At the 2011 New England Forest Rally, former Formula Drift racer  and champion Verena Mei made her debut as a rally driver.  In 2012, she’ll be tackling the whole Rally America championship series with a new sponsor.  We look forward to following her progress next year and welcoming her back to the NEFR!  Get the lowdown on Verena’s new gig by clicking on this World Rally Sport link.

Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital will be selling raffle tickets during the Rally.  UCVH is a sixteen bed critical access hospital in rural northern NH, and is the second smallest in the United States. After hearing several complaints about the televisions in the hospital, nurses Amy Lane and Jen Radun decided to do a fundraiser to install new TV’s and DVD players in all patient rooms and waiting areas

Raffle tickets will cost $10.00 and be available for purchase at the Errol Super Special and Errol Service area.  Winners will be drawn at the end of the Rally. First prize is a 32” flat screen TV, Second prize is green fees for 4 at the Panorama Golf Course at the Balsams Grand Resort, and Third prize is a $50.00 gas card.  50/50 raffle tickets will also be sold.

Also partnering with the rally, Twin Rivers Habitat for Humanity (TRHFH), an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, will be selling water bottles at the Errol Super Special. All proceeds from the bottle sales will help support TRHFH in its efforts to eradicate substandard housing in the North Country by building or renovating homes, which are then mortgaged to their partner families with a no-interest mortgage that only covers the cost of construction materials and the property.  At the same time, TRHFH’s efforts also help individuals become involved citizens in their communities. TRHFH works across 15 North Country townships, east from the Androscoggin River and west to the Connecticut River.

Please help us support these worthy local organizations!

Rally fans are invited to stop by the Phoenix House & Well in Newry, Maine, on Thursday evening (July 14) between the hours of 5:30pm – 8:00pm for an Autograph Signing session with New England Forest Rally drivers.

Scheduled to appear at 6:30pm:

• 2010 Rally America Champion and 2010 New England Forest Rally winner Antoine L’Estage!
• TV Personality and rally/drift driver, Andrew Comrie-Picard
• Ex-Mitsubishi Rally Team factory driver Lauchlin O’Sullivan
• Drifter turned rallyist Verena Mei
• Rookie of the Year contender Adam Yeoman
• Last Ditch Racing’s John Cassidy
• Exedy RacingClutches’ Evan Cline

These drivers and more will be stopping by the Phoenix, located at 9 Timberline Drive (and on the right side of the road just before you reach South Ridge base area and the parking lot at Sunday River, on South Ridge Road in Newry – click here for a map), to sign autographs and chat with fans throughout the time frame mentioned.

Rally team Last Ditch Racing signing autographs. Photo: Francisco La Torre/WorldRallySport

While you’re in the neighborhood, plan to grab dinner at the Phoenix!  They’ll have a barbecue going, and they’ll also offer their full dinner menu inside (lower level of the restaurant).  Shipyard Brewing Company is sponsoring this event, so be sure to grab a cold one while you’re there.

L.L. Cote is offering rally-goers the chance to win 2 tickets on Saturday’s VIP Bus.  Everyone who stops by the L.L. Cote booth on Friday at the Mexico Rec Super Special has a free chance to win one of 2 pairs of VIP passes, and anyone who purchases an L.L. Cote Regional Rally T-Shirt or a Detailing Kit will be given 5 extra entries into the contest for each item purchased.

Saturday’s VIP Bus passes include coffee and pastries in the morning before you head off to Errol, and passengers will also receive lunch along with a variety of beverages.  For additional details, click here.

L.L. Cote’s Detailing Kit includes a bucket with a microfiber cloth, sponge and buffer with a bottle of wash and a bottle of wax.  Your ride will appreciate the splurge and the together time the kit will offer!  The L.L. Cote Regional Rally T-Shirt is a new item that L.L. Cote produced to celebrate their sponsorship of Saturday’s regional rally!

The winners will be drawn at 3:30 and will be called if they aren’t present at the drawing.

L.L. Cote, the largest outdoor recreation, sporting goods, hardware, and more retail outfit in New Hampshire’s North Country, has returned for a second year to title sponsor the L.L. Cote Regional Rally on Saturday, July 16.

The owners of the 50,000 square foot super-store were thrilled with the response they received from rally fans coming into the store last year, and are looking forward to being a part of the New England Forest Rally again this year.

“We really enjoyed the fact that everyone was so grateful,” said Kristina Cote.  “People repeatedly thanked us for sponsoring the event.  We’re looking forward to having people come back this year, and we hope to get them looking throughout the store.”

While you’re in Errol for the L.L. Cote Regional Rally, be sure to stop by L.L. Cote and check it out – and leave yourself a little extra time to do so.  The retailer will be giving away free stuff on the 16th, and they’ll also be selling limited edition “L.L. Cote Regional Rally” t-shirts in adult and kids sizes. (Note that you will also be able to buy them at the L.L. Cote booth at Mexico Rec, as well as at the Errol Service, where they will also be selling sandwiches.)    Be sure to wander beyond the entrances to the store.  Check out this list of what L.L. Cote has to offer – it is truly an experience just wandering through there, and we guarantee you’ll find something you won’t want to live without!

• HUGE selection in their Guns, Archery and Ammo departments
• Everything you could possibly need to catch a fish  in their Fishing department
• Men’s, Women’s and Children’s clothing, with brands like Under Armour, Carhartt, Rocky Boots, and MUCH more
• Camping – everything from sleeping bags to portable cook stoves
• Boating – brands like Old Town, Necky, Ocean Kayak & Hobie
• Powersports – new & used ATVs & UTVs, including a Yamaha & Kawasaki showroom
• Canoe & Kayak Rentals (heck, you can even rent a cement mixer there if you need one!)
• Hardware & Lumber
• Subway sandwich shop
• Gifford’s Ice Cream Stand
• Calico Cottage Fudge
• Convenience store items
• Gas

Regarding that last bullet point, Rally Enthusiasts, PLEASE NOTE: L.L. Cote has 93 Octane gas available – get some while it lasts!!

Can’t wait to learn more about what’s in store?  Go to the L.L. Cote website.  And when you’re wandering through the vast store during the rally, be sure to say “thank you!” to the employees for helping support the rally.