[penner2k]

http://jalopnik.com/5497042/how-a-500-craigslist-car-beat-400k-rally-racers

This is the multifaceted tale of Bill Caswell, a man who bought a $500 crapcan off Craigslist to run against the $400,000+ rally cars in the World Rally Championship's Rally Mexico race earlier this month. It is a tale of a guy who had a welder, a bunch of credit cards, and a lot of free time but no real backing or funds. It is a story of a dude who taught himself how to build an FIA-legal roll cage, with no prior experience, because he wanted to spend the fabrication fee on race tires instead. It's the story of an enthusiast who drove a rustbucket to a third place finish in a FIA-sanctioned race.


This is a somewhat long read but worth it.

edit:
Now the story from the side of his codriver...
Enjoy

http://jalopnik.com/5500013/i-co+drove-the-500-craigslist-rally-car

[shenmecar]

that is fucking awesome.

[FN-2199]

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/03/500x_dsc_3689.jpg

That car is fucking awesome. Total sleeper :)

[iambuRnz]

That was a very good read. the guys insane!

[jaretron]

awesome.

[TOPEC]

props to him, but it seems like he just got lucky landing at 3rd place because other cars were out of commission.

[penner2k]

props to him, but it seems like he just got lucky landing at 3rd place because other cars were out of commission.

The other cars also had teams of people to fix the car. He had himself, his co-driver, duct tape and borrowed tools from other teams to fix his car.

I wouldnt say it was luck. It was just more determination to actually finish then the other teams.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

long read indeed, but pretty cool

[falcon]

props to him, but it seems like he just got lucky landing at 3rd place because other cars were out of commission.

that's what rally racing is all about. It's who is the fastest over the weekend with the best set up car with fewest problems. The fact that he sounds like a good driver helps too.

[Brianrietta]

I once asked Bill why he insisted on going through every spectator section crossed up and with the engine banging off the limiter. "Dude," he said, "I don't care if it costs me a couple of tenths. It makes the fans go nuts."

Fantastic.

[josh t-1]

this guy is a hero!

[!Tigger]

that guy is an awesome driver.

[Phil@rise]

true grassroots racing the kind of guy that gets us all into it

[Greenstoner]

props for the dude

[hotong]

damn thats sweet

[hal0g0dv2]

good for him

[tiger_handheld]

the stock price of rust buckets just went up on craigslist.

[essel]

sweet, in an e30 too

[StylinRed]

wow... thats awesome, sounds like everyone loved him too.. must've felt like a rock star

[triplexcel]

man. living up the dream

[Underdawg]

EPIC WIN IS EPIC

[fliptuner]

Great read!!!

Reminiscent of John Britton and his V1000.

[crazyazn]

goddamn...fuckin epic

[InvisibleSoul]

It keeps saying "in his class"... so he didn't actually beat those million dollar rally cars, right?

[nack]

story of an underdog

[RabidRat]

It keeps saying "in his class"... so he didn't actually beat those million dollar rally cars, right?

stfu! we want to believe! =)

[penner2k]

It was most likely a more "amateur" class that he was in. I still had the shittiest car and no support team though.

[garage.adrian]

I can't believe this guy actually finished? Considering he had no support crew, True definition of backyard special.

[Nightwalker]

Warmed my gearhead heart :)

[KayC]

http://www.lisamcpherson.org/images/so_much_win_graphic.png