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 8th 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!
