This event will kick off on July 6th with a brief drivers meeting, followed by a few laps around Summit Point Motorsports Park.
The 5 day rally will start the following morning in Martinsburg, West Virginia and conclude in Pueblo - Colorado on July 11th, with a few laps around Pueblo Motorsports Park. Over night stops along the way will be Athens - Ohio, Bedford - Indiana, Jefferson City - Missouri and Dodge City - Kansas.
A clue/route card is issued at the starting line each morning and there's a hotel party each night. Additional info can be found via RNA's web site, along with registration info at the bottom of the page in the link below.
If you've ever wanted to compete in a rally event or just drive on a multi-day trip with like minded gear heads for a good cause, with a party every night... this might be for you.
I have a couple questions...
1. Do all of you join one team or do you each have your own team? Specifically pertaining to setting up your fundraiser page.
2. Any suggestions for a first timer?
Thanks
1) Set up your own fund raising team page... in the past it was less confusing, but the way its set up this year, 100% of the donations go directly to ACP.
2) A ton... many answers are on the RNA forum threads but in brief and in no order of importance nor should the below be considered mandatory to have a great time.
A) Electronics = GPS, smart phone(s) and/or lap top(s) to run google searches. A CB radio works great when your working with other teams to decipher check point location clues.... radar detector might also come in handy, but I've seen other teams use radar guns to set them off for lolz.
B) A good navigator that can multitask the above equipment helps but isn't mandatory to have a good time.
C) With a GTO, consider removing the back seat to increase storage space because a full size spare is really nice to have. I bring a couple of coolers, one contains booze, the other mixers..... at the end of each day I'm pretty thirsty. A shit ton of tools and a few select spares round out whats in my trunk.
D) A good camera for still shots that can show time/date to document you have hit the un-attended check points (this one is a must and theres an ap for that) and a gopro, etc for when your haulin ass.
E) Lastly, a road atlas and maybe some detailed maps of each state along the route for the if and when electronics fail to work. Example; During Rally Dixie out in the middle of gods country.... shortly after the power lines terminated so did the GPS, both long before our cell phones lost signal... which provided for a 50 mile stretch of Deliverance jokes.
I hope you take one of the remaining 26 slots and see ya at Summit Point in July.
I can only see Team CCGTO Silver's donation page.... everyone else has a donation page under their specific team name (ie Angry Goat, Blue Car, Red Beard, LB Racing, Mountaineer, etc) and for some unknown reason a duplicate page under their actual name.
After looking at the list, all GTO participants in the rally are members of this forum, some are CCGTO and some are not.
Another item you may want to consider for the rally is roadside assistence such as AAA. Since this a five day rally its nice to have in case you need a tow. ( CCGTO Team Stingray )
I have found that most owners are the younger generation and thats okay, but taking 8-10 days off from work plus travel expenses seems to be more than they want or can handle. In our area,we have a good turnout when we do day trips.
I think I have the woman talked into letting me take the goat this year. (there was consideration to rent or purchase a new DD and do it). I have been taking care of a few "issues" and since it has been parked most of the winter, the miles are not racking up like they were for quite a while. If I can get this clutch issue figured out....... yes....... again. Then I actually think she will be good to go. 4 rallies in the same car isn't too bad.
I think the organizers do a great job in keeping the cost down. Trust me, I'm scrapping the bottom of the wallet come rally time. I may hate my job, but at least they haven't given me issues in getting the time off. It has been rough balancing the regular job, the extra prez duties at the fire station and getting things ready for this. The only depressing thing I have encountered is a bit of lack of interest in donation department. I have one idea I'm putting in, our fire station has a yearly yard sale event. We tend to get A LOT of foot traffic there. It looks like me and the woman has decided to put all money made from that to the charity through our team. We have plenty of stuff to sell.
Dave and I have decided to leave our GTOs at home this time...mostly because we will have Hunter along with us as a third driver. Space became a major issue as did reliability of my goat and wear and tear on Dave's.
So, we will be rolling in the Caddy CTS4. Much more comfort for 3, luggage space and reliability all rolled into one. You may see some wistful looks on my face at the race tracks, but what can you do?
Hotels are booked and I've got our overall route, including the homeward leg, are up on roadtrippers.com.
I am really looking forward to this one! I haven't been to CO since I moved away in 2009.
A sad day for fellow GTO's, in the form of you choosing comfort over enjoying one of the best cars ever imported to the US. Hahaha!
Just kidding. Don't forget to say hi to "team Cheap Horsepower" at the event...cheers!
...maybe. Seems like it'd be fun to see folks that made it to the end in Pueblo since it's just down I25... I used up way too much vacation earlier this year or I'd try a rally. Seems like both fun and a way away from the hassles of life for a while. Unreliable you guys claim? I should add the goat to my AAA towing? I had no idea (just picked it up Monday)...
I was just referring to mine, not GTOs in general. Too many things to attend to before taking it cross country.
:nonono: I am not even saying it wouldn't make it, it's just the likelihood of something breaking or a convenience not working properly is just too high.
All things I intend to get to, just not in time for the rally. The much longer rally.
So does this happen every year? From what I have read this too be a hell of a good time. I still am not entirely sure what it all entails but it seems like a much smaller scale gumball 3000....anyways let me know what's up I would love to join the next one!