What’s the difference between a rally and other motorsports? It’s on real roads, and it’s with real cars. Competitors pour into Salem and Potosi every year to race around Missouri’s natural environment – and all that can entail: gravel roads, quick turns, dense forestry, high-rising water crossings, and unpredictable weather, to name a few. Competitors turn out every year for Missouri’s flowing roads and fast-paced turns. Drivers must adjust accordingly with very little practice to the different turns, each pass changing with gravel thrown by previous drivers and weather that could change on a dime. Unlike other motorsports, spectators don’t watch multiple cars racing each other at once but only ever see one car at a time competing in an exhilarating race against the clock.
The 100 Acre Wood Rally is held every year in March in Salem and Potosi, and this year is the 29th running of the rally. The event begins with a parc expose before competitors start the day. There is no cost to spectate, and no tickets needed to attend the event. This year, there is a total of 60 competitors signed up – including Travis Pastrana, the renowned motorsports competitor returning after a year break, and Kyle Williams, west ward alderman of Salem who has cinched several victories in the regional circuit.
Whenever the rally comes to town, the local economy is sure to expect a welcome spring boost following the winter lull – spectators come to town and fill up hotels and check out the local stores and restaurants. “The rally brings together teams ranging from two to upwards of ten members, along with event officials and volunteers, turning Salem into a bustling hub from Wednesday through Sunday.” states Williams, “Many participants and volunteers make it a point to explore local eateries, contributing to an economic boost evident in the increased sales tax revenue for the city.”
Curt Faigle, organizer of the 100 AW Rally, reports that organizers begin preparing for the event four or five months in advance. Organizers are hard at work ensuring the rally is not being held on the same roads to guarantee variety and excitement for the drivers and spectators. They decide which roads the event will be hosted on and reach out to property landowners and homeowners along the roads – each one eager to accommodate the event. Organizers are also coordinating and communicating with the US Forest Service, county commissioners, and other city leaders to ensure the smooth-running event the community has come to love.
When it comes to tackling Missouri’s winding roads, Faigle shared that most competitors stick to smaller, economy-type cars such as Subarus. Subarus have always been the go-to due to their four-wheel drive, but this year is different: there’s more Fords submitted in this year’s competition than Subarus for one of the first times. Faigle shared it’s possible that drivers feel Subarus are getting older and to build one into a rally car is a complicated, involved process, whereas Fords are simpler and require fewer modifications, making them more cost-effective.
“It’s fascinating to witness the shift. Traditionally, Subaru has been a force in the USA, while Ford, in partnership with M-sport in the UK, has made significant strides globally with quality and reproducible packages like the Fiesta R2 and Fiesta R5.” Williams commented, “In the last four years, we've observed a surge in vehicle diversity, featuring representations from 18 different vehicle brands spanning model years dating back to 1969, adding an exciting dimension for competitors and spectators alike.”
The parc expose in Potosi will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, March 15 located near the town’s courthouse on Hwy. 8 and Hwy. E. The first cars will be leaving around 1:15 p.m. to run a loop of stages before being serviced at Twin Eagles. Then, participants will go back and do another loop of stages.
The parc expose in Salem will begin around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, March 16. The first car will leave Salem at 10:30 a.m. – a little later than normal to accommodate other events during the day – and race in a loop of stages before being serviced at the Dent County Commons and running another loop of stages.
Another loop will be held toward the end of the day for national teams. Out of the 60 competitors for this year’s rally, 34 are national teams. National teams will be competing for points for the national series – the 100 Acre Wood Rally is one of eight national events during the season.
“The rally not only provides an adrenaline rush for participants but also serves as a fantastic showcase for our area,” said Williams on the rally. “I sincerely hope this event continues for many more years, allowing local residents to exhibit our region's hospitality to a broader audience and give a timely boost to the local economy as spring unfolds.”
