History 1970s

1973 Press-on-Regardless Rally (USA)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 25th Press-on-Regardless Rally

Date: October 31 – November 4, 1973

Host Country: United States

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: 552.6 km (competitive)

Total Starters: 84 crews

Total Finishers: 36 crews

Held deep in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the 1973 Press-on-Regardless Rally became a milestone in WRC history. The American gravel event, notorious for its narrow forest roads and unpredictable conditions, marked Toyota's first World Rally Championship victory. Canadian duo Walter Boyce and Doug Woods navigated the tough terrain with precision and determination, earning a breakthrough win for the Japanese marque.

Route

Forest Trails: Dense, tree-lined paths with minimal runoff made every mistake potentially rally-ending.
Gravel-Sand Mix: Soft sections slowed acceleration and punished braking misjudgments.
Night Sections: Long dark stages with limited visibility tested endurance and headlight tuning.

The route meandered through the Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests, packed with tight corners, sweeping gravel bends, and slippery sand-based surfaces.

Cool autumn temperatures provided stable surface grip, but patches of rain and falling leaves added unpredictability throughout the event.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Walter Boyce & Doug Woods · Toyota Corolla Levin
2nd Place
John Buffum & Tom Grimshaw · Triumph TR7
3rd Place
Gene Henderson & Ken Pogue · AMC Gremlin X

Boyce and Woods’ consistent pace and faultless navigation gave Toyota its first WRC win, proving the Corolla Levin’s rugged reliability and signaling the brand’s future in global rallying.

Navigation & Challenges

  • No Recce Rules: Crews ran blind with limited pace notes, relying on map reading and instinctive driving.
  • Stage Fatigue: The rally’s length and repetitive forest environment pushed mental focus to the limit.
  • Vehicle Endurance: Suspension, lighting systems, and gearboxes were tested by the coarse terrain and long stage lengths.

The 1973 Press-on-Regardless Rally was a proving ground for both driver resilience and machine strength—Toyota and Boyce rose to the occasion, forever cementing their names in WRC history.

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