A Desert Racing Truck competing at New England Forest Rally-National

[rallyorg]

LOCAL RALLY RACER CAMPAIGNS DESERT RACING TRUCK IN MAINE RALLY

Friday, June 15, 2012
When rally cars take over the woods at round #5 of the 2012 Rally America National Championship, the New England Forest Rally (NEFR) in Newry, ME on July 13-14 a highly prepped desert truck driven by a young up and coming race driver will join the ranks as a mechanical oddity.

Local rally driver Jamie Beliveau from Laconia, NH will contest NEFR for the fourth time – this time in a 2009 Nissan Frontier pick-up in an attempt to overcome the rough conditions of this notoriously difficult event.

“I’ve had mechanical problems each time I’ve raced here,” said Beliveau, “With a truck built for desert racing I am hoping that it can soak up the punishment for a better finish.”

Trucks are a rare sight in the Rally America National Championship, but a purpose-built desert race truck is even more rare. This particular Nissan Frontier is no stranger to performance rallies, however, having competed in multiple events on the East Coast with its original owner, Dan Spalinger.

Beliveau feels up to the task as a perennial rallycross contender and a 2010 SCCA New England Rallycross stock AWD champion. He has also worked at the Team O’Neil Rally School’s garage over the summers and as a Winter Driving instructor.

Beliveau comments “I’ve been racing since I was 16, and I think I’m a pretty good competitor.”

For NEFR Beliveau will be joined by his brother, Michael Beliveau, in the co-driver’s seat, which is usually occupied by his father, Scott Beliveau.

“We’ll see how it goes” said Beliveau, “my dad understands my driving style better and my brother and I sometimes don’t get along under pressure.”

The truck is getting attention from sponsors already. When a Body Armor Outlet rep saw the truck in Windham, NH with Jamie’s name on it they came knocking on the door asking how to get involved.

Beliveau also brings a number of other sponsors he has secured for himself through self-promotion and making cold calls collected for his rallycross program.

“I make promotional appearances for my sponsors and I place their logo on everything, even my Subaru daily driver as a billboard,” added Beliveau.

For NEFR, Beliveau plans to just gain a feel for the truck on the first day since they’ve only had one testing sesson. “After that we’ll make a decision to attack the podium.”

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[spalind]

Hey!! I know that truck from somewhere!! and although the article states "original owner", it has not been sold. Its mine, all mine and the only way Jamie is going to be the new owner of it is if he wads it up and pays me for the remains!

[Chris Tobin]

That's cool Dan! What events have you run the truck in? I'm looking for places to run my Chevy 2500HD in once I finish it.

[spalind]

That's cool Dan! What events have you run the truck in? I'm looking for places to run my Chevy 2500HD in once I finish it.

So far it has run in 4 events--Black River Stages (in Western NY State), International Rally New York (Eastern NY State), Sandblast (Cheraw, SC) and now Hyperfest (Summit Point, WV). Its next event is in Maine (with Jamie as driver renting the truck from me) then off to Snowshoe, WV for Rally West Virginia, then back to the 2012 Black River Stages out in Western NY and then wrapping up at Charlevoix, Quebec.

[Chris Tobin]

Cool. So rally events not desert style endurance events... have you looked into ECORS or TREK racing? That's what I was considering...

[spalind]

Cool. So rally events not desert style endurance events... have you looked into ECORS or TREK racing? That's what I was considering...

I have not to this point as my truck remains without a fuel cell and is 2WD and my impression of the TREK races (unsure of the ECORS ones) were that you were required to have a fuel cell and were more appropriate for 4WD vehicles.

[Chris Tobin]

Yes I think the fuel cell is required for most classes, but the lower classes can run the stock tank I think. ECORS is also 4WD and probably more rocks than desert but I will probably still give it a try if I ever get my truck done...