By Patricia Breakey
WALTON _ Rally New York wants to stage its automotive road rally again in Walton next spring, and organizers are promising to center the entire event in Delaware County April 15 to 18.
The Walton Town Board listened to a presentation from Rally New York promoter Rich Otis Tuesday and then heard comments from seven Walton residents who are opposed to the rally returning to Walton.
Otis said the rally Saturday, April 17, would be limited to Dunk Hill Road, Dunk Hill Spur Road and Freer Hollow. However, he requested that the board consider expanding the racing to include Friday April 16, which would involve another road. That would mean racers would arrive Thursday and stay though Sunday.
Otis said he appeared before the Walton Town Board on Dec. 1 to hear comments from board about previous rallies and to propose changes for this year.
The rally, which uses road-registered vehicles that drive through a variety of checkpoints along the course, was last held locally this past April and in October of 2008. It was also held in fall 2007.
Otis said the board indicated that economic benefits last year were disappointing but said if the event is approved for this year, all rally participants will stay in the Walton area and a banquet for approximately 200 people would be held in Walton.
Last year, the racing stages were held in Walton but lodging and the banquet were in Sullivan County, where other racing stages were located.
Otis said lodging in Walton is limited, but there is enough in surrounding Delaware County communities to accommodate the rally participants.
Rally New York promoters Otis and Ivan Orisek are seeking special road-use permits from the town, under the state Vehicle and Traffic Law, to allow them use of the roads for the rally and to suspend traffic laws.
During previous rallies, roads were closed for alternating periods of up to an hour and a half to allow participants to drive the course.
Supervisor Bruce Dolph said the town board would not make a decision immediately, but promised to keep everyone informed when a decision is pending.
Dolph questioned whether there was a venue large enough to accommodate the banquet.
Otis said he had been in the Walton fire hall and it would handle the event.
Dolph questioned staging the race Friday when school buses would be running, but Otis said the rally had been able to schedule races around school bus runs in other areas.
Al Grust of Beers Brook questioned how the town could afford to spend tax money to provide police protection and support from the fire department and emergency squad.
Grust said that last year the people running the rally "weren't nice."
He said, "They were arrogant and tried to knock protest signs down."
Grust said a utility pole was struck by a rally car, knocking out electricity from 2 to 6:30 a.m.
"Have you ever had that 'ah-ha moment' when you know your life is in danger," Grust said. "That is what happened when the lights went out and when they came back on people were left with post-traumatic stress disorder," he said.
Arthur Swenson of Treadwell said he owns a camp on Freer Hollow. He said one of the cars caused damage to his property, but the rally organizers paid his son $100 to repair the damage.
Jim Taggart of Dunk Hill, questioned why the roads could not be closed for snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles and stock cars if they could be closed for rally cars. He said the town board was "opening a can of worms" by allowing the rally.
Councilwoman Cheryl Boyd pointed out that the town does not spend any money to support the rally.
Councilman Kevin Armstrong said the board does not control the Walton Fire Department and pointed out the Walton Fire Commissioners approved assisting the rally last year before the town board gave the rally permission to use the roads.
Walton Highway Superintendent Walt Geidel said the rally did not damage any roads.
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Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com
