2009 Susquehannock Trail
Since Leetonia stage was over an hour from the Fairgrounds, we had to get back on the bus immediately after SS9 in order to catch the Saturday night Super Special. As with the Super Special held the night before, the VIP pass entitled us to free entry and separate seating. At this time the stages were running and hour late due to a fairly serious crashing at an earlier stage. Nighttime had fallen over the fairgrounds and the crowd was getting quite anxious to see some action. This stage also started with the competitors with the slowest times, working up the list to the current leader which still happened to be the Block/Gelsamino team but only by a margin of a minute later followed by the Pastrana/Edstrom team. It was this final stage that the competitors seemed to let it all hang out. They were throwing caution to the wind and some hit the jump full on hoping that the wheels were still there when the car hit the ground. Out of all the competitors on this stage, it was the Deegan/Bevis car that everybody will remember. A newcomer to rally, Brian Deegan had been doing his best through the weekend with a battered and bruised Subaru and seemed to let out his frustrations on this last stage. The crowed was forced to its feet as he ran the course almost flat out and with impressive precision. Everybody watched in anticipation as he neared the jump and without lifting this car soared further than any other that weekend. The crowd went absolutely wild and while on its way to the finish line, the loud blue Subaru let loose its tail right in front of the bleachers and drenched the first few rows of spectators with mud. This was truly a memorable sight.
Lawn dart
At the end of the Super Special it was the Block/Gelsamino team that took the podium for the weekend then followed by Pastrana/Edstrom and Bacon/Watt. All in all this was our favorite year for STPR. Our first year for spectating STPR was 07 and it has only gotten better since then. We would look forward to STPR 2010 however it seems that funding problems have caused the State Forrest stages to be cancelled. For more information and how to get involved, please visit THE STPR FORUM and help make STPR 2010 happen!
That’s all for now, we’ll see you in Maine!
Saturday Night Super Special Stage
Tags: rally
June 12th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Excellent reporting as always, Luke. Surprised there wasn’t more talk of mexican food this time out!
Great shots as usual. Glad to not hear of any DSLRs being harmed in the making of this report.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
haha, mexican is difficult to find out in PA. Camera’s survived too so far. Thank god