Written By: Morris Levy

One hot summer day in July, twenty-five of our finest regional competitors wanted to get some seat time before New England Forest Rally for shakedown testing. Here’s how it happened.

To quote a rally legend, Mr. Tim O’Neil, rally is for the “automotive adventurer.” Truer words have never been spoken. Stage rally is for the automotive adventurer. Rally is challenging, and around every corner there is a new challenge (both literally, and figuratively). There is no better way to improve one’s skills than practice. And practice, practice, practice they did at the NER SCCA RallySprint “Left Over Fireworks” at Team O’Neil on July 8th, 2018.

Hot and Dusty

It was a very dusty and hot day at Team O’Neil. Our competitors were sweaty and hot inside the cars, full race suit head to toe. During breaks, I often observed them undoing much of it to breathe a little. Everyone was encouraged to hydrate often, and filled their CamelBaks full to the brim. The fine layer of dust coated everything, and every one.

As a volunteer, by the end of the day I was covered head-to-toe in a layer of fine dust and dirt created in New Hampshires’ white mountains. It was described as a crust, between sunscreen, bug spray, and dirt. Kind of a second skin, if you will, created from this cornucopia of outdoors. The dirt was everywhere, and got into cars, doors, maybe even the nether-regions. My tube socks became a zebra-colored artwork once splayed out upon arriving home.

Margaret Sharron and Amy Dilks in the 2004 Subaru WRX STi, nicknamed, “PrincesSTI”. Photo courtesy of DaggerSLADE Media.

New Configurations Test Drivers

The competitors got ten runs total throughout the day. We squeezed in four runs in the morning before a delicious bagged lunch , and then three runs of configuration two, and then three final runs of configuration three. Two of these three configurations were never used before during any previous NER SCCA RallySprint, and according to one such competitor, Emmanuel Cecchet, these new road configurations kept them “on their toes and tested the cars and teams with some slightly rougher sections”. The course was highly technical as usual, courtesy of the Team O’Neil roads. The Beliveaus’ (Jamie, Jessica, and Scott) offered their time and physical strength to clear one of the unused roads at Team O’Neil, as well as a few other helpful volunteers including Dave and Wendy Benson, Chris Wright, and Gabe Jacobsohn. We were able to enjoy a brand new configuration never used before thanks to the hard work and their labor of love.

The course included a full stage rally setup as per the norm, ATC, MTC, Start, Finish, our communication team with HAM radios, as well as chicanes. The course was like a shakedown for New England Forest Rally, one of the premier events in New England for our SCCA competitors to compete on both the regional as well as the national levels. After all, practice makes perfect.

Rally Women

This RallySprint at Team O’Neil also had the highest female driver and co-driver turnout we’ve ever seen, from such local legends as Margaret Sharron of Frog Racing, and Amy Dilks whom normally drives for American Endurance Racing (AER), Kathy Moody and co-driver Megan Mayo driving a rented car from Willis Daugherty, as well as Kadence Verge and co-driver Jessica Beliveau. The turnout and the involvement from women in rally has been steadily growing, and becoming an everlasting force to be reckoned with. Way to go, ladies!

Frog Racing’s “FrogSTIr” driven by Emmanuel Cecchet and co-driver Mike Willard. Photo courtesy of DaggerSLADE Media.

Times were tabulated while cars were packed up, racing suits unzipped, and competitors had a chuckle and a moment of friendly competition and collaboration. Everyone changed into dry clothes or “civvies” and anxiously awaited the awards.

AWD / 4WD CLASS PODIUMS

Frog Racing’s Emmanuel Cecchet and Margaret Sharron took 1-2 podiums for RallySprint 4WD Over 2.5L class (R4O) with the “FrogSTIr” and “PrincesSTI” with their respective 2004 Subaru WRX STi’s. Meanwhile, in the RallySprint 4WD Under 2.5L class (R4U), TJ Pullen and Erin Kelly of Pullen Away Rally Team (P.A.R.T.) took 1st place win in the class with TJ’s 1998 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport.

FWD / RWD CLASS PODIUMS

Anthony Burden and Ben Nadeau took 1st place for RallySprint 2WD Over 2.5L (R2O), and, meanwhile in the RallySprint 2WD Under 2.5L (R2U), a brand new team driven by Jesse Whitsell, and a brand new co-driver James Annis-Cockfield took 1st place for overall time across 2WD class with Jesse’s VW Golf Mk3.

THANK YOU, DRIVERS, CO-DRIVERS, & VOLUNTEERS!

Congratulations to all of the drivers, co-drivers, volunteers, HAM radio operators, and staff! Thank you to Team O’Neil Rally School for allowing us to use the property once again as always!

Driver Kevin Brolin, and co-driver Daniel Downey of Downey Dirty Racing, #142 after full send over a “yump”. Photo courtesy of DaggerSLADE Media.

What’s Next?

The next NER SCCA RallySprint is scheduled for September 16th from ~7 am – 5 pm at Team O’Neil Rally School in Dalton, NH. For driving options, please head over to MotorSportReg.com and read over the supplemental rules and regulations. Additionally, if you questions or concerns, contact Kathy Moody via MotorSportReg.com contact page.

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