For the Twin Cities Z Club, I've been asked by Tara to see how many of you guys and gals are interested in doing this as one of the summer events. She wants to plan for it well in advance and take care of all the details for us.

The basic concept of this:

Start at my house and leave in timed intervals,
use a navigator and drive to predetermined locations (safely),
check in at each interval,
ultimately make it back to my place for the party and prizes.

She's going to need volunteers for the checkpoints. She thinks a small donation is needed to help pay for 'registration' to buy a prize or whatever, also some of that money will go towards food and drinks (unless you bring it at the beginning of the event), and this should be invitation only.

I'm not too thrilled about people I don't know who show up at my house and start eating my food and walking around my house. Let's not have that happen again.

Recruiting your GF's, wives, friends, w/e for the relay race is recommended. They can be your navigators, drivers, or checkpoint volunteers. Make sure you can get them to commit to an all day or half day event.

Tara won't give me details since I'll probably be in the relay, so don't ask me. She wants to set up the checkpoints and what not. She's asking to get a list of interested people ASAP. I believe her brother will help set something up online. More details will follow.

For now, let's set up the list and get the word out to your fellow enthusiasts. I don't care if it's Z's, G's, or other nice cars. I just don't want any crazy people who are going to be reckless. It's not about speed but how you get there.

Participants:

1. Dave and ???
2.
3.

 

Interesting concept, kind of gumball rallyish but I believe it would be difficult to drive somewhere safely and it be enjoyable. kinda of defeats the purpose of the cruise we would normally do and everyone has access to a gps. Now if we did time trials down an actually driving road, ie welch village or something that would be pretty fun but at the same time a bit reckless.

 

Im game for it! sounds like fun

 

Well, Par. If you don't know where you're going and need to consult a map and look for a specific checkpoint that might or might not have something there for you to do, then the GPS would be pointless. Besides, I think we'll have to play fair and NOT use a GPS.

As for being reckless, that's up to you guys. It can still be fun if you know the car in front or behind you started a minute or two earlier or later.

 

This does sound like fun, but I would have to agree w/ Par. Whenever something is "timed", no matter what its still about speed, which on public roads, its basically the same as racing.

Pretty much everyone has GPS either with a Navi unit, or on their phones. So the "shortest route" really doesn't become a factor.

 

It's like trying to make it to work or a movie or an event in time.

 

I'm working with Jeremy from the Ohio G club on a rally right now... also in the north central forum fyi.

You guys need to have someone set a legal baseline time. That way there is no incentive to speed: the goal is to arrive in the closest to the baseline time. Obviously someone not participating would have to set this time. This isn't any more racing than going for a cruise is.

 

+1 was going to mention this. Dave either Tara or her brother would have to do the run doing near or above the speed limit and have a base time put in and closest to that time would win the event. Maybe also have 2nd place be the fastest time for certain people lol

who's the new guy???

 

We had discussed this too! Although since our event is for charity and we are looking to get around 100 participants a "fastest" prize is not something you can advertise. Finally decided fastest would be some kind of tertiary prize like the lead foot award or something like that.

If is just a few people in a pool or for bragging rights you could do this without a problem.

 

Bonus points for best MPG...I am down for anything, as long as its not on my DAMN WEEKEND

 

Come on Erik we all know that's going to happen

 

Yeah Probably ftl

 

haha just bought my z not to long ago and was looking for some gumball cruises to go to. Being my dream car is the 350z might as well hit a 350z Cruise.

 

You might check your local chapter of the SCCA-Sports Car Club of America. The SCCA has Rallys pretty much as you describe and they do all the work. You do not have to me an SCCA member to participate.

 

dream bigger my friend..

Dave, sounds like good fun, doubt I would be able to make it.

edit:
I have seen other groups do similar things with an 'at your leisure' type of time frame. they map a route and keep the event open for X number of days and you report in on your times. Of course a more structured one day event would add a bit more group atmosphere to it. Just thinking out loud

 

Or.. Could do a team run. Split everyone up into 2 teams but the two team members take off at a different time and when they both get back you take their two times and get the medium time between the two. The team that gets closest to the set time wins.

 

I've done some winter rallies (I think they are put on by the alpha romeo club) and you cross a checkpoint at a specific time based on distance. Every second you are EARLY or late you get a point. Also random scouts or people leap frogging to checkpoints, if they spot anyone breaking a speed limit they are automatically DQ'd. It can be a lot of fun, but I would definitely stay OUT of cities because any wind of a rally denotes organized racing and cops would probably sit at checkpoints and hand out tickets.

 

Millertime??? who dat??? do you have a blue Z??

 

I don't get how this denotes any kind of racing? It is not any different then telling your friends to meet you at mcdonalds at 5pm. How they drive to get there is up to them. You would assume they would drive legally but if they don't they are excepting of the risk. Police can not hand out tickets for a bunch of people driving to one place in an organized fashion.

 

you do realize the world we currently live? where everything is zero tolerance...no consideration for context or circumstance. I mean just think of the children