Car and motorbike enthusiasts showed up on Main Street in Chesterfield Friday evening to meet the drivers competing in the 2013 Sandblast Rally, which hosted a national competition through the Sandhills Forest of Chesterfield County this past weekend. The Atlantic Rally Cup was awarded to Jason Smith and Jared Lantzy, who completed the seven stage race in one hour, five minutes and 51 seconds. The RallyMoto Cup winner was Michael Gilkey. It took him nearly two minutes longer to complete the course; one hour, seven minutes and .29 seconds.
According to Anders Green, organizer for the event since 2007, the Sandblast Rally “has continued to grow through support of the rally community and the towns that host it in South Carolina.” During each of those years, “the Sandblast Rally has had roughly 25 percent more entries than any other stage rally in the United States.”
The Sandblast Rally truly takes the racers all over the county, beginning with registration in Cheraw. Lots of people gathered at the pit stop in Patrick during the day Saturday for a first hand look at how pit crews work together. Others, gathered along dirt roads, or familiar spots such as Campbell’s Lake, to watch they raced past.
This year was the biggest yet, said Green, with 87 competitors; many of whom travel the country to compete in this type of road race.
Councilwoman Lenora Powe said she is glad the council is supportive of the event as it brings money, and even more potential visitors, to Chesterfield County each year. “I love it,” she said, “part of the course passes right by my house.”
For a complete list of the winners visit www.sandblastrally.linaracing.com.
— Staff Writer Karen Kissiah can be reached at 843-537-5261, or by email at kkissiah@civitasmedia.com.
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