Rally New York flies again

Business owners signal approval

TUSTEN, NY - A duo from Ireland, Celsus Donnelly and Noel Gallagher, won the Rally New York event staged on the roads of Tusten on March 30. According to Thomas Barker, chief publicity officer for Rally New York, the two “took control of the event at mid-distance and drove to a victory time of one hour, nine minutes and 32 seconds, which was minute-and-a-half faster than the second-place winner.” The team’s performance might have been even stronger, but a regulator in the engine malfunctioned early in the rally, and the alternator broke just before the end.

In second place was another Irish team, Enda McCormack and Bernard Farrell, who finished just eight seconds ahead of the third-place team.

Seamus Burkeža former winneržand Eddies Fries were among the pre-event favorites, but they were relegated to the sidelines when their car’s ignition system failed on the first special stage (racing area).

The rally was run under mild and sunny conditions, and drivers reported that the roads were generally good, but there were occasionally sand or gravel spots on some of the corners in the paved stages, and cut-up areas on the dirt or gravel stages.

Well attended

Ivan Orisek, one of the event organizers, said, “We got a very positive response from everybody.” He said that one of the local storeowners said that business was “even better than the Fourth of July.”

Rick Cortese, co-owner of Beth’s Country Store on Kirk Road in Narrowsburg, confirmed Orisek’s description of the day. Cortese said business was so good that he had to order an extra delivery of gasoline. He said business came from the spectators as well as the drivers, navigators and others connected to the race.

He was very much in favor of a return engagement.

Ed Jackson, the Tusten Planning Board chairman and an official with Rally New York, said he thought “every business on Main Street profited from the event; it’s a nice shot in the arm after they’ve been quiet all winter.” He added that the four spectator areas along the route were full of spectators during the special stages.

While some communities, notably the Town of Liberty, have ended their participation in the races because of opposition from some residents, the Town of Tusten remains committed to hosting the event.

Orisek said the next rally will take place on September 7 and 8, and will include special stages in Tusten. He said it was too early to know if there would also be special stages in other towns in Sullivan County.