Do you feel the need for speed?

With only three out of its five members present, the Wawarsing Town Board overruled the concerns and objections of some forty residents that attended last Thursday's meeting and voted to allow Rally New York use of the town's roads.

The meeting began with Rally New York president Ivan Orisek fielding all manner of accusations and questions from local residents who live along the roads that will be used for the race. The audience raised a number of issues including public safety, the maintenance of the roads, crowd control, and resident access to closed roads.

If anything, the audience was able to offer some serious warnings about the safety of high speeds on some town roads. As one resident of Steam Hollow Road put it, “No road on Earth could be less suitable for racing.”

Another resident was adamantly against the race and questioned the organizers' decision to approach Wawarsing so soon before the race being slated for Friday, September 7 and Saturday, September 8. “They [the race's organizers] have blitzed this community. This is a rush to judgment. He [Orisek] has to act fast. We don't have to act fast.”

Amid the steady chorus of concerns and requests to hold off on this year's race, Supervisor James Dolaway asked Ellenville-Wawarsing Chamber of Commerce President Holly Houghtaling what her organization thought about the race. Houghtaling responded that, “For the record, the Chamber of Commerce is in support of the race.” In addition to speaking on behalf of the chamber, Houghtaling, who is a licensed insurance agent, said that she approved of the insurance policy being proposed by Rally New York to cover the event.

Dolaway then asked Ellenville Village Manager Elliott Auerbach to express any particular position from village government. Auerbach replied that the village was waiting to take its cues from the town in this situation.

One person who wasn't waiting to take her cues from anyone was Town Council candidate and current Village Trustee Teresa Hyatt. Hyatt asked Orisek and the board several questions about safety and raised concerns about the race being a possible public nuisance for local residents before finally requesting that the town withhold its permission to let the race happen.

But after a long public comment period, Councilwoman Ruth Ann Gunter, Councilman John Gavaris and Supervisor James Dolaway all voted “aye” in short order. There was no response from the crowd except for those people who started leaving the meeting and muttering under their breath.

Rally New York President Ivan Orisek made his way out of the meeting room as well. When asked to comment on the gauntlet of questions he had dealt with and the seeming reprieve offered by the board, Orisek simply stated, “I am excited [about the race].”

After the vote, Auerbach said that he felt the race would, “certainly be an economic development component for the area. It's another event that takes place after Run Like the Wind, July Fourth and the Blueberry Festival.”

Auerbach went on to say that Orisek and his organization should appear before the village board at its next meeting on Monday, August 13 to discuss possible requirements for the event's opening and/or closing ceremonies.

Responding to the audience's concerns, Dolaway later said, “They all had valid concerns. I am also concerned with what they [Rally New York] will do to the township. But I want to give them a chance. If it doesn't work out and if I get 100 residents at my next board meeting that say they were inconvenienced then we will rethink it.” Dolaway then said that he had spoken with the Town of Lumberland supervisor who said that the road rally events organizers had done everything they said they would do.

Dolaway concluded by saying, “I am willing to give it a try. And I'll be out there checking the roads.”

* * * The Ellenville Journal first reported in its July 26 edition about the road race event that would take place over two days during the first week of September. Race organizers estimate that they will receive 35 to 50 entries for the timed race, which will close approximately 20 miles of town roads for an estimated span of 3 to 5 hours over the two day period.

The cars to be used are street legal vehicles (Subarus, Hondas, Toyotas) that have been modified for performance and for safety.

Orisek made it clear that there would be no “wheel to wheel” racing. Rather, each car will leave its appointed starting line at one-minute intervals. Each of the racers' stages is then added up to decide the event's winner.

The roads to be closed and the distances they are requesting are listed below:

Friday, September 7

Wintish Road - 2.15 miles
Oak Ridge Road (west of Wintish) - 1.05 miles
Lundy Road (after last house on Lundy to Rogues Harbor intersection) - 1.9 miles
Tempaloni Road - 1.35 miles
Ottens Road (between Tempaloni Road and Cranberry Hill Road) - 2.35 miles
Cranberry Hill Road - 1.05 miles
Seigel Road - 1.15 miles
Steam Hollow Road - 2.85 miles
Old Greenfield Park Road (west of Steam Hollow Road) - .2 miles
Greenfield Road (going east) - 2.65 miles

Saturday, September 8

Rogues Harbor Road (to intersection with Lundy Road) - 2.25 miles
Lundy Road - 2.3 miles<

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