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RobbieNelson
10-06-2004, 10:59 AM
For Immediate Release



SCCA TO DISCONTINUE PRORALLY, CLUBRALLY PROGRAMS IN 2005



TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 5, 2004) – Sports Car Club of America’s Board of Directors voted Monday to discontinue the sanction of its current stage-based rally format, including the ProRally and ClubRally Championships, beginning January 1, 2005 due to increasing risk exposure.



“This was a difficult and unfortunate decision to make,” SCCA Board of Directors Chairman Gary Pitts said. “However, from an insurance standpoint, the stage rally format has gotten to the point where it puts the entire Club, its activities and entities under an undue risk.”



“We have many SCCA members whose interests lie in rally,” SCCA President and CEO Steve Johnson said. “It is my intent to allow these members the opportunity to rally in the future and continue to access the sport. I am confident we can accomplish this task.



“We are in negotiations to transition SCCA’s elements of the stage-based rally activity to Rally America, a longtime partner and participant in the sport of rally.”



Unaffected by the decision are SCCA’s RallyCross and RoadRally programs.



SCCA began its special stage-format ProRally Championship in 1973. Since then, the ProRally Championship Presented by Hot Wheels has been regarded as the top domestic rally series. The 2004 Championship has one round remaining, Lake Superior ProRally (LSPR), which will run as scheduled Oct. 22 in Houghton, Mich.

Kurt_W
10-06-2004, 11:03 AM
Yeah, I saw that. Pretty sad really. We are getting so worried over every little thing that before long we'll be living in impact resistant hermetically sealed bubbles.

Hope you like Nascar, cause it looks like thats about all we'll get to watch from now on. Also, if you know a lawyer, backhand them.

RallyEX
10-06-2004, 11:52 AM
This is absolutely the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. First, new (moronic, IMHO) WRC regulations... Now this?

Davis: Do you think this might (directly or indirectly) be a result of the crash last year at the Oregon Trail SCCA ProRally that killed Mark Lovell and co-driver Freeman (First name was Roger, I think)?

I said after they got killed that this could have serious repercussions on the SCCA ProRally series... And I'll bet this had a lot to do with their decision.

Davis Silver Sti
10-06-2004, 01:47 PM
This is absolutely the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. First, new (moronic, IMHO) WRC regulations... Now this?

Davis: Do you think this might (directly or indirectly) be a result of the crash last year at the Oregon Trail SCCA ProRally that killed Mark Lovell and co-driver Freeman (First name was Roger, I think)?

I said after they got killed that this could have serious repercussions on the SCCA ProRally series... And I'll bet this had a lot to do with their decision.

Totally sucks!

It was just last year when ProRally was really starting to take off too. Then Mitsu and Sube pulled out..ugh.

I do not think the Lovell accident had much of an impact. Its pretty much only if SCCA Prorally had an critical dangerous area in the course that they might have been in trouble. (unseen telephone pole in road, huge crater etc..) The rally drivers understand the risks in the sport and know that "it" can happen. Unless there were some undisclosed reasons, I don't think it mattered too much in a technical term..emotionally thou, we all miss Lovell and Freeman.

ProRally's demise can only come down to 1 major thing...$$$. These courses are rather difficult to setup,$, premissions, $, time and $. Of course there's always pressure from environmental groups and rising insuranace costs...

HOWEVER, this may also be a open door for Rally America to really put on a good show. I was part of Chavez's open-class galant rally car team/crew back in 98 at the Laughlin NV innaugral race. I believe Rally america were the organizers and put on a great show including the first super-stage where cars competed head-to-head in an identical short closed course stage. Very popular and lots of fun.

Anyways, new management can be a good thing. SCCA really didn't do a good job with ProRally the last few years. NASA is another organization that is doing some rallys and of course hillclimbs and road courses. Hopefully the new management can close a good TV program with rally.


Thanks for the heads up on the news. I was a little slow on reading my motorsports stuff and did some reading...geesh, lots and lots of ppl pissed at this one. (including me)

Davis