We at the Maine Forest Rallies are pleased to present the 15th edition of this event. In both the winter and summer, we have tried to enjoy ourselves, and to let you compete on the stages and appreciate the outside activities. We believe that the Maine Forest Rallies are more than just hurtling between the trees down some remote dirt road. The beauty of the woods of northern Maine, along with camaraderie and socializing, certainly must rank high on most people's list of enjoyable activities.

There are other smaller points, which we believe make the event smoother for the crew, as well as the competitors. Our tech is user friendly, not aimed at harassing, but at verifying safe cars - and you don't have to register first - your choice. The routebook is available when registering on Friday - you don't have to complete some other chore first. The event doesn't end in the middle of the night - you're back each day at a reasonable hour. Our goal is to be professional, polite, precise and pleasant.

Landowners deserve our thanks; in a time when urban sprawl and environmentalism sometimes seem overbearing, Mead Paper Co., International Paper Co. and Seven Islands Land Co. allow us to use their roads to enjoy ourselves and our activities: Share the Forests.

The unsung heroes are the volunteers that make this event possible. It's hard to identify them by name, but know that there are willing and able men, women and children helping to make this event fun and safe. Thank you all.

With the resurgence of ProRally, as witnessed by the unbelievable number of entrants, we find ourselves having to revise our route. No longer can we run dead-end stages (too long a wait at the turnaround); nor can we use most roads twice (too rutted). We've also had to put a cap on the number of entrants at 120, to draw the line at the ever increasing numbers. And since there are only a limited number of usable roads, we have had to shorten our route somewhat - better we feel than running crumby stages. However we feel our route is a blend of twist and open; medium rough and smoother; wide and narrow. And our average stage length is over 10 miles - once you get wound-up, keep it going!

So, we look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks - we're ready to enjoy ourselves once again!

jb