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2010 100 Acre Wood Rally Summary

Gravity Bureau — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:49:08 +0000

Thanks to our fellow rally photographer from Chicago, Arthur Partyka, we bring you coverage from the 100 Acre Wood Rally in Salem, MO. The 100AW was the second rally in this year’s Rally-America series.

Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team dominated this event. This year’s win was Ken’s fifth straight #1 finish at 100AW. It was also Block’s first podium finish in his brand new 2010 Ford Fiesta rally car.

Ken Block & Alex Gelsomino flying high in a 2009 Ford Fiesta rally car - ©Arthur Partyka

Block's MWRT Ford Fiesta rally-car sideways - ©Arthur Partyka

Block signing a T-shirt for his fan - ©Arthur Partyka

Block & Gelsomino power sliding through a corner at 100AW - ©Arthur Partyka

Ken Block tests for 5th win at the 2010 100 Acre Wood Rally in the Monster Energy Ford Fiesta

Travis Pastrana had a little mishap on the Potosi Super Special stage. He broke the left rear control arm in his 2009 Subaru Impreza STI and could not continue the rally.

Pastrana & Edstrom kicking up mud with a 2009 Impreza STI - ©Arthur Partyka

Travis Pastrana surrounded by fans at the 100AW Rally - ©Arthur Partyka

Travis jumping his Impreza - ©Arthur Partyka

The second place went to the Canadian team of Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard. Their 2009 Mitsubishi EVO X was consistently fast on gravel roads of Southern Missouri.

Antoine L'Estage & Nathalie Richard kicking up dirt at 100AW - ©Arthur Partyka

Chicago-based team of Piotr Wiktorczyk and Greg Dorman experienced an engine fire on one of the first stages and could not finish the rally. After the event Dorman explained: “Basically about four and a half miles into the stage our car lost all its power. We pulled over and opened the hood and it was on fire. So we got out some extinguishers, it didn’t want to go out, but the Conleys were kind enough to pull over. We grabbed their extinguisher and we got the fire out”. We’re happy to hear that Piotr and Greg walked away from this incident without a scratch and we hope to see the Rider’s Energy Team on the podium in the near future.

Wiktorczyk & Dorman sporting the Riders Rally Team livery - ©Arthur Partyka

Andrew “ACP” Cormie-Picard blew the engine in his 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX and didn’t have a chance to complete on any of the 100AW special stages.

Henry & Cindy Krolikowski dominated the 100 Acre Wood regional rally results in their 2000 Subaru Impreza. Their white GC8 STI looked as good as ever, especially after a quick car was in a water splash.

Henry & Cincy Krolikowski plowing through a water-splsh - ©Arthur Partyka

Last, but not least, Arthur captured a photo of Lars Gange, the official Subaru Rally Team USA photographer digging a hole for his Nikon pro camera. You can take a look at the result of this experiment in the Subaru Rally Team USA 100AW gallery.

Lars Gange of Subaru Rally Team USA digging in his Nikon pro camera - ©Arthur Partyka

We’re looking forward to the next event on the Rally-America Schedule, Olympus Rally, based in Olympia, WA that will take place between April 23rd and 25th 2010.

Take a look at the official 100AW highlights by Warwick Patterson and Bill Wood:

2010 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood Official Highlights

Photo Credit: Arthur Partyka

Sources: RallyBuzz, Rally-America, Special Stage, Subaru Rally Team USA, Rider Rally Team, Monster World Rally Team

LSPR – Day 2 – Finish & Wrap Up

Gravity Bureau — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:16:48 +0000

The 2009 Lake Superior Performance Rally was a spectacular event to cover. Autumn colours create the perfect backdrop for America’s longest running rally set in the picturesque forests and hillsides of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Brockway Mountain, the highest peak in the area is home to the only tarmac stage in the Rally-America series. Composed of fast corners and an abundance of crests, it’s one of the favorite stages amongst the RA Championship contenders.
Subaru of America’s factory drivers Travis Pastrana and Ken Block had a strong presence at this year’s LSPR. Although Travis struggled with gearbox problems on day 1 and Ken was running his car on three cylinders throughout day 2, they managed to dominate their respective classes. Pastrana/Edstrom came in first overall. Block/Gelsomino managed to secure third place overall and capture first place in the Super Production class. Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard secured second place in Open class, driving the Rockstar Mitsubishi Evolution X.
Unfortunately ACP ran out of luck with his EVO IX and retired due to a blown engine. After the rally, he made an appearance in Houghton’s Library Brewery. He was sporting a pumpkin decorated in his EVO IX’s engine fragments. It was sad to see him loose precious points in the last event of the Rally-America Championship. Look out for Andrew Comrie-Picard and his NOS Energy Mitsubishi Evolution X at the Rally of the Tall Pines in Bancroft, Ontario.
Polish-American rally fans came out in strong numbers to show their support for Polish rally teams, which had a strong presence at this year’s Lake Superior Performance Rally. Despite their EVO IX running on three cylinders on the second day of LSPR, Andi Mancin & Maciej Wislawski managed to finish the event and score precious points in the RA Championship. Mancin managed to place second overall during his first full season of the Rally-America Championship. This impressive result sets the stage for a fierce championship battle in the 2010 season.

Ken Block catching air at the Brockway Mountain SS13

Ken Block preparing for a landing

Brockway Mountain special stage with Lake Superior in the background

Travis Pastrana flying high at Brockway Mountain

Travis Pastrana sideways at LSPR 2009

Travis Pastrana - 2009 Rally-America Champion celebrating his victory with Ken Block & Alex Gelsomino

Impreza GC catching air at Brockway Mountain

ART Mitsubishi Evo IX barely escaping from a ditch at SS15 - Delaware

Subaru America Rally Team's Ken Block sideways at LSPR SS9

Ken Block celebrating his Super Production win

Antoine L'Estage & Nathalie Richard sideways at SS9

The National Guard Impreza STI catching air at Brockway Mountain

National Guard Impreza STI sideways at SS9

Fall colours at STPR 2009

Sideways at SS9

Brockway Mountain landing

Group B Audi

Polish fans celebrating Andi Mancin's 2nd place in the Rally-America Championship

Nathalie Richard at LSPR 2009

LSPR 2009 celebrations at the Keewenaw Mountain Lodge in Copper Harbor, MI

LSPR 2009 – Day 1

Gravity Bureau — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:24:11 +0000

We had lots of fun at the 1st day of the Lake Superior Performance Rally! The Gravity Bureau photog’s spread themselves out across a few stages and we were able to get a few great shots of Travis Pastrana, Ken Block, Andi Mancin and a other drivers in the Rally-America series. Travis dominated the first day and overcame a bit of trouble with his transmission. He managed to finish Super Stage 5 (Far Point) with only his 3rd and 5th gears remaining. ACP looked pretty strong and managed to move up to the 3rd place overall. Tomorrow should be an exciting day filled with fast stages and many jumps. Check back to see how Day 2 of LSPR 2009 plays out!

Drivers - One Big Family

Single file and ready

Playing Dirty

Not to be left out

Flat out

Throwing Rocks

Take Off

Dirty Powerhouse

At the service point

Command Center

Night Stage

Sideways Pastrana

Hard at work

Good times

Clean Me Please