Who can be quickest on the roads of Sullivan County? - that’s the question that Rally New York USA ’07 should answer. And when we say roads, we mean every kind of road, from pavement to dirt and gravel, with perhaps a little snow, ice, or rain thrown in.

It is common for a rally driver to face one type of surface in a national auto rally: either asphalt or dirt/gravel. But Ivan Orisek and the Rally New York organizing team have arranged for both types of tests. (It goes without saying that the variable weather of the Catskills in early spring could provide some additional variations.)

On Saturday morning, March 31, competitors will face 43 miles of special stages (races against the clock) on paved roads in the town of Tusten. This will require quick, precise driving akin to circuit racing. That afternoon, they will encounter 50 miles of special stages on gravel roads, some in Tusten and some in the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation. Drivers usually adopt a more aggressive, "sideways" style for loose surfaces, perhaps kicking up a little dust. The main requirement for the top finishers will be ability to motor quickly and safely on a variety of surfaces, through curves, hills, and the occasional bump.

The rally begins with an official start on Erie Street in Narrowsburg, on Friday evening, March 30. It ends back on Erie Street on the evening of March 31. For those interested in watching the action, more information is available on the event web site, www.RallyNewYork.com.