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Winter Series #1 - Event Report Rally Report - Slip Sliding Away '07 Well, the 2008 Winter Rally Series is underway and the first event is behind us. Slip Sliding Away '07 turned out to live up to its name when it ran on December 15th, as a winter storm blew in when we were near the halfway point and persisted until the night was over. We initially feared that the route would be dull - the recent snows had forced me to route around about ten "seasonal use only" roads that had become impassable. Those roads were, of course, some of the most interesting roads in the route. However, the continuously falling fresh snow, combined with the blowing and drifting, more than made up for it and kept us all on our toes. Despite the forecasted winter storm (or perhaps because of it), we had a respectable turn out for the event. Twenty-four teams registered, compared to the more typical fifteen or so that we've seen in recent years, so all classes except Equipped were well filled out. The event ran approximately 145 competition miles. A long run to the OMP in Bath allowed us to use roads that were largely not previously found in recent FLR events. The route then went east, with the break in Watkins Glen. Teams found themselves making a loop of the Glen's original Grand Prix circuit before heading back west and north again, through Hammondsport, and to the last checkpoint just outside of Naples. Even though the route covered a lot ground, there were no issues with locals reported, although I did have to tow one local off of the route. He had gotten stuck in a ditch right after the last checkpoint. Even without local troubles, the competitors kept the sweep crew busy. Of the 24 registrants, 20 made it to the last checkpoint. There were several "off-course excursions", including one team that managed to restyle the right side of their WRX rather effectively. Still, all of the feedback I heard regarding the route was positive and a good time was had by all. Congratulations to Equipped and overall winners Alan Smith & Eric Hobron. Also to class winners Craig Hudson & Robert Scarlata, Tom & Deb Langdon, Karl Haltiner & Greg Peck, in the Novice, Stock, and Limited classes respectively. Special thanks to all of the workers. Checkpoints were staffed by Steve Kittelberger, Barbara Lissow, Craig McMaster, Alan Blood, Carl Dresie, Chris & Jacob Bucknam, Dan & Danny Thiel, Mike Toombs, John Walsh, Rob Hurley, Bob Van Sice and his son. Curtis Braun worked a checkpoint and handled scoring; Craig McMaster also did tech inspections. Jason Kostyshak made sure everyone got registered, and Noel Barnes and Paul Fien ran sweep. Also thanks to Karl Haltiner for letting me pirate his laptop briefly, to Tom Langdon for getting last-minute score cards printed up, and to Alan Smith for taking care of the novice class and for filling in at the last checkpoint when the assigned crew couldn't make it. Rick Barnes, Rallymaster
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