Rally re-zooms with Sullivan speed competition

By CHARLIE BUTERBAUGH

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — This weekend a pool of international competitors will satisfy their collective need for speed on 364 miles of roads in Sullivan County.

Teams representing the United States, Canada and European countries will race against the clock in 25 special stages, including two “super special stages,” or half-mile sprints around the track at the Monticello Raceway. Side roads will be temporarily closed to traffic near Narrowsburg, Liberty and within the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation during International Rally New York 2005.

Six official spectator areas will be set up along the course, including along each stage of Rally New York, which was held in April 2005 near Narrowsburg. The rally’s ceremonial start will take place Friday, September 30 at 12:00 noon at the Monticello Raceway. Part of the United States Rally Championship, the event takes place from September 29 through October 1.

Ed Jackson, a planning board member in the Town of Tusten, convinced Rally New York organizer Ivan Orisek to schedule an exhibit of all cars on Main Street in Narrowsburg on Saturday morning. Competing cars will include compact sedans and sport coupes, modified for performance and safety, such as two of the most highly regarded performance compacts, the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer. Other cars spectators can expect to see include the Dodge Neon, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Hyundai Tiburon.

Orisek, who began racing in rallies 35 years ago in Europe in a Czech-made car called a Skoda, said the most powerful rally cars of today are four-wheel drive, turbo charged sedans and coupes equipped with 300 horse power under their hoods. The most expensive cars, he said, are valued at $100,000, and as high as $200,000.

Orisek said that while contemporary rallies in Europe present a higher level of competition, often with 150 competitors per race, he is delighted to have 52 entrants registered for this weekend’s rally.

Until recently, the European sport had become limited to events in remote areas like northern regions in Maine and Michigan, far away from population centers, Orisek said.

“It was almost like a secret sport,” he said.

Two years ago, Orisek decided it was time to stage a rally close to New York City. The sport has recently enjoyed national popularity, with the Subaru WRX becoming a cult car among 20- to 40-year-olds.

The first rally in New York’s southern tier was staged in Sullivan County, where Orisek said he has received “excellent support” at all levels of government and business.

Roberta Byron-Lockwood, president and CEO of the Sullivan County Visitors Association, said the event will add to fall tourism in the Catskills, which is already popular among “our annual leaf peepers.”

“Who knows? Maybe they’ll come back as individual travelers once they get a look at our Sullivan County Catskills,” Byron-Lockwood said of the rally competitors and their racing crews and fans.

Rick Lander of Lander’s River Trips said his 17 motel rooms are booked for the weekend. Half of the rooms are reserved by rally people, he said. Most of the servicing of rally vehicles this weekend will take place at Lander’s Campground in Narrowsburg.

With help from the visitors association, Orisek determined that the series of rallies brings $500,000 in economic benefits to the county every year.

Jackson related a story about the Sports Car Club of America, which asked the Kiwanis Club of Callicoon to support a rally in Sullivan County 51 years ago. When all was said and done, the Kiwanis Club lost $3,000 on the event, and the following year it declined to support another rally. So the racing enthusiasts went to Watkins Glen, staged the first rally there, and the Finger Lakes village went on to become a post-World War II road racing Mecca and eventually made its way onto the Grand Prix circuit.

Jackson said he feels the Town of Tusten is a perfect place for Rally New York’s races.

“I want to bring in as much to the town as I can,” he said.

The Tusten Lion Club will sponsor a pancake or French toast breakfast on Saturday, October 1 from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Tusten Town Hall on Bridge Street in Narrowsburg in conjunction with the rally. For $5, breakfast includes orange juice, pancakes or French toast, sausage, eggs, apple sauce or fruit cup, various coffee cakes and coffee or tea.

The entire event will end with the last super special stage, ceremonial finish and fireworks at Monticello Raceway on Saturday night.

For more information visit www.RallyNewYork.com or call 845/794-4096.

International Rally New York schedule

Thursday, September 29

8:00 a.m. — Rally car service areas at Lander’s Campground in Narrowsburg and Monticello Raceway open.

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Shakedown on Humphrey Road in Narrowsburg.

Friday, September 30

12:00 noon — Ceremonial start at Monticello Raceway.

1:00 — Start of Leg 1, Monticello Raceway

2:00 to 11:00 p.m. — Media center open at Lander’s Campground, Narrowsburg.

5:00 p.m. — Service area opens at Liberty School in Liberty.

8:00 to 11:00 p.m. — Leg 1 finish party at Lander’s Campground.

Saturday, October 1

8:00 a.m. — Ceremonial restart, Leg 2, Main Street in Narrowsburg.

7:45 p.m. — Ceremonial finish and fireworks at Monticello Raceway.

9:30 — Awards dinner at Concord Resort, Fibbers, in Monticello.