The DFW Map Rally, starting at Eagles Canyon Raceway neat Decatur, Texas on June 2, will present you with 10 locations in Wise and Jack counties. You will have to figure out how to visit all 10 spots in the shortest distance, using maps that we provide. If you think GPS and Google Maps can help you, then enter in class E, where any electronic aids are allowed. In class S, no electronics are allowed. Preregister now at tinyurl.com/DMR12msr.

• Odo check start: Shell Station at US 380 and Farm to Market 51 in Decatur.
• Registration Part 1: 9:00am plus your car number on Rally Day. Sign the waiver, receive your instructions for the odometer check, which ends near Eagles Canyon Raceway (ECR) on FM 51.
• Registration Part 2: Opens when first car arrives from the odo check at ECR. Traditional rally check-in performed here.
• Take up to 30 minutes to determine your route from maps provided.
• First car out about 10:15.
• Length: as short as you can make it in miles, probably about 4 hours in time
• Finish: Sweetie Pie's Ribeyes, 201 W. Main, Decatur, Texas
• Route: You choose your route from maps provided. You may use unpaved roads.
• Classes: E (electronic aids such as GPS, map programs allowed); S (no GPS or any other electronics allowed).
• Special award to the first-time rallyist with the best score, not otherwise placing.
• Vehicles: Sports Cars, Family Cars, Classic Cars, Antiques, Hot Rods, Cruisers, Speedsters, anything with 4 wheels that’s street legal is OK in this Rally. Note: "speed" is not a factor.
• Rally Fee: $30.00. SCCA Members: $10.00 discount. A $5.00 late fee will be assessed to anyone not preregistered online. You must pay with registration at motorsportReg.com .
• Rally Master: John Poulos. Course Marshall: George Fink.

Join us! We had 1 RX7 and 3 other Mazdas at our rally last month.

 

DFW Map Rally – June 2, 2012

The DFW Map Rally starts in Decatur, Texas. To preregister, go to www.tinyurl.com/DMR12msr. Registration opens at 9:00am at the Shell service station at the intersection of US 380 and Business 380 on the northeast side of Decatur. After registration, you will run a 12-mile (approximate) odometer check, then proceed to Eagles Canyon Raceway, where you will receive the materials needed to run the rally.

In this rally, we give you 10 locations to visit, which you can find on the maps we provide. All you have to do is figure out a route to visit each location in the shortest distance. Then go drive it. No signs to find along the way. You do have to answer a question or questions at each location, which may come from a sign, but that's all there is to it. You may even use your computers or GPS units, if you enter in class E, which allows electronic aids. In class S, all you may use is the maps we give you. Novices and Masters alike run in either class E or S.

There is an award for the first-time rally team that has the highest score among first-timers, not otherwise placing.

After the odo check, you will then be directed to Eagles Canyon Raceway, where SCCA does its road racing. There is a place indoors with tables for you to work with your maps to determine your route. When you are ready, get in your car and check in at the start line. After your odo reading is recorded, you are off to Paradise, and nine other other places.

There is a time limit, of course, but we believe it's ample. Your mileage, corrected by your odo factor, determines your score. If you miss one of the scoring opportunities at the ten locations, you will be penalized.

It is still a fun drive in the country, but you choose your roads. With the exception of two short areas we tell you about, you will probably run entirely on paved roads. You are free to drive on unpaved roads, as long as they are not private, but we don't think you will need to.

How can GPS, Google Maps, and so forth help you? We don't know, but if you can think of a way, enter in class E. The overall winner, by the way, will be asked to tell us all how they did it, as part of the awards ceremony. So be prepared.

Join us!