“Crazy” Leo rules Black Bear Rally

Posted on 15. Jun, 2010 by Dean in Event Coverage, Rally News, Regional Events

Fans of “Crazy” Leo Urlichich may want to rethink the “Crazy” moniker. Since returning to competition after an extended break, Urlichich has shown he has the precision to be among the best in Canada, most recently by stamping his authority on the 2010 Black Bear Rally, a regional event in the Ontario Performance Rally Championship.

Leo and co-driver Chrissie Beavis won the event with a total time of one hour, five minutes, 28 seconds. The result gave Leo a massive 4:30 margin over his closest competitors Nick and Massimo Narini and Chris Martin with co-driver Phil Narini.

“Even though I had a lead, I still pushed,” said Urlichich of his dominating pace. “It’s an amazing rally, with all the best stuff from Tall Pines and guaranteed gravel.”

Photo: Mike Proulx

The Narini brothers shared a close battle with their friend and father pairing, Chris Martin and Phil Narini. The two teams finished just 13 seconds apart after over 100kms, having traded stage times all day.Martin lost most of his time on the first stage, and spent the rest of the rally trying to claw it back.

“I was just asleep,” said Martin.

Photo: Mike Proulx

The two teams battling for second also had to contend with Nick and Kelly Mathew, who were on pace to podium until a flat tire on SS6 cost nearly seven minutes.

“There’s nothing we could do, we  had to stop and change the flat,” said Nick Mathew.

SS6 also claimed three other teams, including Peter Reilly and Robin Fleguel. Throttle problems with their all wheel drive VW Golf forced the team to park and retire.

Patrick Rainville and Lee Silverstone were the fastest two wheel drive car, finishing seventh, despite a ten second penalty. The pair edged Martin Walter and Ferdinand Trauttmansdorf, who lost time on the penultimate stage after breaking a suspension linkage.

Photo: Mike Proulx

Alan Ryall and Bruce Leonard finished on top of the Production GT class in their 2002 Subaru WRX.

Photo: Mike Proulx

After overnight rains, the rally roads were slippery in the morning, but began to provide more grip as they dried out later in the day. A new road was used for the first two stages. Technical in nature, with a few gotchas, teams had to be careful in the slippery conditions.

Photo: Mike Proulx