Idaho Racing News

June 24, 2007
Race Promoter talks about the future of rally racing in Idaho.

By Brian Calkins
For The Owyhee Avalanche

Grandview – Jens Schkade ran a very successful first-time Idaho Rally 2007earlier this month and after taking one week off to relax, he's getting ready to put together the next one.

Primary items on the list for the 2008 version include changing the race date to avoid conflict with other big rallies, lengthening the race course to qualify as a national competition and moving the event farther west in Owyhee County.

Schkade, a German native who moved to Idaho a few years ago, has been a fan of auto racing all his life; especially the road rallies that passed near his home town. After moving to Grandview he missed the races so he decided to promote on his own. After contacting race associations that sanction road rallies he made plans and produced a successful inaugural rally in which competitors race on closed county roads in the Bruneau-Grand View area. Eleven out of state race teams showed up for the event, which, Schkade said will become part of the national schedule next year.

This year, according to Schkade “was a pre-run to make sure [the Idaho Rally 2007 organization] is capable of running a national event.” The pre-run was a success if the opinions of the personnel of NASA (National Auto Sport Association) Rally Sport are any indication. Paula Gibeault, of Rim of the World Rally said that she “has never seen a first time promoter do so much”. Others who have been to many tarmac (asphalt) road rallies shared her views.

Schkade said plans for next year include increasing the total "stage" miles, or the totoal miles competitors cover during the timed event.

“You have to have 90 to 100 stage miles for a national championship race”, he said.

Schkade also said that he will try to pick roads that are more challenging that will make the cars bring the speeds down. He “liked the roads here… they were just really fast,” he said. The roads were good for the event and the drivers but roads with less straight portions are more challenging and also safer.

Schkade also said that for next year he will be looking for roads that are farther west in Owyhee County.

When he picked the roads this year he figured out the routes and then talked to the neighboring residents and the county board of commissioners to apply for permits. After the permit process was completed he had only a few months left to organize the race.

Rally races are run in legs, or stages, with each stage being two or more miles in distance. Race cars start out individually at one minute intervals in a closed section of paved road and race against the clock instead of against each other. The times are added up at the end of each stage and the team with the shortest time at the end of the event is the winner.

Bruce Davis of Sacramento, Calif., and co-driver Jimmy Brandt were crowned Idaho Rally 2007 champions after the inaugural race on June 16.

A rally team consists of three components; a driver, a co-driver (who gives directions) and a maintenance crew.

Most rallies in the United States and even in the rest of the world are run on dirt and gravel roads; some combine dirt, gravel and tarmac (asphalt).

Only one other rally in the US is run entirely on tarmac and that is in New York state; so this rally in Idaho is not only a unique event but could become popular with some of the best drivers in North America.

Schkade said he will try to shift the 2008 event date around to accommodate as many race teams as possible. This year's rally conflicted with a race sanctioned by the Canadian Rally Championship Series.

Finally on the agenda for the 2008 race is expansion of the parent organization, Rally Drift Inc. Schkade said the corporation needs to include two to five more people either as officers or volunteers to assist in getting things done.

“(This year), I ran the whole show until the last week,” Schkade said. “Next year I want to run the politics side [meet with government officials] and deal with financing”.

He also said he will leave much of the organizing of volunteers and course workers to others.