Corky Rutledge and Ryan Dressler teamed up to win the Northeast Rally Clubs spring event called Rally Around the Erie Canal in the Fairport, New York area last weekend in their 1929 Ford Model A pickup truck. The event was hosted by Great Race Grand Champions Howard and Doug Sharp and the proceeds from the event helped raise more than $8,000 for the Egypt Volunteer Fire Department. Almost 50 cars participated in the three-day event, including Frank Buonannos 1915 Hudson, the oldest car in the rally. Most of the participants were from New York, Pennsylvania and New England, but teams came from as far away as Oregon, Michigan, Georgia and Tennessee.
Great Racer David Coon, who lives in the Fairport area along with the Sharps, was given the Spirit of the Event Award for all of the hard work he and his family did in preparing for the rally. Coon will partner with fellow New Yorker John Hudson in the 2016 Great Race in Hudsons 1940 Chevrolet.
Rutledge, from Pennsylvania, won the Sportsman Division in the 2011 Great Race with his son Tim in the same truck. His score with son-in-law Dressler at the rally last weekend was 26.86 seconds off perfect. New Yorkers Scott Hudson and Sarah Hall were second in their 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air with a score of 40.48. Scott and Sarah will be married this summer and it was Sarahs first rally. Scott is a longtime participant in the Great Race with his grandfather John. Ed and Steve Tourje, from Pennsylvania, were third with a score of 41.41 in their 1939 Ford Coupe.
All scores can be seen at http://www.northeastrallyclub.com.
