I just finished reading the article about the 71 Pines from the spectator guide and I didn't realize the first event was a TSD. My first Pines was 1974 and was a stage event ( words cannot describe how slippery that night was! ) Was the first year as a stage event 1972 or 73?

My first Pines was also in 1974. It was not a stage rally and it was run on open roads although the public was encouraged to stay away while the rally was in progress by traffic controls. This didn't always work and most competitors had a story meeting a "local" head-on. The speed test sections were called "selectives" and had target times which had to be met to stay penalty-free. The target time was based on the legal speed limit less 10%, ie 45 mph. The penalty was the time taken in excess of the target time. The 74 Pines ran from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon non-stop and had 28 selectives. Very few selectives were zeroed. The most demanding selective was Pencil Lake II, some 12 miles long with the road surface consisting of gravel and solid Canadian shield rock.