Monticello, New York - The rally organizers are now putting the finishing touches on Rally New York U.S.A. 2006, and the teams are preparing themselves and their cars. The flag will be waved for the start on Friday, April 8.

The course is 427 miles long, starting at the Government Center in Monticello on Friday, and finishing in Liberty on Saturday evening. The 2006 edition is different from previous versions of this spring classic because the roads which were selected are entirely paved (rather than a mix of pavement and gravel). This will prevent concerns about damage to dirt roads, should the spring thaw occur during April. All-pavement rallies are novel in North America, but are popular in parts of Europe. Rallying on the black-top is a specialty in Ireland, a country which has supplied some of the stars for previous Sullivan County events

There are 16 speed tests against the clock (rally people call them "special stages"), including sections at the Monticello Airport, in the town of Tusten (Narrowsburg) and in Liberty. Many of these will have areas for spectators. (For information about spectating, refer to the rally web site, www.rallynewyork.com.) The speed sections total 136 miles, approximately one third of the route. The roads selected by the organizers are described by the event's leader, Ivan Orisek, as "open," meaning relatively wide (generally two lanes, not 1-1/2), with gentle bends more often than switchbacks.

The tests are connected by road sections (called "transit zones"), in which the competitors must follow all speed limits and other traffic regulations. There will also be breaks for service, including refueling and changing tires.

Rally New York U.S.A. will be the first national auto rally in the Northeast since the winter lay-off. As such, enthusiasm should be high, as many teams will be eager to test their skills and their equipment. It will not be possible to say for certain how large the field will be until entries close, several weeks from now. But we can expect a selection of compact performance cars, many with all wheel drive, including the very popular Subaru Impreza WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.