Recent Photos

www.flickr.com
lastditchracing's items Go to lastditchracing's photostream

05.10.2011

For Immediate Release, 5/10/11

Bangor, Maine USA

Maine's Last Ditch Racing rally team is looking forward to an ambitious mid-season programme, competing in three championship caliber events in the span of 4 weeks. The team started their 2011 season at the snowy Rallye Perce Neige in Quebec.

Joining driver John Cassidy in the right seat as Co-Driver for the next three events will be Co-Driver Jennifer Daly from Kelowna, British Columbia. Daly is not only a stage Co-Driver, she is also a TSD and Rally-X driver and rally volunteer based in Kelowna BC. Daly is currently working as the Director of Operations for Targa Canada West as well as being the organizer of the Big White Winter Rally. Cassidy and Daly teamed up three years ago at Rallye Defi in Quebec, but their event was cut short by contaminated fuel. "Jennifer and I definitely have some unfinished business on stage as a team, and this opportunity seemed like the perfect time to reconnect and give it another go!," said Cassidy.

Said Daly, "Joining the LDR team for three events in a row is a great chance to develop a real working relationship in the car, so we can push to be competitive. Last time I Co-Drove John it was a real adventure, and a lot of fun, so I'm really looking forward to a full month of summer rallying with the Last Ditch Racing crew."

Cassidy and Daly will compete in the Mt. Washington Hillclimb, one of the oldest motorsport events in the United States. A scant week later, they'll be in New Richmond Quebec for the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs, the second round of the 2011 Canadian National Championship. Two weeks later, they'll suit up again for the New England Forest Rally, the fourth round of the Rally America Championship. This is the densest schedule the team has undertaken. "For it to all work out, we need to prep the car 110%, and then add a dollop of good Irish luck to the mix." The team is no stranger to ambitious schedules, having once raced at the Rocky Mountain Rally near Calgary, Alberta and in the forests of Pennsylvania on consecutive weekends in different cars.

"This schedule will take us from the White Mountains of New Hampshire, to the shores of the Gaspee pennisula in Quebec to the forests of Maine in the span of a month. We'll be debuting a new motor for the car, which should help us be more competitive. In addition, we're planning on unveiling a new graphic design for our Subaru STi, known as Steel Tulip 4." Since the team has been racing Subarus, they've been liveried in silver, with red Tulip diagrams, giving the car it's name. Long time graphic/vinyl artist Chuck Stephenson has been helping Cassidy craft a new look for the team.

The opportunity to compete in the Climb to the Clouds event holds special meaning for Cassidy. "The Climb to the Clouds stopped running not long after I began my rallying career, and I never got a chance to compete against the Mountain. It's an amazing challenge for any driver, and I'm both excited and nervous to tackle it." From the Climb to the Clouds website; "Now billed as one of the oldest morotsports events in the United States, the Climb to the Clouds was first run in 1904, seven years before the first 500-mile race at the Brickyard in Indianapolis and 12 years prior to the inaugural Pikes Peak Hillclimb in Colorado. Run sporadically throughout the years, many famous racecar drivers and automobile manufacturers have competed in the event through its' colorful history." Cassidy and Daly will be part of the 10 car rally class, consisting of 5 Subarus and 5 Mitsubishis. The entire field of over 75 entrants encompasses everything from open class hillclimb specials, a big rig and vintage racers.

Regular LDR right-seater Dave Getchell is taking a well deserved break from the hectic pace that is normal for a championship team. Said Cassidy, "Dave and I have been racing nearly non-stop for the past 7-8 seasons-contesting very full schedules both in the US and Canada. It takes a serious commitment of time and energy for both of us to field the team and Dave is taking a deserved break. LDR would not have the profile in the sport, or the palmares we do without Dave's contribution."

"All of us on the LDR team push, and pride ourselves, in fielding a well prepared and competitive car. Jennifer and I will be doing our best to make the crew, fans and our families proud in June and July!"

Last Ditch Racing's next event will be the Climb to the Clouds, Mt. Washington NH, June 2011. For more information, please visit: http://www.climbtotheclouds.com/

Last Ditch Racing would like to thank their 2011 Partners for their continued support:

VP Racing fuels, http://www.vpracingfuels.com
Triple Caution, LLC, http://www.triplecaution.us

For more information on Rallye Perce Neige, please visit: http://www.rallyeperceneige.com/

For more information on Last Ditch Racing: http://www.lastditchracing.com
Social Networking: Search for us on Facebook and Myspace.
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lastditchracing
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LastDitchRacing

To Purchase Last Ditch Racing Gear, please visit: http://www.cafepress.com/lastditchracing

Leave a comment