It had been 30 years since I last participated in an SCCA Road Rally, but when I learned that a National tribute rally written by John Sears was taking place in my home region, I knew I had to be involved. After signing up on the MotorsportReg site, the excitement from years ago returned.
Arizona is a beautiful place with many back roads and sites to behold. The car culture here, with the 365 days of sun, is extraordinary. People love their cars and love to drive. In Tucson, we have a saying: It takes a half-hour to get anywhere in town, even if it’s just down the road. Because, for some reason, we like to take the scenic route.
The AZ Border Region is primarily an Autocross and Rallycross region, but we had a flourishing Road Rally culture back in the day. Much of that culture was because of people like John Sears, and it was revisited on the Friday night before the Desert Sands National Course Rally. Enthusiasts gathered at the Hampton Inn Tucson-Airport for registration, where people who hadn’t rallied together in 25-plus years got together and reminisced over good times. Observing the camaraderie, I reminded myself why I had enjoyed SCCA Road Rally events in the past. Everyone was so inviting and friendly. From the welcome my wife (she’s been my navigator for 38 years) and I received at registration to the excitement of coming in second to last place on Saturday night, people were genuinely friendly.
Rallying was much like I had remembered it in the past, with a few exceptions. Yes, there are written instructions, and concentration is key. The puzzle is challenging, but there was still time to enjoy the scenery while traveling down some roads I didn’t know existed. There were rented cars, classic cars, and our daily driver. Several breaks were scheduled into the course for snacks and nature calls. They were organized so that everyone gathered several times during the day to discuss the previous legs, ask questions, and see the standings. Lunch was simple but timed well without a rush.
Timing and checkpoints are different now. Where we used to see people with clipboards and chocolate treats, we now heard beeps and received instant progress reports. The Competitor – Richta GPS Checkpoints uses the GPS feature in your smartphone to track and score each competitor. It’s very helpful in letting you know how early or late you arrive at a checkpoint. It also tallies your score throughout the event. It even allows the Rally Masters to view your progress and location in real-time. Very helpful when the rally is over, and you overshoot the day’s end meeting place, too! Ring Ring – Jim Crittenden: “I think you guys are off course; you need to turn around.”
Where do we go from here? SCCA Rallies are going on all over the Nation. You don’t have to use specialty equipment and electronics, but you can if you want. You don’t have to travel thousands of miles to enter a National – though many do. Your Region or the Region next door are probably putting on an event this year. You won’t be disappointed if you participate. Rally is both fun and challenging. Rally “Tours” are not as tricky as “Course” rallies and a great way to get started while taking the car out for a cruise with purpose. Most of all, you’ll meet friendly people and make new friends.
