Challenging logging roads with some of the longest stages on the circuit set the tone for the New England Forest Rally. Always a favorite with drivers due to the technical demands of the course, this rally is also a crowd pleaser because of its stunning scenery and wildlife. Quintessential northeastern settings such as winding creeks and one-lane bridges add not only beauty to the race, but also added excitement when encountered by drivers at breakneck speeds.

LOCATION | Bethel, ME

Headquartered at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine and running east to Mexico, Maine and west to Berlin, New Hampshire, this rally takes advantage of the outstanding hospitality of the area as well as the incredible roads that open up during the summer months when the ski season is over. Held on active logging roads, the course is one of the most intense on the circuit. Small lakes, big moose, and beautiful, wild scenery make this an epic rally not to be missed!

CONDITIONS |

Warm, dry weather is consistent with summertime in Maine and New Hampshire. Spectators normally enjoy bright blue skies, which makes watching the rally cars fly by even more fun. Active logging roads present their own set of special challenges to drivers, requiring different driving techniques than at other gravel rallies. With roads wide enough to accommodate massive logging trucks, the temptation to drive flat-out using the whole road is great. But rocks and ruts at the edges of the roads await the unwary drivers who fail to pay anything but the utmost attention to the road at all times--and mistakes can be very, very costly!

 

http://newenglandforestrally.com/

It sound be a very interesting rally. Lots of room on the SP podium with out some of the regulars at the rally (Pat Moro, Piotr, and the Keeneys)

 

There will be live chat during the rally http://www.max-attack.com/livechat

 

Billy are you heading east?

I can't make NEFR, made it to STPR but I will be cooped up dealing with my own shakedown to get our car ready for Rally WV.

Rally America is the big leagues though! A great event to spectate for sure!

 

I won't be able to make it... There is a chance i will make rally Colorado this year though. Trying to save up a bit of money for a new helmet and AMR coilovers for the evo. I will be cyberspectating all weekend though

 

Block at the front and Block at the rear - Friday, July 17, 2009
Car 43 driver Ken Block has drawn the first starting spot on the road for this years New England Forest Rally - this is a spot he is familiar with. The interesting part is that his wife, Lucy is the last car on the road.

Lucy is fresh from a refresher course at Team O'Neil Rally School and is participating in her first rally ever. Lucy will be sharing driver and co-driver responsibilities with Chrissie Beavis. Beavis is a multi time X Games co-driver medalist and as a very talented driver as well.

 

Let the New England Forest Rally begin - Friday, July 17, 2009
The first cars have come through and car 300 Reilly/Benthien and car 15 Petrow/Neyhart both used the Scandanavian flick to maneuver the 90 degree 'hairpin' turn.

The return of the red, white, and blue Ford Escape - car 602 - and the stunning flick Doucette performed made him an instant fan favorite.

Car 280 Healey/Johnson are always a fan favorite in their rear wheel drive 1978 Datsun 280. They did the same today.

Some teams are clearly in it for fun, like car 894 Moody/Beliveau. while they looked awesome transitioning from the gravel to the tarmac, they had time to honk at the throngs of fans.

 

Amazing spectator location... - Friday, July 17, 2009
Car 110 Cassidy/Getchell, Car 54 Fox/Blattner, Car 333 Knox/Wilburn, and Car 70 Duplessis/Wood clearly sprayed the most rocks and performed the widest pendulum turns thus far although Car 17 L'Estage/Richard and Car 43 Block/Gelsomino really finished off in style...all sprayed gravel amazingly!

 

Car 523 Hanson/Hanson just make it under the wire of MPL - Friday, July 17, 2009
Car 523 Hanson/Hanson have just been allowed to start the event. Their problem appears to have been a missing set of ignition keys. With a maximum permitted lateness of 30 minutes, the team only had less than one minute to go before they would have been disqualified.

the frustration was evident as Hanson came through a near empty spectator spot.

 

My friend is there with 2 evo's "revo racing" he is the main wrench and builder of those 2 evo 's.

Good luck to them!!

http://www.revo-racing.com/news.html

 

Andi's car is by far my favorite evo of all time! Props to your friend for building such an amazing machine.

 

The Jump is a success for most teams... - Friday, July 17, 2009
While there was some confusion among the fans regarding whether of not there was going to be a parade lap of the infamous "jump", they did get a show!

Cars came through clean, cars came through off balance, and cars came through hard.

Despite the initial confusion about whether there would be one lap or two, the fans were impressed!

One notable performance on the "jump" stage was the youngest competitor Drew Paine in his Neon. Drew nailed the final corner of the stage - a feat not attained by many of the more seasoned competitors - go Drew!

 

the first 2 stage winners:

1 Sunday River SuperSpecial #68 - William Bacon
2 Mexico Super Special #199 - Travis Pastrana

 

I wish I could go to watch but I have to stay home and work on my wounded evo
I hope they get a good strong finish as I know adam busted his ***** to get them up and going for this event but the next stop is x-games in LA which should be a real good time and I may try to attend this.

Crew chief for these cars http://www.revo-racing.com/teammember_mechanic.html
He deserves a lot of credit for building and maintaining these amazing evo's

 

If you talk to him this weekend, post up some updates from them!