A shot of Eric Burmeister and Eric Adams in the MP3 at the Susquehannock Trails Pro Rally in Wellsboro,PA

 

Dude! Thats me! j/k Nice pic.

Jason

 

Hmm....does that mean that we might see some real horses and all-wheel drive one day?

 

NO! Actually that car is mostly stock and Front wheel drive

 

Burmeister used to post on this site every now and then, I wonder where he is now

 

Actually Eric's rally Protege has an FSZE,full roll cage, dash mounted e-brake, tubular headers/free flowing exhaust (no cats), racing seats w/ 5 point harnesses, RX-7 brakes...etc,etc,etc...

Nearly stock...I think not...

 

In the rally world that is nearly stock!

 

The shell is built to open class spec with a quick remove rear tubular subframe, a more robust cage than many WRC cars and much metal replaced around suspension points to allow the car to withstand major jumps. (We went to Europe and studied proper rally car preparation and took a lot of notes)

It also sports custom suspension arms (all tubular with quick adj. rod ends). The main hoop extends through the floor and becomes the front trailing arm mount...it truly is now a tube frame race car from front to rear. The body is just along for the ride.

It also has custom built Sachs/Eibach suspension (with ext. resevoirs before next rally), a close ratio trans w/ LSD, RX7 four pot brakes, all fuel and brake lines run inside the car (braided), plastic rear windows, a 1.5:1 steering quickener, custom chrome-moly pedal tree operating the twin Tilton master cylinder w/ balance bar setup, and is outfitted for night rallying with 2 KC HID pencil beams and 2 PIAA 130w halogen driving lamps. Oh yes, it has the coolest hydraulic handbrake on the SCCA ProRally circuit.

That just leaves the motor. Admittedly, we have struggled in this department. Hmmm...all I can say is keep watching. We are planning for something big to happen under the hood. REAL big! (still N/A 2.0L though...want to stay in G2)

So I guess I have to respectfully disagree with you. The car is very much a full blown stage rally car and is in the top 5% in this country with regards to preparation. No, it is not a 4wd Open class car, as neither Mazda nor us has the kind of money required to go after Prodrive/Subaru. It would take many millions. It is, however, one damn nice fully prepared car that I am proud to drive!

I have to give Racecraft Engineering in Holland, MI the credit for the quality of the build and, of course, Mazda.

I hope you all get a chance to come to a rally and see it in person. Please introduce yourselves...love to meet my Protege brothers (and sisters).


All my love,
Lurch

Eric Burmeister
Burmeister Rallysport

 

I stand Corrected, sorry. The group 2 car (Nissan Sentra SER) I navigate in is stock except for saftey and struts, so I assumed yours was close, forgetting that group 2 allows that kind of stuff

 

No prob... If that is all the mods the Sentra has, perhaps it could fit in Production? Many P cars end up in G2, but aren't built to anywhere near the extent of the rules.

The rules for G2, like Open, allow you to move suspension points, use any trans (even sequential) and no minimum weight (yet). That is one more place we could stand to improve significantly.

We built the car strong enough to be built into an Open (350+hp, 4wd) car and we built the cage to FIA Group A specs cuz we weren't sure where Mazda wanted to go with it in the future. Hence the car is a bit porky. We are slowly cutting away excess metal and replacing bits with carbon where appropriate (and $ allows).

Cheers,
Lurch

 

I think because the car was gutted it can't go in Production. Production is definately too slow for my driver, We won in group2, and beat everyone in group 5 and production GT and finished ahead of most of the open class cars at Ski Sawmill Rally. Louis Teixiera is a great driver he, is leading the NE divisionals. Unfortunately, I can't compete with him in the Pro Rallies because I am working for Hyundai during those events. Are you doing Pikes Peak?

Me Navigating:

 

Cool photo from the right seat!!

No, I'm not "invited" to PPIHC this year. Only drivers of Open or Group N 4wd cars were invited. It only counts toward the Overall Manufacturer Championship (factory Sub, Mitsu, and Hyun.) so there is really no point in any other drivers going...although a few O and GN privateers are going just for bragging rights.

I am using this time between PA and ME to do extensive suspension and engine development work. Hope to have a few major improvements before Maine.

Good luck in the Sentra and have fun with the Hyundai crew. Tony is a super person and JB commands a lot of respect as the patriarch of the sport in this country (as I'm sure you know).

Flat over crest,
Lurch

 

JB is interesting to say the least. I will make sure to say Hi to you in Maine ( I will be at all the events) The Irony- Hyundai is paying for my Mazda
Here is another shot of me Navigatin' for Tim O'Neil at a test stage at STPR Last year, the car is the Production Class Hyundai Tiburon

 

Hey Mopho,

I just realized...you're Morgan, aren't you?! I didn't realize you were a Protege owner as well. I just wanted to let you know that your photos are among the best I have seen in rallying. Stunning backdrops, excellent composition, brilliant colors, and great action. I like Lorne's stuff, too...I'd say you two are above the rest documenting the US series. Thank you for all your hard work.

Check out this guy's webpage everyone... Amazing stuff!

Thanks again,
Lurch

 

Yeah it's me, Thanks! small world, eh. That's funny, I thought you knew it was me. I bought a Pro 5 just before STPR, pretty much left the dealers lot in Boston and drove to PA. I have been meaning to go over to you and say hi, check out the car. I have been shooting for Hyundai at the rallies, that is why my photos tend to only cover the top cars. Working at the rallies is kind of like hosting a party; all your friends are there but you never get the chance to talk to any of them.
BTW there is a possibility that you will be in Road and Track. I shot STPR for them. They are doing a story that will run on their website and maybe the magazine on what it is like to rally. They were driving the Production Hyundai. The story is also going to cover some of the other cars. I submitted the photo of you that I posted at the opening of this thread. We'll see.
Do have a team website?