Utah based racing organization focuses on having fun while improving driving skills

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Utah Rally Group, a local off-road auto racing organization, began its season in Rose Park on March 26 with two goals: to help people improve their driving skills and to have fun racing.

“This is a very good way to learn how to control a car,” said Gonzalo SanMiguel, the director of Utah Rally Group. “Learning things here will help make people better drivers.”

All a person needs to for a day of rally cross racing is their car-any make and model will do-and a helmet, SanMiguel said.

“Last year was my first year doing this,” said Zachary Ator, a racer at the season opening event. “The car I’m racing now was my daily driver last year and I drove it to every race. I like that anyone can bring anything out here and race.”

Helping people learn to improve their driving, whether there is snow or rain, is important to this organization, but racing and having fun is also important.

“This is one of our favorite places to race,” SanMiguel said. “We just want people to have fun out here.”

People are encouraged to attend the events even if they don’t have a vehicle to race with. Any adult is allowed to reconcile with a racer in the passenger seat by signing a waiver and wearing a helmet that the organization can provide, SanMiguel said.

“Watching the cars go around is fun, but you really have to ride with someone to give it justice,” said Cory Soren, a spectator at the season opening event. Soren hopes to have his blue Subaru out for the next rally cross event.

Utah Rally Group has 10 events scheduled in the Beehive State for its 2016 race season. There are races every month until September and they range in location from Rose Park to Moab. More information about the events and the organization can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/UtahRallyGroup/?fref=nf.