The Ohio Valley Rally--Oct 2013

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Here are some pics, as threatened, of the first fall event for Rally North America. Forever Maker and I were the only two CR teams for this event. I wish there could have been more since it was so close to us and could be done over a weekend.

 

There was record rainfall in some of the areas we travelled, which cut down on the photos. I hope Ryan can post some of his as well.

 

Friday night: there were informal gatherings, dinner, a band, and registration for arriving teams.

 

Saturday:

meeting old friends, checking out people's rides:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/driversatstagingatTheGreene_zps50e03063.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/angrygoat_zps58aa9d6d.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/caratstaging_zps3dec38a7.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/teamcodysuv_zps158bb79b.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/yellowstangatstart_zps69ff8715.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/GodzillaGTR_zpseaca2b91.jpg

 

It's not everyday that you see a Rossion:

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/frontofRcar_zpsdbda3767.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/leftandfrontofRcar_zps7729d9a4.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/rearofRcar_zpsa1f804cd.jpg

 

 

The starting line at The Greene, in Dayton, which reminded me a lot of Easton:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/1378841_600792076626658_58902649_n_zps6d0dc856.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/atstart_zpsbcc6459d.jpg

 

The first day's driving took us around the sites of southwestern Ohio and southern Indiana to find checkpoints. Castles are always kewl:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/BentleyatCastle_zps88ccf004.jpg

 

We ended the day at the French Lick Casino in Indiana. It's an old spa hotel that's been renovated and converted. Old fashioned luxury.

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/Frenchlick_zpsb55a24d7.jpg

 

Sunday driving took us through some beautiful Kentucky backroads, onto Ft. Knox, and one of the things we had to locate was the world's largest baseball bat (in Louisville, BTW):

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/JoeyDocatbat_zps743df51d.jpg

 

We went to the Buffalo Trace Distillery, the Patton Museum, and ended up with kart racing

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/bentleyatkartracing_zps09c95b7b.jpg

 

before finishing back in Dayton.

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This checkpoint required something a bit different--putting your car on a small ferry to cross the Ohio River. :nod: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/rearBentleyonferry_zpsac2b817a.jpg

Unfortunately for the Rossion, the ferry ramp was too steep and the car lost its exhaust in the attempt. :fuuuu:

 

My navigator for the rally was my aunt, the last of her generation in our family. She's surprisingly sharp for being well into her 80's. She flew from her home at Dana Point, California, to be in the rally.

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/JoeyatstagingatTheGreene_zpsdae18fa0.jpg

 

She did a pretty good job with just maps and tour books (doesn't use the internet or have a smart phone). A number of people asked her what she thought of the rally ... I heard her reply a number of times, "Well, this isn't my first rally, although I admit I haven't been on one since 1955." She also enchanted a few of us with her tales of driving Route 66 from end to end (Joliet, IL to Santa Monica, CA) in 1947 with a girlfriend from nursing school. She's travelled the world and been on many adventures, including being invited to the USSR in the 1960's, going to China before Nixon, and backpacking the wilds of Alaska with her husband.

 

At the awards dinner Sunday night at Dayton's QSL, she was in typical form: half pound burger "as rare as you can serve it" and topped with deep fried cheese sticks, an antenna of pretzels with beer cheese dip, side of mac & cheese, and a dry Tanqueray martini, because ...... that's just how this lady rolls!

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/JoeyatQSL_zpsee6bad6d.jpg

 

Ryan and his father-in-law, Brian, won third place for day 2. Once again, CR has podium finishers. :thumbup:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Valley%20Rally/BrianRyan_zps604177d7.jpg

 

With this event, Rally North America has surpassed $250,000 raised for charities. http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/emoticons/happyanim.gif The group is also on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rally_North_America

 

With all of the stories and pics that many CR members have shared here over the last four years, it sometimes goes unmentioned that the co-founder of Rally North America and the organizer of the Ohio Valley Rally is a CR member who joined here in January 2008, Scott Spielman (Spieldawg) who had been told about CR by his friend, George Staton, shortly before George's untimely death.

 

Scott, thanks for another great rally and for all the great work for charity.

 

My personal thanks to the individuals and businesses from CR who have sponsored my teams.

Edited October 20, 2013 by Doc

[red1993sol]

Looks like you and your aunt had a great time for a great cause!

[Mojoe]

Great recap Doc. A weekend with a trumping priority kept me from the rally, as you know.