It’s a new year, which brings something new to a long-standing road rally tradition: The First Friday Niter Rally Series, a longtime Cal Club Region, Santa Monica Sports Car Club Chapter series, is being paused, and the Santa Monica Even Months Second Saturday Series (SMEMSS) begins. After 50 years, the club will try to increase participation with this reduced schedule and avoid the worsening Friday night Los Angeles traffic.
There will be a final FFN on Friday, January 3, written by Joanna Weissen. Last year’s January FFN, the rally will be a tour (no traps) focusing on Christmas light displays, which were spectacular, with many lights and a few massive displays. It will likely run in Burbank and/or Glendale and likely finish at the IHOP on Glendale Ave in Glendale.
After the January FFN, we will switch to the SMEMSS rallies — Santa Monica Even Month Second Saturday rallies. So, please join us for these daytime rallies on the second Saturday morning of even months (February, April, and so on). Yes, daytime, and it’s amazing what you can see in the light of day vs our night runs. They will start at the same place as the FFNs, the Bank of America rear lot in Mission Hills. In-person registration will open at 9:00 am, and the first car will be out at 10:01 am, and it will take approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete. For a list of the dates, go to www.smscc.org and click “Next Day Rally.” We will be posting more information on MotorSportReg soon.
Download the FREE Richta Scoreboard app if you want to see all the scores at the Finish.
Please try to register online at www.msreg.com/FFN012025. If that doesn’t work for you, you can still register in person at the start of the SMSCC events. However, it helps the organizers print the route instructions and confirm the numbers for the ending location. We start at the Bank of America rear lot, 10300 Sepulveda Blvd (Sepulveda and Devonshire) in Mission Hills.
