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We are #UnitedByHorsepower.
@andy_lilienthal & @mercedes_lilienthal
Our rigs: #TravelTractor, #RalliTractor, #TerraTractor
#crankshaftculture

Part 2 is LIVE. Just over seven months ago, we, @a

Part 2 is LIVE. Just over seven months ago, we, @andy_lilienthal, as the driver and @mercedes_lilienthal, as the navigator, embarked on an insane trip: visiting 10 countries in about 5 weeks—9 of those being Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland for the 2024 Superlative Adventure Club Baltic Sea Circle Rally. The BSCR is the northernmost rally in the world: nine countries, 16 days, and nearly 5,000 miles. And, we were the only EV team this year (driving an early-gen 2024 German-market Volkswagen ID. Buzz van) and the first non-European team to compete in and successfully finish the BSCR with one. This is Part 2 depicting daily happenings. This story (link in bio) is the second of four installments of Crankshaft Culture coverage, sharing what happens. We roll north in Norway to Nordkapp (the North Cape), the northernmost point you can drive to in Europe. We almost didn't make it! Mercedes documents Days 5-8 via verbiage as well as reel videos. Part 1 is also on our website, and Parts 3 and 4 will come later.

RALLY RECAP: After two challenging days driving in

RALLY RECAP: After two challenging days driving in the Canadian snow, darkness, ice, and more, we, @andy_lilienthal as the driver and @mercedes_lilienthal as the navigator, came from behind to win the 2025 Thunderbird Rally Calculator Class! We also finished near the top teams that only used a calculator or paper to figure out incremental times to complete the 560-mile road rally boasting 72 checkpoints and 8 TSD regularities.

Twenty-eight talented teams vied for top spots in Novice, Paper, Calculator, and Unlimited classes. We learned this rally circuit allows Novices to run unlimited equipment (i.e. rally computers, apps, or anything else they want) compared to other rally organizations. This allows new teams the chance to learn as they go, honing skills with real-time aids that tell them if they're early or late as they drive. We were told most of the novice teams ran unlimited equipment.

After Day 1, we were behind by only 14 points but made up the difference and then some to get gold. This was our first time competing with this rally circuit, Rally BC/West Coast Rally Association. Can't wait for the next one!

BIG congrats to all winners and finishers. It was no easy competition! Also, thanks to all the rally volunteers, sweeps, and the organization. It was well-run and fun, creating unlimited wintertime memories.

Partners:
@bfgoodrichtires
@reikawheels
@primitiveracing
@rallyinnovations
@_lightforce
@namelessperformance
@ecohitch_usa
@packasport
@factor55
@cravenspeed

RALLY RECAP: It's Day 1 of the 2025 Thunderbird Ra

RALLY RECAP: It's Day 1 of the 2025 Thunderbird Rally in Canada! This time-speed-distance competition is a fast-paced snow road rally. Today's run consists of 4 TSD regularities with transits in between, totaling 320 miles (515 km) if you stay on course.

As car #8 of 28 total vehicles, we, @andy_lilienthal and @mercedes_lilienthal, left before 10:38 am so we could calibrate our odometer. We wanted to arrive within time to start our first TSD rally at our 11:38 am out time.

We encountered a little dry pavement, lots of gravel, and increasing amounts of slippery snow-packed roads. We toured through stunning scenery as I called out incremental times and route directions Andy had to hit perfectly (not early and not late). Who knew there'd be so many CGs (cattle guards)?

The sun waned into darkness, and we, along with the entire rally group, faced our toughest challenge of the event: the Headwaters regularity. This nighttime TSD stage gave us heavy snowfall, with several inches of soft snow already on the ground. We fought hard to keep pace, but conditions were too treacherous to do so.

I started taking time allowances for lost time. Then we started seeing stuck rally cars. Vehicles with more ground clearance pressed on, and we made it just over eight miles in before our vehicle slid into a snowbank.

Thankfully, our @primitiveracing skid plates proved their worth, keeping snow out of the engine bay and protecting our underside. We used @maxtraxhq recovery boards and a shovel, and along with our @factor55 HitchLink 2.0 recovery point and @warnindustries Epic hard shackle and the kindness of a fellow competitor in a Jeep Wrangler, we got unstuck and continued on as 1 of 6 rigs that made it through. The other vehicles were turned around, and all but the first checkpoint of that regularity was scrapped. That's rally.

It's about car culture and the rally community. People helped each other get unstuck and checked on one another. It's one of the many reasons why we love TSD rally so much. After nearly 11 challenging hours on the road, we made it back, unpacked, and made it in time for a quick dinner and a beer. Stay tuned for Day 2 and the rally finish!

RALLY RECAP: We, @andy_lilienthal as the driver an

RALLY RECAP: We, @andy_lilienthal as the driver and @mercedes_lilienthal as the navigator, are headed from Oregon to Merritt, British Columbia in Canada to compete in the two-day snow-filled 2025 @rallybc Thunderbird Rally! We left early in the morning after packing vehicle recovery gear, winter clothing and necessities, rally items for navigation, and Bert, our traveling bunny, our good luck charm.

Driving rain changed to snow flurries. Then a winter storm warning began as we crossed over Hope and finally into Merritt with our buddy car and Alcan 5000 Rally friends Shane Bowman (driver) and John Williams (navigator) in their 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. We, in our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek, will run as car #8, and they are car #21.

Time to unload our gear, get some grub, and prep for Day 1! You'll not want to miss what happens during our 10-hour day. Gravel, snow, ice, and more! Stay tuned.

We, @andy_lilienthal as the driver and @mercedes_l

We, @andy_lilienthal as the driver and @mercedes_lilienthal as the navigator, just WON the 2025 @rallybc Thunderbird Rally Calculator Class!

We just got back from Canada after competing in the two-day snow-laden time-speed-distance road rally. We covered appr. 560 miles in two days of competition and crossed off 72 checkpoints over eight time-speed-distance regularities. And ... we won our class!!

We competed as part of the Calculator Class, which means Mercedes needed to use her brain, long-form equations, and nothing more than a simple calculator to figure out exactly to the second when we need to arrive to one point from the last. Hard work and little sleep!

There were two cars in our class: us in our all-wheel-drive Subaru Crosstrek, and a talented Canadian team, more experienced than us, driving a front-wheel-drive Acura CSX (which we didn't get in the U.S.).

After Day 1, we were behind by only 14 points, but we pushed hard in challenging road conditions and won our class! This was our first time competing with this rally circuit, Rally BC/West Coast Rally Association.

Andy was a driving champ. We faced driving rain, slushy bits, and deep snow for this quick-paced rally. It was a driver's event for sure. We honed our communication with kilometers (vs. miles) as this is the first time we competed with that distance unit together. We got stuck in a snowbank only once at night when the snow was really deep. But no harm was done to our car and we carried on as only 1 of 6 cars that completed the last TSD regularity. That part of the stage (except for its first checkpoint) was scrapped due to tough conditions with several cars getting stuck.

We're so excited to have scooped a class win when our goal was to finish strong. HUGE congrats to all winners and finishers for a job well done! Also, a big thanks to all of the rally volunteers, sweeps, and the organization. These events can’t happen without you.

Partners:
@bfgoodrichtires
@reikawheels
@primitiveracing
@rallyinnovations
@_lightforce
@namelessperformance
@ecohitch_usa
@packasport
@factor55
@cravenspeed

A quick snapshot of a few of the 28 entries to the

A quick snapshot of a few of the 28 entries to the 2025 Thunderbird Rally. Day 2 starts soon!

Even after several years of ownership after we bui

Even after several years of ownership after we built it up, our #TerraTractor Pajero is our steadfast companion. It doesn't matter if we're rallying in the Arctic during -43° temps or road trippin' to Canada and back, we're continually impressed by this workhorse 4x4.
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#mitsubishi #mitsulife #pajero #JDM #RHD #diesel #turbo #boosted #crankshaftculture #everyvehicleisanadventure #unitedbyhorsepower #adventure4x4 #adventuremobile #4x4 #4wd #turbodiesel #mitsubishipajero #mitsulife #mitsulove #mypajerobuild #peoeep

Our '22 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 (6mt) isn't the faste

Our '22 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 (6mt) isn't the fastest car, but it's been a great cross-county cruiser. We recently went from Oregon to Wisconsin and back in pretty much every driving condition and it didn't flinch.

Our own @mercedes_lilienthal's latest @nytimes pri

Our own @mercedes_lilienthal's latest @nytimes print feature chronicles three small indie shops that started from scratch without college degrees and became successful. Buddies (@buddiesbk) in Brooklyn, NY, Out of the Box Coffee House (@outoftheboxcoffee) in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, and Biscuits To Baskets (@biscuitstobaskets) in Toronto, Canada, are totally different from each other and their owners have unique tales to tell about their background and evolution. Grab a copy on newsstands today (or visit our link in bio for the online version) to check out this uplifting story. Praying for those affected by the L.A. fires. 🙏

Gear Garage: We're testing @full.windsor's Magware

Gear Garage: We're testing @full.windsor's Magware camping products! Their plates, bowls, and utensils nest together with magnets, making them space-saving and rattle free. Stay tuned as we travel with them and serve various foods on them. Article soon!

Six months to the day, we, @andy_lilienthal, as th

Six months to the day, we, @andy_lilienthal, as the driver and @mercedes_lilienthal, as the navigator, finished the 2024 Superlative Adventure Club Baltic Sea Circle Rally! Nine countries, 16 days, and nearly 5,000 miles of EV rallying. We created an article on our daily depictions and video content. This story (link in our bio) is Part 1 of our @CrankshaftCulture coverage showcasing our daily experiences. Mercedes documents each day via verbiage as well as reel videos for the rally prep and Days 1-4 of the northernmost rally in the world. Parts 2, 3, and 4 will come later!

What goes together better with travel than coffee?

What goes together better with travel than coffee? Let's take a trip around North America as @mercedes_lilienthal's latest for the @nytimes is live! Sheer grit and determination was a big reason why three independent coffee shops, Buddies (@buddiesbk) in Brooklyn, NY, Out of the Box Coffee House (@outoftheboxcoffee) in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, and Biscuits To Baskets (@biscuitstobaskets) in Toronto, Canada, started from scratch and became successful. The people behind these businesses come from different backgrounds, don't have college degrees or come from money. But they've found unique ways to fund their shops. From recycled skateboards and an old engine cart to t-shirt drives and determining recipes in a former church basement, each owner is creative and relies on their family, friends, and local community for support. Click our link in bio to read this inspirational story. The print version will publish soon.

Photos of Buddies: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times; Out of the Box Coffee House: Kaleb Autman; Biscuits to Baskets: Chloe Ellingson for The New York Times

2024 was a year to remember. From the @alcan5000 r

2024 was a year to remember. From the @alcan5000 rally with @ineos_grenadier to @superlativeadventureclub's Baltic Sea Circle Rally and beyond, our year was filled with world-wide travel, rallies, and more. We pushed boundaries, faced challenges, and triumphed, too.

From winning the winter @alcan5000 rally 2S seat-of-pants class with @ineos_grenadier (10 days, 5,000 miles) to being the first non-European all-electric team to compete/finish the BSCR with an early-gen German @vw ID. Buzz van (nine countries, 16 days, and 5,000 miles), @andy_lilienthal, and @mercedes_lilienthal grew a lot by failing and learning.

It's about getting out of your comfort zone, not being afraid to make mistakes. We made many this year, but through them, we've adapted, challenged our bodies and brains, and learned. The seemingly impossible could happen if you put your mind to it. Mercedes once said after making a costly 2022 rally mistake, "we're learning by failing." #truth

We were on tour again with @subaru_usa and @subarumotorsportsusa, attending three of their @subiefest shows talking about TSD rallies while hanging out with our 2022 Alcan 5000 Outback Wilderness. We attended many drive programs, too.

We drove to Arizona for Overland Expo West, Mercedes covered the Jeep Jamboree USA in Tillamook, OR, and we flew to her 48th state (South Carolina) for "friendsgiving." Soon, we'll head to Louisiana (her 49th state). Last one for us? Hawaii!!

Looking forward to 2025. Stay tuned to @crankshaftculture for updates. Thanks for your support and encouragement! 📸: @mercedes_lilienthal (helmet shot @biancagermain, pic of Mercedes w/ cameras @andy_lilienthal)

.@Mercedes_Lilienthal's 2024 recap: 29+ trips (24

.@Mercedes_Lilienthal's 2024 recap: 29+ trips (24 being auto programs and events), 11 countries (incl. half of Canada), countless states, and competed with @andy_lilienthal in two major rallies in 11 countries and nearly 10,000 COMPETITIVE MILES (@alcan5000 Rally + Baltic Sea Circle Rally).

We won the winter Alcan 5000 2S seat-of-pants class (the largest w/ 17 rigs) and came in 10th of 36 total teams, partnering w/ @INEOS_Grenadier driving a new Trialmaster 4x4. We also earned Arctic + Go Farther awards, giving INEOS their first-ever rally award.

This year's Alcan 5000 started near Seattle, crossed all of BC to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, to Whitehorse in the Yukon, and deep into AK (down to Valdez and north to Coldfoot), before finishing in Anchorage. We conquered closed roads and blizzards to win the 5,000-mile, 10-day rally.

The 2024 Baltic Sea Circle Rally was our first overseas rally, spanning nine countries, 16 days, and 5,000 miles. We drove a 2024 early-gen German-market @VW ID. Buzz EV van, becoming the first non-European all-electric team to compete/finish the BSCR, and the only 2024 EV team (other rigs were 10+ years old). Drove through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, crossing over two more Arctic Circles by land (doing four of the world's eight).

She visited NYC to cover @TransglobalCar Expedition's start of circumnavigating the globe (by both poles) via wheeled rigs.

She also flew to Montreal for Mitsubishi, TX to chase the total eclipse w/ the HUMMER 3X EV SUV, the Sonoran Desert w/ Can-Am for International Women's Ride Day, on tour with Subaru of America and Subaru Motorsports, TN to help open Ford's latest Bronco Off-Roadeo and to check out Scout Motors' concepts. TX for the Chevy Suburban/Tahoe, San Francisco, for the 2025 VW ID. Buzz, the SEMA show in Vegas, TX for VW Taos, and flights for family and to her 48th of 50 states (SC) for a "friendsgiving" celebration, etc.

Also, drove to AZ for Overland Expo West, OR for Jeep Jamboree and Buick Enclave, etc.

Infinite miles, 365 days of adventures, autos, rallies, + memories. She'll have more to share via @CrankshaftCulture and her in 2025!

Merry Christmas from us at Crankshaft Culture. No

Merry Christmas from us at Crankshaft Culture. No matter where you are, have a safe, fun, and happy holiday.

FWD coupes were all the rage from the 1980s-2000s,

FWD coupes were all the rage from the 1980s-2000s, then slowly, silently went away by 2020. But does anyone miss them? Link to story in Crankshaft Culture's bio.

In October and November of 2024, Greg Henderson fr

In October and November of 2024, Greg Henderson from @unofficialuseonly and friends rode two Honda Ruckus scooters 2,400 miles from Michigan to Las Vegas for the @semashow and raised money for @semacares along the way. Photo via Greg Henderson. Link to story in bio.

That time we took a @volkswagen ID. Buzz to Estoni

That time we took a @volkswagen ID. Buzz to Estonia on the Baltic Sea Circle Rally. This photo happened to be at the grounds of a former Soviet prison turned swimming and recreation area called RUMMU Quarry. @rummuquarry

When was the last time you saw a Subaru GL hatchba

When was the last time you saw a Subaru GL hatchback?

Tell me you're from the Midwest without telling me

Tell me you're from the Midwest without telling me you're from the Midwest.

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