--This year's STPR event, set for June 3-4, 2005, will host Swede Stig Blomqvist, a former World Rally champion, extreme motocross champion Travis Pastrana, defending STPR titleholder Shane Mitchell, and one of the most prolific STPR winner ever, Paul Choiniere. New for 2005 is the sanctioning body - Rally America, the debut of the rally's alcohol-free policy for all events, and a new rally chairperson --
WELLSBORO, PENN. (May 31, 2005) - From its first days in 1977 as an event for Rochester, NY-based car clubs to race through the woods of North Central Pennsylvania, to the spring of 2005, when national television, international entries, a new sanctioning body, and an alcohol-free policy will highlight the event, the Susquehannock Trail ProRally will bring thousands of people and millions of dollars into North Central Pennsylvania June 3-4, 2005.
What is ProRally?
The STPR ProRally is a form of auto racing in which the cars race against the clock, one at-a-time, on closed public roads of the Pennsylvania State Forest, at times bordering on the famous "Grand Canyon of the East" near Wellsboro. Each car has a driver, plus a co-driver, or navigator, who reads from a route book and barks out instructions while the driver is negotiating the course at high speed. The teams compete on ten different roads - or stages - covering 125 miles of racing over a 14 hour period, with the team having the fastest time over the whole course winning the event. The excitement of two and four-wheel-drive cars traveling on gravel roads at more than 100 miles-per-hour - especially on a blind course where no practice has been allowed - is exciting both for spectators and competitors.
The drivers meet their crew every couple of stages for service on the cars, and drivers must obey all local traffic regulations when their cars are not actually driving on the closed stage road. Unlike traditional racetrack driving, where repetition on the same course can lead to the "best line" or "best setup" for each corner, rally drivers must react to blind conditions at racetrack speed.
New Sanctioning Body and Organizing Committee
One of the most significant changes in this year's STPR event is the change in sanctioning body - the national organization that enforces the rules and administrates the championship. The Sports Car Club of America, which founded the national rally series and had run it since 1972, decided to drop the series at the end of last year, and two different race organizations have picked up the slack. The organizing committee, Finger Lakes STPR Motorsports, LLC - formed this winter after the Finger Lakes Region of the SCCA could no longer lend support to the event, has chosen Rally America, a Minneapolis-based group which maintains a national championship, enforces the rules, and insures the rally.
New STPR chairperson, Meridith Croucher, said the committee looked at both sanctioning bodies competing to sanction the 2005 event, and decided on Rally America based on the people running the organization.
"These are all people who have either rallied in the past or organized rallies under the SCCA, so we felt comfortable with them coming to Wellsboro to help us continue the STPR tradition," said Croucher.
According to Ms. Croucher, the change is a significant internal switch, but, for the public, it will be the same rally cars sliding down the gravel roads at thrilling speeds.
"Our goal is to provide both the competitors and the rally fans the same quality event we have always held here," she said.
Event Schedule
For 2005, STPR is Round #3 of the Rally America Championship, with festivities getting underway on Friday afternoon, June 3, with the 15th annual Wellsboro Charity Rally to benefit the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. This charity rally, which involves normal street cars going at legal speeds on public roads, is open to the public, and requires a driver and a navigator to participate. Those who can maintain a steady pace and follow directions closely can win prizes and help raise money to combat cancer. For details, log onto www.stpr.org.
The main rally, sponsored by Citizens & Northern Bank, the Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce, and the citizens of Wellsboro, gets underway at 10:15 AM on Saturday, June 4, from the Wellsboro town Green. The cars will proceed to the first stage, which is also the most famous part of the STPR event, known as the Stony Fork creek crossing, where the finish line is in the middle of a creek where the cars enter at high speed. More than 3,000 spectators are expected to gather there.
Other spectator areas around the course will be included along with spectator directions made available during rally week in Wellsboro, with information headquarters being the Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce. Admission to all areas of STPR activity is free to the public.
This year, all tech inspection and the competitor parties will be held at the Grand Canyon Airport just outside of town. The food will be catered by the Grand Canyon Pilot's Association.
All the rally events, including the pre- and post-rally parties at the Grand Canyon Airport, will be alcohol-free to help encourage the local "don't drink and drive" campaign. As always, there is no alcohol allowed at the spectator areas or anywhere in the Pennsylvania State Forest.
Also, within the STPR main event, there will be two shorter rallies - known as Regional Rally events - for those less experienced or those not seeking national points. The first one, which runs only during the daylight hours with stages 1 - 4, is called the Sherwood Forest Regional Rally, named in honor of the former Pennsylvania State Forest area District forester, Jack Sherwood. The second regional rally, which incorporates stages 5 - 10, is the Finger Lakes Regional Rally.
Mary Worthington, executive director of the Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce, said STPR provides a significant infusion of visitors to the area, and event sponsor Citizens & Northern bank estimates the event puts more than $2.5 million into the local economy.
Late-breaking rally information can be heard on KC101 FM in the Wellsboro area.
The Competitors
Because of the split sanction of Pro Rally events in 2005, some of the top rally drivers are working overtime to earn points in both the United States Rally Championship and the Rally America Championship. One such driver is Matt Iorio, from Westmoreland, NH, who is leading the points in both championships with his co-driver Ole Holter in their Subaru Impreza despite not winning any of the rallies.
Stig Blomqvist, the 1984 World Rally Champion, a Swede now living in England, has entered a Subaru Impreza WRX in the event. Blomqvist, who won the Rally America event in Oregon earlier this year, outran defending National Champion Patrick Richard to claim the win.
Other top entries include last year's STPR winner Shane Mitchell (Subaru Impreza), Paul Choiniere (three-time STPR winner), Tom Lawless (USRC winner this year at Cherokee Trails), Pat Richard (2004 North American Rally Champion and 2005 Rim of the World/USRC winner), and Travis Pastrana (extreme motorcross champion in his second year of Pro Rally).
Television
The STPR event will be carried by the Outdoor Life Network (national cable TV) as part of the Rally America Championship series starting in October, 2005. The network will show all eight Rally America events eight weeks in a row followed by a summary show. Check your local listings or www.rally-america.com for broadcast times.
For more information:
Rally information and schedule- http://www.stpr.org/glance.html
Citizens and Northern Bank - https://www.cnbankpa.com
Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce, accommodations - www.wellsboropa.com
Rally America - www.rally-america.com
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - www.dcnr.state.pa.us./forestry/frm.aspx.
Grand Canyon Airport - www.pagrandcanyonairport.com
# # #
2005 STPR Schedule (subject to change)
| Thursday, June 2, 2005 | |
| 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Registration for competitors, officials, service crews, media, and scrutineers - St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Walnut St. - Wellsboro (note: media credentials will be handled by Rally America, not by the STPR committee - check www.rally-america.com for details) |
| Friday, June 3, 2005 | |
| 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Regional Rally seminar for new rallyists (Seed 8) conducted by Rally America steward - Conference Room at St. |
| 9:00 AM - noon; 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
Competitor Registration (at least one of the team must register by noon) - St. Paul's Episcopal Church |
| 9:00 AM - noon; 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM; 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM |
Service Crew and Volunteer registration (Note: no registration on Saturday) |
| 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM; 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Scrutineering for all cars - Grand Canyon Airport, Rt. 660 West/4 mi. (by appointment from registration only) |
| Noon - 2:30 PM | Charity TSD Rally registration by the American Cancer Society, St. Paul's Episopal Church |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Practice stage - competitors only/tech must be completed (no spectators) |
| 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Rally for American Cancer Society - Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce, 114 Main Street (on the Green) |
| 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM | Wellsboro Welcome Party - Grand Canyon Airport Rt. 660 West/4 miles (no alcohol; no smoking) |
| Saturday, June 4, 2005 | |
| 9:00 AM | Parc Expose (lineup of cars) around the Wellsboro Green |
| 10:00 AM | Parc Ferme (all cars must be in place) around the Green - Mandatory Rally America drivers meeting |
| 10:31 AM | Start of STPR and Sherwood Forest Regional Rally from the Green |
| 3:15 PM | First rally car returns to the Green for service/dinner break - cars on display; tech for second regional rally behind court house starting at 2:30 PM |
| 5:01 PM | Start of evening section of STPR and Finger Lakes Regional Rally from the Green |
| 11:45 PM | First car finishes STPR - downtown Wellsboro |
| Sunday, June 5, 2005 | |
| 2:00 AM | Awards Presentation and breakfast - Grand Canyon Airport. |
# # #
[ STPR Home ]