For the first time since its inception in 2006, the Team O’Neil Rally (TON Rally) will be held in the Spring. The competition will take place Saturday, May 8th.

The TON Regional Rally has typically drawn between 15-30 competitors and 250+ spectators each year. However, with this year’s event taking place at a much more hospitable time of year, Team O’Neil is expecting their biggest turn out ever. “Winter rallies are fun, but we’re expecting the warm weather to be a bigger draw for both competitors and spectators,” explained Kathy Moody, organizer of the Team O’Neil Regional Rally.

Spring conditions in Northern New England can be unpredictable, but the average temperature in May is a comfortable 55°F, compared to 16°F in January. Road conditions are expected to consist of well graveled surfaces, but precipitation can cause that to change in a hurry (don’t be surprised if things get a bit muddy)!

Team O’Neil Rally School and Car Control Center, Chick’s Sand and Gravel, and the town of Dalton, New Hampshire continue to be the hosts for this event; but new this year, the Mountain View Grand Resort will be hosting event accommodations, as well as the Awards Ceremony and After Party on Saturday night.

With the Mountain View Grand (http://www.mountainviewgrand.com/) now on board, guests will be treated to one of the country’s finest historic “Grand Hotels” at a special discount price of only $99. (You will need to call to take advantage of this rate. 866.484.3843 Be sure to mention the rally upon booking.) “We think the Mountain View will offer a whole other aspect to the rally weekend that anyone in the family can enjoy,” said hotel representative, Lisa Tetreault. “We will also be offering a special Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday for anyone who wants to treat mom.”

“At the end of the day this event is all about having a great time and enjoying the action and excitement that rally is all about,” said Tim O’Neil, Rally School owner. “Last year we saw Dave Mirra win it on the snow, hopefully this year we’ll see some equally strong competition on the gravel and dirt, but with some much faster stages!”

For more Information:

Please visit: http://www.newenglandforestrally.com (click on: “Team O’Neil Rally). Competitor entries are now being accepted, and visitor information is available, the volunteer sign-up form is coming soon.

More about the TON Rally:

This event is operated by New England Performance Rally, LLC, and sanctioned by Rally America. The primary sponsor is the Team O’Neil Rally School and Car Control Center, with support from the town of Dalton, New Hampshire, Chick’s Sand and Gravel, and the Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa.

More about the Sport of Rally:

Rally car racing is considered the extreme sport of automobile racing and is often described simply as “real cars, real roads, real fast.” This all-season motorsport sees drivers and their co-drivers taking modified road cars to the limit as they achieve blistering speeds over courses that cover more than 100 miles of gravel, dirt, or snow-covered roads known as stages. Visit http://www.newenglandforestrally.com or http://www.rally-america.com for more information.