I believe many of you here are familiar with the Alcan 5000 but just in case, here's a good recap:
We’re rolling out in about a week for the Alcan 5000, and our chariot of choice is… a mostly stock 2011 BMW X5.
Why the X5? Well, we wanted something comfortable enough for long days on the road, powerful enough to eat up the miles, and with just enough ground clearance to handle the rougher stretches. And, to be honest, I know these cars inside and out—so if (or when) it decides to act up, I’ll be ready to wrench on it.
Sure, we could’ve gone with the “safe bet” and taken a Toyota Tacoma. But really, where’s the adventure in driving something that never breaks? Half the fun of a rally like this is the unexpected, and the X5 will definitely keep things interesting.
Oh, and that's what my wife wanted. Tiny detail.
Our X5 has the N55 engine which is essentially the same as the new Grenadier. We're bring some spare parts to cover the most common issues, as described here:
We bolted on a roof rack to haul extra fuel, and this week it’s getting a set of OEM 18" wheels wrapped in A/T tires. Might even slap on a few decals—because everyone knows stickers add at least 5 horsepower.
Other than that, it’s basically stock. It even came with adaptive drive and comfort seats, which have roughly one million possible adjustments… including for the passenger, so no excuses for being uncomfortable while we rattle our way to Alaska
Here is the route for this year:
Unfortunately, there have been quite a few cancellations, so it looks like we’ll be a smaller group this year. The good news is our friends Mercedes and Andy are still in—and they’ll be tackling it in a Honda Passport!
www.ovrmag.com
I'll try to post a few updates in this thread. We're leaving Friday 08/24 from Reno and heading to Gig Harbor to see some friends. Registration is Sept 1st and rally goes from Sept 2nd to 12th.
We’re rolling out in about a week for the Alcan 5000, and our chariot of choice is… a mostly stock 2011 BMW X5.
Why the X5? Well, we wanted something comfortable enough for long days on the road, powerful enough to eat up the miles, and with just enough ground clearance to handle the rougher stretches. And, to be honest, I know these cars inside and out—so if (or when) it decides to act up, I’ll be ready to wrench on it.
Sure, we could’ve gone with the “safe bet” and taken a Toyota Tacoma. But really, where’s the adventure in driving something that never breaks? Half the fun of a rally like this is the unexpected, and the X5 will definitely keep things interesting.
Oh, and that's what my wife wanted. Tiny detail.
Our X5 has the N55 engine which is essentially the same as the new Grenadier. We're bring some spare parts to cover the most common issues, as described here:
We bolted on a roof rack to haul extra fuel, and this week it’s getting a set of OEM 18" wheels wrapped in A/T tires. Might even slap on a few decals—because everyone knows stickers add at least 5 horsepower.
Other than that, it’s basically stock. It even came with adaptive drive and comfort seats, which have roughly one million possible adjustments… including for the passenger, so no excuses for being uncomfortable while we rattle our way to Alaska
Here is the route for this year:
Unfortunately, there have been quite a few cancellations, so it looks like we’ll be a smaller group this year. The good news is our friends Mercedes and Andy are still in—and they’ll be tackling it in a Honda Passport!
Honda Passport TrailSport to Tackle 5,000-Mile Alcan Rally Adventure
Husband-and-wife team Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal are taking on North America's longest rally in Honda's most capable SUV, traversing 5,388 miles of challenging terrain across the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Alaska.
www.ovrmag.com
I'll try to post a few updates in this thread. We're leaving Friday 08/24 from Reno and heading to Gig Harbor to see some friends. Registration is Sept 1st and rally goes from Sept 2nd to 12th.
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