Travis: I'm going to contradict that, because I saw an in-car video of where you're going down a straightaway, sliding, almost came to a stop . . . but then flipped over a cliff.
Dave: That wasn't too bad. That was because my co-driver at the time had fear in his voice that threw me off . . .
2NR: . . . Hence the former co-driver status! [laughter] So, how important are co-driver/navigators?
Travis: The difference between First and Fifth is less than a second per mile. The difference between a good co-driver and a great one is more than a second per mile. If you don't trust your co-driver--let's say one time a mile, or one every ten turns--that will cost you a half a second per mile, and that's the difference between a podium and not.
2NR: What's been your greatest moment in rally?
Travis: Every time I beat Ken. [laughter]
Dave: Tying Ken Block at X Games my first time out. [more laughter]
Ken: Wow! [laughter]
Travis: Seriously though, driving with Colin McRae at the first X Games has been one of the most amazing experiences in my life. To be somewhat competitive with him, and to go into the last stage that close--regardless of the outcome--was what sealed my new career.
Ken: Mine involves Colin McRae, too--pressuring him into rolling in X Games 13. [laughter]
2NR: Is there any interest to try other forms of motorsports?
Travis: I love anything with a motor, but for me, rally is the ultimate four-wheel sport.
Dave: I'm pretty content with rally right now. I'm trying to get consistent and learn more about it.
Ken: I'd like to do the Baja 1000 or a similar race--it sounds like a thousand-mile rally. I love sliding, so I'd like to get better at rear-wheel-drive drifting. I've done a little bit with Vaughn Gittin, and there's a finesse and technique to drifting that I'd like to learn more about.
2NR: Travis and Dave, have you guys considered drifting?
Travis: Tried it and it really didn't do much for me. It was fun; I liked sliding the cars around, but it just wasn't rally.
Dave: Sure, I'd love to try! Any opportunity to try a new type of driving is cool.
2NR: Lastly, considering your day job, what do you guys do for excitement?
Dave: My day job. Riding bikes, going to the gym and rally racing is enough excitement for me.
Travis: I had last weekend off--my first since last Thanksgiving--and I went and raced motocross. My last weekend off before that, I went to race cars in Omaha, NE. So I'm either practicing with my team or I'm out spending money doing the same thing. [laughter]
Ken: I enjoy gymkhana, and any opportunities to take my rally car and do something fun where there's no pressure. Northstar Ski Resort recently let me drive my rally car around their facility, and I had a blast! These cars are incredible, and there's so much potential besides the racing. Any opportunity I get to test their limits, I jump at the chance.
2NR: Pun intended?
[laughter]
X Games 15 Rally
Course Preview
The X Games Super Special Stage is a dual course where two teams each run one of the 7,000-foot long courses, run back into the stadium, switch courses and race back into the stadium to cross the finish line.
5 Most Memorable
X Games Rally Moments
Of all the heart-stopping, crowd-riling, dirt-encrusted moments in X Games Rally, here's our pick for the top five:
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Unknown rally competitor Travis Hanson beats X Games 14 pre-event favorite and 2004 PWRC c
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After Andrew Comrie-Picard flips his EVO in X Games 14 (below), Dave Mirra, despite a bust
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Andrew Comrie-Picard dramatically flips end-over-end after attempting to land the 70 foot
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Colin McRae rolls in the final and lands back on his wheels, allowing Pastrana to narrowly
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In the last nano-seconds of the Gold medal match of X Games 13, Travis Pastrana crashes in
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Open Class Vs
Super Production Class
Travis and Ken compete in the Open Class, Dave in Super Production. what's the difference between the two? Take a look:
Open Class
'09 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Output: 320 HP; 425 lb-ft torque (est.)
Weight: Under 3,000 lbs
Engine: Bored and stroked 2.2L block; MoTeC M880 ECU; GReddy radiator, front-mount intercooler; Vermont SportsCar intercooler piping
Wheels/Tires: Work Gravel rims (15x7); BFGoodrich GZS gravel tires