Houghton, MI ; The Lake Superior Region Car Club,
hosts of the Lake Superior Performance Rally, was recently impacted by the
recent Federal Government shutdown that forced the closure of Federal lands
used in the rally racing event scheduled for October 18-19th in
Houghton, MI. As a result, organizers have constructed an alternative two-day
event schedule that will operate roads not affected by the Federal closure.
LSPR
organizers had permission to use the Ottawa Forest roads located near Kenton,
MI for Friday's competition, but were recently advised by the USFS-Kenton
Office that the issued permit was invalid as long as the Federal Government
remained unfunded.
The new LSPR event schedule will reuse Saturday's stages for a total of 96 stage miles, a decrease of 29 stage miles compared to the original plan. Friday service will still take place first at the Copper Country Mall then in Covington, MI.
"The
roads being used are unique as they are up hill and down sandy and hard surface
on both Friday and Saturday," said Dean Rushford, LSPR Chairman.
"They offer what many Rally drivers over the years consider some of the
most challenging in the country. For over thirty years rallying has been
running in the Houghton and Baraga Counties and we know the roads continue to
delight both the competitor and the spectator alike."
LSPR is
the concluding chapter of the seven-round Rally America National Championship.
Over the course of the season teams battled at the previous rounds across the
United States, but an overall championship Rally America victor has yet to
emerge. The LSPR Rally became the site to decide who will be crowned champion
in the overall, Super Production and Two-wheel Drive categories.
A revised
LSPR spectator guide with the alternate schedule and viewing locations is
available for download here: http://bit.ly/1fsUkI5
Organizers may revert back to the
original LSPR schedule in the event that the government resumes operation, and
will make that determination by Wednesday, October 16th. Information
will continually be updated on www.rally-america.co and www.lsprorally.com.
