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July 2003 Archives

07.30.2003

Bangor driver to compete in Pro Rally race in Rumford
By Tom Hale

If racing full throttle through the forest is your type of motorsport, you’ll have a chance to see it when the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Pro Rally comes to Rumford Friday and Saturday.

Pro Rally often conjures up visions of racers from Europe or other foreign shores. Race fans may be pleased to know that Bangor’s John Cassidy with his race team, Last Ditch Racing, will be in the top class.

After a couple years racing at the local Club Rally level and the Canadian rally scene, Cassidy’s team has gone professional this season. Cassidy and co-driver Dave Getchell from Camden are the only team from Maine to compete in three Pro events in 2003.

Cassidy has taken delivery of a turbocharged 1998 TAD Motorsports Subaru Impreza to race in rally racing’s top class, Open. In previous races Last Ditch Racing competed in their non-turbocharged 1994 Subaru Impreza.

The Maine team finished its last race in Pennsylvania ninth in the Open class.

Cassidy, a physician’s assistant, developed his interest in rallying after viewing a race on ESPN. His mechanical background at that time was limited to restoration work on Land Rovers.

07.03.2003

Last Ditch Racing, a Maine USA based ProRally team known for their consistency and sense of humor is pleased to announce that the team is growing!

The team will be taking delivery of a T.A.D Motorsports prepped 1998 Subaru Impreza to race in the Open class. The car features a Version 3 STi engine and drivetrain. Said driver/owner John Cassidy, "Despite all the challenges we've been faced with this season, we're striving to be as competitive as possible on a privateer budget." The car will feature a closer ration gearbox with limited slip differentials and far more horsepower than their current Impreza.

The car will replace the team's stalwart 1994 Subaru Impreza, affectionately named, "Steel Tulip." After shopping the car around for the team, co-driver Dave Getchell decided to buy the car himself to drive in select club events in both the US and Canada. Said Cassidy, "Tulip has been all the way from Newfoundland to California. She's a great car, and I'm ecstatic that she'll remain in the Last Ditch Racing stable-especially now that we have all the bugs worked out!"