MRCCFL Tampa Bay Area Road Rally, BBQ and more 7/24
 

OK, here it is, the next MRCCFL road rally. About time, right? The date will be Saturday, July 24th.

This will be a large event so anyone and everyone is welcome. Activities will include a road rally in the morning, finishing at a local park where we will have plenty of food. On hand at the park will be Maztech owner Jeff Gladish to do a talk about the many seals in a rotary engine. I will also be leading a discussion on the history of the rotary engine.

More details are certainly coming, as they become available. But at least everyone has plenty of notice. Hope to see you all there.

I am going to do my best to make this. The wife wants to navigate. Any tips for someone who has never been in a rally before?

I'll go over all of this during the driver's meeting beforehand, but in the meantime, here's basically what I'll say.

First off, always obey ALL traffic rules. Sure, we have a little fun, but we seldom break the speed limit and always obey posted signs.

Pay careful attention to the course directions and street signs. I managed to trick a lot of people (unintentionally I might add) with my last rally - people mistook Avenue O and Avenue Q and then came complaining to me - even though my original course directions were 100% correct. They tried telling me there were two Avenue Q's or O's, I can't remember which.

The course will be timed by John and I at least once and a "perfect time" will be set. One point will be assesed for every six seconds you are off this time, ten points to the minute (over or under the perfect time doesn't matter). The goal is to have the least number of cummulative points at the end of the rally - which will consist of three or more stages.

People really have a great time doing this. Sure, the goal is to win, but we usally take you on some pretty scenic roads along the way, and maybe some roads in your own backyard you didn't know existed. So, as long as you have fun, it's worth it.

I also received another tip, from someone who shall remain nameless. This one may even be more practical.

Don't tell the wife she's stupid and don't let her convince you to stop and ask for directions.

Drivers can tend to get a little impatient with their navigators. ;)

Team Eddie and Jack are looking to kick some ass this time.

actually a buddy of mine wants to ride shotgun. He runs a Tampa Bay area car and motorcycle forum and like me, has been wanting to participate in a rally. He has a couple of pretty wild Mustangs but i told him this one was rotary only.

It doesn't have to be rotary only. I'll open the rally up to anybody who wishes to participate. If he wishes to hang out at the BBQ, that's OK too.

Odds are if Nick shows up, it won't be in a rotary, so I won't discriminate (Nick kicks everyone's butts in the rallies, so Good Luck, you might need it!).

Sounds like a hoot! Count me in. I'll drag as many of the Jax 8's along as I can.

OKAY JAX 8's.....i hereby challenge any of youse muttonheads who think they can run this rally better than THE KID. So stand up and be counted....LET'S GET A ROLL CALL GOING! (all whimps are hereby excused....<snicker>)



:D :D :D :D

heck, from Jax you could almost have a Rally to the Rally...

What's a road rally?

I'm pretty sure it's where you and a navigator are tasked with getting from point A to point B to Point C, using a given route. An "ideal time" (not necessarily the fastest) is established and Teams are required to follow directions, navigate the route, using landmarks, addresses and street maps.

Teams are required to "check in" at check points, by either waving as they go by, or collecting bits of information that one could only do if they passed by the check point. Each leg of the journey is determined by a "perfect time." You're penalized points for each secound you're off the given "perfect time." The one with the least amount of points at the finish line is declared the winner and given the congratulatory pink belly.

I'm not sure if any of this is accurate, because I'm making it up as I go. Still sounds like a lot of fun, though. :D

Try this link guy.

http://www.scca.org/Rally/RoadRally.asp

if that fails. go to scca.org. Follow the links for Rally then Road Rally.

Thanks for the link greese. I was close! :)

I had a link once to a site that had a lot more info on them. Variations and tips for beginners. i will have to dig around more. I tink it was linked off of the SCCA site somewhere...

edit:

Found them! You have to hunt around a little but there are a lot of links to more detailed information. http://www.goss.com/rally.htm seems to be mentioned a lot.

http://www.goss.com/rrhchap1.htm
http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/usr/moose/plug.html
http://www.tropicalsportscarclub.com/

this looks important too. Not sure why though....

http://www.goss.com/rrtable.htm

Razpewton summed up pretty much how we do it. However, at each of our checkpoints we stop to let the teams relax for a few minutes. As he stated, the "perfect" time is not and usually isn't the fastest time. Speeders beware, getting there as quick as you can will a) defeat the purpose and b) cause you to lose very badly. :D

At the rallies I've helped run and organize with MRCCFL, we usually will give a couple of hints as to how we drove some parts of the course. Occasionally, I've been called "brutal" for strictly adhering to speed limits.

Wait, I'm giving away too many secrets....

If a bunch of people from more than an hour away are coming, let me know. I usually start the rallies around 9 AM. We're not sure how long this one will be yet, so I may be able to push back the start time (don't hold me to that yet). Is there a preference to a later start time, getting some hotel info, or just getting up at the crack of dawn?

I prefer a later start time of 10. Then I can wake up at 7 and still make it on time with a few minutes to settle and meet with everyone. Otherwise the Gainesville Crew and others will be racing down there half asleep.

I second what Eddie said.....Im not sure yet if i'll be coming up from the friday night or just getting up and driving that morning. Plus ive yet to see anyone from this end say they are going, so i might be coming solo.

So when are we going to get some more details on this rally?? I should be able to attend, even if I dont make the rally I'll at least come and hang out and drool over ur guys 7's for a while. :)

I'm interested.

Where is the initial meet up point, and how many miles is the rally?

The initial meet up point is likely to be off of I-275 and Bearss Ave. The rally will end at Philippe Park in Safety Harbor, where the BBQ will be held.

I can't tell you how many miles the rally will be. It's not completely finished yet, and we always leave some of the mileages off the direction sheet, it needs to be challenging. :D

But the fact that we'll be going from I-275 and Bearss to Safety Harbor gives you an idea.

As soon as everything is finalized, I will definitely post the info.

Costs:

MRCCFL members
Free rally entrance
Free meal

Non-MRCCFL members
$5 rally entrance fee
$5 for BBQ meal

Fees can be collected there, but if you're pretty sure you're coming, please let us know, so we can make sure to have enough food. Of course, you're more than welcome to bring your own food as well, and if you do bring your own food and don't participate in the rally, then the event is free. The food we will have on hand will be BBQ pork, potato salad, beans, chips, etc.

perfect! I live in New Port Richey off of 54 (Trinity) so i am close to 275 and Bearss and Safety Harbor is not too far either. If anyone else in that area is going, let me know and maybe we can meet up for the ride there.

I think the NAV system gives Jason an unfair advantage. I think his entry fee should include his map disc.

heh. Without the nav I may as well drive around with my eyes closed. I'm that bad with directions :P

of course with all the construction around tampa bay, the damn thing will probably run you right into the bay if you aren't careful.