Exploring Roads for Rally...

So I'm back from a quick 27 hour trip to PA.

6 1/2 hours down going down by way of 95, NYC, NJ and into PA and 5 3/4 hours on the way back coming all the way on 84.  Didn't face much traffic in either direction.  Going through NYC is a much flatter route vs. the large hills on 84 and eventually 81 but it is definately longer.

Meeting up with an East Coast Scrutineer and a handful of the facility's employees we first went over some of the basics of what a RallySprint is and isn't, some ideas on the roads that might be used, the history of the facility and its existing motorsports programs of which there are many.

Off we went in a near stock Jeep Cherokee with one of the employees and spent about 2 hours going over a number but certainly not all of the trails available for use.  While the Cherokee handled all of these roads/trails with ease, it was clear that not all would be appropriate for a rally vehicle (see the photo with the good sized rocks in the road below--those types of road sections will NOT be used).

Not to fear however.  There are definately numerous roads and/or sections of roads that are Rally material.  Very little that we traveresed in fact would be considered much worse than what some sections of NEFR, BRS or IRNY has to offer from my recent races and observations at those events.  That's not to say that there isn't work to be done to make a proper rally course here (there will be some grading, etc. needed in some sections to connect one smoother part to another) but the roads and land are certainly workable and are 100% available to the Rally community if an event can be put together for them.

At the moment we are tenatively planning an October or November date for the event.  There are numerous items yet to be worked out but it looks like this may be one of the more "interesting" events in terms of the vehicles running the event.

Bottom line here is that if you want a less expensive, grassroots way to get into the sport or get some testing done, or even go as far as giving your special someone (co-driver) a shot to get in the driver's seat, this should be an excellent option for you.  Stay tuned...as there are several other locations in the Northeast that we are looking also holding RallySprint events at and, if we can generate enough interest and participation, could (oh, by about 2014 or so) start a RallySprint series of some sort...you just never know...

Somtimes its good to be dumb enough to not know what you're not supposed to be able to do...

Any/all input is welcome and if you want to follow along on Facebook please "like" the NISMO Stuff Racing, LLC page as we'll be putting up news items (registration, pricing, options, preferences, etc.) there as we move forward.

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