As Autumn settles in and the American Rally Association Season comes to a close, the Oregon Rally Group hosted the Mike Nagle RallySprint, the final event in the Pacific Northwest. Taking the namesake of one of the original co-founders of the Oregon Trail Rally, this RallySprint covers a total of 39 racing, or “Stage” miles. Differing from a traditional Stage Rally, a RallySprint features one stage run several times.
MNR was hosted in the town of St, Helens, Oregon, under an hour outside of Portland. The small town along the immense Columbia River was also featured in the Disney: Halloweentown films during the 1990s and early 2000s.
The action-packed day started at the Columbia County, OR fairgrounds as the sun gently peaked over the hills in the distance. Large trucks with trailers pulled into the narrow entrance and quickly set up so competitors could embark on the 40-minute transit to complete their Recce of the course.
The stage, “Nehalem Divide” covered 9.87 miles of mountain backroads. Smoke filled the air as prescribed burns crackled in the distance. Clouds loomed in the sky, slowly covering the warm sun and reprising the chill of the Pacific Northwest Autumn.
As the stage began, the familiar roar of Sam Albert’s (@samalbertrally) and Krista Skucas’ (@kskucas) Ferrari engine-swapped Subaru (#457) echoed throughout the surrounding area, officially igniting the running of the stages. A mix of loose gravel and densely packed dirt filled the stage, as each car soared through the first several miles of the stage. Each driver and co-driver team expertly navigated through the stage at high speeds. Shortly behind car 457 was Regional champion, Andy Miller (@millerracingteam) and Co-Driver Shaun Tracy (@stracy777) in car #621.
In Rally, cars are released individually in 60-second intervals from fastest to slowest. This race against the clock allows for a fluid event. For this RallySprint, a pace car followed the slowest car on stage, and the next round of excitement was almost instantaneous. After two iterations of the stage, a short intermission allowed the cars be serviced and safely complete the remaining stages.
The sun slowly set, and rain began to pour as the cars set course once again. Cars twisted and turned again, this time in a torrential downpour and in complete darkness. Drivers meticulously listened to the stage notes called by co-drivers with extreme focus. One mistake can send them into the dense forest, several feet from the road.
Despite this risk, an immense amount of safety standards for vehicles ensure that competitors are kept safe. In addition to this, stand-by ambulances, and volunteers strategically placed throughout check points ensure that everyone can conduct an event safely.
As the last cars crossed the finish, it was time to make the long transit back to the fairgrounds for the podium results. The relentless rain pressed on as a convoy of Rally cars and safety vehicles navigated their way back to the crowded fairgrounds. As cars pulled in, drivers and volunteers alike made their way into the event area to shelter from the rain and frigid cold.
The crowd gathered as bottles of sparkling wine were lined along a table adjacent to winners’ plaques. As the volunteers computed the final results. In overall time Sam Albert and Krista Skucas claimed first place and also placed first in class with an overall time of 40:51.1. In second place Andy Miller and Shaun Tracy with an overall time of 42:02.8. Bringing home third place was Team DTM Racing’s Cooper Anderson and Ethan Curtis with a time of 44:13.5.
Although a standalone event, one regional event remains in the ARA Western Regional Championships; the Ridge Rally in Lancaster, California in early December. Some drivers, however, will be participating in the final round of the Canadian Rally Championships final: the Big White Rally in Kelowna, British Columbia the same weekend.
Erick Huertas
Erick Huertas is originally from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and was introduced to the social aspect of cigars during his schooling in San Antonio, Texas. Around this time, he also developed a growing interest in writing and photography, using his phone camera and notepad to capture the world around him.
Erick solidified his passion for photography and adventure when he completed the Trans-American Trail in the summer of 2021 with his Land Rover Discovery 3. Since his 2021 expedition, he has been interviewed on several podcasts and has written extensively about the open road.
In 2023, Erick became involved in Grassroots motorsports by covering local Rallycross through the Northwest Rally Association, local autocross, and other events. In late 2023, he debuted as a photographer in the American Rally Association and has since covered events with Pan American Superbike and Formula E.
When not traveling, Erick can be found on Whidbey Island, Washington. You can contact Erick via email at [email protected], on Instagram at @_ebhphoto, or on his website: www.erickhuertas.smugmug.com
