History of the Headwaters Rally (Minnesota)

Origins in the 1990s

The Headwaters Rally is a Minnesota-based stage rally named after the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Itasca State Park​americanrallyassociation.org. It was established in the mid-1990s to expand the region’s stage rally calendar. The inaugural running was in May 1996 on gravel roads near Park Rapids, MN ​ewrc-results.com. Early on, the event was part of the SCCA’s ClubRally program (the divisional rally system under the Sports Car Club of America). In these early years, local rally talent Steve Gingras emerged as a dominant force – he won the 1996 rally outright ​ewrc-results.com and repeated in 1997​ ewrc-results.com. The rally quickly became a fixture on the Minnesota rally schedule, giving regional teams a springtime event to compete in ahead of the larger national summer rallies​ americanrallyassociation.org.

Key early milestones: By 1998 and 1999, the Headwaters Rally was drawing top regional competitors. For example, Michigan driver Chris Czyzio won in 1998​ ewrc-results.com, and Bill Morton took the 1999 victory in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo​ ewrc-results.com. The event’s format in this era was a one-day gravel stage rally (often a “coef.3” ClubRally), based around the forestry roads of northern Minnesota. It was organized by volunteers from the Land O’ Lakes region and other local rally enthusiasts. The rally’s growing reputation and consistent organization helped it continue annually into the early 2000s.

Evolution Under Rally America (2005–2016)

In 2005, the sanctioning of U.S. stage rally shifted from SCCA to Rally America. Headwaters Rally seamlessly transitioned into the Rally America era, becoming a part of Rally America’s Central Regional Championship. The 2004 event was still run under SCCA sanction​ ewrc-results.com, while from 2005 onward Rally America oversaw the rally as a regional event. Throughout the 2000s, Headwaters maintained its spring/early-summer slot. Its route traditionally featured the winding logging roads of Minnesota’s lake country – many stages ran in the Paul Bunyan State Forest and surrounding areas also used by the Ojibwe Forests Rally.

Location and format changes: Originally headquartered near Park Rapids, the rally occasionally shifted its exact locale over time. By the late 2000s, the rally base moved closer to Bemidji and the Paul Bunyan forest. Notably, in 2010 the “Headwaters Rally” name was actually used for a regional rally run in conjunction with the Ojibwe Forests Rally weekend. That year, instead of a standalone spring event, Headwaters was the title of the Saturday regional rally at Ojibwe (staged out of Bemidji on August 21, 2010)​ ewrc-results.com. During that combined event, Dave Hintz and Doug Chase took the win, edging out Henry and Cynthia Krolikowski​ ewrc-results.com. This exemplified the close relationship between the two rallies (sharing roads and even naming themes).

After 2010, the standalone Headwaters Rally returned. In the mid-2010s it saw further changes: for example, the 2014 and 2015 editions were based out of the Elbow Lake Store area in northern Minnesota​ ewrc-results.com, still utilizing forest roads but adjusting the service park and headquarters location. By 2016 the rally headquarters had shifted to Walker, MN​ rallyracingnews.com. These adjustments in location were often done to ensure the best available roads and community support, but the core character of the rally – a one-day, gravel stage rally in the Northwoods – remained consistent.

Notable competitors in the 2005–2016 era: Many top regional rally drivers and even some national-level teams frequented Headwaters. Multi-time champion Lauchlin O’Sullivan (with co-driver Scott Putnam) won the 2006 event in a Subaru WRX STI​ ewrc-results.com, showcasing that national-caliber talent often used this rally for additional seat time. Minnesota’s own Mark Utecht, a well-known two-wheel-drive specialist, had previously claimed victory in 2001 in a Mitsubishi Eclipse​ ewrc-results.com and continued to contend in the Rally America years. In 2014, rising star Nick Roberts (from White Bear Lake, MN) won the event in a Subaru STI, and he repeated this in 2016, holding off O’Sullivan who returned that year and finished second​rallyracingnews.com. The brother duo Jan and Jody Zedril from Canada also left their mark, winning in 2015​ ewrc-results.com. The entry lists during this period commonly featured a mix of local Minnesota teams and out-of-state entrants from the central US and Canada, due to the rally’s inclusion in the Rally America Central Regional Championship​ rallyracingnews.com.

Transition to ARA and Recent Developments (2017–Present)

By 2017, the American stage rally landscape shifted again as the American Rally Association (ARA) became the national sanctioning body. The Headwaters Rally continued its legacy under ARA as a regional event. Its organizers (by now operating under Rally Minnesota LLC, the group also behind Ojibwe) ensured the rally stayed on the calendar. Headwaters became a key round of the ARA Central Region championship, typically held in May​ americanrallyassociation.org. The format remained a one-day rally with roughly 40–70 miles of competition, attracting regional teams and serving as a warm-up for larger national rallies.

Challenges and changes: The late 2010s brought some interruptions. In 2018, the rally had to be canceled on short notice due to unseasonably deep snow and ice in the forests. The organizers, in consultation with the Minnesota DNR, determined that proceeding would risk damaging the roads, so the 2018 event was called off for the sake of preserving the forest stages​ americanrallyassociation.org. The team vowed to return stronger in 2019 – and they did. The 2019 Headwaters Rally ran as the opening round of ARA’s Central Regional series in spring 2019, once again drawing a healthy field of entries.

In 2020, the rally (like many events) faced cancellation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. After that brief hiatus, Headwaters returned in 2021 as rallies resumed. The 2022 and 2023 editions were headquartered in the small town of Laporte, MN (near Itasca), leveraging classic stages in the Paul Bunyan State Forest. In 2024 the organizers tried something new by moving the rally HQ to Detroit Lakes, MN​ rallyracingnews.com – aligning with the Ojibwe Forests Rally’s host city to take advantage of established facilities. This 2024 running in the Detroit Lakes area was successful, but for 2025 the plan is to return to the Paul Bunyan forest roads, closer to the rally’s traditional home turf​ ojibweforestsrally.com. The announcement for 2025 emphasizes bringing Headwaters “back on the Paul Bunyan State Forest roads,” highlighting a return to the classic narrow and twisty tracks that gave the rally its name​ ojibweforestsrally.com.

Throughout the ARA era, Headwaters Rally has continued to feature strong regional talent. For instance, recent winners include John and Michael Farrow, who won in 2024 driving a Subaru​ ewrc-results.com. The event remains popular for up-and-coming teams to hone their skills. Despite changes in date or location when needed, Headwaters has kept its identity as a rally “for competitors” – known for challenging roads and a friendly, grassroots atmosphere.

Notable Drivers and Winners Through the Years

Many accomplished rally drivers have etched their names into Headwaters Rally history:

• Steve Gingras – A local Minnesota rally legend, Gingras won the event multiple times in the 1990s (e.g. 1996 and 1997) ​ewrc-results.com, driving Mitsubishi Eclipse/Talon vehicles. His consistent success in the Production GT class made him a fan favorite.

• Chris Czyzio – 1998 winner in a Mitsubishi Eclipse, representing the experienced Midwestern contingent​ ewrc-results.com.

• Bill Morton – Took overall honors in 1999 in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV​ ewrc-results.com, highlighting the event’s draw for top drivers from surrounding states.

• Mark Utecht – A veteran 2WD driver from Minnesota, Utecht won Headwaters in 2001 with co-driver Brenda Lewis​ ewrc-results.com, driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX. He frequently competed in the early 2000s and is a multiple-time champion in his class.

• Todd Jarvey – A regional competitor who claimed victory in 2000 (Mitsubishi Galant VR-4) and remained a podium threat for several years.

• Lauchlin O’Sullivan – A Rally America national champion who entered Headwaters Rally to score regional points and seat time. He won outright in 2006 with Scott Putnam (Subaru STi)​ ewrc-results.com, and returned in 2016 to finish a close second​ rallyracingnews.com.

• Henry & Cynthia Krolikowski – A husband-and-wife team from Michigan who often ran Midwest events. They consistently podiumed at Headwaters (runner-up in 2010, for example)​ ewrc-results.com.

• Nick Roberts – A local Subaru driver who rose to national prominence. Roberts won Headwaters in 2014 and again in 2016 (with John Niday co-driving)​ rallyracingnews.com, using the rally as a springboard to Rally America and ARA national competition.

• Jan and Jody Zedril – Brothers from Manitoba, Canada, who won in 2015 (Mitsubishi Lancer)​ ewrc-results.com, showing the event’s appeal to international neighbors.

• Other notable entrants: Drivers like Piotr Fetela (Poland/Illinois), Dave Hintz (Washington state)​ ewrc-results.com, and regional 2WD aces like James Cox (Minnesota) have all competed at Headwaters. In recent years, regional teams such as the Farrow family have taken victories as the rally continues to foster new talent. The breadth of winners – from local amateurs to national champions – speaks to the rally’s inclusive nature and competitive challenge.

Organization and Sanctioning Bodies

From its inception, Headwaters Rally has been organized by the Minnesota rally community. During the SCCA era (1990s–2004), it was run under the Land O’ Lakes Region SCCA with support from Rally Minnesota enthusiasts. When Rally America took over U.S. stage rally sanctioning, Headwaters became part of Rally America’s regional series; it was often listed as a Rally America Central Division event​ rallyracingnews.com. Rally America provided the sanctioning, rules framework, and insurance, while the on-the-ground organization was handled by local volunteers and rally organizers.

Since 2017, the American Rally Association (ARA) has sanctioned the event as a regional rally. The organizing committee now operates under Rally Minnesota LLC, which is the entity responsible for both Headwaters Rally and Ojibwe Forests Rally​ ewrc-results.com. Rally Minnesota LLC coordinates with ARA for rules, safety standards, and championship points, but the event is still very much grassroots-run. Longtime organizers, such as former competitors Scott Putnam and others, have been involved in ensuring the rally’s success. The continuity of organization – from SCCA to Rally America to ARA – has helped Headwaters Rally maintain its character despite changing sanctioning bodies. Importantly, the event’s affiliation with national organizations like Rally America and ARA also means it has counted toward regional championship titles, giving teams incentive to compete for year-end points.

Relationship to Ojibwe Forests Rally (and Other Minnesota Rallies)

The Headwaters Rally has a close relationship with the Ojibwe Forests Rally (OFR), Minnesota’s long-running national rally. Ojibwe Forests Rally, held each August, is part of the national championship (formerly SCCA ProRally, then Rally America, now ARA). Headwaters and Ojibwe are organized by the same core group (Rally Minnesota LLC) and share many of the same roads and infrastructure. In fact, Headwaters was conceived in part to give regional teams another event on the same roads used by Ojibwe – effectively providing more racing opportunities on those beloved gravel tracks​ americanrallyassociation.org. Stages like those in Paul Bunyan State Forest have been used in both rallies. Headwaters being named after the Mississippi headwaters is thematically tied to the Ojibwe’s locale as well​ americanrallyassociation.org, reinforcing that connection.

Over the years the two events have occasionally intertwined. For example, as noted, the 2010 Ojibwe Forests Rally’s regional segment was titled “Headwaters Rally,” symbolically uniting the events that year​ ewrc-results.com. Even when run separately, Headwaters often serves as a testing ground for teams planning to run Ojibwe later in the summer. Drivers get a preview of the terrain and car setup in spring, which can be advantageous for the faster, typically longer national rally in August. Likewise, many of the volunteers and officials work both events, and knowledge gained in May (Headwaters) is applied to make August’s Ojibwe run smoothly.

In the broader Minnesota rally scene, Headwaters is one of a trio of stage rallies currently in the state: Ojibwe Forests Rally (national), Headwaters Rally (ARA regional), and the Nemadji Trail Rally (another regional rally typically run in late fall or winter). Nemadji Trail Rally, held in eastern Minnesota, is also on the ARA regional calendar​ americanrallyassociation.org. While Nemadji and Headwaters are not directly connected, they both cater to regional competitors in Minnesota. Headwaters’ scheduling in spring and Nemadji’s in winter nicely bookend the season around the big summer Ojibwe event. All three rallies support each other by cultivating a year-round rally community in Minnesota.

In summary, the Headwaters Rally complements the Ojibwe Forests Rally: one is a regional spotlight in the spring, and the other is the national headliner in late summer. Together they keep Minnesota firmly on the U.S. rally map. The shared organizing body and overlapping heritage ensure that improvements or developments in one event benefit the other. This synergy has helped both rallies thrive for decades.

Summary Timeline of Key Events

• Mid-1990s: Headwaters Rally founded (first known running in May 1996 near Park Rapids, MN)​ ewrc-results.com as an SCCA ClubRally event. Steve Gingras wins early editions, establishing local prominence ​ewrc-results.com.

• 1998–2004: Rally grows steadily. Runs annually each spring under SCCA sanction. Notable winners include Chris Czyzio (1998)​ ewrc-results.com, Bill Morton (1999)​ ewrc-results.com, Mark Utecht (2001)​ ewrc-results.com, and Piotr Wiktorczyk (2004)​ ewrc-results.com. Event base remains in the Park Rapids/Itasca region.

• 2005: SCCA exits stage rally; Rally America takes over. Headwaters becomes part of the Rally America regional series without interruption.

• 2006: Lauchlin O’Sullivan and Scott Putnam win the Rally America-era Headwaters (Park Rapids)​ ewrc-results.com, reflecting participation from national-level drivers.

• 2010: Headwaters Rally is subsumed into the Ojibwe Forests Rally weekend as the name of the Day 2 regional rally (held out of Bemidji)​ ewrc-results.com. No separate spring event this year.

• 2011: Ojibwe Forests Rally is canceled (organizational issues), but by 2012 Ojibwe is revamped in Detroit Lakes. Headwaters, meanwhile, returns to a standalone format in spring 2011 (keeping regional rallying alive in MN during Ojibwe’s hiatus). (Note: Headwaters continuity in 2011 is implied as it isn’t noted as canceled.)

• 2014–2015: Headwaters Rally headquarters shifts to the Elbow Lake/Paul Bunyan Forest area. Nick Roberts wins in 2014, Jan and Jody Zedril in 2015​ ewrc-results.com.

• 2016: Final year under Rally America. Held out of Walker, MN​ rallyracingnews.com; Nick Roberts wins again, with O’Sullivan second​rallyracingnews.com. Rally America’s national series folds by end of 2016.

• 2017: American Rally Association era begins. Headwaters Rally continues as an ARA Central Regional event. Organization now under Rally Minnesota LLC (aligned with Ojibwe).

• 2018: Rally scheduled for April 28, 2018 in Walker, MN, but canceled due to snow/ice making forest roads impassable​americanrallyassociation.org. Organizers preserve road relationships by skipping the year.

• 2019: Successful return of Headwaters Rally under ARA. Runs in late April/early May with ~70 stage miles​ americanrallyassociation.org. Once again provides a competitive outlet for regional teams.

• 2020: Event not held (COVID-19 pandemic forces widespread cancellations).

• 2021: Rally resumes as pandemic restrictions ease. Headwaters helps “return to normal” for Midwest rallying.

• 2022–2023: Events held out of Laporte, MN (near the traditional Paul Bunyan forest stages). Consistent entry counts ~15-25 cars. The rally solidifies its role as a staple ARA regional.

• 2024: Headwaters Rally bases in Detroit Lakes, MN​ rallyracingnews.com – a departure aiming to leverage Ojibwe’s host city and possibly mix in some new road sections. The event is a “massive success” according to organizers (social media reports), with John Farrow taking the win.

• 2025 (planned): Rally will relocate back to the Paul Bunyan State Forest area by popular demand​ ojibweforestsrally.com. The date is set for May 17, 2025, with headquarters likely in Laporte or Walker. This move reconnects the rally with its historical roads and continues the long legacy of the Headwaters Rally into the future.

Throughout its history, the Headwaters Rally has demonstrated resilience and adaptability. From its SCCA roots to Rally America and now ARA, it has remained a beloved event for drivers and fans alike. Tied closely to Minnesota’s rally heritage and the Ojibwe Forests Rally, Headwaters has contributed significantly to the rich tapestry of American rallying​ americanrallyassociation.org​americanrallyassociation.org.

Sources: Official rally result archives​ ewrc-results.com​ewrc-results.com, American Rally Association releases ​americanrallyassociation.org​americanrallyassociation.org, Ojibwe Forests Rally official site ​ojibweforestsrally.com, and Rally Racing News archives​ rallyracingnews.com​ ewrc-results.com. These reflect the event’s evolution, key outcomes, and organizational context over the years.