Yes, this is old news and just a small observation.

I've been watching ProRally for a number of years and after the fall of the big Mfg. Subaru and Mitisubishi, I've noticed a large influx of UK drivers. Yes, we've had UK drivers in the past (Higgins, Lovell etc..) but when I saw the last Speed TV showing of the PA event, there were a bunch of Irish drivers driving privateer cars. Its all great IMHO.

Wondering.....Europeans seeing the US ProRally event as a test bed for their cars back home? Gain more experience before going to the UK rally series or European rally series? I can't believe they are doing this for their sponsors or the huge ProRally payout;)

Maybe Subie Gal needs to invade the UK driving the "Burnsie The Rally Wagon". See how they like that!!! :cool:

Rally On,

Most of the Irish guys in ProRally these days are based in New York, mostly around Yonkers and Queens I think. They used to have a website as the "Irish Motor Club" or something, but I can't find it. No European invasion here.

Yeah those same Irish guys have been driving in ProRally for a long time. Check out the entry list for rally new york sometime. Lots of Irish guys from NY, and lots of Polish guys from Chicago. The Irish guys seemed to prefer EVOs, although I know some are driving WRXs/STIs now. The Chicago Polish guys are all Subaru though, they generally have less money than the Irish guys. :)

Interesting stuff DWX and Car#...thanks

I noticed the Irish guys back in either 2001 or 2002; all had NY tags and such on the cars. Pretty entertaining bunch of guys to hang out in the woods with at a spectator point. :)

I noticed the Irish guys back in either 2001 or 2002; all had NY tags and such on the cars. <SNIP>

They've been around a lot longer than that trust me. :alien: Most of them started out in Eclipse's, then moved up to Evo's when they became "availalbe ;) " in this country. The Eclipse's sort of became "hand-me-downs" to their friends, and in some cases their sons. There is at least one father and son Irish pair that are now both running Evo's, though the name escapes me.

Matt Kennedy
www.RockyRoadRacing.com (http://www.RockyRoadRacing.com)

There is at least one father and son Irish pair that are now both running Evo's, though the name escapes me.


Donnelly, perhaps? I think there's a bunch of them floating around the rally scene.

Also, the spectators who passed away at the Ski Sawmill rally last year were Irish rallyists. Martin Reidy ran the 2002 Maine Forest Rally in an Eclipse and was brother to Michael Reidy, who runs (ran? haven't seen him in a while) an Evo.

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JP Rowland jeremyrowland -at- mac.com
http://homepage.mac.com/jeremyrowland

PS while the Irish guys are sorta "local" and are nothing new, I wouldn't discount any kind of "European invasion." People like Jonny Milner have recognized that not only can they get in some more seat time, a competitive car in the US is a lot cheaper than the UK or on the continent. (All the people whining on Special Stage about rally car costs haven't ever bothered to look at what the folk overseas are spending...) I was personally contacted last fall by a guy in Germany who was hoping to run some events over here this year in an open class Evo, looking for a co-driver.

They aren't coming in droves...yet. Personally I don't know why no one in the States is going over there to rally either. Heck there's hardly even anyone going up to Canada, the epitome of cheap, exciting rally. The US is too ego-centric...Though of course I like it that way, leaves all the good opportunities to me ;)

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JP Rowland jeremyrowland -at- mac.com
http://homepage.mac.com/jeremyrowland

yeah, the Irish contigent out of NY has been around quite a while.

...whining on Special Stage...
if people stopped whinning on SS.com, i'm pretty sure the site would implode ;)

yes...up your irish :banana:

if people stopped whining on SS.com, i'm pretty sure the site would implode

:p that's funny and all too true, unfortunately

Based on the entry lists I've seen, the Irish are all running the NASA/East Coast Rally Series this year. That series wouldn't have many entries if not for them.

a friend of mine told me the irish contingent brings all the rally cars to the rallys on a big ol car carrier semi! what a wonderful cost effective way to get you and like 8 of your friends' cars to the rally!

THe Irish guys are nothing new, but I was very surprised to learn at a recent rally competition/driver search that I went to in the UK was that a lot of people follow the US series over there. THey were all very excited to come over and try our roads since we have several rallys that are very fast.

Donnelly, perhaps? I think there's a bunch of them floating around the rally scene.

Drislane. John and Jeremy.

The Irish are fun to have local. :banana: They show up with their millions of cars, bottomless wallets, and lack of fear. Definately fun to watch. We just need more events! Hopefully Black River, Great North Woods, and Maine Winter go on as scheduled.

Pete
www.onalimbracing.com

a friend of mine told me the irish contingent brings all the rally cars to the rallys on a big ol car carrier semi! what a wonderful cost effective way to get you and like 8 of your friends' cars to the rally!
That would be entirely true. I've seen the semi myself with the cars on it. :)

Thought I had a picture of it from the Sandblast Rally back in Feb or so but I can't find it. Ah well.

That Semi was at our dealership on Saturday to bring by one of their cars we have been working on. It's a sweet rig, but man I don't envy the guy that has to manuver it around service areas! At Rally NY they had a neat "mod" on the back of the trailer - they added a deep fryer to make lunch! :lol:

Alex

The Irish are fun to have local. :banana: They show up with their millions of cars, bottomless wallets, and lack of fear. Definately fun to watch.
Pete
www.onalimbracing.com

"Bottomless wallets" is relative...I think they spend so much on fixing their broken cars (due to said "lack of fear") that most of them don't have any money left over to leave the east coast :) Except, of course, the co-drivers, many of whom are actively running rallies in their motherland as well...But then, they're not the ones paying for broken cars...

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JP Rowland jeremyrowland -at- mac.com
http://homepage.mac.com/jeremyrowland

[QUOTE=jprowland]"Bottomless wallets" is relative... <SNIP> [QUOTE]

Can you say "business expense" ;) A lot of them put the name of their business on the car, and if not using the "rig," use their plumbing/roofing/electical/contruction pick-up or van (with the name of their company obviously on it) to tow ther car. Then they can write-it off as "advertising." Pretty smart actually :)

Matt Kennedy
www.RockyRoadRacing.com (http://www.RockyRoadRacing.com)