Last week I got an email from Jim Blumenfeld who is the Volunteer Coordinator & Chief Stage Captain for this year’s Empire State Performance Rally. This year the Empire State Performance Rally will be held on April 26 – 27, 2014. The rally headquarters will be in Rock Hill, New York which is about 80 miles north of New York City. I was pleased to see that the event has the cooperation of the local businesses, the volunteer Rock Hill Fire Department, and the Sullivan County Business Association. Local support is key to having a successful event.
At this time the Empire State Performance Rally is the only tarmac event in the United States. The rally will have over 100 miles of competitive stages. Through special arrangements this year, two of the stages will be held at the private prestigious Monticello Motor Club in Monticello, NY. For all stages there will be a free two-pass recce and there will be a shake-down stage.
The Empire State Performance Rally is a two-day event and will count toward the Atlantic Rally Cup and the NASA National Rally Championship. Entry is now open, and is limited to 50 cars. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email Esprally@gmail.com or call Fran Gager, Rally Registrar at 845-866-7995 who along with Michael Cosgrove is organizing this event.
If you cannot compete in this event, be aware that they are actively seeking volunteer marshals to assist in the safe running of this rally. Working at a rally can be a great way to see the rally and how it works up close. Workers will be issued breakfast tickets and the event will be supplying lunches, Saturday dinner and a free room at the boy scout camp in Narrowsburg (you’ll need to bring bedding, towels and other personal items).
In addition to the Ham and Fire Police radio networks there will be a third network that will not require a licensed operator. This means that the few areas that have limited coverage in the past will have duplicate networks. Also, the organizers be utilizing cell phone text messages to alert volunteers of any schedule changes, updates and reassignment requirements.
Please take a look at the rally website for specifics and to register as a volunteer (click the “Registration” tab):
http://esprally.com/
stevemckelvie.wordpress.com 
I have worked this event. The organizers are first class and the locals love having the event. I was in a course opening car last year and to see the locals having rally parties in their front lawns indicates the amount of local support they have. Sign up to work, you will not be disappointed.