Rangely, Colorado (April 19, 2019)
American Rally Association (ARA) officials are pleased to announce the addition of Rally Colorado to the 2019 ARA West Region Championship schedule. Based in the northwestern Colorado town of Rangely, Rally Colorado will run as an ARA Super Regional event from July 26 - 27.
Founded in 2017 to pick up the mantle of Colorado stage rally, the modern Rally Colorado is operated in the same spirit as the original event that ran from 2001 - 2009. High-Altitude twisting desert roads test driver and vehicle endurance to make one of the more unique stage rally experiences in the country. A centralized location in Rangely, halfway between the metropolitan areas of Salt Lake City and Denver, gives Colorado and Utah-based rally teams a worthy home event.
Entering its third year, Rally Colorado will feature 121 miles of twisting dirt stage road divided into 12 stages. That averages to just over 10 miles per stage, emphasizing the rally’s endurance challenge. Further enhancing the difficulty will be the event’s altitude; Rangely sits 5,300ft above sea level. In naturally aspirated vehicles, that elevation will result in a 15-20% power loss. Adaptation to the altitude will be key to finding success at the rally.
Rangely, and the stages it hosts, sit in the high deserts of Rio Blanco County in northwest Colorado. Rugged mountains, vast plains, deep canyons, and high mesas make up the geographically diverse region. The stage roads of Rally Colorado take competitors on a full tour of the region up twisting mountain paths down into flowing valley roads. A lack of trees in the high desert allow terrific sight-lines and uninterrupted views of the surrounding scenery for spectators and competitors alike.
“As an organizer, it has been a privilege to be part of reestablishing Rally Colorado and seeing all the local support making it a success,” said Rally Colorado Co-Volunteer Coordinator Tracey Gardiner. “Now in its third year, we are delighted to see it become part of the American Rally Association series, uniting rally teams across the country.”
One of the most prominent events in the region, Rally Colorado has enormous support from the town of Rangely, Rio Blanco County, and the local Board of Land Management. A mutual benefit for both the rally and the region, Rally Colorado and its organizers also give their support local initiatives and help enable economic development in the area. The event’s popularity and promotion of the town and county has also led to the creation of two new hill climb events organized by the Colorado Hill Climb Association.
The Rally Colorado festivities will begin on the evening of Thursday, July 25th, with Parc Expose on Main-street Rangely. Local Fire and Police vehicles then lead competitors through the rally’s ceremonial start, where all teams will be individually introduced to the Colorado crowd. Competition starts the next day.
Friday’s route will send competitors through two challenging stage loops near the Utah border. The faster of the two days will see competitors tackle roads that cut through a mix of draws, ridges, and plains. For Saturday, the rally will head south of Rangely into the mountains. The stages will be headlined by multiple mountain switchbacks and stunning vistas. The event will then end Saturday evening with a cookout in Rangely.
“Rally Colorado is a real driver's race,” said 2017 rally winner Dave Brown. “The roads are the best I've driven yet and are worthy of the WRC. They are technically challenging for both driver and co-driver because no two turns are alike and everything is constantly changing: speed, cadence, dirt, incline, surroundings. Everything. Drivers and co-drivers have to really focus and be on their game if they want to do well at Rally CO. It's also an amazing race for spectators too because the views are phenomenal and the lack of trees allows them to see a bigger chunk of the course. I can't wait to go back again this year!”
More information on Rally Colorado, including how to enter, spectate, or volunteer, can be found on the rally’s Facebook and Instagram channels. Detailed rally info, such as supps, will be available at a closer date to the rally.
The 2019 ARA season expands to 19 events with the addition of Rally Colorado. To learn more about the American Rally Association season and the best stage rallies that America has to offer, go to AmericanRallyAssociation.org/schedule.
Photo Credit: Alex Wong
The updated 2019 ARA calendar:
2019 ARA National Rally Championship Presented by AMSOIL
Sno*Drift Rally
January 25 – 26, 2019 Atlanta, Michigan
100 Acre Wood Rally
March 15 – 16, 2019
Potosi, Salem, & Steelville, Missouri
Olympus Rally
April 27 – 28, 2019
Shelton, Washington
Oregon Trail Rally
May 31 – June 2, 2019
Portland & Dufur, Oregon, & Goldendale, Washington
Idaho Rally International
June 22 – 23, 2019
Idaho City, Idaho
New England Forest Rally
July 19 – 20, 2019 Bethel, Maine & Errol, New Hampshire
Ojibwe Forests Rally
August 23 – 24, 2019 Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally
September 13 – 14, 2019
Wellsboro & Germania, Pennsylvania
Lake Superior Performance Rally
October 18 – 19, 2019
Houghton, Michigan
ARA Super Regional Events
Southern Ohio Forest Rally
May 16 – 18, 2019
Chillicothe, Ohio
Rally Colorado
July 26-27, 2019
Rangely, Colorado
Tour de Forest Rally
September 21, 2019
Montesano, Washington
Empire State Performance Rally
October 25-26, 2019
Narrowsburg, New York
ARA One-Day Regional Events
Nemadji Trail Rally I
December 1, 2018
Duquette, Minnesota
Missouri Ozark Rally
February 2, 2019
Eminence, Missouri
Headwaters Rally
June 1, 2019
Nemadji State Forest, Minnesota
Summer Sno*Drift
August 3, 2019
Atlanta & Lewiston, Michigan
Show-Me Rally
October 5, 2019
Washington County, Missouri
Nemadji Trail Rally II
December 7, 2019
Duquette, Minnesota