We received some nice comments after the rally:

“Thank you for a great rally this morning.”

“Nice job on the rally. We really liked the rally and luckily only had some light rain on the early part. Thanks for your work on everything and the communication ahead of time was really great. Pre-event notes were great. Post-event communication timing was really great.” 

“My son and I really enjoyed the rally. We had a great time reading the directions and learning what the different terms meant. We have seen the error of our ways and will be working on getting better. Looking forward for the next one.“ 

“We had a great time and improved over last time. Two zeros!! Several single-digit scores. We maxed one leg. My navigator didn't realize that the "R" without mileage or street name just means take the next possible right (in this case after going 1.5 miles). And then I had to stop for him to barf so we maxed that one. Dramamine next time. Super happy with our results on the other legs. Can still improve a lot, too. Thanks again!“ 

“Excellent Rally. Not too hard. Had some "interesting" features/challenges. The app works like a charm. Really wanted to see it in action and WOW. Fantastic. Are all the Saturday rallies using the app? Cya again if yes. “ 

To read more please check the June Geargrinders News Release.

Promoted as an opportunity to get out and go for a fun drive in the country, while maintaining social distancing, the April 18 Saturday event was Cascade’s second TSsD (Time Speed social Distance) road rally. “You stay in your car; we’ll stay in ours.”

Actually we stayed home. We managed registration and check-in online. All timing and scoring was done by the Richta GPS Checkpoints app, so there were no manned checkpoints. We monitored each car’s progress using real time data from the GPS app, which adds a whole new level of rallymaster fun. First we get to drive around the countryside on roads less traveled, developing the rally course. Then we get to watch on a map as rally teams progress along those same roads in real time. Amazing.

Seventeen teams ran the rally - matching a record set in April 2019 of 17 cars at a Saturday rally. Eight of Saturday’s teams had never run a Cascade rally before. We hope this great new bunch of Cascade ralliers will enjoy the game of road rally and want to come back and do it again and again.

SCCA National Road Rally Lifetime Points Holder Bob Morseburg drove down from Seattle Saturday morning to run the rally with his navigator, Cheri Eddy. We are honored they ran the rally (even though we didn’t see them).

And there were winners.

Congratulations to first overall and first Unlimited Bob Morseburg and Cheri Eddy, running as Car #30 after driving to the start from Seattle on the morning of the rally. Nicely done!

Two veteran rally teams tied for second overall and first SOP, Bill and Kelly Ferber and Marcus Gattman and Kerrie Steffenson. Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to fourth overall and first Novice Brian and Jamie Anderson. This team is moving up fast in this their first season of road rally. They are the team to watch.

Congratulations to Andrew and Coralee Brewer for finishing first in the GPS class. The GPS class was introduced last season in the Equipped category of road rally competition classes. This class allows the use of GPS-sourced odometers. Few competitors have entered this class to date. Congratulations to the Brewers!

The March Saturday event was the first-ever TSsD (Time Speed social Distance) road rally. Recognizing that we’re in a coronavirus emergency, the entire event experience was designed to eliminate contact with other humans outside of your own car. The rally was promoted as an opportunity to get out and go for a fun drive in the country, while maintaining social distancing.

Online registration was required. Day-of-event on-site registration was not available. (We stayed home.) All check-in procedures and transmitting of route instructions occurred via email.

Teams timed themselves out from the start location and followed the instructions through the route. All timing was done using a GPS app, so there were no manned checkpoints.

The rallymasters used data from the GPS app to monitor each car’s progress through the rally and to monitor the scoreboard. (We sat at the kitchen table, following along on our laptops.)

At the mid-rally scenic break at Bald Peak State Park, total scores up to that point were emailed to the teams.  They had a chance during this break to order take-out from the Cruise In Country Diner where the rally route ended.

The rally route included some simple rally traps. A misspelled sign offered an opportunity to incorrectly pause 30 seconds (how do you spell NEUGEBAUER). An ONTO trap elicited another 30-second penalty. What do you do when told to change your speed for 0.5 mile? You go back to the previous speed after the half mile - or not for more penalty points. A note told you to pause 30 seconds at a sign reading “CEMETARY”. Who knew there was actually a sign like that on the route.

Congratulations to first Unlimited and first overall Paul Eklund and Yulia Smolyensky. First SOP and second overall was Bill Ferber and Simon Levear. Robert Paxman and Will Pollard finished first GPS and third overall. First Novice was Ben and Kyle Overton. Congratulations to all the teams! And a big thank you to Brandon Harer and Ben Bradley for checking out the rally.