By Ted Waddell
TUSTEN — August 30, 2005 – On Saturday, the second of three Rally New York Rally sprints leading up to International Rally New York (which is scheduled to be held Thursday, September 29 through Saturday, October 1) attracted a field of 11 cars.
However, only four of those vehicles finished the demanding 27-mile course. The special stage rally was held on Mortimer Schiff Trail, a gravel road located on the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation near Narrowsburg.
According to several competitors, the number of entries was down as most rallyists are saving their cars for the upcoming international event.
The rally sprint competition was held in six stages of 4.5 miles each along Mortimer Schiff Trail. The competitors raced three stages in each direction along the trail.
Designated spectator areas were supervised by trained safety marshals.
Noel Nash and co-driver Eddie Fries finished first overall and first in Category C1 in their highly modified Mitsubishi Evolution 6 with a total elapsed time of 25:98 (the time is computed in hundredths of a minute).
Although both drivers are originally from Ireland, they now live in Yonkers.
“A lot of drivers were saving their cars for the big international race next month,” said Nash of the upcoming rally.
International Rally New York is part of the United States Rally Championship. It is a Federation Internationale de L’Automobile listed motorsports event and is sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC) and presented by National Auto Sport Association (NASA).
“The 102 miles of competition will be held over 25 special stages, including five super special stages… and the whole length of the event will count toward the Eastern States Rally Championship,” said Ivan Orsek, organizer of Rally New York.
Fries, Nash’s co-driver/navigator, said their modified rally car is geared for racing at 60 to 100 miles per hour, and can attain its top speed of 120 mph in about seven seconds.
Eugene Micniok and co-driver Robert Maciejski finished second overall with an elapsed time of 28:41. The two men are originally from Poland, but now reside in the United States. Micniok lives on Staten Island, while Maciejski hails from Avenel, NJ.
“This is something I love… it’s an adrenaline rush,” Maciejski said. “I’ll do anything for the sport.”
Micniok started rallying at the age of 18 in Poland, and has been involved in the technically demanding motor sport here in America since 2001.
“This was a very good event, one of the best in the region, and to practice for International Rally New York is a great thing,” he said.
Micniok said it can take three to four months or upwards of a year to build a rally car, and several days between events to go over the vehicle to ensure it is safe for the next competition.
“You’ve got to make sure the car is safe,” he added. “It takes a strong car and a good driver to finish a race.”
In Category M2, first place went to Mike Hall and Dave Stockdill, while Ty Crowley and Mike Spillane completed the course in the second-best time.
The third Rally New York Rally sprint 2005 will be held at the same location on Saturday, Sept. 17. For more information, please call Orsek at 794-4096 or visit the Web site www.RallyNewYork.com.