Sandblast Rally

Sandblast Rally is a rally racing event for both cars and motorcycles. The event takes place in the towns of Chesterfield, Cheraw and Patrick, South Carolina, USA. In later years the events have been held in February of each year. The 2008 event was the largest rally in the United States.

The rally takes place within the Sand Hills State Forest, part of the Sandhills region of the Carolinas. Most rallies are held on closed tarmac or gravel roads; sandblast rally roads are almost entirely sand. Some of the roads are compacted by heavy trucks, some of the more infrequently used roads are quite soft. This presents an unusual challenge to rally cars, as the constant drag of the sand increases the wear and drag on the transmissions. The driving technique is also different from other rallies, as the soft sand on the side of the road can be similar to a snowbank, while the braking ability exceeds that of tarmac with slick tires.

Long named "Sandhills Sandblast" after the region, the event was first organized by Greg Healey in the early 1990s. In the second year of running the event became part of the SCCA ProRally national championship. Healey moved to Pennsylvania in the mid 1990s and the rally lay dormant for several years. The first rallies started at noon and ran well into the night, with three or four stages run in complete darkness. In 2001 Charles Sherrill resurrected the event, with similar stages. One of the busiest years was 2003 when the event ran twice in one year, spring and fall. The fall event was the first event sanctioned by the newly formed NASA Rally Sport organization. In 2005 Anders Green became the organizer, and the official name became "Sandblast Rally". In the February 2007 event motorcycles were introduced as part of NASA Rally Sport's new RallyMoto program.

Year Driver & CodriverMake MotorcycleModel2020Klim Fedoff and Boyd SmithMitsubishi Evo IXBill CongerFord FiestaRandy RichardsonSubaru Impreza STiBobby WooldridgeSubaru Impreza STiBill CongerMitsubishi Evo IXBobby WooldridgeMitsubishi EvoBill CongerSubaru Impreza STiDevon MahonSubaru ImprezaMichael GilkeyFord Escort CosworthBill CongerAprilla RXV 5.5 2011 Charles Sherill and Wilson Von KesslerMitsubishi Evo IV Aaron GibsonSubaru Impreza WRX Bill CongerSubaru Impreza WRX Michael GilkeyMitsubishi Evo IV Mark ElyMitsubishi Evo VIII Mark ElyHonda XR 640 SP 2006 Seamus Burke and Brian SharkeyMitsubishi Evo VIII 2005 Seamus Burke and Charles BradleyMitsubishi Evo VIII 2004 Seamus Burke and Charles BradleyMitsubishi Evo VIII 2003 (Fall) Seamus Burke and Brian SharkeyMitsubishi Evo VI 2003 (Spring) Seamus Burke and Emma BurkeMitsubishi Evo VIII 2002 John Drislane and Ronan BurkeMitsubishi Evo IV 2001 Thomas Lawless and Cathal McCaireMitsubishi Evo IV 1996 Paul Choiniere and Jeff BeckerHyundai Elantra 1995 Paul Choiniere and Jeff BeckerAudi Coupe S2 1994 Paul Choiniere and Jeff BeckerAudi Coupe S2