The Rules are simple: you run your rally car under the prescribed class in the Rules set forth by the New England Hillclimb Association.  For the purposes of crowning winners, New England Performance Rally will present an award each to the top finisher in 2WD and in AWD.  You must compete in 50% +1 of the events for the season to obtain the season points win and the associated award.

Additionally, points will be awarded as follows:

Finish Position Points
1st              20
2nd         15
3rd          12
4th          10
5th            8
6th            6
7th            4
8th            3
9th            2
10th – last 1

And what is that award, you ask?  New England Performance Rally is giving away to the winner, in each of the two classes mentioned above, a FREE entry to the 2013 New England Forest Rally Regional events.  That’s right, free entry to NEFR if you compete in and win the New England Performance Rally Series in your class!

Please direct any questions to Kathy Moody at 603-616-1195 or via email rallykat158@yahoo.com.

•    2012 Chevrolet Sonic
•    2012 Fiat 500
•    2011-2012 Ford Fiesta
•    2009-2012 Honda Fit
•    2012 Kia Rio
•    2011-2012 Mazda 2
•    2007-2012 MINI Cooper
•    2007-2012 Nissan Versa
•    2007-2012 Toyota Yaris

This class offers a low-cost alternative that will allow cross-over racing in other race series as well (i.e., hillclimb, rallycross, SCCA road racing, etc.).  This class would allow minor upgrades to suspension and safety.

The NEFR is pleased to support the B-spec class – which it hopes will entice new drivers to the sport – by offering a contingency purse, as outlined below:
3 entries: First Place = $300
4 entries: First Place = $300; Second Place = $200
5 entries: First Place = $300; Second Place = $200; Third = $100

We’ll continue to post additional information as we have it available. If you have further questions, we recommend reaching out to Rally America (jbniday@rally-america.com), as well as to Tim O’Neil (tim@teamoneil.com) or Ted Goddard (tedgcb@tds.net).

In the meantime, here is a link to an article published on January 28 by Mark Vaughn on Autoweek.com: “The latest on B-Spec race cars”.

MAKING YOUR RESERVATION FOR NEFR: if you are making reservations to stay at Sunday River during the rally, you must make them by phone, by calling 1-800-207-2365, mention that you are making reservations for the 2011 New England Forest Rally, and provide the Reservation Code listed in order to receive the rates below.
Reservation Code 8558HK

Grand Summit Hotel & Conference Center

Summit/Jordan – Studio Superior        $105.00
Summit/Jordan – Standard Unit            $105.00
Summit/Jordan –Studio Deluxe Unit        $105.00
Summit/Jordan- 1 Bedroom Suite        $145.00
Summit/Jordan- 2 Bedroom Suite        $195.00
Summit/Jordan- 3Bedroom Suite        $285.00

Condo – Studio Unit                $85.00
Condo- 1 Bedroom Unit                $105.00
Condo- 2 Bedroom Unit                $125.00

Snow Cap Inn Standard Unit            $89.00

Reservation Code 8562C5

Common area in the Dorm

Dorm Room* – Sleeps 5                $70.00
Dorm Room* – Sleeps 8                $109.00

*Dorm room is booked and paid for under a single person, who will put the group together.  Neither Sunday River nor the organizers of the New England Forest Rally will be responsible for organizing groups to stay in the dorm.

All rates listed are per unit, per night.  An 18% gratuity and 7% Maine sales tax will be added to the rates.

Additional information regarding check-in/out, deposits and cancellation policies can be found here.  For additional questions and details, please contact Sunday River.

Sunday River offers a wide range of lodging options that will keep you close to the rally action – the Rally Village, the Parc Expose, service area, awards ceremonies, etc.  The resort also has a number of other activities that you and your family can check out – everything from mountain biking to zip line rides, golfing and spa treatments.  We’ll be posting more about Sunday River’s “extracurricular activities” soon.

Be sure to call to make reservations and use the group code provided! This is important in order for you to get the rally rate, and for us to track how many people are coming to the resort for the event.

See you in July!

Summit Rally drivers Ross Allen & Will Orders

Summit Rally Team will be coming to the United States in 2012, hitting four major events, including the New England Forest Rally.  To learn more about Summit Rally, connect with them on their Facebook page,  or check out www.summitrally.com.au.

In case you’ve forgotten, this deal is just the cherry on an already sweet deal. Remember to buy your VIP bus tickets by December 15, 2011, and you’ll not only get an early-bird discount, but you’ll also receive an event polo shirt AND a New England Forest Rally metal plate! Click here for more information about rates and to download the bus registration form.

Well, those of us involved in organizing the event are out straight already planning for the event, and planning to make it even better for all involved next year.  And we’ve come up with a holiday offer for you (thought we’d try to help you out with those aforementioned holiday lists) that is good now through December 15!

You can find all of the details by clicking on the VIP Bus web page, but in addition to the gourmet food, best viewing spots, great company and ease of traveling that riding the VIP bus affords, our holiday offer includes an early bird discount, a 2012 metal rally plate and a 2012 worker’s polo shirt (both of which we’ll get to you at the rally – we’re not quite ready to order those yet!), all packaged in a festive gift certificate and envelope so that all you have to do is give, and receive the gift of gratitude in return…

Tickets for the VIP Bus make a unique and exciting gift for the rally lover, auto enthusiast, race fan (or, if you’re a rally competitor – the sponsor!) in your life.

Be sure to purchase your tickets no later than December 15, 2011 – after that, our prices go up and you won’t be able to buy the plates or shirts!

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!

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.