Rally New York (National) - 16-17 Apr Jan 10

Donnelly/McNamara Win Rally New York USA
Weather Included Almost Every Possibility

Posted: April 19, 2010 2:38 PM

Celsus “Charlie” Donnelly and Brian McNamara (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) took home the top award for Rally New York USA, the second round of the U.S. Rally Championship. This was the second victory in this event for Donnelly, who also won three years ago, but the first for new teammate McNamara.

Early in the rally, the top of the leader board was crowded with Mitsubishi Lancers. But earlier today two of the fastest, the cars of Tom Lawless/Kristin Przybysz and Martin Donnelly/Colin Fitzgerald, succumbed to engine problems. This was said by the teams to be the result of sustained running at maximum revolutions on the event’s long straights.

Cyril Kearney/Mark McAlister (Subaru Impreza WRX STi) placed second, 3-3/4 minutes behind the winners. They reported few problems, apart from a need to replace the brake pads during a service break on the second day. Third place went to William Petrow/Jeremy Neyhart (Subaru Impreza)

Matt Gottlieb/Austin Gager (Subaru Impreza WRX), now in their second full year of rallying, took the class for Production All-Wheel-Drive cars, and placed fourth overall. They were well ahead of class rivals Michael Cosgrove/John O’Reilly (Mitsubishi Eclipse).

There was no surprise in the result of the two-wheel-drive category: this was the only all-pavement national in North America, and the winners were Thomas Greer/Robert DellaRocco (Volkswagen Golf GTI – also fifth overall), who admit that they are pavement specialists. They were followed to the flag by novice rally competitors Matthew Mathias/Tim Oliver (Ford Focus ZX3), who admitted to one, brief off-road excursion. Erika Detota/Jason Smith (Subaru Impreza) placed third, battling a transmission which was jumping out of third gear and a broken exhaust manifold.

Rally New York USA was conducted in the Catskill Mountain region of southern New York State. Over the two days, competitors encountered a variety of conditions, from temperatures in the 60s (Fahrenheit) and partly sunny, down to 40s with intermittent rain, sleet, and snow. This provided a lengthy guessing game to drivers and mechanics who were trying to adapt driving techniques and car set-ups to the changing conditions.

The two rallies-within-the-rally for the regional New York Rally Championship went to Celsus Donnelly/Brian McNamara, with Martin Donnelly/Colin Fitzgerald (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) finishing as runner-up in the first event and William Petrow/Jeremy Neyhart in the other.

The next eastern round of the U.S. Rally Championship, in the same area but on dirt and gravel roads, will be International Rally New York on September 10-11.

Live Results: New York Forest Rally (USA)

Preview: Rally New York USA 2010
Revised Route and Strong Field Highlight This Unique Event

Posted: April 16, 2010 4:23 PM

Auto rally competitors and fans are now on the way (or will soon be on the way) to the Catskill Mountains of New York State for Rally New York USA, on April 16-17. When they arrive, they will find a revised route, a strong field of entries, and some question marks in the weather forecast.

Revised Course
Rally New York USA is unique among national-level rallies in North America because the route is entirely on paved roads. Most nationals on this continent are primarily on dirt and gravel roads, although paved courses are popular for national events in Ireland and southern Europe. RNYUSA is also one of the few North American rallies which allows “two-pass reconnaissance” (that is, competitors are allowed to drive the route before the rally at legal speeds, and are allowed to drive each road twice to prepare and check route notes).

This year’s route has many sections which the drivers have enjoyed before in the areas around Thompson, Monticello and Walton, New York. Two special stages (speed tests) are new, however, and will be run for the first time on Saturday:

John Meredith – This stage is named for the former Supervisor of the Town of Walton, who died prematurely after a short illness last Fall. Meredith is being remembered for his belief that Rally New York events were beneficial for the local community. The John Meredith special stage includes roads north of Walton which have been seen previously, but run in the opposite direction (which, as any rally driver will tell you, makes them almost completely new).
This stage will feature a spectator area.

Mountain Drive – This section, south of Walton, features roads used previously, but with the direction reversed. Event chairman Ivan Orisek promises that this stage will have a little bit of everything – hills, tight turns, and fast sections. Mountain Drive will be open to viewing only by local residents and their guests.

The rally begins at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello at 3 p.m. Friday, following a display of the competing cars, and ends at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Walton at 7-8 p.m. Saturday. Admission to the start and finish are free. The route includes the popular runs through the Concord Resort and Golf Club on Friday evening and in the Walton area on Saturday, both of which charge a small entry fee. See the event web site, www.rallynewyork.com , for spectator maps, directions, and schedules. Spectators are asked to park only in the designated areas.

Strong Field
Fans who attend this year’s edition will find a strong field, including U.S. Rally Championship (USRC) winners, previous Rally New York winners, and some promising newcomers. Some of the noteworthy entries are (in alphabetical order by driver’s name):

Hampton Bridwell/Josh Katinger (Ford Focus SVT) – frequent class winners in the national series, and runners-up in the 2WD section of the U.S. Rally Championship in 2008.

Dan Brosnan/Shane McCann (Open Manta 400) – reigning USRC two-wheel-drive (2WD) national champions and defending Rally New York USA 2WD winners; have traded their successful Nissan for the potentially faster Opel.

Justin Carven/Aaron Crescenti (Volkswagen Rabbit diesel) – novel for running the car on vegetable oil, but don’t sell them short. Carven drove the car to fifth overall and second two-wheel-drive on the recent New York Winter Rally.

Erika Detota/Jason Smith (Subaru Impreza) – novice team who placed eighth in New York Winter Rally 2010 in their first rally.

Celsus “Charlie” Donnelly/(co-driver to be announced) (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) – Donnelly won this event in 2007, and is looking for a repeat.

Matt Gottlieb/Austin Gager (Subaru Impreza WRX) – a young team who won the 4WD Production Cup in the regional New York Rally Championship last year; looking for their break-out national finish.

Wojtek “Al” Kulpa/Adam Pelc (Volkswagen Golf GTI) – two Polish rally veterans now living in the New York City metro area, who won the 2WD category of last Fall’s International Rally New York.

Thomas Lawless/Kristin Przybysz (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) – Irishman Lawless is a former USRC champ in the four-wheel-drive (4WD) category, who is coming here after winning the recent New York Winter Rally. He has also won both Rally New York USA and International Rally New York. Przybysz (pronounced PRI-bish) is a veteran co-driver from the U.S. who most often rallies with her husband Maciej.

Enda McCormack/Tommy Doyle (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) – Runners-up in New York Winter Rally 2010, hoping to do even better this time.

Timothy Osterman/Joseph Sinkenvich (Subaru Impreza WRX STi) – placed fourth in New York Winter Rally 2010, their first-ever rally.

Michael Reilly/Josh Benthien (Ford Focus ZX3) – winners of the USRC 2-wheel-drive Production Cup in 2009.

Weather
Weather forecasters are predicting highs in the low 50s on Friday and Saturday, with a low of 40 degrees on Friday night. The chance of rain is 70% on Friday, but 40% on Saturday. This means some uncertainty as to the types of tires to mount and what conditions to expect on the roads. But that, as they say, is rallying.

Sponsorship for Competitors in Rally New York USA 2010

Posted: March 26, 2010 12:44 PM

Robert Cella has announced that he will be again sponsoring several teams at the two-day tarmac Rally New York USA to be held in Walton, New York and Monticello, New York on April 16 – 17, 2010. Interested teams are invited to submit their requests for sponsorship by e-mail to Eurorally@aol.com

Robert Cella is a retired engineer, a radio operator at Rally New York events for many years and a great supporter of the sport of rallying and Rally New York events. This is the fifth Rally New York event in a row when the competitors become the beneficiaries of Mr. Cella’s awe-inspiring generosity.

In addition, teams from the Atlantic Division participating in the United States Rally Championship (USRC) (www.usrallychampionship.com) will be competing for the total of $12,000 in subsidies to assist them with traveling to the final round of the 2010 Championship Season at Prescott Rally in Prescott, Arizona on October 1 -2, 2010.

Albins Gear (www.albins.com.au), the “Official Gearbox and Drivetrain Supplier to USRC,” in addition to 10% discount on all products throughout the 2010 Season on orders through Moore-Sport Inc. (20% discount until June 1), will award points under its USRC Contingency Program that will pay $7,500 in product credits at the conclusion of the 2010 Season. In addition, Moore-Sport Inc. (www.mooresport.com) under its own USRC Support Program will award at Rally New York USA the total of $1,000 in cash rewards redeemable for competition products and a $50 cash award for the most improved team.

Competitors participating in the New York Rally Championship (www.rallynewyork.net/nyrc.htm), sponsored by Tearoff Guys (www.tearoffguys.com) and presented by Thunder 102 Rally Radio (www.thunder102.com) will compete for the prestigious Thunder 102 Cup to be awarded at the end of the 2010 Season.
Each day of Rally New York USA is a separate event of New York Rally Championship.

In a related development, TreadZone (www.TreadZone.com ), a Competition Tire Dealer has announced that it will again provide at-event and pre-event rally tires services for Rally New York USA competitors. The best news is that someone will win a $300 tire certificate provided by TreadZone in cooperation with Toyo Tires for Rally New York USA competitors. The certificate will be awarded through a lottery drawing.

Furthermore, TreadZone has announced that all 2010 Rally New York events have been added to TreadZone Competition Tire Contingency Program. TreadZone has recently become the Eastern Distributor for Yokohama rally tires and has both tarmac rally tires and gravel rally tires available. In addition, TreadZone is a direct Dealer for Toyo, Michelin, BFG, Uniroyal and Goodyear tires.

Finally, a prize fund guarantees that each team finishing the Rally in top 30 percent of all finishers, including at least one production car and one two-wheel-drive car, will win $200 in prize money.

The course of the International Rally New York 2009 is approximately 300 miles long with more than 90 miles of special stages. The Rally takes place in the spectacular southern Catskill Mountains of New York only 90 miles northwest of New York City.

Entries to Date:

Posted: March 21, 2010 10:04 PM

• New York Forest Rally (USA)

Entry is now open for Rally New York USA on April 16 - 17, 2010

Posted: February 13, 2010 8:51 AM

Online entry, printable entry forms, rally program, itinerary, supplementary regulations, reconnaissance schedule and other information can be found at

• New York Forest Rally (USA)

Details

Posted: January 18, 2010 11:13 AM

Earlier this week, the Town Council of Walton, New York approved the special use road permits for the 2010 edition of Rally New York USA. Together with the three-year contract with the Town of Thompson that encompasses the Village of Monticello, Rally New York, Ltd. has road permits for the event in place.

Rally New York USA, a two-day tarmac rally, is unique in that it is the only National Championship event in North America that is run entirely on tarmac roads. Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino won Rally New York USA in two previous years. Ken Block recently announced the formation of Monster World Rally Team and its participation in the 2010 World Rally Championship.

2010 Rally New York USA will be entirely based and headquartered in Walton, New York. The rally is a round of the United States Rally Championship (www.usrallychampionship.com) and allows full reconnaissance of the rally route and pace notes. Each of the two days is a separate round of New York Rally Championship

The program is as follows:

Thursday, April 15 – afternoon/ evening: Registration and scrutineering of competition vehicles

Friday, April 16 – morning: Reconnaissance of special stages in Walton

Friday, April 16 – afternoon / evening: Reconnaissance of special stages in Monticello, Ceremonial Start at Sullivan County Center in Monticello, racing at Concord Resort in Monticello, return to Walton in the evening

Saturday, April 17 – all day: Restart in Walton, racing in Walton, Ceremonial Finish at Delaware County Fairgrounds in Walton, post-event party and dinner in Walton

Sunday, April 18 – morning: Awards Ceremony

Event Website / Details

Posted: January 1, 2010 12:01 AM

• New York Forest Rally (USA)