This is an update to answer some of the questions that people may
have about the event, and also to give status of the current teams
that have signed up.
First... there are plenty of spots available for more entrants, but
I need to have your commitment by Monday, the 27th so that I know
how many copies of instructions will be needed.
If you are not sure whether to do this run or not... JUST DO IT!
Here are more details of what it is:
This is a FUN event, with a little bit of challenge thrown in. At
the start of the rally, you are given a list of instructions to
follow. The instructions are quite plain and easy to follow. You
start your stopwatch or timer at the beginning time we give you,
then you drive to the next instruction. It is identified by a
coordinate in Longitude and Latitude, so you watch your GPS until
you reach that point, then you turn or go straight, according to the
instruction. There is a time for most of the instructions that
tells you how long it should have taken you to get to this point.
If you take less time, your driver needs to slow down... if it takes
more... he needs to speed up. Simple, eh?
This is NOT a speed event. All of the times are run below speed
limits. Highway and surface street speeds are about 10% below the
posted limits. Trail speeds are slow enough for a comfortable ride
and time to get through obstacles without hurrying. Time at
checkpoints is alloted to allow you to air down before difficult
sections and air up before driving on highways. At each checkpoint,
you are given a new list of instructions to follow.
This event IS designed for folks who are new to 4x4 and to GPS.
Don't worry if your rig is stock and you just bought a GPS. We are
in it for FUN.
If you get lost, you will open a sealed map to navigate your way to
the next checkpoint. In 3 years events, we have not left anyone in
the woods. We have had a couple of teams drop out after getting
lost, but the majority of teams are able to get through the course
with no problems. We use teams of two vehicles, so that you can be
self sufficient if you do get stuck or breakdown. On the more
difficult sections we may post a capable 4x4 to tow you if you are
blocking the run. If we tow you, you will get a penalty. If your
partner tows you... no penalty is assessed.
The course is prerun with a stock Explorer to determine if it is
usable for our run. However, on the day of the event, weather
conditions may make the run more of a "challenge" than we
anticipated. Last year, we altered the course to avoid a section
that was impossible for the teams to make it up because of mud.
Anyone who ran last year's event will testify that the course will
still challenge a stock 4x4. We do not recommend using a full size
long wheelbase, as there are tight sections between trees that may
create a traffic jam. Also, there are brushy sections that you may
get "pin stripes" from.
Each team will be two vehicles with two drivers, and at least one
navigator.
The driver's meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. sharp on November 1 at
the coordinates N45'37.577", W123'15.917" We will send out the
first team at approximately 9:00 a.m. There will be a lunch stop at
the approximate mid point of the route. The course will be less
than one hundred miles in length, and will be a mixture of highway,
secondary paved, secondary gravel, forest service, and off highway
vehicle roads.
At the end of the trail, we will have an awards party with a pot
luck dinner. Bring your favorite dish to share with the others. I
will make sure your dish will be refridgerated, if necessary until
the end of the event. 4x4 videos will be played at the end of
event. Bring a video if you would like to show it. Bring a folding
chair if you have one.
Like all OBH events, this is a family oriented affair. We do not
drink while on the trails or driving, but moderate drinking with
dinner is fine.
The rally will be completed by about 5 p.m. for the last team in.
The awards banquet (with door prizes) usually ends by 9 p.m.
Gil
