My interview today is with co-driver, Steven Harrell.
(Photo credit: Lori Lass Photography)
Berry Favorite Things: Tell us a little about yourself, Steven.
Steven Harrell: "As a co-driver I get to try all kinds of cars with all kinds of drivers, but I'm primarily the co-driver for the TAG Rally Sport Subaru driven by Rory Gardiner. I've been involved with rally for four years, co-driving for three. I also once rode shotgun when the steering wheel came off at speed."
Berry Favorite Things: Who or what was your biggest inspiration in motorsports?
Steven Harrell: "My biggest inspiration in motorsports is the entire rally community. Everyone out there; every driver, every co-driver, every crew member, organizer, volunteer, and fan, they're all part of some kind of crazy family, always ready to help a brother or sister in rally. Whether it's a spot on their hotel floor so you don't have to sleep in the car, a tow out of a snow bank, the brake caliper of their daily driver, or just a few words of support or advice, they're the most incredible, helpful people I've ever met. I love this fantastic, crazy family."
BFT: What is your favorite thing about rally?
SH: "My favorite thing about rally is the adventure of it. Rally is more than just a race, it's a scenic tour of some of the most beautiful places you've ever seen set on fast forward. It's a battle against the unknown, on a living course that changes with each car that traverses it. It's the chance to compete with Ken Block's M-Sport Fiesta and some old hippies in a 2-stroke Saab all at the same time. You just can't get that anywhere else."
BFT: What is one thing you wish you could change about rally?
SH: "Just one thing I could change about rally? I'd say I'd like to see more competitors at more events on more roads in more places."
BFT: What advice would you offer to someone who was interested in getting started in rally? Maybe something you wish you had known earlier.
SH: "Don't leave your helmet on the roof! Seriously though, I think the best advice is to just get out there and do it. If that means buying a used suit off Ebay, shoehorning a Peltor headset into a base model Pyrotec, and running an old Festiva on stock suspension, that's fine. If your dream is to compete in rally, then figure out how to make it a reality and do it. Even if you're in the slowest car at the event, I guarantee you'll have more fun than you've ever had before."
(Photo credit: Lori Lass Photography)
BFT: With Rally America teaming up with NBC Sports, GRC (Global Rallycross) growing in popularity, and big names like Travis Pastrana back in stage rally, do you think more attention will be beneficial to the sport in America? Or do you think it could have adverse effects?
SH: "I think Rally America teaming up with NBC Sports is good news for rally. I'm still cautious, as the first round hasn't aired yet, so I don't know exactly what the package will look like, but it sounds like they're doing it the right way, including the regional and budget teams in the story. GRC (Global Rallycross) on the other hand... as much as I enjoy watching it, the series just feels kind of disconnected. I mean if you're a fan of NASCAR, you buy an old 80s Chevy and race it at the local track. If you're a fan of Baja racing, you buy a stock Beetle and race Class 11. If you're a fan of rally, you cage whatever you can and run the nearest regional event. If you're a fan of sports car racing, you do a track day at Lime Rock or PIR. If you're a fan of Global Rallycross, then what? You buy a $185,000 GRC Lite? That's not an option for 95% of the people interested in doing rallycross. One of the great things that helps feed most forms of motorsports is that there's an outlet for the everyfan to enter it at a lower level, live out their dreams, and possibly move up the ranks. Rallycross in the states doesn't really have that. The guys at American Rallycross are trying to change that, and did a good job last year creating an event at Pocono, but there needs to be more of a grass roots foundation, like there is in Europe."
*To find out more about American Rallycross, and events like Pocono, follow this link.*
BFT: Name 5 items on your motorsport bucket list.
SH: "Ok, 1) Drive a trophy truck. 2) Do the Dakar rally. 3) Rally Finland 4) Safari rally (ideally in a 911 RS) 5) Finish the Baja 1000."
BFT: What is your favorite rally event you've done and why?
SH: "I can't imagine picking a single favorite rally. LSPR (Lake Superior Performance Rally) is beautiful, STPR (Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally) pairs such great technical roads with such a slim margin for error, Tall Pines is an awesomely brutal endurance event, ESPR (Empire State Performance Rally) is crazy high speed fun, NEFR (New England Forest Rally) is a great survival race. They're all special in one way or another!"
BFT: If you had to describe rally in 3 words, what would they be?
SH: "Adventure, freedom, fun."
BFT: What is your proudest auto related moment?
SH: "There's such great contenders to choose from. My surprise win with Troy Miller, my first rally (Lanark with Justin Carven), my first major rally (NEFR with Rory Gardiner), my story on the Nameless GT86 going up on Jalopnik. But I think my proudest moment was running the Vegas to Reno Desert Race in 2011. Five years of crazy dreams and hard work, five years of imagining what it would feel like to drive in a desert race, finally becoming a reality. Those five hours behind the wheel were the best five hours I've ever had."
Berry Favorite Things: What is your most embarrassing/funny auto related moment?
Steven Harrell: "Did I mention leaving my helmet on the roof? That was by far the most embarrassing, especially since it would have ended our rally if not for Kris Gove donating his at the start of a stage. But funniest is probably NEFR 2012 when the steering wheel came off during a high speed section. I still remember looking over and seeing the loose wheel practically in Rory's lap. He kept the car on the road, got the wheel secured, and we were back to business. The whole ordeal probably only cost us 5-10 seconds. The moment was crazy enough on its own, but the exposure the clip has received since is absolutely insane."
*To see the infamous steering wheel moment, follow this link.*
Don't forget to follow Steven on Twitter as well @DVMSteve
And check out TAG Rally Sport on their website.
A big thanks to Steven for taking the time to do this interview, and keep an eye out for him (he'll be the guy in the crazy hat & often seen with a dinosaur) at rally events throughout the year.
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