An event survey of 2024 shared by 100 Acre Wood’s American Rally Association (ARA) indicates a significant economic boost to both Salem and Potosi, with a total of $2.49 million in area impact.
“Missouri delivered with Show-Me hospitality at the event this year – a beautiful weekend, wonderful roads, and a massive crowd made for a great rally experience!” said Marni Nagy, business manager of ARA, on Salem and Potosi’s rally of 2024.
A total of 58 race cars competed over two days, covering 116 stage miles and 385 total miles throughout Dent and Washington Counties.
Dent County Commons was a big help in the event’s success, said ARA’s report, especially Bennie Maxwell. The facility is used as the service area, and ARA hosts the volunteer and awards dinner there for 300+ people, including setup of the banquet room. DCC also works with the VP fuel delivery, runs the RV park for many volunteers, helps promote the rally to local landowners, and even helped ARA get most of the permissions for its new stage two years ago.
Data shared from RMP Volunteer lists, RP Registration Database, and the 2024 100AW Survey showed that 57% of attendees were not from Missouri; 81% of visitors paid for lodging and stayed multiple nights; an estimated $215,168 accrued from lodging for all attendees; and an estimated $420K in food was purchased.
“It really is a great deal for our community,” said Gary Larson, presiding commissioner of Dent County. “All the motels are busier. All the restaurants are busier. It brings people in here from all over—I’ve seen licenses from New Jersey, from Colorado—from everywhere.”
The estimated total of attendees was over 2,320, while the estimated total of spectators was around 1,700. The event brought hundreds of workers and thousands of visitors to the area and gained hundreds of thousands of views on social media, said the report.
Meanwhile, the people that directly contributed to the event’s success includes 258 competitors and crew members, 298 total workers, 30 organizers, 11 ARA staff, 14 course openers, 15 sweep people, 40 HAM radio operators, and 188 Marshalls and stage workers, and 66 registered media.
Within the survey report, ARA sent out a thank you to its vendors and supporters, including its business partners Diode Dynamics, 43 Institute, Piney River Brewing Co., Rally Superstore, Twin Eagle Lakes, and its government and local partners Dent County Commons, Salem’s Chamber of Commerce, City of Potosi, Texas County Memorial Hospital, Salem Memorial Hospital, U.S. Forest Service Department of Agriculture, and Washington County Ambulance District.
ARA works with both counties, including the county commissioners, county clerks, and chambers of commerce.
ARA also works with various city leaders, businesses, restaurants, two campgrounds, three post offices, three school bus districts, four dedicated ambulances from two counties, four volunteer fire crews, two sheriff's departments, and two city police departments.
Not only do attendees pay for lodging, gas, and food, but rally organizers and officials alone use over 20 rooms at local lodgings.
The rally continues to bring over 2,000 people to the area. This year, the rally had over 50 teams consisting of two competitors plus service crew (often three or more). It normally takes more than 200 volunteer workers to make a rally run smoothly. National teams generally base themselves out of Salem, and survey results showed stays in Potosi, Rolla, and Cuba with many AirBnB/VRBO rentals in between.
Organizers work with just over 90 landowners and families that are directly impacted by the course and are contacted—they are given specific times that their roads are expected to be closed, and roads are clearly marked along with a number to call for more information. ARA sincerely thanks families and landowners for their patience and understanding with every year of 100AW.
Volunteer HAM Radio Operators provide communications for the rally. ARA’s net control team has been working with two local radio repeater owners for the last several years to upgrade the HAM radio capabilities in the area. 100AW has purchased a lot of equipment and leaves some pieces of equipment setup year round for locals to take advantage of.
ARA’s report shares that people were engaged with 100AW’s posts on social media, with 308,713 impressions and 17,222 engagements on Facebook and 70,459 impressions and 7,827 engagements on Instagram.
“This was the best rally we’ve put on in quite some time. All of the hours planning resulted in an almost flawless event. Thanks again to the organizing team, the volunteers, the county and city officials, and local landowners for all of the help in pulling this off,” said Curt Faigle, 100AW Chairman.
Organizers wish to thank the citizens, elected officials, staff, businesses, and the community of Washington and Dent counties for their continued commitment to hosting the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood.
