Rebooting the storied High Desert Trails (HDT) Rally in 2009, organizers Kristopher & Christine Marciniak considered their years of experience as rally competitors, distilling a simple plan for organizing their own rally – make it better every year, and give competitors a reason to keep coming back. And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Every year since, they’ve made HDT better, giving teams new reasons to return to Ridgecrest, California on the first weekend of May.
One of the fastest growing events in the country, HDT’14 is bigger and better than ever. New forest stages have been added, pushing total competitive miles beyond 100 and making this a coefficient (3),(2) event. The Joshua Trees and Pinyon Pines come in close to the doors at times on these new stages, making already fast roads feel even faster. Familiar stages have been split up, rearranged, and combined to deliver fresh challenges that don’t end when the sun goes down. That’s right. We’re racing in the dark this year!
A wide variety of fast, flowing roads criss-crossing high desert vistas and tight, twisty hill climbs and descents will keep teams on their toes, leading up to the Power Stage, HDT’s version of a drag race. Teams are reverse sorted and sent out in rapid succession on the final stage of the race. Not only will the fastest 2WD & 4WD teams enjoy champagne spray and bragging rights, they’ll also instantly qualify for a spot to contest the title of National Champion.
The action doesn’t end there, either. HDT continues on Sunday at the Empire Fairgrounds, where HDT began over 40 years ago, with a rallycross event! Volunteers will be cashing in big discounts for helping out the rally if they sign up to compete, tossing their daily drivers around on dirt, while rally competitors who want more seat time take fans and family on quick ride-alongs! Check out Rallycross for details.
Streetwise Motorsports is back for the sixth consecutive year, pleased to support HDT. Streetwise offers rally car preparation, rental, service, and parts – including Bilstein Motorsports Struts. With over 20 years experience racing, they know what it takes to win rallies and championships!
HDT is the first round of the 2014 California Rally Series (CRS) Championship. The premier rally series in the American southwest, and one of the biggest regional competition bodies in the country, CRS has built a solid reputation for exciting, well-run events within a consistently meaningful championship.
High Desert Trails is also proud to be sanctioned by NASA Rally Sport (NRS), an organization focused on competitor fun and providing support for rally organizers nationwide. Providing tools to the racers, organizers, and fans to increase their enjoyment of rally is one of the core missions of the organization.
It all begins Friday night, May 2nd, 2014, at Jim Charlon Ford in Ridgecrest @ 6:30PM. Join us!
Kristopher & Christine Marciniak
High Desert Trails Rally Organizers
