Mc Geough / Keenan Glory in Rally New York!

Posted: November 15, 2004 8:41 PM

The event was made up of 3 stages that were repeated twice then ran twice in the opposite direction to give a total of 12 stages. Two of the forest stages were gravel, with one stage in particular extremely rough with many gorges and ruts throughout which was worrying to many crews at the start of the event. The third stage was a fast flowing tarmac stage which many of the drivers were not accustomed to.

Never far from the rallying scene anywhere in the world, there were a high number of Irish competitors on the start list of the event, with almost 27 Irish entries on the final 57 Start list! Seeded no: 12 on the road Eoin mc Geough and Laura Keenan in their Woodcraft Construction /Target Floor New York / Squealing Pig Subaru set off to a fast but steady pace throughout the opening stages. Weather conditions in the mountainous area were extremely cold with the forestry stages water logged and very muddy as a result from rain earlier in the week. Eoin picked up the pace after stage four and began easing his way up the leader board into 7th overall. With eight services filtered between the twelve stages there was plenty of tyre changing going-on as the gravel and tarmac stages were alternated throughout the day. Eoin reported no problems throughout the afternoon stages as he set blistering fast stages times pushing his way to the top of the leader board to 2nd overall.

Darkness fell on Sullivan county around four o clock, as lamp-pods were attached for the final three stages. On full attack Eoin and Laura narrowed the three and a half minute lead between themselves and first place Irish driver John Drislane to just 24 seconds setting fastest stage times on the last two stages to finish an outstanding 2nd overall in the Rally New York!

• Rally New York