Check out Meegan Rally Videos for a full coverage look back at many of the stages:

Team O’Neil Rally Splashes through Wet Weather

Maciek Przybysz Takes the Win

 (Dalton, New Hampshire) – The forth annual Team O’Neil Regional Rally took place this Saturday May 8^th in Dalton, New Hampshire despite ongoing showers. Competitors even faced a torrential downpour complete with thunder storm at one point around mid-day.

 Adverse conditions are part of the game when it comes to rally, a motor-sport that takes place in all conditions and on all surfaces – rain, snow, ice, mud, gravel, or tarmac – rally drivers do it all. This range of driving expertise was called upon greatly on Saturday as the gravel and dirt gave way to sometimes slippery or muddy conditions.

 At least five of the 19 competitors who entered failed to complete the rally as a result of mechanical problems or other vehicle damage sustained through this challenging course. This was the fate of local Franconia favorite, and Team O’Neil driving instructor, Wyatt Knox, whose car became dangerously overheated at one point and had to be taken out of the race.

 At the end of the day it was Maciek “Matty” Przybysz who prevailed to take the overall win in his open class Subaru Impreza STi alongside co-driver Eric Hansen, a Team O’Neil driving instructor. Przybysz  is sponsored by Somerset Subaru of Somerset, MA, Team O’Neil Rally School and Car Control Center, and On a Limb Rally Racing Photography. Przybysz, originally from rally-crazy Poland, and now residing in Gray, Maine, has been competing in performance rally since 2004.

 Placing second overall was Joey Kale of Essex, Vermont with co-driver Scott Nickerson, and placing third was Viorel Dobasu of Michigan with co-driver Aaron Crescenti.

 This event was put on by the Team O’Neil Rally School and Car Control Center in Dalton, NH with help from the Town of Dalton and Chick’s Sand and Gravel who provided the roads, permits, and facilities needed to run the event which consisted of 10 stages and 45 miles of action including corners, crests, dips, and slides through the dirt and gravel covered roads!

John Cassidy and Dave Getchell of Last Ditch Racing may not have finished the TON Rally this weekend they way they would have liked to (the team went out with a mechanical issue) but, as evidenced by the following article appearing in the Bangor Daily News, this is a team with no shortage of rally enthusiasm, having had many a great adventure over the years.

Check out the complete story below (also a great read for anyone that’s new to rally and wants to hear more about the sport first hand).

Rally Race Fever Drives Cassidy and Getchell

2010 Team O’Neil Rally Supplementary Regulations now available!

Mountain View Grand Joins Event as Host!

For the first time since its inception in 2006, the Team O’Neil Rally (TON Rally) will be held in the Spring. The competition will take place Saturday, May 8^th.

The TON Regional Rally has typically drawn between 15-30 competitors and 250+ spectators each year. However, with this year’s event taking place at a much more hospitable time of year, Team O’Neil is expecting their biggest turn out ever. “Winter rallies are fun, but we’re expecting the warm weather to be a bigger draw for both competitors and spectators,” explained Kathy Moody, organizer of the Team O’Neil Regional Rally.

Spring conditions in Northern New England can be unpredictable, but the average temperature in May is a comfortable 55°F, compared to 16°F in January. Road conditions are expected to consist of well graveled surfaces, but precipitation can cause that to change in a hurry (don’t be surprised if things get a bit muddy)!

Team O’Neil Rally School and Car Control Center, Chick’s Sand and Gravel, and the town of Dalton, New Hampshire continue to be the hosts for this event; but new this year, the Mountain View Grand Resort will be hosting event accommodations, as well as the Awards Ceremony and After Party on Saturday night

With the Mountain View Grand now on board, guests will be treated to one of the country’s finest historic “Grand Hotels” at a special discount price of only $99. (You will need to call to take advantage of this rate. 866.484.3843 Be sure to mention the rally upon booking.) “We think the Mountain View will offer a whole other aspect to the rally weekend that anyone in the family can enjoy,” said hotel representative, Lisa Tetreault. “We will also be offering a special Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday for anyone who wants to treat mom.”

“At the end of the day this event is all about having a great time and enjoying the action and excitement that rally is all about,” said Tim O’Neil, Rally School owner. “Last year we saw Dave Mirra win it on the snow, hopefully this year we’ll see some equally strong competition on the gravel and dirt, but with some much faster stages!”

For more Information:

See the Team O’Neil Rally section of this website. (See the main navigation link above.)