Niday / Kintigh aim toward National ProRally Championship in 2001
Niday Rallysport is looking optimistically at their chances in the Sports Car Club of America’s ProRally series. Driver J. B. Niday (of Richfield, Minnesota) and co-driver Allan Kintigh (of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota) feel they have a chance to win the Group 2 Championship in their 1986 Volkswagen GTI. They plan to run most of the events on the ProRally circuit again this season, and will have a fresh VW GTI for most events. Their other car will be kept as backup, and will be driven by Kintigh in some ClubRallies in the SCCA Central Division.
Last year, Niday and Kintigh ran their first full season in the Sports Car Club of America’s ProRally series. They were able to get familiar with their car and with some of the courses around the United States where ProRallies are held. They did not expect to be in a four-way battle to take the National Championship in Group 2, a class for two-wheel drive cars with engines under 2.4 liters. When all the points were tallied after the D&N Bank Lake Superior ProRally, the final event of the season, Niday and Kintigh finished second in the Group 2 category.
They were especially pleased because their VW was fairly stock, with only safety and suspension modifications. Most cars in the category have extensive engine work for more power and torque, and drivetrain modifications for strength. In addition, several events, especially those on the west coast, were much harder on the car than the team was used to on events in the SCCA Central Division.
"We had to completely replace the front suspension two or three times
during the season," said Niday. "We also had odd problems, such as the tire failure that resulted in losing a wheel on the first stage at Susquehannock Trails in Pennsylvania. Though we had new wheels for Maine, we still broke one on a pothole, and that cost us considerable time." Niday and Kintigh are also optimistic about the switch to a different car for this season, another 1986 Volkswagen GTI. The new car, which should be ready for the Oregon Trail ProRally in April, will have considerable engine modifications, aimed primarily at low end torque so the car will be able to accelerate quicker out of corners. Niday and Kintigh will drive their 2000 Championship winning VW at Sno*Drift in Atlanta, Michigan, as horsepower is not as important on the icy roads used there.
"We were pretty surprised at how well we did last season," said co-driver Kintigh. "Our VW was not as modified for speed as most cars in our class. Our intent was primarily to learn how to handle the car and to learn the roads used on rallies around the country."
Niday was presented with another award recently (January 20th) by members of the Land O’ Lakes Region of the SCCA. He was chosen for the Skogmo Memorial Award, given to the "Most Improved Driver" in the region. It was the first time that the award, named for race driver Don Skogmo’s daughter who died in a car accident, was presented to a rally driver.
Details on Niday Rallysport may be found at http://www.NidayRallysport.com
REport, cont. from page 1 seat in the house at SCCA events. There are all kinds of support activities: corner working, emergency services, grid, paddock, pit, technical inspection, timing and scoring. Getting involved as a worker is a great way to find out were the action IS and the best way to find out if you want more out of racing.
If you want to jump in with both feet, we have racing programs that fit all budgets and desires, from racing street-legal cars in Showroom Stock classes, to racing high-powered, purpose built racing cars in Trans-Am. If you have the desire to race we have you covered.
We don't want to forget our Rally and RallyCross Programs. If dirt is your thing, our summer RallyCross series is for you. RallyCross, where you can learn to control your vehicle (even your daily driver) while driving on unpaved surfaces on a closed course and race against the clock. ClubRally is where you get to drive your car on a controlled course on forest roads. There is also the tamer version of ClubRally - Road Rallies which are run on public roads where the goal is not to get lost and follow the written directions of the rally master, while trying to arrive at the check points at predetermined times.
The best thing we have to offer is the people. You won’t find a friendlier or more interesting bunch anywhere. And if you want to talk racing, this is the group. If you want to get involved, fill out a membership form or come to our March 16 General Membership Meeting / Open House and check out what we have to offer. I look forward to talking to you.
Tonneau On-Line March 2001
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Copyright 2001, Land O'Lakes Region Last revised: March 13, 2003
