The TRV Stewardship Council announces that the Overmountain Rally Tennessee 2024 is bringing top-level American Rally Association (ARA) competitors to an inaugural event in the mountainous eastern region of the Tennessee River Valley. This new round of national competition will take to the gravel roads of Tennessee's only national forest for two days of high skill driving and opportunities for spectators to mingle with nationally known drivers.
NORRIS, Tenn., June 26, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Organizers for the Overmountain Rally Tennessee are bringing this round of the ARA National Series to the gravel roads of the Cherokee National Forest's Watauga and Unaka districts and the forest gateway communities of Johnson City and Newport, TN. The event takes its name from the Overmountain Men, frontier militiamen, who crossed the mountains along rugged mountain paths and forded rivers to fight the British at the battle of Kings Mountain, a decisive Revolutionary War victory for American Patriots.
While Rally Racing in European countries dates back to the first Monte Carlo Rally in 1911, professional rally racing in the United States began only about 50 years ago. The ARA competitive events are stage rally racing, which tests the competitor's endurance, pace versus the clock, and navigational prowess. The Overmountain Rally Tennessee competitors will be challenged by the gravel forest roads, rocks, and dust on lands that hold the history of rugged frontiers and the people who shaped the future history of these communities. The competition vehicles are specially prepared street vehicles with modifications for safety and durability.
Competition is split over two days with Day 1 being held in Cocke County, TN on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Organizers are anticipating both national and regional competitors to descend on this community for a full day of events to begin with a meet and greet line-up of the competitor cars and closing out the day with head-to-head Super Special Stage at the newly renovated Newport Speedway. Day 2 of the rally will be based out of Johnson City, a city already afforded several years of hosting the ARA East Regional Championship, with the official rally finish and podiums in Downtown on Sunday evening. Fans will be able to mingle with the drivers, like action sports icon Travis Pastrana and mountain biking star Brandon Semenuk, before the start of the rally on both days.
"I think this new event has great potential for us. There is a lot of interest in this type of race for our local people as well as for visitors to our beautiful county. We also look forward to the positive economic impact these events will have in our community." Said Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis.
Another benefit for the county and the neighboring public land according to event organizer Dave Matheson is the improvements of the gravel roads in the Cherokee National Forest.
"The rally's relationship with the National Forest Service is great. They have supported our expansion from a small rally on a single paved road in 2019 to a multi-day gravel event worthy of promotion to the ARA National Series in 2023. In the past 3 years, the rally has funded nearly $20,000 back into the roads we use for competition. With the event growing and more competitors expected, we anticipate to be over $100,000 of total contribution by 2029. The positive impacts we make on the public gravel road system are substantial." said Matheson.
"It is exciting to see this type of event being organized in gateway communities," said TRV Stewardship Council spokesperson, Julie Graham. "Attracting national events is a challenge for many rural communities. Having an event like this that brings national attention to these smaller cities and balances the conservation of public lands is a win-win."
The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 nonprofit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website. It is comprised of volunteers from a seven-state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Media Contact
Julie Graham, TRV Stewardship Council, 8655850811, [email protected], https://www.trvstewardshipcouncil.org/mission/
SOURCE TRV Stewardship Council
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