MARQUETTE — This weekend, the Lake Superior Performance Rally (LSPR) will be returning to Marquette and the surrounding areas. The stages will take place on Friday and Saturday.

LSPR is the eighth and final round of the American Rally Association National Championship. An expected 76 teams from all around the U.S., as well as some international teams, will compete on over 125 miles of forest roads from Kenton to L’Anse, with the culmination in Marquette on Saturday night.

Each team consists of a driver and co-driver, whose job is to convey what the roads look like ahead based on notes written during a low-speed drive through the roads earlier in the week.

There will be multiple locations for spectators to view the cars and competitors, both up close and in person, or at speed on the competition roads.

On Friday, cars will be on display at Fox Marquette Subaru from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and competitors will be there as well to meet spectators.

The ceremonial start is at 10:30 a.m., where the teams will start at one minute intervals and head out to the first stages of the long, two-day rally. Spectators are asked to park at Fox Marquette Ford next door and walk over, which is located at: 3815 US Hwy 41, Marquette.

There will be four locations in the Kenton and Sidnaw areas where spectators can come out, free of charge, and watch the cars drive by. Each spectator area will see the cars pass by twice. For more info on spectating, as well as the guide to where the areas are and how to get there, can be found at the website https://www.lsprorally.com/spectators.

Competitors will be coming into the service area to fuel their vehicles, as well as repair any damage before starting the second loop of stages at 4:30 p.m. The service area is just west of downtown Sidnaw on M-28. Spectators are asked to follow signs on where to park.

On Saturday morning, cars will be on display at L’Anse Waterfront Park from 8-9 a.m., and again competitors will be there to interact with spectators.

Competitors will be coming into service to refuel and make repairs as needed around 1:15 p.m. Service on Saturday is located at Westwood High School in Ishpeming. Spectators are asked to park along Westwood Drive near the high school, which is located at: 300 Westwood Dr, Ishpeming.

There will be two spectator areas in Marquette, one on Mt. Marquette and one at Marquette Mountain Resort (MMR), around 4:45 p.m. There is not enough time in between to view both, so spectators will have to choose one or the other. To reach the Mt. Marquette area, spectators will have to park at the Noquemanon South Trails Trailhead (2375 M-553, Marquette) and follow the foot path.

To attend the last stage, as well as podium ceremony and post-race celebration at Marquette Mountain Resort, spectators are asked to park at Superior Hills Elementary School (1201 S McClellan Ave, Marquette), or the Embers Credit Union Headquarters (601 S. McClellan Ave, Marquette) and take the free shuttle bus to MMR.

There will be no parking available at MMR, and spectators are asked that no one park along M-553. Spectators must purchase a ticket to get into MMR, and they can be purchased at the door or ahead of time at https://marquettemountain.com/lake-superior-performance-rally/.

RALLY RETURNED TO MARQUETTE IN 2021

The Lake Superior Performance Rally has been dubbed “The oldest, meanest, toughest rally on the circuit.” It’s predecessor, the Press On Regardless, was first run as a time-speed distance rally in 1949, and became a stage rally in 1969.

In 1973 and 1974, it played host to the World Rally Championship. In 1994, the event reverted back to a time-speed-distance rally, and the Lake Superior Performance Rally was born, running on many of the same roads previously used.

LSPR returned to Marquette in 2021 after being headquartered in Houghton for a number of years.

Traditionally held in October, the fall colors provide a breathtaking backdrop to the action on the gravel stages, and bring thousands of people out to watch the competitors in action.