SCCA PRO Rally
by Bob Nielsen
Someone once described PRO Rallying as "Real people driving real cars on real roads real fast." In no other form of motorsports do you see the road for the first time, with no chance for practice. In no other form of motorsports is the event conducted in any kind of weather or road conditions. In no other form of motorsports is the winner of the event determined more on driver skill rather than horsepower.
Pro Rallying is an extreme sport. In remote areas of the country, you race down twisty unpaved forest roads that may include rocks, mud, ruts, snow, water or dust. Your navigator’s route book shows only a minimum number of instructions to follow the course. The rally car is constantly sliding. You vary from being under control to being totally out of control. You hope that after 10-20 miles of this kind of excitement you will reach the finish line. Then you traverse slowly to the next special stage and do it all again. This might last for fifteen more special stages over a twelve hour period with most of it done at night.
Six time national champion Paul Choiniere said: "There’s no thrill like racing as fast as you can down a twisty dirt road you’ve never seen before, catching air off the jumps, sliding the car through the corners and kicking up clouds or dust and gravel." In addition, he said: "Once you try a rally stage, you will become addicted to the sport."
PRO Rallying is one of the most exciting forms of motorsports in America, and if you want more information about the sport, use the following contacts. And then you can "Drive a real car down a real road real fast."
Divisional PRO Rallys sponsored by LOL-SCCA:
- Headwaters, May 10, 1997, Park Rapids, MN.
- 10,000 Lakes, Aug. 22, 1997, Bemidji, MN.
- Paul Bunyan's Ride, Aug. 23, 1997, Bemidji, MN.
National PRO Rally sponsored by LOL-SCCA:
- Ojibwe Forests, Aug, 22-23, 1997, Bemidji, MN.
Sports Car Club of America LOL Regional Executive Beryl Ann Burton (612) 529-6821 National office (800) 972-6662
Copyright 1997, Land O'Lakes Region.
Last revised: March 8, 1997