On October 13th and 14th, 2023, the Lake Superior Performance Rally will be returning to Marquette and the surrounding areas.
LSPR is the 8th and final round of the American Rally Association National Championship.
An expected 76 teams from all around the US, 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.
Friday October 13th
- 9:30AM-12 Noon – Cars will be on display at Fox Marquette Subaru, and competitors will be there as well to meet spectators. The ceremonial start is at 10:30 where the team 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. Fox Marquette Ford is located at: 3815 US Hwy 41, Marquette, MI 49855
- 2:00-10:00 PM – There will be 4 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. More info on spectating, as well as the guide to where the areas are and how to get there, can be found here: https://www.lsprorally.com/spectators
- 4:30 PM – 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. The service area is just west of downtown Sidnaw on M28. Please follow signs on where to park.
Saturday October 14th
- 8:00AM -9:00AM – Cars will be on display at L’Anse Waterfront Park, and again competitors will be there to interact with spectators.
- 1:15PM – Competitors will be coming into service to refuel and make repairs as needed. Service on Saturday is located at Westwood High School in Ishpeming. Spectators are asked to park along Westwood Drive. Westwood High School is located at: 300 Westwood Dr, Ishpeming, MI 49849
- 4:45PM – There will be two spectator areas in Marquette, one on Mt. Marquette and one at Marquette Mountain Resort (MMR). 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 we ask that no one park along M-553. You 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/
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.
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