This one aint for the weak, and probably not a good idea if you're not doing it with someone who hasnt done it before.

But I will post here anyway for the brave.

Tomorrow night (Saturday night May 26th) ITN is having a 12 hour Monte Carlo Style Road Rally from 7pm to 7am.

I will be there co-driving a Red MCS. If anyone thinks they are up to it, feel free to participate. It's only 10 bucks to enter if there is a first timer in the car.

Here is the flyer. Their website is www.itnrally.org if you need more info.

 

"probably not a good idea if you're not doing it with someone who hasnt done it before."

And what does that mean Matt?!

I read that as .... it's not a good idea to do it with someone that HAS done it before! (second and third negatives cancel...double negative...)

Is that why your doing the run with me, the newbie!

It's gonna be fun either way

- Charlie

 

heh, actually I misphrased that. What I MEANT to say was, if it is your first time doing it, I suggest you get someone who HAS done it before to be co-driver. Doing it in daylight for 6 hours is grueling enough... but to do it OVERNIGHT for TWELVE hours, you have to me completely out of your mind.

Which is why us clowns are doing it. :(

 

roger that!

 

Good Luck Guys!! That's just going to be craziness!!!

 

Matt lead the way having done one rally before.

Wow, what a rush doing this overnight rally. It felt like maybe 3 or 4.5 hours, but we drove with minimum time off, something like 45 to 50 minutes for 12 hours, 45 minutes.

We came in first in the beginner class. We pretty much nailed our times, despite not having a good clock, we used my analog watch! Made a couple of minor early morning mistakes, but did very, very well... We nailed exactly a number of our leg times. Did not get lost per se, and were fairly successful at preventing each other from making a serious mistake.

Some of my highlights were:

• We were within 1 second of our arrive time on a 2:07:25 leg.
• We crossed within a second or two at 60mph.
• One of my favorites is when we had to drive so slow we only went about 30 feet in 4 minutes, so not as to receive an early time penalty.

Matt and I tried to split the driving / navigating 50-50, but Matt did most of the hard work. I feel I could contribute more the next time having done it once now. Really an unusual event, but so much fun!


Well done Matt

 

Thanks Charlie, well done to you too!

Yesterday I still hadn't recovered from it, but feeling pretty good right now.

It would have been nice to see another MINI there but oh well...

More MINI owners should jump on stuff like this, because it's the ultimate bond maker between man and machine.

Knowing that your car drove 13 hours flat out through curves, cliffs, potholes, dirt, darkness of night, snaking elevation changing roads, drunk rifle wielding farmers, CHP, insect swarms, shady fuel, tall grass, short grass, subarus, dried muddy fields, just to name a few, and get you back home safely, makes you realise that these little cars have heart.

For me this rally was an experience and a half, that I dont think I'll ever forget.

 

You forgot the Cows!! and the Cow odor