Subaru Rally Team USA’s Dave Mirra contracted Bacterial Meningitis late last month. Meningitis causes inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial Meningitis is much more serious than viral form of Meningitis and if left untreated can be deadly or cause brain damage. But with early detection and diagnoses Bacterial Meningitis is treatable towards a full recovery. Luckily Dave got to the hospital very quickly and was treated. Below is a Q/A explaining his ordeal as well as his thoughts leading up to the 2010 Olympus Rally.

Can you explain your ordeal with the Bacterial Meningitis and your time in the hospital?

DM: It was is the gnarliest thing I’ve ever had. It started out one morning after breakfast with flu like symptoms. As it progressed, I could barely walk. I had no choice but to go to the emergency room. After a ton of tests, they checked me into the hospital where I stayed for the next 6 days. Following the hospital I was on some pretty heavy medicine for the next 11 days. The tough part was after going home from the hospital I had a pick line for the anti-biotics. So I had to sit for 1 hour 3 times a day and take my medicine through an I.V. Crazy.

How is your recovery going, how do you feel now and will you be 100% for the Olympus Rally at the end of this month?

DM: My recovery has been great. I’m back on the road bike and hitting the gym daily and getting my strength back. It was a tough ordeal that took a lot out of me. But I will be 100% in Olympus and I’m very grateful for that.

Have you ever had anything this serious happen to you before, or have you ever had anything like this before?

DM: This was the most serious sickness I’ve ever had. Luckily I came out with a 100% recovery and no serious side effects which is extremely lucky.

What are your expectations for the Olympus Rally?

DM: I can’t wait to get to Olympus and get back in my Subaru. My goal is to step up my pace and enjoy some of the most amazing roads in the country.

With a snow event and a gravel event under your belt now in the new more powerful Open Class Car (after having competed in the lower spec Super Production Class in 2009) what are your key goals for Olympus with regard to your driving and getting up to speed with the car?

DM: Olympus will be a great rally, with the roads being so technical, to get to know my open class Subaru much better and step up my pace to stay competitive in the overall championship points. This season means alot to me so finishing is very important since you can’t drop any events in the points tally. We are doing some pre-event testing with Travis and so I should be really comfortable in the car for Olympus. I’m really looking forward to it.