LAUGHLIN, NV -- As the two major track-based American sports car racing series are done for the season, North American motorsports buffs have turned their attention to the Nevada resort of Laughlin for the Laughlin International Rally and Motorsports Festival, to be held November 10 – 12, 2006.

In the Laughlin International Rally, the cars race one-at-a-time against the clock on closed desert roads – each time trial is called a stage - in the Grand Canyon/Colorado River region, with the cars recording the lowest total elapsed time at the end of the event being the winners in each class. The co-driver, who sits in the passenger seat, has stage notes which guide the team through the course turn-by-turn, and has a rally computer to aid him or her by keeping track of mileage intervals and elapsed time. The driver will go as fast as he or she can – no speed limits – with coaching from the co-driver describing the road configuration ahead.

The drivers meet their crew at service areas every couple of stages for service on the cars, and drivers must obey all local traffic regulations when their cars are not actually driving on the closed stage road. Unlike traditional racetrack driving, where repetition on the same course can lead to the “best line” or “best setup” for each corner, rally drivers must react to blind conditions at racetrack speed.

This event is sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC) and presented by the National Auto Sports Association (NASA). Parts of the event count for points in the Western States Rally Championship (WSRC) and the California Rally Series (CRS) as well. The event is organized by the American Rally Sport Group, Inc. The rally will cover 533 miles including 122 racing stage miles.

American Rally Sport Group, Inc. created and developed two major automotive events. The three-day FIA-listed International Rally USA is a world- renowned competition rally sanctioned through the United States Automobile Club (USAC) in association with NASA RallySport and NASA RallySport West. Its Grand Canyon competition stage, based on the homelands of the Hualapai Tribe, is a featured component on four authorized video games, including TopGear Rally 2 for the Nintendo 64, Rally Championship, Rally Championship Xtreme, and Richard Burns Rally Championship simulation for PC and various game formats.

National Championship at Stake

As the sixth and final round of the United States Rally Championship, the Laughlin International Rally will decide the year-end overall championship, with the top two point-getters to be challenged by nationally-ranked rallyists trying to steal their glory.

Seamus Burke, the Irish-born rallyist now living in Powder Springs, Georgia, along with co-driver Christine Beavis, from San Diego, hold a five-point lead in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8, having won the last two rallies in the series – Rally Tennessee and the Prescott Rally. Second in points is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII of Wolfgang Hoeck, from Somis, Calif., and co-driver Piers O’Hanlon, from San Diego.

Not in the running for the points championship, but certainly capable of winning the rally and upsetting chances for either of the top two team mentioned above, include the Laughlin O’Sullivan (San Francisco)/John Dillion (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) Mitsubishi Eclipse; the George Plsek (Solana Beach, Calif.)/Jeff Burmeister (Minneapolis, Minn.) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo; Mike Whitman (Farmington, NM)/Bill Westrick (Royal Oak, Mich.) Ford Escort Cosworth; and Wyeth Gubelmann (Placerville, Colo.)/Cindy Krolikowski (Wyandotte, Mich.) Subaru WRX STI.

The Motorsports Festival – Plenty to Do

What makes this rally unique among American motorsports events is the activity surrounding the race for the community and the fans. American Rally Sport Group President Roger Allison is aiming to make the week a celebration of competition of all kinds of machinery, including water-craft, all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles. For this year, there is already a great selection of motorsports-related activity for the fans attending the event.

New for 2006 in the Motorsports Festival is the three-day Pro-Am Series National Drift Finals, to be held in along the Colorado River, across from the Laughlin Casinos. Originally scheduled as a three-hour Drift exhibition, the Drift Association members have worked the past nine months to locate their national finals in this area.

“Getting the authorities from two states and two counties together has been a challenge,” said Allison. “The cooperative efforts from the City Councils, local businessmen, the Laughlin Tourism committee and the Chamber of Commerce members of both cities have been instrumental in working towards bringing this extreme-driving event into this area. The Pro-Am Drift Finals will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with tickets available from www.prestigeticketing.com.

The uniquely challenging GPS Adventure Rally mystery tour over America’s scenic back roads began in 2000. Currently held only during the Motorsports weekend, the GPS Adventure Rally is rapidly gaining popularity and loyal fans from across the United States and Europe. Laughlin Ranch is the presenting sponsor of the 2006 GPS Adventure Rally, with the VIP Rally Bus and Awards Breakfast sponsored by the Laughlin Bay Marina. Interested participants should register at the Laughlin Ranch, or go to www.rallyusa.com for more details.

Four of the casinos in Laughlin will have car shows during the Friday and Saturday segments of the rally. The Riverside (raised and lowered trucks and SUVs), the Colorado Belle (imports), the Flamingo-Aquarius (exotics) and the Edgewater (domestics and muscle cars) are the properties participating.

If you are not happy just watching the action, you have a chance to drive your own car in the dirt at the Laughlin Special Events arena on Saturday and Sunday by participating in the NASA RallyCross Competition. Participants need to be 18 years-old with a valid drivers license, and should sign up at the venue.

For the final Sunday SuperStage of the rally, the cars will run at the Laughlin Special Events arena, where matched, side-by-side courses have been set up to bring home the drama of the rally’s final moments. Also, for those who want to get the full flavor of forest rally action, fans can take a bus from the Ramada Express Casino to the Yellow Pine Ranch in Arizona on Friday for an all-day rally excursion. Both the bus trip and SuperStage activity require paid admission tickets. Full information on ticket prices and packages in available by calling the American Rally Sport Group in Laughlin at 702-298-8170, or logging onto www.rallyusa.com.

In association with Laughlin Tourism Committee, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and Las Vegas Events has expanded its successful two-event weekend into a unique Motorsports Festival hosted by Laughlin’s eight major casinos during Veteran’s Day weekends for 2006, 2007 and 2008.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8
8 am - First day course reconnaissance by Laughlin International Rally teams

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9
8 am - Second day course reconnaissance by Laughlin International Rally teams

1:30-3:00 pm - Media Day and Press Information Sailing: Del Rio Yacht river cruise

7 pm - GPS Adventure Rally Early Registration at Harrah’s Laughlin

OPENING CEREMONIES

The Laughlin International Rally & Motorsports Festival and Salute to America’s Veterans

7:30 pm - Ramada Express Hotel-Casino Rally Area Start-Finish Ramp

8:10 pm - International Rally Ceremonial Start

Pit-Row: Meet the International Rally Teams and get those autographs;
Rally Girls on hand; event posters on sale.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Laughlin International Rally

9 am - Day 1, Leg 1 Depart from Ramada Express Hotel-Casino
Event 1 for regional 2006 rally championships;
California Rally Series, Western States Rally Championship

6 pm - International Rally Competitors return to the Ramada Express Hotel-Casino
Pit-Row: Meet the International Rally Teams and get those autographs; event posters on sale
Special Rally Girls photo opportunity; donations to charity

VIP Rally Bus: Motorcoach Tour sponsored by Laughlin Bay Marina
Deluxe travel to International Rally Stages; private brunch

8 am - Ramada Express Hotel-Casino coach area; $75 per person;
Reservations required, ages 21+ Call event phone: 702-298-8170 M-F

Rally Spectator Area sponsored by Wiley Automotive Group of Kingman

8:00 am - Self-drive to International Rally competition viewing
$25 per vehicle; Registration & pass required; Ramada Express Hotel Casino or call 702-298-8170

GPS Adventure Rally presented by Laughlin Ranch; sponsored by Laughlin Bay Marina

8-10:00 am - Registration at Harrah’s Laughlin

9 am - GPS Training, Questions and answers

10 am-4 pm - Day 1: Adventure Rally Tour: scenic drive, practice, lunch included

Auto & Truck Show

3:30-7 pm - Registration at Aquarius Casino - For 1964 and newer
Riverside: Lifted/Lowered trucks & SUV’s and Domestics
Flamingo-Aquarius: Exotics and Imports

3 pm - Vendor set up

Drifting Pro-Am Day 1 sponsored by ASPEC

7 am - Gates Open; Along Colorado River in Bullhead City; Ticket pre-purchase recommended

8 am - 7 pm - Competition Professional Drift vs. Amateur

Friday Evening: Selected entertainment & activities at the Laughlin casinos

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Laughlin International Rally

7 am - Start of Day 2, Leg 2, USRC National Championship
Event 2 for regional 2006 rally championships

6 pm - International Rally teams return to Ramada Express

6:30 pm - Pit-Row: Bullhead City, meet the International Rally Teams and get those autographs;
event posters on sale; Rally Girls on hand for photo op; charity donation

Laughlin RallyCross

8 am - Registration at Laughlin Special Events Arena

10 am - Vehicle Safety Inspection and Driver’s meeting

10:30 am - Championship competition begins, Day 1

GPS Adventure Rally presented by Laughlin Ranch, sponsored by Laughlin Bay Marina

6:30 am - Drivers’ Meeting and line-up Harrah’s Laughlin

7 am - Ceremonial Start; Harrah’s Laughlin

7:30 pm - Social Hour

Car & Truck Show “Beautiful Bodies, Beautiful Cars in Beautiful Laughlin”

7-9 am - Registration at Aquarius Casino

9 am-6 pm Show
Riverside: Domestics and Lifted/Lowered trucks & SUV’s
Flamingo-Aquarius: Exotics & Imports

9 am - Vendors open

Pro-Am Drifting Nationals Professional Drift vs. Amateur (Schedule in Nevada Time)

7 am - Gates Open; Along river in Bullhead City
Tickets online through Laughlin Chamber of Commerce or at event

8 am - Drifting begins

Evening: Selected entertainment & activities at the Laughlin casinos

“Beautiful Bodies” Contest at the Drifting Course
Category for both Women & Men: Call for details & to register: 702-298-8170 M-F

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12

SuperStage sponsored by KARTEK Off-Road, PWR Performance and Desert Recreation
Tickets online from Laughlin Chamber of Commerce or at event

8 am - Gate opens, Laughlin Special Events Arena, Bruce Woodbury & Edison Way

9 am to 3 pm:

Sunday SuperStage Dual-Course Rally Competition Finale

Motorsports Demonstrations; Vendors; RallyCross Finals; Motorcycle Stunt Teams

Approximately 3 pm - Charity rides: $25 Ride in a Rally Car

Laughlin RallyCross

8 am - Registration at Laughlin Special Events Arena

10 am - Vehicle Safety Inspection and Driver’s meeting

10:30 am - Championship Finals, Day 2

GPS Adventure Rally presented by Laughlin Ranch, sponsored by Laughlin Bay Marina

8:00 am - Awards Breakfast at Laughlin Bay Marina (private)

Pro-Am Drifting Nationals sponsored by ASPEC
Professional Drift vs. Amateur (Schedule in Nevada Time)

2 pm - Gate opens.
Course lot along river in Bullhead City across from Colorado Belle

3-6 pm - Competition Finals

CLOSING CEREMONIES

4:30 pm - Ramada Express Hotel-Casino Rally Area Start-Finish Ramp
Final chance to meet the International Rally Teams and get those autographs;
Special Rally Girls photo opportunity

6:30-9:00 pm - Rally Awards, Aquarius (private) Cocktails and Awards presentations

Note to the media: High resolution photos can be obtained by e-mailing Andy Schupack at [email protected].
Registration for media credentials can be done on-line at www.rallyusa.com.

Event phone: 702-298-8170