Story in Photos: I Sent My Sister to Rally School...
Believe it or not, off-road riding is not for everyone. (I don't get it either...) But at ATV.com, we like to think of powersports as the gateway to grime – in the best of ways. One such person is my very own big sister, Gigi. An avid outdoorsy mushroom hunter, rock collector, and road cyclist who, as it turns out, hates becoming muddy or dusty. So, I thought it would be fun to put her in a UTV and try to evangelize her into the Church of Dirt.
So, not too long ago, she joined me at DirtFish Rally School in the Pacific Northwest to learn some performance driving skills from their expert [WRC] rally instructors, then apply them to side-by-sides. While it was me who attended the three-day All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) class (in a Subaru, no less), Gigi was given a private, albeit abridged, lesson from the lead coaches before taking hold of the wheel. And that's all she needed to start ripping through the backlot of the facility.
No, she didn't go straight to the dealership and put down a deposit on a fresh SxS afterwards. But she did report having a great time in her subsequent story from the experience, and I suspect her view of being in the muck is a bit less muddy...
What do a mushroom hunter from Portland and a thrill-seeking rally driver at DirtFish have in common? They can both get down in a UTV. (Other than that...literally nothing.)
While the front side of the facility is perfectly set up for WRC and rallycross, their off-road course in the back is an epic training ground for vehicles with a bit more suspension travel.
Polaris' Turbo R made for an ideal educational vessel: fast enough for fun but subdued enough to stay out of trouble.
We hate to see you go, but with a rear end like that, we love to watch you drive away...
In this case, having a "rocky start" is way more exciting.
DirtFish Rally School is the ultimate upgrade to an off-road experience behind the wheel.
The beauty of Washington state is not lost on those who are lucky enough to attend the school.
Gigi took her sighting seriously, and she quickly learned to look through her window to find the exit of a tight turn.
It's not often you can rip a racecourse in the shadow of a mountain range.
Does speed look better in black & white? The jury is still out.
The photographer said "look cool", and, well, you decide...
The challenge of the Pacific Northwest is not only its rugged terrain but the tight treelined trails which make each turn just that much more technical at speed.
It always looks faster in the dust...
We were surprised to find our pretty little Polaris equipped with mud tires. But in the end, with a bit more caution, it still produced all the performance and pleasure it intended.
See? Dust = fast.
The lean looks so much deeper from inside the cabin.
Lift, turn, brake...brake harder... GAS! GAS! GAS!
With such a petite driver at the wheel, this side-by-side could pass as an autonomous prototype...
Black & white photos also make UTVs look artsy. Which means we're refined. (It's true...)
Man, we really love the look of this Turbo R!
There's something so calming about having a pro ride shotgun to tell you exactly where to look, when to turn, how hard to brake, and to give it [exploitive deleted] gas!
What a performance driving school like DirtFish can offer isn't just practical skills, but a base understanding of weight transfer, traction, and lean angle. It all matters.
Nate Tennis, our instructor AT DirtFish, giving us his best Blue Steel before turning a few more laps in the Polaris.
You can be sure Gigi had her fill of dirt by the end of the day, but we don't think she minded too much.
Did we already mention how epic the backdrop is at the DirtFish facility?
Part of drifting a corner is trusting your eyes and looking through the turn. Easy to remember, not always the easiest to execute (at speed).
You can almost hear the RZR Turbo R coming at you through the Pacific Northwest dust!
Getting behind the wheel of a UTV at DirtFish Rally School is a special experience, and one we hope to repeat in the months to come.
Another one bites the dust! She might not trade her mushrooms for mud, but we're certain Gigi has a newfound taste for off-roading.
We couldn't end such a memorable day without the quintessential family photo.
Kyra Sacdalan is an editor and journalist by day, and a PR & marketing wiz by night - with a passion for people, places and things. Someone coined the term 'Cultural Bloodhound,' which is a title she wears with pride. From discovering Haikyos in Japan on a dual-sport motorcycle, to exploring the booming culinary scene of Baja California, racing Go-Karts in Italy to doing donuts in an Ikea parking lot in Russia with professional drifter, or documenting races like the Dakar Rally; the list goes on and with every new experience and interesting idea, she's ready to say 'yes.'
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