for six minutes at a time.

“These cars are pretty darn close to the school” decibel limit, McInnis said. “It’s not a like a car race that’s going to run for two or three hours.”

Camping options were to be determined.

“The promoters would like to do it. It is on private property. I understand it is allowable,” McInnis said.

The permit passed unanimously. Originally slated for the evening’s consent agenda, it was separated for council discussion due to the annexation history.