Defining Audience in the Discussion on Sustainability

North American Rally — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:57:55 -0700

Anyone in racing knows the idiom: “Speed is money. How fast do you want to go?” Refocusing that reality today, though, would turn it into: “Audience is money. How big do you want to be?”

Audience is the new money but audience has many, many different colors, shapes and forms. Sometimes audience doesn’t even have a reflection when it looks at itself in the mirror. Audience is more than people sitting in the grandstands.

How Audience Affects the Sustainability of U.S. Rallying

North American Rally — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:44:08 -0700

Let’s look at the big picture here. A national stage rally championship was born in America in 1973 and it’s continued non-stop ever since.

It was originally sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America. Rally America took over in 2005 and currently runs the national championship program. So there has been success and it’s been sustained for a period of time through the hard work of a lot of people and companies especially Subaru.

The Sustainability Problem in American Rallying

North American Rally — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:54:50 -0700

We’re at the midway point in a transition season for the American rally championship. I constantly hear reports from abroad that the championship is healthy. Apparently health is relative as we heard in the political debates over national health care. One man’s influenza is another’s pneumonia.

Over the next few days we’ll do some analysis here on WorldRallySport.com

Sterckx Comments on His First SP Win

North American Rally — Sun, 06 May 2012 17:08:05 -0700

Former Belgian Group N champion David Sterckx and co-driver Karen Jankowski finally broke through a rollercoaster season to win the Super Production category at the Oregon Trail Rally this weekend.

Sterckx was in an early battle with points leaders Lauchlin O'Sullivan and co-driver Scott Putnam but when they dropped out with mechanical problems, Sterckx and Jankowski were mostly unchallenged the rest of the rally. But in any motor racing competition, unchallenged can be the most nerve wracking.

Higgins Comments on His Oregon Victory

North American Rally — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:06:50 -0700

Defending American rally champion David Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew held on to their rally long lead to win the Oregon Trail Rally, third event in the American rally championship.

Higgins wasn't challenged once Canadian champions Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard withdrew from the event Saturday because of electrical problems.

Higgins gave us a rare reason for winning the event before he goes back home to the Isle of Man. Listen to what else Higgins had to say: CLICK

BREAKING: Higgins Wins the Oregon Trail Rally

North American Rally — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:56:53 -0700

David Higgins has claimed a decisive victory at the Oregon Trail Rally. Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew won the three-day rally by a margin of more than 4 minutes having posted the fastest times on nearly all of the event's 16 Special Stages.

Duplessis' Thoughts on Oregon's Final Day

North American Rally — Sun, 06 May 2012 13:19:12 -0700

Editor’s Note: 2010 American 2WD champion Chris Duplessis, the current points leader in 2WD after winning at both Sno*Drift and 100 Acre Wood, will not be at the third round of the championship this weekend at the Oregon Trail Rally.

CrazyLeo Safely in Second on Final Day

North American Rally — Sun, 06 May 2012 09:16:42 -0700

Canadian rally winner CrazyLeo Urlichich enters the third and final day of the Oregon Trail Rally safely in second place behind defending American champion David Higgins.

Urlichich and his co-driver Carl Williamson are 2:54.3 behind Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew. That's a substantial margin but this is CrazyLeo's first visit to Oregon Trail. Still, he said he likes the roads here as he starts Day 3.

Here's CrazyLeo Sunday morning: CLICK

Sterckx on Pace for First SP Podium

North American Rally — Sun, 06 May 2012 08:22:49 -0700

David Sterckx is in line to claim his first Super Production class victory of the season.

Sterckx and co-driver Karen Jankowski start the third and final day of the Oregon Trail Rally with a 41.5 second lead in SP over the local of crew Dave Henderson and Terrence McDowell. The former Belgian Group N champion made his American rallying debut at Sno*Drift last January and has since been working through teething issues in the newly-built 2011 Subaru Impreza STI he pilots.

Higgins Unchallenged in Oregon

North American Rally — Sun, 06 May 2012 07:15:07 -0700

Subaru Rally Team USA's David Higgins is blazing a clear path to the Oregon Trail Rally podium.

Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew have a lead of nearly three minutes over the next fastest crew with only 41.62 competitive miles remaining on Sunday's five stages.

Higgins took an early lead Friday evening winning all four stages at PIR and then went on to win five of Saturday's seven stages.