Sandblast Rally is a rally racing event for both cars and motorcycles. The event takes place in the towns of Chesterfield, Cheraw and Patrick, South Carolina, USA. In later years the events have been held in February of each year. The 2008 event was the largest rally in the United States.
Characteristics
The rally takes place within the Sand Hills State Forest, part of the Sandhills region of the Carolinas. Most rallies are held on closed tarmac or gravel roads; sandblast rally roads are almost entirely sand. Some of the roads are compacted by heavy trucks, some of the more infrequently used roads are quite soft. This presents an unusual challenge to rally cars, as the constant drag of the sand increases the wear and drag on the transmissions. The driving technique is also different from other rallies, as the soft sand on the side of the road can be similar to a snowbank, while the braking ability exceeds that of tarmac with slick tires.
History
Long named "Sandhills Sandblast" after the region, the event was first organized by Greg Healey in the early 1990s. In the second year of running the event became part of the SCCA ProRally national championship. Healey moved to Pennsylvania in the mid-1990s and the rally lay dormant for several years. The first rallies started at noon and ran well into the night, with three or four stages run in complete darkness.
In 2001 Charles Sherrill resurrected the event, with similar stages. One of the busiest years was 2003 when the event ran twice in one year, spring and fall. The fall event was the first event sanctioned by the newly formed NASA Rally Sport organization.
In 2005 Anders Green became the organizer, and the official name became "Sandblast Rally".
In the February 2007 event, motorcycles were introduced as part of NASA Rally Sport's new RallyMoto program.
Past winners
Year Driver & CodriverMake MotorcycleModel2020Klim Fedoff and Boyd SmithMitsubishi Evo IXBill CongerKTM 450XC2019Martin Donnelly and Brian DohertyFord FiestaRandy RichardsonHusqvarna 701 Enduro2018Eric Wages and Sarah MontplaisirSubaru Impreza STiBobby WooldridgeHusaberg FE 5702017Ruben Cuenca and Ramiro ArevaloSubaru Impreza STiBill CongerAprilla RXV 5.52016Patrick Brennan and Aaron CrescentiMitsubishi Evo IXBobby WooldridgeHusaberg FE 5702015Gary Donoghue and Kieran McElhinneyMitsubishi EvoBill CongerAprilla RXV 5.52014Eric Wages and Sarah MontplaisirSubaru Impreza STiDevon MahonKTM 530 EXC2013Jason Smith and Jared LantzySubaru ImprezaMichael GilkeyKTM 950 Adventure S2012Michael Reilly and Joshua BenthienFord Escort CosworthBill CongerAprilla RXV 5.5 2011 Charles Sherill and Wilson Von Kessler2011 Sandblast Rally Official ResultsMitsubishi Evo IV Aaron GibsonKTM 690R 2010 Eduardo Bancalari and Jay Mauney2010 Sandblast Rally Official Results Subaru Impreza WRX Bill CongerAprilla RXV 5.5 2009 Eduardo Bancalari and Jay Mauney2009 Sandblast Rally Official Results Subaru Impreza WRX Michael GilkeyKTM 950 SE 2008 Charles Sherrill and Brian O'Neal2008 Sandblast Rally Official Results Mitsubishi Evo IV Mark ElyAprilla RXV 5.5 2007 Celcus Donnelly and Noel Gallagher2007 Sandblast Rally Official Results (Car Rally)Mitsubishi Evo VIII Mark Ely2007 Sandblast Rally Official Results (RallyMoto)Honda XR 640 SP 2006 Seamus Burke and Brian Sharkey2006 Official ResultsMitsubishi Evo VIII 2005 Seamus Burke and Charles Bradley2005 Official ResultsMitsubishi Evo VIII 2004 Seamus Burke and Charles Bradley2004 Official ResultsMitsubishi Evo VIII 2003 (Fall) Seamus Burke and Brian SharkeyMitsubishi Evo VI 2003 (Spring) Seamus Burke and Emma BurkeMitsubishi Evo VIII 2002 John Drislane and Ronan BurkeMitsubishi Evo IV 2001 Thomas Lawless and Cathal McCaireMitsubishi Evo IV 1996 Paul Choiniere and Jeff BeckerHyundai Elantra 1995 Paul Choiniere and Jeff BeckerAudi Coupe S2 1994 Paul Choiniere and Jeff BeckerAudi Coupe S2
References
External links Official Sandblast Rally web page Event organizing group Lina Racing The Sandblast Rally experience with an open light car