DUBLIN, NH -- Mike White and his specially-prepared Saab are ready to take on a record-size field at this weekend's Sports Car Club of America's Maine Forest Rally in Rumford, Maine. "The car has been very reliable since we put in the new transmission last spring," said White. With one punishing rally and two days of track time behind the wheel of the car over the past two months with no major trouble, White believes the trusty, blue 1980 Saab 99 GLi is in great shape to take on the logging roads of northern Maine.

The team, which runs car number 199, will start 54th on the road in a 115 car field. "We really want to have a good finish at Maine this year. This is my home event and I'd love to put on a good show for the spectators and our sponsors," said White, a Camden, Maine native. The team's last two trips to Maine have met with mixed results. Their debut run in 1998 ended quickly with an engine failure, and a mysterious fuel pump problem kept them from running the car flat out in 1999.

SCCA ProRally is often described as "Real cars, on real roads, going real fast." While rally cars must remain licensed and registered for street use, they also must be able to withstand incredible punishment on rough forest roads at racing speeds. Rally teams race against the clock on closed roads.

RallyHo! Motorsports competes in events throughout the northeast US and eastern Canada. Team sponsors include Roberti Motorcars of Kingston, NY, a pre-owned Saab specialist, Import Parts Specialists of Boise, ID, and Nokian Tires. "The sponsors have been great," White said. "We really appreciate their support of our efforts and want very much to bring them a great result this weekend."

The team will be using Nokian's high-performance "NRV" V-rated street tire for the tarmac portion of the rally, a dash through downtown Rumford. "I was really impressed by the grip and durability of the NRV during my track days at the Saab convention," White said. "Despite my best efforts to wear these tires out, they still have a ton of tread and great grip on asphalt!"

Regular co-driver Mike Ronan of Waltham, Mass., will resume his position in the "right seat" after personal commitments kept him from attending the Susquehannock Trail Pro Rally in early June. Ronan makes sure White keeps the car going where it should be by reading White route instructions and praying for safe landings when the car gets airborne. "I'm sure White will having me dusting off the rosary beads in no time," Ronan said. "Seriously, It's great to be back in the car. I always have a blast at Maine."

Team Manager Suzanne White, Crew Chief Brett Rudolf, and Duct Tape Wielder Andrew Steere will be on hand to keep the team organized and the car in top mechanical shape.

RallyHo! Motorsports would also like to announce the addition of a new team member! Mike and Suzanne are expecting their first child in October. With the addition to the family comes a move of Rally Headquarters (and home) to Dublin, NH, where the family will have more room to grow. The White family will take a brief hiatus from rallying to enjoy the joys and challenges of being new parents, but expect to see the little blue Saab in the woods of Canada in February 2001 for the Rallye Perce-Neige.

RallyHo! Motorsports
Dublin, New Hampshire, 03444
603-563-5076