You’d hear his loud-and-proud, LS-powered Mazda RX-7 named Rexine before you saw it. Spectators went wild every time rally fan favorite No. 50 rounded a corner, cheering and waving as Al Dantes Jr. flicked the car sideways while simultaneously honking the horn and throttling out rhythmic revs, the music of our people.
If, through all the action you were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Al behind the wheel, you’d always see his infectious smile lighting up his face, even when hidden behind his helmet.
Photography Credit: Holden Hardwood
This year’s Lake Superior Performance Rally (LSPR), also Al’s home race, had heavy vibes with the tragic and sudden absence of this grassroots rally legend. The night prior, on Friday, October 14, Al was fueling up at the local L’Anse, Michigan, gas station when a semi-truck driver–arrested for operating while intoxicated causing death–collided with the pumps, causing a fire and the loss of his life.
Every competitor was carrying the weight of this loss through LSPR, but through anger, disbelief, heartbreak and tears, they pressed on regardless, just as Al would’ve wanted them to do. In grassroots rally, whether participating as a competitor, volunteer or spectator, the sport forms a bond between people that goes deeper than just racing. It’s a family.
Photography Credit: Mack Colwell
As a tribute to Al, Rexine was driven to the Parc Expose, and then for one last ride across the finish line by his brother, Elwood Niemi Jr., with one of six daughters in the co-driver seat. At the awards ceremony, his daughters accepted the Jake Himes Cup, an award presented to the fastest 2WD car.
For Al, family came first, especially his daughters who were his entire world, followed closely by his love for all things rally. He raced with the Tower City Race Team, a name founded when he and his brothers entered their first race in a mud drag, now formed by family, friends and gearheads based out of Baraga County, Michigan.
Al was involved in rally for over 20 years–around 17 as a volunteer, then a driver, and he even took on the role of on-camera talent for the American Rally Association. He was the defending ARA East Coast Regional 2WD champion and was leading the ARA’s Central 2WD standings for the 2022 season.
Photography Credit: Tara Hurlin
He resonated happiness and positivity, and it was infectious to all of those around him. One of his many superpowers was…
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