top of page
Search

100 Acre Wood Rally – March 13-14, 2026

  • Writer: Nicholas Tiller
    Nicholas Tiller
  • Feb 23
  • 8 min read

Updated: 5 days ago



Synopsis: The 100 Acre Wood Rally is the Missouri racing event you should know about, with past winners including legendary racers like Ken Block, Travis Pastrana, and David Higgins.


What is Rally Racing?


Rally racing is a motorsport in which cars compete in different classes, such as Open and Limited 2WD and 4WD. The types of cars can vary greatly. There is also an RC2 class, as well as other classifications that could be mentioned. Each racer will start at the first stage, comprised of a gravel, dirt, and/or asphalt course. This is a multi-stage event in which the drivers are timed, with the best overall results taking the championship. There is a one to two-minute interval between drivers, with their co-drivers helping them navigate the course as quickly as possible. Once a stage is completed, they have to hurry to the next stage by using public roads to check in on time and be ready to race.


The 100 Acre Wood Rally


The 100 Acre Wood Rally is a sanctioned event by the American Rally Association (ARA). Points earned from the event qualify for the National Championship Series and the Central Regional, depending on the selected category by the driver. All the stages combined total to about 125 competition miles on a gravel racing surface, running on the outskirts of Salem and Potosi, Missouri.


Past Legends


At the time of writing, 52 racers are entered to compete in this time-staged event. In years past, the 100 Acre Wood Rally has had names like Travis Pastrana, who won in 2016 and 2021. Ken Block won the event 7 times, including a 5-year winning streak from 2006 through 2010. Other notable rally drivers who raced the event are Brandon Semenuk, who has won the 100 Acre Wood Rally the last four years in a row. Not to mention, David Higgins, who has won 10 U.S. Championships and is a 2019 inductee to the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.


The 2026 Race Season


Rally drivers are ranked by speed factors to allow the fastest drivers to race first, with the slowest drivers going last. At this year's 100 Acre Wood Rally, Patrick Gruszka is coming in with the fastest speed factor of 98.3, in comparison to Pastrana, who held a 112.9 speed factor in 2024. Pastrana isn’t currently listed as an entry for the 100 Acre Wood Rally, despite his recent appearance at the Sno-Drift Rally in Michigan on February 6-7, 2026.


This oddity is no surprise after reading the DirtFish article, where Pastrana mentions he isn’t looking to compete in ARA the same way as he has done before, telling DirtFish,


“Brandon Semenuk pretty much retired me.”


The article explains that this refers to Pastrana leaving the Open 4WD Class for the Limited 4WD Class.


The difference is that the Limited 4WD Class is more budget-friendly and suitable for the weekend racer, a place to start or finish, according to Pastrana. Whereas the Open 4WD Class is comprised of expensive racecars capable of incredibly dangerous speeds. Pastrana made it clear that he wants more rally racers to participate in the events and to just have fun.



Ken Block’s daughter, Lia Block, is competing in the National Championship Series with a speed factor of 96.8 in her National RC2 Fiesta Rally 3. Her co-driver, Alex Gelsomino, will be joining her side in this competition after co-driving with her father for years.


Point A2B Cars will be rooting for Block & Gelsomino during the 100 Acre Wood Rally. It will be exciting to see her compete once more and, with any luck, capture her jumping the famous cattle guard, where cars have flown over 100 feet. It is wonderful news that this segment of the stage has returned for the 2026 season.


Variety is the Spice of Life


Since the 100 Acre Wood Rally isn’t just for the National Championship Series, the Central Regional Series competes as well, which means a unique variety of cars will be used.


At Point A2B Cars, we are most excited to see the 2016 Ford Focus RS driven by Cameron Steely. The 1977 Ford Escort with Seamus Burke behind the wheel. The 2006 Lexus IS350 with driver Richo Healey. John Barnett is set to race a 1987 BMW 325is. A 1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle with rally driver Doug Leibman. Sean Burke will be tossing around a 1991 Honda CRX. American muscle, a 1983 Chevy Camaro, will be wheeled by Chris Martise. Lastly, but not least, a 1974 Ford Capri driven by Mike Hurst. Other cars of notoriety are listed on the 100 Acre Wood Rally entry list but not mentioned in this article. In years past, there were drivers who competed in a Ford Mustang, a Dodge Colt, and a Chevy S10.



The 100 Acre Wood Rally Experience


The adventure starts by selecting a rally stage from the Spectator’s Guide. There is no address to enter into your navigation. You will have to use the map on your phone for spectators, searching for unfamiliar roads and markers. Finding yourself desperate, not wanting to miss the stage, you will ask for directions. You must be ready to interpret the directions from the locals, such as “Turn at the old sawmill.” While they are being helpful, it is confusing because you don’t know that it is now a restaurant. Finally, after driving back and forth, attempting to find the turn off, you spot a group of Subarus barreling down a tiny gravel road, with their boxer engines revving out. This is your sign to join in the spirited driving and follow them wherever they are going. You follow the serpentine path a few miles down an uneven gravel road with occasional dips - a fair warning to those with low-riding cars.


If you didn’t arrive early in the morning, you will have a long walk ahead of you. Cars are parked along the road for a mile or two, sometimes more, depending on how popular the rally stage is among enthusiasts. Grabbing coolers and lawn chairs, everyone packs in for the journey. Those who are inexperienced to hiking will have to take a few breaks along the way. The lawn chairs gain several pounds with every few steps you take. In your mind, you question how badly you really need those cold beverages in the coolers, but you press on. Snacks are often eaten to help nourish you along the never-ending path you find yourself on.


Eventually, the trees open up to the rally stage, where you find the best possible viewing point of the track, thus getting cozy next to a bunch of strangers, who won’t remain that way for very long. You might be an introvert, and those around you are timid, but after the buzzing sounds of rally cars, like angry bees, everyone starts cheering. This moment will unite you with those around you in a shared camaraderie. 


The 100 Acre Wood Rally is nothing short of an exhilarating experience as racers fly by, coating everyone in dust with occasional rocks thrown by the rear-wheel-drive cars. From energy drinks to strong stouts, enthusiasm breaks out among the crowds as Subaru drivers put on a good show, performing a pendulum swing with expert precision.


Since you are in the Midwest, this means unpredictable weather, from nice, warm days to frigid temps, and the chance of high-speed winds. Yet, it will all be worth it from the joy of watching the cars zoom by, seeing the drivers fight for rank, pushing their skills and their vehicle to the absolute limits. You'll be awestruck by the drivers who blaze through the corners, catching air going over a crest on the straights. You shout for joy, feeling proud of the drivers who recovered their car after nearly losing it. You can't help but to cheer on those who climb out of a ditch after sliding off the road. And, laughing at those slow, cautious drivers, all the while being cocky enough to think that you could have gone through the turn faster. Despite the reality of the wallowed-out gravel roads and not having the same packed gravel as the previous racers. Even so, you know, you could have gone faster.



If you are considering going to the 100 Acre Wood Rally, it is 100% worth it. It is a great example of the car community and a fun bonding experience. Feel free to volunteer to get closer to the action and meet some of the drivers. It’s a great opportunity; I’ve done it before myself. Rally racing might not be your typical motorsport entertainment, but attending a local ARA rally event is worth it for the experience, and your perspective might change. Rally racing is one of the most fascinating sports, as anything can happen, each stage is different, and the drivers don’t stop for anything. I’ve seen animals run right out in front of drivers, limbs fall into the road, and farmers driving their side-by-sides onto a hot track, transmissions shelling out, racers nearly crashing into trees, and drivers wiping out a fence row.


My last effort to convince you to go is that Lia Block is competing. Speaking for myself, Ken Block made a massive impact on me, and I saw all that he did for the car community and the racing world. The 100 Acre Wood Rally was Block’s favorite rally event because it is one of the fastest in the Championship Series, and he won it so many times, holding the record. I want to honor Ken Block, and I can see no better way to do so than to support and cheer Lia on as she pursues her own legacy and makes history in rally racing.


The 100 Acre Wood Rally is sanctioned by the American Rally Association (ARA). Sponsors include Diode Dynamics, Huzzah Valley Resort, and Piney River Brewing Co. I would encourage you to show them love and support. Supporters of the event include Dent County – Commons: Event Center & RV Park and the U.S. Forest Service – Department of Agriculture.


Godspeed,


Nicholas Tiller







Article Sources


Information Sources:

Please inform me if any sources need to be edited or modified. Thanks, Point A2B Cars. Contact: PointA2BCars@yahoo.com


Photos & Image Sources:

Please inform me if any sources need to be edited or modified. Thanks, Point A2B Cars. Contact: PointA2BCars@yahoo.com


  • Blue Subaru, David Higgins #75 – Attributed to Nicholas Tiller at the 100 Acre Wood Rally in 2019.

  • Lia Block, Ford Fiesta – Attributed to William Conley displayed on Dirtfish.

  • White Chevy, Scott Parrott #596 – Attributed to Nicholas Tiller at the 100 Acre Wood Rally in 2019.

  • 100 Acre Wood Rally Banner – Attributed to the 100 Acre Wood Rally via the American Rally Association on Facebook.

 
 
 

Comments

  • X
  • Point A2B Cars Facebook Page
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

© 2026 by Point A2B Cars. Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page