September 3, 2011

What a day we had on Saturday afternoon for the Rennfest Rally. We had glorious weather and a contingent of 50 cars that had signed up for this event. We had a good amount of time between the end of the Concours and the Rally Drivers meeting at 1:30, so folks ate lunch and relaxed before the Rally. At the drivers meeting, (I have no idea why we call it that, because both driver and navigator should attend to listen to any last bit of information about the Rally before starting), the rallyists were told about the two DIYC (Do It Yourself Control) that were on this Rally along with the regular information of, States and Counties that the Rally route traverses, drive with your lights on and the most important, be nice to your Rally partner.

Dick Kjellsen and Danny Saxton did a safety check on the Rally cars as they were coming through the resort portico to pick up their Rally instructions from Carole Kjellsen, 10 minutes before their Out-Time. Three teams DNS (Did Not Start), so we had 47 Rally teams that started this Rally.

Checkpoint one Rally workers, Patti Kuchenbecker, Nancy Frye, Barbara Gellner, Chuck Beck and John Heilman were long gone to set up for the first Rally car into that checkpoint. We thought that we had explained very well about what to do at a DIYC, but a number of cars came into checkpoint one with 2 or 3 columns already filled out on their score card. This was before any DIYC was encountered. More explanation on this subject is required if we continue with DIYC at Rennfest.

Checkpoint 3 Rally workers, Len & BJ Turner, Tom & Brian Roy, Sheila Cutler and Lewis Broyles had a bit more time to open that checkpoint. We did not have any backwards into checkpoints on this Rally. Checkpoint 2 & 4 were the DIYC where the Rally teams had to write their own in-time on their scorecards and leave exactly 3 minutes later on the next leg.

Checkpoint 5 was back at Brasstown Valley resort and was staffed by Dick Kjellsen. I arrived to help Dick about 5 minutes before the first car (cutting it a bit close). Kathy & Jack Baker was the first car out, so after they were timed in at CP 5, they became Rally workers. The Bakers also helped with the scoring. Because of the DIYC, we had some difficulty with the scoring but we managed just fine.

Thank you, Rally workers, we really do appreciate and value your participation.

Of the 47 Rally teams, only two DNF (Did Not Finish) but all made it back but they just did not turn in their cards. The Davis team, Grant & Paulette, came back to the resort, parked their Porsche and, we assume, relaxed with libation. Many minutes later Paulette realized that they still had their score card and was timed in at CP 5 by walking through. Needless to say, their leg 5 score was a Max.

Results:

TOUR Trophies

Place	Driver	Navigator	Region	Score
1	Mike Castellano	Kevin Castellano	Peachstate	158
2	Peter Morich	Colleen Morich	Peachstate	161
3	Sylvia Shugart	Mark Shugart	Peachstate	180

SOP Trophies

Place	Driver	Navigator	Region	Score
1	Bob Futrell	Judy Futrell	Carolinas	114
2	David Wilhide	Susanne Wilhide	Peachstate	115
3	Tom Briest	Cindy Briest	Suncoast	118
4	Jack Baker	Kathy Baker	Peachstate	145
5	Steve Baum	Liz Baum	HO Dixie	149
6	Frank Hodges	Michelle Hodges	Musik Stadt	205

DALBF (Dead Ass Last But Finished)-Pink Pig Award

To win this award, you must make all of the CPs (no misses) in SOP

Debbie Raines and Kenny Raines, HO Dixie with a score of 691

These are great scores and certainly deserve recognition. Five SOP cars were under 150, this is better than 30 seconds per CP on this 5 leg Rally. The top 11 teams were under 300, of which 3 were from Peachstate and 8 from out-of-region. Peachstate Rallyists, we need more seat time!

Thanks again to all of the workers and to all of the rallyists! Great job by all!

Cheers... Chris & Barbara, your Rallymasters