the NER region of the SCCA tends to be the most active true rally region in the country that I am aware of…always pushing for an expansion of true rally events and has constantly been oversubscribed when it comes to its Rallycross program. It also appears to be the most active when it comes to RallySprints as well holding a number of them each year in partnership with the Team O’Neil rally school.
This weekend saw the first nighttime RallySprint stages and also (obviously) were winter/snow/ice stages as well. This could have been a complete cluster but the drivers were smart, generally conservative, and stayed out of any significant disasters…all boding well for the continued support of the program.
The relatively small entry count (15) resulted in a few DNFs with (as far as I know from minimal interactions with competitors) a broken CV on the RAV4 of Matt Stryker and a puking codriver of Anthony Burden among the day’s casualties. TJ Pullen in the #909 Subie Wagon was the winner of the event, some 17 seconds clear of a brilliant 2WD effort of Michael White with the #911 Saab truly putting on a show with no effs given, and then another 26 seconds back of that the #409 Impreza sedan of Dylan Gondyke.
Photo conditions were great…the winter light was plentiful and bright off the snow in the day and even some of the early night shots were good. Cold temps at about 19 degrees didn’t drain my batteries too quick which was a surprise but the depth of the snow off the side of the roads (at least thigh deep) was. All in all a good day. Didn’t hang around for the winner’s circle or late stages as without a remote flash my photo taking time was done around 6 and I had dinner and a beer calling me before heading home. Enjoy.
