Road Rally Saturday

Saturday was the day of the race and the constant hum of traffic in front of the cabin was confusing at first to the dogs and annoying to the humans. The dogs are used to seeing a couple of cars a day and we saw more cars in one day than we will for the rest of the year. It didn't take long for the dogs to just sit and watch from the yard as the masses went by. They didn't bark unless a car slowed down or tried to turn around in the drive.

The amount of dust made by this constant traffic made it difficult
to work outside. It also made us glad we don't live in the city where seeing a constant stream of traffic is normal. Although, I doubt most city traffic drivers think they are part of a road rally and drive speeding around turns meant for 25 mph at about 50. You have to be so careful if you travel against the stream of traffic that you aren't run off the road. After last year's accident I was more than cautious. Mountain girl, Paula, logging off and glad the rally is over.

Muddy Mountain

Thor thought he would give everyone a big hi from his big head. He has doubled in size since we got him last November. Three legs doesn't slow him down a bit. He spends as much time as possible trying to catch rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks. So far he has only caught one small baby bunny, which amazingly enough he brought to me. I saw the gray body hanging from his mouth and expected to retrieve a dead animal. To my surprise, the small rabbit was hardly wet and not a mark on it. So Thor may be renamed the gentle giant.

The township has been grading the other side of Cedar Mountain and it has made for a muddy, sliding mess after the recent rain. I had to put
my truck into 4-wheel drive to navigate over the mess. Today it has dried up a bit and is much safer.

Next weekend is the road rally. If the State does not fix the end of the road near 414 there will be lots of screaming. I have called and complained about the size of the holes and so far have not seen any attempt to repair it. You have to go less than two miles per hour over much of the last 2 miles or risk ruining your car or truck. Our township does a stellar job with the rest of the road and it is very disappointing to run from a nice dirt road into moguls.

I have been very busy working this month and it seems I haven't been able to post much in the way of news to the blog. I may just have to start including some of the work I do, since that is where all my time is being spent. Thank goodness I can enjoy the woods even if it is only to drive back and forth to work. Mountain girl, Paula, logging off and working hard.

Road Rally responses

I figured my comments about the road rally would get some attention and I welcome the comments and the education as to how the road money is spent. One of the racers, Dave Getchell, took the time to email me this information:

"First off, I want to apologize for the litter and bad behavior by some
of
the spectators. We had one race stage canceled because drunken
hooligans
were throwing things at passing cars, creating an unacceptable security
situation. WE also encountered a gang of obviously out-of-control
locals at
a country store, so at least part of the problem came from locals as
apposed
to spectators from away who came to watch the rally. Either way, it's a
problem and I don't like it, either!

As for the rally "tearing up the roads," part of the entry fee goes to
a
road bond that pays for re-grading the roads used by the rally.
Ambulance
services are by volunteers--NOT funded by taxpayers. Virtually all the
race
workers and radio people are volunteers. These folks feel the rally is
beneficial enough to the community to donate their time, energy and
expertise.

And finally, the rally DOES benefit the local community with direct
financial effect. Our team spent the following on our visit to
Wellsboro
area:

Entry fee: $1200
Hotels: $1000 (Canyon Motel, Wellsboro)
Race fuel: $450  (bought from a local vendor, 55 gals @ $8.15/gal!!)
Meals: $1000  (crew of 6 in town for 4 days)
Tow fuel: $150 (diesel bought at station in Wellsboro)
Misc parts: $200 (autozone and napa stores in Wellsboro)
Fees for practice stage: $50  (benefits local ambulance/fire co's)
Souvenirs/gifts for folks at home: $250

total: $4300

That's just one team. Multiply that by the 52 teams that actually took
the
start, and you've got some serous support from this event--upwards of a
quarter-million dollars. This doesn't count $$$ spent by those annoying
spectators, etc.

Our car broke down on last year's rally, and the locals we met out in
the
woods couldn't have been more supportive--helping us push the car out
of
danger, feeding us thru the long evening, and helping us get out of the
woods so our crew could come recover the car.

I understand and appreciate your viewpoint of how the rally roars to
town
for one weekend and raises Cain in the normally quiet woods...but then
we're
gone, leaving a whole lot more good things behind than bad...I hope!


Dave thanks for taking time to explain your position, I realize this
race bring money to the Wellsboro area and that is the main reason most
people around here support it even if they are not race fans.



Let me explain what I see as you can tell I live in the woods all the
time and I see what happens before, during and after the race. Your
money to fix the roads is done before the race to make the roads you
race on good for you. They do not fix any roads which are not part of
the race, this includes the roads most people travel on to get to the
observation sites and starts of the race. Our roads are very fragile.
After the race is over the roads are ruined for those of us who travel
them daily. Money is not spent to fix them or pick up the litter.



Also the race cars went by my house until after Midnight Saturday night
making it difficult for me to sleep. I am not sure why they were
running so late. I still feel that racing through a natural area
disturbs balance of things. Can't these races be run in an area less
fragile?

Racing through the woods

The only time we ever see an ambulance in Leetonia is during the Road Rally. Sixty cars racing through the woods at break neck speeds, bouncing off trees, rocks and sometimes animals. They start this event with about sixty cars and typically end up with around thirty finishing.

The goal of this event is to get the best time in all three legs of the race. You can hear the sound of the engines popping off of the mountains and valleys. The animals take cover for the weekend
and most of the regular camp owners make sure they aren't here.

I understand the fascination with seeing fast cars race and take chances. What I don't understand is why this belongs in our State Forest? I stood at the end of one of the legs and listened to the calm of the woods being broken in two, dust flying and the smell of fuel filling my nose as the cars raced past me.

This event tears up the roads, disturbs the animals and most of
the full-time residents. Some animals are even killed by crossing their otherwise peaceful road at the wrong time. Spectators who think they are race car drivers as they race from spot to spot to see the car add to the confusion, dust and litter.

After they leave. They leave behind discarded trash and a feeling of being used all for the sake of a few. I know there is going to be a lot of you who disagree with me on this point. But racing should be done on race car tracks, not somewhere that is supposed to be animal and plant life sanctuary. Who benefits from this Rally? Local businesses who feed and house the racers? Who pays for the road care and emergency care...ultimately we the tax payers fund the destruction of our roads and the disturbance of our peace.

Mountain Girl, Paula, picking up trash and logging out!