by Peter Schneider and Jim Wakemen
Some people’s initial impression of New Jersey is only based on what they see on television, whether it is the urban landscape of the Sopranos or Seaside Heights bar scene as seen on Jersey Shore. But that is only a tiny part of what the state is all about. New Jersey is truly the “Garden State.” While it is the most densely populated state in the nation, most people live in the state’s suburbs of New York City or Philadelphia and a narrow industrial corridor that connects those two major cities.
In the south and southeast portion of the state is the New Jersey Pine Barrens. It is the largest remaining example of the Atlantic coastal Pine Barrens ecosystem, stretching across more than seven counties or 1.1 million acres (1,700 sq miles) and the nation’s first National Reserve dedicated to preserving its ecology. The Pine Barrens helps recharge the 17-trillion-US-gallon (64-billion-cubic-meter) Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer containing some of the purest water in the United States. The Pine Barrens is also home to the nation’s first glass industries in Millville and Glassboro and the birth of the worldwide commercial blueberry industry in Whitesbog Village.
In the northwest portion of the state is the New Jersey Highlands, part of the grand sweep of the Appalachians that shadow the East Coast from Maine to Georgia. The region contains nearly 860,000 acres of forested ridges, rolling farmlands, diverse recreational opportunities, abundant wildlife, and significant historic and scenic resources. While the third smallest state in the nation, New Jersey has one of the largest road networks per square mile in the county. There are 11.6 miles of drivable roads per square mile in Garden State, while in Michigan, there are 4.5 miles, and Alaska only has 0.06 miles. This combination of rural areas and extensive road network provides both the South Jersey Region (SJR) and Northern New Jersey Region (NNJR) of the Sports Car Club of America a vast canvas to create interesting and challenging RoadRallies.
In the fall of 2020, with the popularity of the Richta GPS Timing System, the two New Jersey Regions agreed to host the first New Jersey National RoadRally Weekend on October 9/10 of 2021. South New Jersey Region will be presenting a straightforward National Tour Rally starting near Atlantic City and traveling North By Northwest into the New Jersey Highlands. The Northern New Jersey Region’s New Jersey Monte, a National Course Rally – Map Rally, will begin from that locale.
October 9 – North by Northwest is an all-day 180+ mile straight forward Time-Speed-Distance Rally. Hosted by SJR is the first event of a New Jersey National Weekend. The route will start near Atlantic City and travel north by northwest ending in Clinton, NJ.
The route will have over 120 timed control locations. It will include some sand trails in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, home of the New Jersey Devil, pass by Grover Mills where Martians first landed in Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds 1938 radio drama, and traverse the rolling county side of central New Jersey with its many one-lane bridges and scenic farmlands.
All control locations will be listed in the route instructions. Including the control locations in the route instructions bring a special challenge and an increased focus to stay “on-time all the time” to get good scores on the event. Rallymaster Jim Wakemen and Event Chair Clyde Heckler are well known on the SCCA National Series circuit and have many National Championships to their names.
October 10 – New Jersey Monte is an all-day 160+ mile Time-Speed-Distance Map Rally. This second event of the New Jersey National Weekend will start in Clinton, NJ, and end in Long Valley, NJ. The route will be based on the ‘historic’ New Jersey ‘Esso’ map. All Timing Controls will be listed on the map with associated Car Zero ‘Key Time’ and Official Mileage. All you have to do is stay on course by following the route highlighted on the map and get to each of the Timed Controls ‘on time.’ How hard can it be?
Set your own speeds between each control, just as long are you arrive ‘on time’ at each of the twenty timed checkpoints, but remember to stay on course per the route listed on the map to avoid additional penalties associated with hidden route controls. The New Jersey Monte is in honor of NNJR’s member Dave Panas who was one of the original organizers of the NJ Monte in the early 60s. The route will travel the rural roads of the New Jersey Highlands and skirt Blairstown, home of Jason Voorhees, the main character of the 1980 cult classic horror film Friday the 13th. The New Jersey Monte was last listed on the SCCA National Course Rally schedule in March of 1992 and marks NNJR’s return to the National Rally Series after an almost 30 years absence. Rallymaster Peter Schneider and Event Chair Bob Shore are best known as SCCA Regional organizers; last year, 20% of all individuals attending an SCCA RoadRally in the United States attended one of their events.
So mark your fall rally calendar for these two great events, plan to come a couple of days early, and explore the area. There is plenty to do and see — Discover New Jersey!
