RAL WEEKEND - RACING AGAINST LEUKEMIA!

[pzahornasky]

Hi All,

I'm entirely new to solo (and performance driving in general). I just bought a 2005 Elise a couple months ago, and now that I've had it a little while, I'm starting feel the urge to do something more interesting than exit ramps . It looks like this Race against Leukemia is a big event and for a good cause which is a good thing and perhaps a bad thing. It's obviously late in the season, and so probably most people are already possessed of a clue. How reasonable would it be for me to give my first shot at this at this event? I'm obviously going to be clueless and I worry that larger event may have fewer provisions for assistance to someone new.

Also, is it too late in the game to sign up, (I certainly won't have time to collect pledges but I can make a donation my self) Or is this normally a regster day of the event type of deal?

-Gus

While the event is big, it is certainly a good one to make your 'first'.  The pledge runs on Saturday mean you can run as much as your wallet or pledges will let you.  A good time to learn, because the morning runs are just for fun, the competition does not start until afternoon.

Sunday is a regular event, but still a good one for newbies.

So come on up and be welcome.

[WileyCox]

Hi All,

I'm entirely new to solo (and performance driving in general). I just bought a 2005 Elise a couple months ago, and now that I've had it a little while, I'm starting feel the urge to do something more interesting than exit ramps . It looks like this Race against Leukemia is a big event and for a good cause which is a good thing and perhaps a bad thing. It's obviously late in the season, and so probably most people are already possessed of a clue. How reasonable would it be for me to give my first shot at this at this event? I'm obviously going to be clueless and I worry that larger event may have fewer provisions for assistance to someone new.

Also, is it too late in the game to sign up, (I certainly won't have time to collect pledges but I can make a donation my self) Or is this normally a regster day of the event type of deal?

-Gus

HAH.  Gus, I'm driving your car.  No, seriously, dude, give me a call about this event, I'll tell you allll about it!  Check your private message area on here for a phone number. 

-Wiley Cox (who went to college with Gus!)

[Neil Schelly]

Every event we have new people who've never autocrossed before.  You certainly don't have to be concerned that you'll be the only new person.  And it will be far more fun than exit ramps - definitely come on up. 

RAL is a pretty big event region-wide, but it's a fun event more than anything for Solo (on Saturday).  Saturday is not part of the points series and the morning is basically $10/run.  You can collect pledges or donate to yourself.  There certainly aren't many opportunities for tax-deductible racing any other times in the year.  In the past, we've explicitly done RAL registration as a register-on-the-morning-of sort of day.  While we typically do pre-registration for events, it's not required for now.
-N

[Neil Schelly]

Wiley's just trying to fill the void in his heart after getting a passenger seat ride in the SoloRu.  Don't worry Wiley, you can take my car for a round at RAL too. ;-P
-N

[WileyCox]

Hey, I just like to help out my friends!   

[bigboost17]

On Saturday, do we have to be there @ regular time to register, or can I be there a little bit later and still get a couple of pledge runs in before the Goodale / Gordon Challenges.

[Neil Schelly]

Unofficial answer: be there normal time. I'm sure you don't have to be there at exactly 7:30, but everything moves more smoothly when you're not in a hurry.
-N

[JT]

Is possession of a Solo Rulebook required for the Saturday events? If yes, will they be available on site?
JT

[Neil Schelly]

No.  That's only a requirement for National level events (National Tour, ProSolo, Divisional).
-N

[blang]

RAL DoubleX Rules:

These are the rules of the Double-X that Warren and I agreed to (ammended by Chris F.):

1.  All cars to be tech'd by solo tech on Saturday and again on Sunday by the rally tech.
2.  All runs count for a 4 run cumulative time.
3.  Tires the only change allowed.
4.  Only 1 class (all cars).
5.  There may be a trophy, it may be just for bragging rights
6.  There will be 2 solo runs on Saturday after the Challenge event, and two runs Sunday morning prior to the rallycross event.
7.  20 car entry max.
8.  $40 entry fee, all to be donated to the RAL donee.


As of this writing, I am not aware that all 20 slots are filled. Also, if there's an intense interest in participating, I'm sure we can bend the limit to accomodate. This is a charity event, afterall.

I'll slog through the rallye postings to make sure this makes it over there.

[ChrisFranson]

Bob,
The amended rules you posted didn't include the major amendments:

After discussions among the rallycross staff and other concerned parties, the rules have been amended as follows:
1.  All cars to be tech'd by solo tech on Saturday and again on Sunday by the rally tech.
2.  All runs count for a 4 run cumulative time.
3.  Tires may be changed.
4.  Only 1 class (all cars).
5.  There may be a trophy, it may be just for bragging rights
6.  There will be 2 solo runs on Saturday after the Challenge event, and two runs Sunday morning prior to the rallycross event.
7.  20 car entry max.
8.  $40 entry fee, all to be donated to the RAL fund.
9.  Suspension adjustments are permitted.

Following the discussion about suspension adjustments, Kathy Barnes pointed out there was no way to enforce this policy anyway unless the cars were to be impounded overnight, and that's just not gonna happen for this.

[blang]

For those of you running in the RAL XX, these are the times you should
be at the race sites:

Saturday, NHMS: 
~2:30 tech                     
~3:00 or as soon as Jeff Gordon Challenge is over, course walk, then
runs

Sunday, The Lodge at Belmont:
7:15 tech and course walk
7:45 runs

[Drew84]

How would I go about running both the Auto-x and Rally-x on Sunday? I'm in points contention for both Classes I'm in and I'm willing to work extra assingments. It's just that I need points to keep my lead in STU with the Subaru and I need the points to move up in SF rally-x with the Rally Mirage.

[Chang]

I get my work assignments done before the event to take care of that responsibility.  I worked tech and course at a rallyx earlier in the year and spoke with Chris R to get the ok to do this.
I work extra for Solo, things like the Novice school, to get relieved of my work assignment for the Solo on RAL weekend, and spoke with Rob L to get the ok to do this.
It is a busy day to go back and forth from the rallyx to the solo.  Of course it is very important to not miss any of the rallyx runs at the appropriate times.  Solo is a little easier since the course usually does not change.
You may want to speak with Chris R and Rob L to figure out how you can do this if you can this year.  Perhaps work extra during the JGC or work registration on Friday/Saturday for Solo?  Work tech for RallyX?  Just some suggestions, nothing official.  Money also helps 
Hope to see more people doing both.

[Thumper]

OH SURE,
And I am stuck inside the track working Fire/Rescue for the Enduro, can we do this on Monday?
Again I buy a car I can't autoX why do I do it?