Mexico stage absent from Forest Rally

MEXICO -- The New England Forest Rally is returning this Friday and Saturday for its 21st year but noticeably absent this time around is the popular stage in the Mexico Recreation Park.

NEFR officials indicated that the Mexico stage, popular for its famous jump, will not happen "due to extensive renovations being undertaken there." Instead, Friday’s Service will be at Sunday River, with cars returning there after a much earlier scheduled Johnson Project Consulting Concord Pond stage.

Regarding Concord Pond, NEFR, from their Facebook page, said, "the stage time had to be changed to take place earlier in the day in order to satisfy town official’s concerns about the safety of spectators and drivers. Excessive alcohol consumption by spectators has led to some serious safety issues, and it is the hope of the rally and the town that moving the stage to an earlier time will reduce those issues."

On Friday, $10 tickets to the famous Concord Pond stage will go on sale at the Sunday River booth in the Rally Village at 8:30 a.m. Buses will leave at approximately 11 a.m. to head to this very popular stage featuring jumps and the requirement for drivers' quick reflexes.

Friday night will feature an Awards Ceremony with barbecue at the Rally village for the Maine Regional Rally competitors. Saturday night we urge you to come celebrate the finish of the rally slopeside with a winners’ champagne spray and regional and national awards ceremony. Sunday River will host a pig roast and awards will be followed by live music from the Maine Blues Mafia (featuring one of the rally co-drivers).

Saturday morning, fans can attend the Sunday River Super Special Stages located only a half mile from the Parcs Exposé and new Rally Village at Sunday River's South Ridge base area.

Fans can purchase bus tickets at Sunday River as well to view an additional spectator spot on each event day. Seats are limited, so be sure to buy tickets early.

On Saturday, fans can purchase a $15 ticket to the brand new Hampshire Hills stages, which will also be sold from the Sunday River booth throughout the day on Friday, and beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, while seats are still available. Buses will leave at approximately 10:45 a.m.

Organizers and Sunday River will host a Rally Village on each event day complete with exhibitors, numerous activities available at Sunday River, rally demo rides by Team O'Neil Rally School, and more. Fans can spend their entire Friday at Sunday River and soak in the rally environment as cars and fans show off and repair their cars right in front of the festival.

On both evenings, fans are welcome to join the rally teams at the awards ceremonies. A barbecue in the Rally Village is open to all on Friday night, and Saturday night the celebration will move slopeside at South Ridge. Saturday's après-rally festivities will also include a pig roast and live band "Maine Blues Mafia."

Spectator viewing options and an event schedule is available for free by downloading the NEFR spectator guide at http://rally-america.com/VenueFiles/2012_NEFR_NEFR%202012%20Spec%20Guide...