RAL Weekend - The Rally Program's Events...

The NER Rally Program has a lot going on RAL weekend. This is a great opportunity to come out and try or just come and watch a Rally or Rallycross while you are in the area for the other events during the weekend.

RALLY AGAINST LEUKEMIA

The Rally department will flick the ignition switch on RAL weekend with the Rally Against Leukemia on Friday night August 22nd. The rally explores approximately 60 miles of back roads surrounding NHMS. The rally requires no special equipment (well, something to read by in the dark) and no previous rally experience. Registration will open at 5:00 PM at the main entry gate at NHMS and a brief beginners’ rally school will be held at approximately 6:00 PM. The first car will start at 7:01, and subsequent teams will leave in one minute intervals. The final checkpoint will include a lap or so on the winding road course of NHMS, offering for many, the only chance they may ever have to actually drive on a race track. The rally is run Friday night, to allow Solo and Club Racers a chance to join in the fun of the rally. This is a non-championship event. The following classes will be used: Experienced/equipped, Novice (less than 5 rallies), and First timers. A special class could be created if 5 vehicles of a marquee club contact Scott Beliveau ( beliveau@aavid.com ) and pre-register. Registration form is on the ner.org website.

Donated snacks and beverages will greet the rallyists in the Tech Center of the speedway upon completion of the rally at approximately 10:00 PM. The rally is the first half of the excitement for the night. Numerous food, service and entertainment franchises have donated thousands of dollars in food, prizes and raffle items. Once scoring is completed, awards and a raffle will take place. Each entrant will receive a raffle ticket, but more can be purchased. Collect donations from friends, co-workers, even strangers to buy more tickets. Dinner certificates from establishments such as Applebees, the Nintey Nine, UNO, Longhorn, and Outback will be up for grabs. Entertainment opportunities include NHMS race tickets, Lake Winnepesaukee cruises, Meadowbrook concert tickets, and Mt. Washington Auto Road passes, among others. Certificates also from the Home Depot, Valvoline, Best Buy, and Wal-Mart will be in the prize pool. The eats are provided by Shaws, Hannaford, and BJs, and Engraving, Awards & Gifts, as usual, will supply the awards. There is also the opportunity to enter to win a free entry to the O’Neil Rally School, which they have graciously donated again.

RALLYCROSS AGAINST LEUKEMIA:

The RallyCross Against Leukemia will be held at The Lodge at Belmont (the dogtrack), on Sunday. This is a cone course event, but runs are on the dirt parking lot at the Lodge, about five miles north of NHMS on Rt. 106. As well as being a charity event, this is also a championship event for the series’ regulars. This is one of the favorite events of the year because of the Lodge. A lunch buffet gives the drivers and workers a chance to get out of the sun and relax over a good meal. After the racing is done, a raffle similar to that held after the rally will occur while the racers chow down on appetizers and wash the dust out of their mouths. Additional raffle tickets may be purchased to increase your odds of winning the great prizes. The driver bringing in the highest total in donations will receive a free entry to a future RallyX. Any drivers with more than $100 in donations will get free entry to the event if they desire.

The XX (DOUBLE CROSS)

The XX will be spread over Saturday and Sunday. The two Solo runs will take place Saturday afternoon, following the Jeff Gordon Challenge (4:00ish). The two RallyX runs will be at The Lodge, early on Sunday morning, approximately 8:30 AM, before the RAL RallyCross. The rules: 1)all four runs must be made in the same vehicle; 2)one class only; 3)the only change allowed between runs will be tires; 4)vehicles need to be teched Saturday afternoon, before they can begin; 5) all runs count; 6)fastest overall time wins: 7)you will have fun. Who, and in what, will win the hardware in this exciting new event?

You must be pre-registered by 8/19 in order to participate, no walk-ins. Entry will be capped at 20. This is necessary so that the organizers can set aside time for the Solo and RX runs at the optimal times which won’t interfere with the normal events. This event is purely for fun and is not part of any championship series. The entry fee is $40, (money in hand) and ALL the funds raised through this event will be going to the UMASS Memorial Foundation. Raise your entry fee through donations. To register for the XX, contact Warren Elliott, wfelliott@snet.net or 860-608-9900.