Road Rally

In the main, Road Rallying is a contest of precision. Contestants follow a prescribed route at prescribed average (legal) speeds. Along the route, the contestants visit checkpoints where their passage is timed. Scoring is based on matching the speeds/times from checkpoint to checkpoint.

For many, the ongoing WDC Regional rally program has been a secret. This has not been intentional; rather it has been a product of poor publicity on the part of the Washington/Baltimore road rally community. This is the year we fix that! To that end, we plan the following:

The road rally section of the WDCR website has been activated and contains the 2009 schedule. We plan to post event flyers there as they become available.
Similarly, we have opened the door to the ‘Straightpipe’ for articles about the program and the posting of results.
We will have both a Novice Class for newcomers and a Seat-of-the-Pants class for those who enjoy driving the route, but don’t wish to bother with the fine details of timekeeping.
A rally school will be held in April for newcomers and those wishing to dust off old skills or improve their results.
A Regional Championship with year-end awards has been established which recognizes three basic groups:
- Serious rallyists may compete in the three basic SCCA classes combined for year-end awards:
  - Equipped – a class for computers that integrate distance and time.
  - Limited – a class for cars equipped with auxiliary odometers capable of precise mileage measurement.
  - Stock – a class for ‘pencil and paper’ timekeeping utilizing a basic calculator, tables and a stock odometer.
- MGs of Baltimore, a local marque club that had been holding road rallies for classic cars since 1991, joined the SCCA road rally ‘family’ in the late 90s. So, there are classes for enthusiasts who wish to rally their classic MG, Porsche, Triumph or other.
  - Vintage – cars built prior to 1962
  - Historic – cars built between 1962 and 1981
- For newcomers and ‘recreational’ competitors are also considered:
  - Novice – a class for those with less than 10 events who have never trophied
  - Seat-of-the-Pants – a class for those who wish to compete without recourse to computers, special odometers, calculators or tables

The most important feature of the program is that there is a place for everyone. There is no reason for anyone to be intimidated by equipment or experience. There is a home for everyone. For one thing, you will not get lost. It is not unusual for Junior High School students to navigate their parents to a solid finish. It is a great opportunity for parent/offspring automotive activities. Participation by minors does require a special permission form signed by both parents.

Safety is always a concern, but it is not a problem for WDC Region Road Rally events. For one thing, they carry SCCA insurance. The events are prechecked by SCCA Safety Stewards for both accuracy of the route instructions and for safety.

We hope to see many of you at the rally school on April 19th and the Get-the-Dust-Off on May 3rd!

2009 Road Rally Events

Event

Date

Description

Flyer

Event Status

Rallymaster

Club Association

Rally School April 19 2nd Annual - a full day instruction punctuated by actual in-car experience. Click here for more detailed information!! local/social Len Picton WDCR/MGs of Baltimore
Get-The-Dust-Off May 3 This long standing event began as a Spring gathering for MG enthusiasts and converted to rally format in 1991. Click here for more detailed information!! Regional Tour Eric Salminen WDCR/ MGs of Baltimore
Frederick County Historic Bridge Tour June 21 A new event to the regional calendar. Click here for more detailed information!! Regional Tour Steve Gaddy WDCR
Maxon-Dixon Trials July 26 A unique event composed of short trials, each with unique route instructions. Click here for more detailed information!! Regional Tour Len Picton WDCR/MGs of Baltimore
Catoctin Monte September 5 Considered by many to be the best Monte Carlo style rally. This year, regional and national entrants will run side by side. National/Regional Tour Eric Bloom WDCR
Lobster Traps September 6 Second running of this challenging event. National course Steve Gaddy WDCR

On-line registration is not available.

Please follow the instructions in the flyers to register for each event. Flyers will be posted as they become available.

2009 MGs of Baltimore and WDC Region, SCCA Rally School

Thirty four students from four states and the District of Columbia showed up for this year’s rally school. There are few rally schools held throughout the country and most are thirty minute briefings held just before the event. Our event was an all-day affair and included a 75 page text book and a pocket reference guide.

The instructors added to the uniqueness of the event:

Steve Gaddy – twice SCCA Class L National Champion, past USRRC class winner
Chris Bean – past USRRC winner
Dennis Blevins – past SCCA NEDIV Class S Champion
Len Picton – genuine rally geezer (won his first rally in 1964)

The morning session covered definitions, General Instructions and route following. After lunch, the students learned about odometer correction and were sent out on an odometer leg to get their feet wet. Attention was then turned to timekeeping and the four methods that do not involve fancy and expensive equipment:

SOP – seat-of-the-pants – involving no timekeeping, but some hints about staying on time
Enhanced SOP – a simple, no calculation method for compensating for small delays
SCCA Stock Class timekeeping – pencil, paper and a basic calculator are all that are needed
EZ Method – the most used method by competitive Class S crews

Then the students were sent out on a 25 mile rally that tested what they learned. The students appeared pleased with themselves and ready to attend the first event of the regional season – the Get-the-Dust-Off on May 3d.