Doc1647545523 Posted August 16, 2015 Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 (edited) Mid-July, two teams from CR competed in the 2015 Rally North America summer rally, the Smoky Mountain Rally. Rally North America was founded in 2009 by Tony Intrieri and Columbus Racing's own Scott Spielman (Spieldawg) and has now raised over $450,000 for charities. This year the charity was Hope for the Warriors, and over $120,000 was given to them. Rally North America: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rally_North_America RNA Facebook: https://www.rallynorthamerica.com/ The rallies are scavenger hunt style, timed road rallies. They've gone coast-to-coast over the years. Currently events are limited to 80 teams and they are fully subscribed before even opening to the public. This year I drove 2,000 miles in the Smoky Mountains and traveled through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/DSCN1396_zpsdqdcxrgn.jpg I chose to ride solo (no co-driver/navigator) because I went in the Slingshot. I didn't feel anyone should be subjected to that punishment besides me, and frankly, I needed the passenger seat for luggage. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/drivers%20front_zpsfiry9uas.jpg Brian (Coaster) and his wife, Nikki drove their 2015 Mustang GT http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3591_zpsqa5dsfie.jpg Even before starting in Knoxville, TN, I took more than a bit of ribbing from the other teams for choosing to do a rally alone and for bringing the Slingshot. These events are challenging enough alone, and four days in the heat and storms of the southern U.S. would prove to be a special challenge in the open vehicle. Matt Farah of The Smoking Tire and his video team made up one team, and they will produce two episodes of the program sometime in the next few months to cover the rally. His podcast of Day 1 was full of chuckles over how I'd fare in the weather we faced that week. Here's an eight minute video shot from the back of Brian & Nikki's Mustang of some of the weather changes we experienced on Day 1. I think the first two minutes of the video will give you the idea. We had a bunch of interesting places to find, including the famous "Road to Nowhere." The Talking Heads song refers to a few different roads, but ours was the North Shore Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Nice winding road http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3803_zpsbo70avwm.jpg to a long tunnel, which leads to nothing! http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3935_zpszzs3bhbv.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3933_zpspqdmgy5t.jpg The route took us to some great overlooks and outstanding, remote waterfalls as well: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3940_zpsd6qmazi9.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1391_zpsnpyywz2d.jpg Edited August 16, 2015 by Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted August 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 (edited) As I mentioned, this rally was sold out before it even went public. Veterans of prior rallies were given first shot at subscribing, and in a few days 80 teams were paid in full. Within a short time another 80 teams were on the waiting list. Although I've driven with a number of the team members before, there were a few I never met. One name on the team list I didn't know was Glenn Beck--not a particularly uncommon name, I thought. It wasn't until later that I realized that this was the radio and TV commentator. Although he gave the rally some press after it was over, I appreciated that his participation was not treated as a "big deal" by the press or by the rally staff and participants. (And I was clueless because I'd never seen or listened to his shows.) The cars were impressive: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1405_zps9l7lphzm.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3684_zpsj38cwqyq.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3712_zpsb5lacqc5.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3714_zpsgbasfxzr.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3692_zps8wwmslam.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3690_zpshy6onh0i.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/10521879_480812258749109_2748238038243082043_n_zpsshyths7v.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1383_zpsfn42lafv.jpg Some were funny, such as this one which had a team dressed as ghostbusters in their combat garb http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1386_zpsy7zezkqf.jpg This one had a blow-up weapon (think beach toy) mounted on its side as it left the starting line. A concerned pedestrian called-in a suspected terrorist sighting, which caused some excitement. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1382_zpsxn9nkgtr.jpg This one played ice cream wagon music http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3686_zpsxotk4gzy.jpg I thought this team was brave http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1385_zpslvnyi7cc.jpg One team tried the ploy of dressing as Fed Ex delivery guys as a way of rushing in and out of checkpoints. Unfortunately, they were disqualified from placing, but they did win the "Best Costume" award. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1373_zpshcrdafvd.jpg Edited August 16, 2015 by Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted August 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 (edited) Days start with staging, usually with about an hour for the local press to cover the Rally and the charity. It also gives the local officials a chance to speak to the public and press. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1408_zpshevf7ul3.jpg[/url] http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1414_zpsltl8oyaa.jpg[/url] My ride made the Hendersonville newpaper http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/11800220_911070062265523_4020120516560040476_n_zpsmkjbaczi.jpg I enjoyed talking with the passers-by. Usually the Slingshot had its share of people wanting to sit in it (not just the little kids, either), and it was a good icebreaker to talk about the charity and the rally. Day 1's start was on the bridge over the World's Fair Park. It's really a nice area of Knoxville. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1389_zpsj2fsgg6u.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3659_zpsqhmaltar.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1377_zpso1acte9m.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1378_zpsxs0v5pjs.jpg The checkpoints are often quite unique and tend to be off the beaten path. We visited a Georgia prison from the 1800's, complete with the original gallows and trap door http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_4368_zpsuqvsxxiu.jpg the Judaculla Rock, an outcropping of soapstone with petroglyphs from the Archaic Period (8000 to 2000 years BC) http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_4101_zpssecjo1lk.jpg and this rather mysterious monument, called by some the Ten Commandments of the Antichrist, thought by some to have been commissioned by the Illuminati, praised by Yoko Ono as "a stirring call to rational thinking." With not many clues, we had to locate the Georgian Guidestones, also called the American Stonehenge. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Guidestones) http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_4147_zpspuvjahyy.jpg Some serious stops relate to our theme of helping veterans, such as this air force museum http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_4406_zps4jct1wdd.jpg and others are fun and silly, such as running around a little Georgia town trying to find as many of these Br'er Rabbit statues as you could for bonus points (there were 21 of them) http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_4395_zpsa2m76s5v.jpg There was also some racing, of course. I mean, the on-the-track kind of racing. At Atlanta Dragway http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_4160_zpsjawuepxv.jpg Brian's Stang spanked a Hellcat who later got his revenge: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_4276_zpsq5korfkc.jpg Edited August 16, 2015 by Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted August 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 (edited) And we enjoyed Roebling Road in Savannah a lot more than we expected. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_1889_zpsiws40khe.jpg It's a great track, and we had it to ourselves for our event. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/DSCN1418_zpsojulq4o7.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/DSCN1415_zpslkf8wvsi.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Dscn1419_zpsw9jdxxhe.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/11745567_480812008749134_7441816036832810727_n_zps5xblpoiy.jpg Brian shot this video which is edited to show one lap, just as he's catching me after a straightaway, following me through the curves, then blowing past me in the straights at the end. It was our first time driving on a course for real, not just paced laps or parade laps. The track was 100 degrees when we arrived, and 101 when we finished. I laughed when I heard the other drivers complaining about having to wear helmets for our 15 minutes sessions with no A/C. That's what my world was like for 4 days! I did get a chance to talk 1:1 with Matt Farah at the track. He had driven this Benzo GLE 63S AMG for the rally, but raced in a hopped-up BMW, IIRC. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/DSCN1421_zps0aua9gk7.jpg Despite ragging on me early in the rally, he was very approachable and helpful at the track. _______________________________________________________ Well, neither of the CR teams came home with podium finishes, but I think we held our own against some very tough veteran drivers. Looking back, despite all the challenges of the heat, storms, rain, and fog http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3751_zpsg8mtadfm.jpg I still am glad I drove the Slingshot. Driver and vehicle held up fine, which is more than can be said of some of the other entries. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3930_zpshxdxzmcr.jpg The Smoky Mountains made for a great drive http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3610_zpsa5gmw2ql.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3996_zps2qp1gts6.jpg We drove some of the best roads in the country, and I got to enjoy them with good folks. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_4072_zps7aumralu.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_3787_zps2yzlum2p.jpg http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/IMG_4050_zpsyxquoag9.jpg A final note Way back when I began this rambling, I mentioned that these rallies are now impossible to join if you aren't a rally veteran. However, there is still an opportunity if you want to join in on the fun. There is a second, small-scale rally that RNA sponsors. It's the Ohio Valley Rally. There are still some spots available. If you compete, you will attain veteran status and then will be able to register for the 2016 Rally when it opens later this year. The Ohio Valley Rally will begin Friday evening, October 9th, in Mackinaw City, MI, and ends Sunday evening October 11th at Kilkare, where we have a track rental. Here's the link to everything you need: https://www.rallynorthamerica.com/rallies/ohio-valley-700-fall-2015/ Feel free to contact me if you have questions or just need a little push to take the plunge. There have been over 20 CR members who have participated in RNA rallies since 2009, and I don't think you'll find any who will say that they didn't have a blast. A final thanks to the sponsors who contributed to my team's charity donation: CR sponsors Wheel Medic, Lucore Automotive, JET Auto Group, and CR members Wagner, David and the guys at Kurtz Brothers, Robochan, Norm (Littleguy), Marc at US Savings Bank, Ben, Jim Rose (clone), and Mike (ShowHBK). Brian and Nikki Goodman (Coaster), thanks for the photos and video, and thanks for your assistance during the Rally. I value our friendship. I hope that you can add to this thread with some of your photos and experiences from the trip. :thumbup: Edited August 16, 2015 by Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted August 16, 2015 Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 Awesome pics. I appreciate chatting with Doc about this...most of us can't appreciate open-air motoring for this much time, mileage, and exposure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) .. Edited August 18, 2015 by Coaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robochan Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Very awesome! I really want to do the OVR again next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 DSM-VI Section II, 1.2.19: Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 DSM-VI Section II, 1.2.19: Doc There is no DSM-VI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 There is no DSM-VI Well how could they add you to an already existing edition? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojoe Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Great write up, Doc. And thanks for introducing CR and myself to this rally group. Next year looks to be another 5 day out West. I'm not likely to do that. OVR may happen for me next year. Although, this years route looks great for the time of year you'll be going through Michigan. Glad is was a safe trip for all, with a good CR showing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Looks awesome! I wish I could've been able to put something together for you guys. I'm hoping that next year I'll be able to persuade the higher ups to do this. Looking forward to what Brian has to say too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littleguy Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Really cool Doc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 OK so here goes my side of the rally. We extended the three day rally into a whole week. We started out spending a couple days in Gatlinburg, TN with another couple from the rally (Team Too Cool with the ice cream XB). We had the best parking spot in town, thousands of people walked past the car every day. http://i.imgur.com/aPtFZ67l.jpg We hit the Hollywood Star Cars museum while we were in town. http://i.imgur.com/Ivinp6Zl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/9Dspwv5l.jpg We also found this little guy parked on the street. http://i.imgur.com/KzsdKNxl.jpg We got up early the morning of the drivers meeting and headed down to Tail of the Dragon. We got there pretty early and I drove down and my wife drove back. We both got clean runs with no traffic. We had some nice scenery on the drive over to the dragon as well. http://i.imgur.com/sgcvsqTl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/GAPZEQol.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Y4vETusl.jpg Here are some pics from the night before and on the starting line the first day. http://i.imgur.com/BOTkuJ7l.jpg http://i.imgur.com/xdo86Zol.jpg http://i.imgur.com/4fgOLKAl.jpg Some of you may recognize Bill Tumas' car from the CJ Pony Parts videos. http://i.imgur.com/k2rbpNNl.jpg We did most of the navigation for Doc so he could just follow and enjoy himself(or not) . We picked up some others along the way. Here is our convoy from the second day at full strength. http://i.imgur.com/8p4t5mRl.jpg We hit a little fog that day... http://i.imgur.com/SSAK6bwl.jpg Big change from there to Atlanta Dragway. It was about 93 when we got there. Doc mentioned the Hellcat and I so since he shared me getting beat I'll share the pics of the run where I beat him. http://i.imgur.com/sDBLFYrl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/KHlqorVl.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 The day three stop at the aviation museum was really neat. It would be hard to see the whole place in a day. http://i.imgur.com/gukUxIol.jpg That night was Roebling Road Raceway. It was a blast. I'd love to go back when it was under 100F and with better tires. Later that night Doc and I tried to get a pizza, that's a story that needs told in person though... http://i.imgur.com/t1cmEmLl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RHxFhxol.jpg Since we were so close to the ocean and we don't really take trips to the beach we went out to Tybee Island to watch the sun rise before heading home. http://i.imgur.com/zGx7hRSl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/VlOInBVl.jpg Then I had a suprise for my wife. We have a painting of a huge oak tree in our living room. Since the artist was from the Gatlinburg area we both always assumed the tree was somewhere around there as well. While scouting possible stops during the rally I happened to find it south of Charleston, SC. So we went to visit it and I didn't tell my wife where we were going. Luckily I let her drive that morning since some of the road names might have given it away before we pulled up. http://i.imgur.com/ewEkTwzl.jpg The next stop was Boone Hall Plantation to break up the drive a bit. http://i.imgur.com/mmoxXfBl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/SxwWGcal.jpg We spent the night in Mt Airey, NC on the way home and got to see some the the Andy Griffith Show sights. http://i.imgur.com/liuO6cXl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/s3o7O6zl.jpg Total trip stats http://i.imgur.com/3b4YOcTl.jpg?1 And yes the decals do come off. That seems to be the first question most people ask. Only a couple people have had problems and only on non-factory paint. Even after baking in the Georgia summer sun I only needed goo gone on a couple of places. http://i.imgur.com/zpMKCVpl.jpg Like Doc said, if you ever want to do the big summer rally then the Ohio Valley 700 is your ticket in. You'll get to experience a rally while only investing a weekend instead of a whole week, and you'll get veteran status so you can register for the summer rally before it opens to the public (or doesn't). Feel free to PM me or find me at Cars and Coffee and ask any questions you have about Rally North America. While it's all fun and games, we also raised $120,000 for Hope for the Warriors. Doc and I each raised a little over $1100. That money is going to fund a couple new programs that they've wanted to do but didn't have funding for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 Looks like fun, lots of 15 mustangs there! I'd like to do another rally soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 Looks like fun, lots of 15 mustangs there! I'd like to do another rally soon. There were a couple more 15s. At least everyone had a different color car so it was easy to tell them apart http://i.imgur.com/qovh1Khl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/tdIGl2gl.jpg And I forgot the action shots from the dragon... http://i.imgur.com/ZUzt0mEl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Od4m878l.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grudes Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 Thanks for all the pics and info guys. Looks like it was alot of fun while getting to take in some breath taking views. I like how DOC described driving the slingshot with its open seating as a "special" challenge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcan900 Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 Great write ups Doc and Brian. Niki and Brandon had a great time this year. I completely agree, if you are into cars at all. Want to do something for charity. then this is the most awesome way to do both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted August 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 Niki and Brandon were great fun to travel with. They were part of our little caravan most of the rally. Brandon enjoyed riding in the Slingshot on a few of the dry legs of the journey. We missed having you along, Eric. Hope you can make it to an upcoming one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 Total trip stats http://i.imgur.com/3b4YOcTl.jpg?1 My 2015 barely gets 16MPG LOL most my miles to E says is like 26x! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 Looks like an awesome time! One of these days I shall do one! (Just as soon as I convince my wife to stop making me go places with her instead. :fa:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted August 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 You and the wifey need to do the Ohio Valley Rally in October. Friday, Saturday, Sunday is all it takes, and the cost is low. The fall colors should be great between here and the UP. https://www.rallynorthamerica.com/rallies/ohio-valley-700-fall-2015/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussiek2000 Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 I would have been there if every veteran team didn't take the spots on the first day of sign up. They called me a few weeks ago to see if I still wanted to go, but it was impossible to come up with the money at that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojoe Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 Cost of doing the rally is interesting to talk about. Registration $300-$500 Usually four nights in hotels $450ish Gas will vary, depending on what and how you drive. $300 -$500 Food $250 ish Pre rally prep $300ish Post rally maintenance $150, with no major repairs. Oil change, decal removal, and detail. It's pretty easy to have $2,000 wrapped up in a rally. Wear on parts isn't factored in the above numbers, but tires, brakes and clutch (if you have one) get a workout. My last rally finished out a set of tires and the clutch. Obviously you can spend less and do the rally, but I would say the $2,000 mark is pretty close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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