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By Tom Langdon
It was a rally just like any other, but the goal was a simple one. Have fun and learn. No tricks. The event form was simple tulip course following, with a progression in the math needed to maintain the specified speed/time. Held December 6, 2009, this training rally was designed to give novice competitors a taste of what to expect in the Winter Rally Series.
Before the competitors left Cheap Charlie’s, a training class provided the basics. This rally was designed to hone everyone’s skills. If a team can’t zero every control, then this rally was for them.
The first leg provided overall times as well as incremental times, based on car zero. The rally progressed, with less math help, until the contestants were using their own calculations without assistance. The rally format stressed a number of rally concepts, such as course following first, calculations second. What to do at a control and especially why you want to read the checkpoint slips. A wide variety of speeds challenged the driver’s ability to stay on time and on course.
The results were impressive considering the limited experience. Following the events there was a question and answer period followed by the awards presentations.
As always, rally can’t be done without lots of volunteers. In this rally we had more workers than competitors. I would like to thank: Deb Langdon, Carl Dresie, Rick Barnes, Dennis Gorlick, Jerry Kerwin, Matt Rhoads, Rorinder Singh, and Tom Kubus. Also Thanks to Cheap Charlie’s for putting up with us.
Results were: 1st - Shaun Hall and Justin Fay, 2nd - Gillian Pielow and Aretta Stillman and 3rd - Chris and Jake Bucknam.