Press Releases

Press Release 2

For Immediate Release - Raleigh, North Carolina, May 18, 2008

RALLY TENNESSEE ANTICIPATING GROWTH IN 2008

Round Two of the Atlantic Rally Cup comes to Linden, TN
More competitors this year
Gas prices effecting entries

With the NASA Rally Sport's annual Perry County event, Rally Tennessee, only days away, it appears that this year will be another year of growth for the event. Especially with the current economy, this is a very good sign for the rally.

"So far it's looking very good." said Anders Green of NASA Rally Sport. "Last year we had thirty six entrants. This year, with a few last minute folks that aren't yet listed on the web site, I'm expecting a few more than that, maybe thirty eight total." The current listing of competitors list from the event's web site, RallyTennessee.com, list twenty two cars and fourteen motorcycles.

Green added that the high gas prices have a big effect on the amount of entries at rallies throughout the country. "Especially for the car guys, towing your race car you'll get maybe only ten miles per gallon. And when lots of the racers are making six to eight hundred mile trips, one way, that really adds up. The bikes have it a little easier, since they can fit so many more on a trailer and split the costs."

For the racers, the roads of Tennessee are one reason they are drawn here. Gregor Halenda, a competitor last year on a KTM motorcycle, said of the Hohenwold stage "The last stage was eleven miles of some of the fastest, most amazing banked turns you could imagine."

The other reason to make the long trek from the Atlantic Ocean past Nashville to Linden is the warm welcome that the racers get here. Most of the reputation of a rally is word of mouth from one racer to another, and the word is starting to get around that Linden is a fun place to come race.

There's still time to get involved with the rally. "Volunteering really opens up the door for a lot of folks." said Green. "We try to treat our volunteers as well as we can, free T-shirt, lunch, and of course they get to come to the awards ceremony too and hang out with all the racers. And that's on top of being right on the course for the rally all day long!" RallyTennessee.com has more information on volunteering, or contact Pat Vandenbosche at the Chamber of Commerce.

Note to editors:
Rally Tennessee occurs in the town of Linden, in Perry County Tennessee.
The rally takes place on Saturday May 24th.
For motorcycles, Rally Tennessee is part of the Atlantic RallyMoto(tm) Cup, the only championship for motorcycles in a rally format in America, as part of NASA Rally Sport's trademarked RallyMoto™ program.
For cars, Rally Tennessee is part of the Atlantic Rally Cup and the United States Rally Championship.
For media support contact Anders Green: +1 919 697 5282 anders@pobox.com

Press Release 1

For Immediate Release - Raleigh, North Carolina, May 5, 2008

RALLY TENNESSEE CAR AND BIKE RACE NEARLY UPON US

Round Two of the Atlantic Rally Cup comes to Linden, TN
Even more motorcycles this year
National exposure expected

As Memorial Day looms and summer is about to begin with full strength, NASA Rally Sport's annual race will be taking place just an hour west of Nashville this weekend. Based in Linden, Tennessee, the rally will have cars and motorcycles racing over super twisty closed roads all day long on Saturday.

Although rally racing roads comes in many flavors, the predominant type in America is gravel roads. So this event, running on pavement, or 'tarmac' as it is known within the sport, provides a special challenge to the racers. They have to run different tires than usual and also need to re-tune their suspension dramatically. Even the driving style has to change completely for the very different grip condition.

Many of the competitors from last year will be returning this year. Enda McCormak, hailing from Ireland, will certainly be a contender for top car honors. Charles Sherrill, fresh off a overall win at Sandblast Rally, definitely has the right equipment for a win here in Tennessee, but his tarmac experience is most at race tracks so no one knows if he'll be able to translate that to a win on the stages.

On the bikes, Doug Morrison is the top placing contender returning from last year. Riding a BMW HP2 with over 100 horsepower, he has the history to put him on the podium. However, Mark Ely, who has won every RallyMoto(tm) event that he has entered so far, will also be here this year. Ely's specialty is gravel, so Morrison's greater tarmac time may finally dethrone Ely.

Also competing will be Per Schroder, of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. Schroder has been restoring an older Saab, a vehicle which has a long history in rally racing. Be sure to check your news stands in a couple of months for an article about his time in Perry County.

The rally is also still looking for volunteers of all types, especially folks to help at the starts and finishes of the stages where you'll get a chance to talk to the races, and also any ham radio volunteers to help with the communications network. The best way to sign up is to go to RallyTennessee.com and go to the 'Volunteers' section to learn more.