07/21/2026
So… why were we fueling up the rally car on the side of a giant hill along the Utah interstate? 😅
Unfortunately, the transmission in our tow vehicle overheated and completely gave up. It probably didn’t help that the outside temperature on the interstate tarmac was reading 108°F! We were hoping that after it cooled down it might magically come back to life, and we even tried taking some weight off before the tow. Sadly, it was officially toast.
Almost immediately after we pulled onto the shoulder, fellow rally enthusiast and Rally Colorado volunteer Sam Laub stopped to see if he could help. He stayed with us for more than an hour, helping us troubleshoot and mitigate the situation, and even brought us Creamsicles from his motorhome freezer. That simple act of kindness was exactly what we needed in the middle of a very hot afternoon. Sam, thank you for being there for us!
We posted this picture to our CRS Rally family, and our amazing friends at Dying Breed Automotive immediately turned around and came to rescue us. DJ McAlpin, Wayne Jones, Jadien Jones, and Dana Cobum were on their way to Lake Powell for a camping and swimming trip when they heard what had happened. Without hesitation, they turned around, scrapped their own vacation plans, and came to get us.
I honestly don’t know how we would have gotten home without them. They are towing our rally car all the way to Prescott, Arizona, while we’re heading home in a rental car. Their selflessness means more than we can ever express.
We all spent the night in Moab, Utah, and now we’re racing home because KOZ Events is producing the Solana Beach Triathlon this weekend. There’s a lot to do, and thanks to these incredible friends, we’ll be there to make it happen.
At this point, we don’t think our tow vehicle is worth repairing, so the search is on for a GMC Yukon XL 2500 4x4. If anyone knows of one for sale, please let us know!
Even with all the excitement after the rally, we’re still smiling. Team Panek Racing—driver Brandon Panek and co-driver Tobias Panek—earned our first-ever 1st place finish in O4WD! As if that wasn’t enough, we also finished 2nd Overall in the Regional standings and 10th Overall among all cars, including the National competitors. We’re incredibly proud of what the team accomplished.
This adventure definitely didn’t end the way we expected, but it reminded us once again why we love this sport. The rally community is unlike any other. Thank you to everyone who checked on us, offered advice, and especially to Sam Laub, DJ McAlpin, Wayne Jones, Jadien Jones, Dana Cobum, and the entire Dying Breed Automotive family who kept us going at the rally and rescued us!! Your generosity, friendship, and willingness to drop everything for us will never be forgotten. We are truly blessed. ❤️
Team Panek Rally American Rally Association Rally Colorado
07/20/2026
07/19/2026
07/19/2026
07/18/2026