Summer Events, Road America, and ARA Action

Anyone heading out to the races this summer? I can't say enough good things about the Brian Redman Historics weekend at Road America, or the Ojibwe Forest Rally.

I will be at both and have been a few times each the last few years. Last year ruined everything. All you Sconny and Chicago-land peeps should try to make the pilgrimage to Road America at least once, it's close. It really is a magical track and area. I love the big vintage weekend but Indy is also spectacular there. The NASCAR weekend is probably fun too but thats not really my bag.

The track is amazing, arguably the best or one of the top few in NA. Facility's are good, vibe is good, price is good. You will see seemingly every sort of awesome race you can think of tearing it up around one of the best circuits anywhere.

The rally is a different thing but equally as fun, its also free, free, free, so there is that. Great scenery in the MN Northwoods, that also happens to have wild cars ripping through it for a weekend in August. Quick trip to Detroit Lakes area for you Fargo and TC folk.

I am coming from Sioux Falls, SD but will have a Minne contingent with me for both events, if anyone wants to road trip, or some tips to "how it all works" let me know.

Welcome back normal, mostly.

I work too much, these summer weekends are all we got. Use em'.

Yes, I work on/volunteer at/help set up the 3 ARA rallies in my general area.

I will be 'prepping' (skid plate install, oil/transaxle fluid change, minor underbody/unibody protection, and my 'gravel' wheels the week before) the car during the second week of July for New England Forest Rally in Maine/N.H. at the very end of July.

I REALLY look forward to this event (as much for the location/'ambience' and it's beauty, as for the competition itself!) and was really hurting last year when it had to be cancelled.
LOBSTAH ROLLS at The Sunday River Brewing Company!!!

I also plan on getting to the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally in the north central/western part (based out of Wellsboro) of my now home state in the middle of September, and I am definitely going to the New York Forest Rally in Narrowsburg, N.Y. just two weeks after that.

The latter is also one of my fave events, being a Super Regional with a smaller field of entries (and therefore a little easier/more laid back/less stressful to work, especially when doing the time cards at the stage starts/finishes) than the larger entry National events, and is also the closest ARA event to where I now call home.

It is run by Barry McKenna, so given all of his Irie pals in the area who either run their own cars, or rent 'arrive and drives' from him, it is guaranteed to be a 'Fiesta Fest', with many; R2, R5/Rally 2 (including a few newer Mk8 Rally 2 cars!), and hopefully McKenna's very own WRC spec Mk8 Fiesta (albeit slightly 'de-tuned' with no rear diffuser, and a floor mounted shifter instead of the full WRC spec paddle shifters, due to limiting ARA open class rules) running.

(I just hope that they ALL show up for the TARMAC Empire State Performance Rally in the beginning of May 2022. )

I might even try to get to some of the closer hillclimbs run by the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association as well, if possible.

One of these years I'd like to get to/work one of the midwestern events, especially Lake Superior Performance Rally, Winter SnoDrift, or Southern Ohio Forest Rally.

LSPR is held in a beautiful area if you have never been to the UP. Can't speak to the others but I have family up that way and the scenery is spectacular. I want to get to that rally as it's late fall or minor winter camping which I like but it's a haul for me now from SD.

Just a few days out from the big Vintage weekend at RA. I am going Wednesday to Monday. Any of you locals in the area hit me up if you come out for a day. Should be great, over 400 cars entered and tons of F1, LMP, and big fast cars on the list for this year. I can’t wait.

That’s right in my backyard but I’m gonna be out of town. Have fun, RA is a blast.

Old school, body on frame Trans Am cars, and big block Can Am cars as well?

Oh yeah some of everything. This a really historic Can Am track so there are always a good group of those. Hopefully the UOP Shadows are there again because those just are the most badass of them all. Should be least a few Mclaren and Lola Can Am cars as well. Those things are stupid fast there. There is a Sunoco Camaro on the entry list. I am beyond excited.

I will be spamming pics and hopefully some video here.