What the heck is this event?

A 1-day rally event that shows off both your car and your mad driving, navigating and timing skills while having a great time with the people you are competing against.

What are the rules for the competition?

On each leg of the Rally, each team will receive the same route directions. The route directions will tell you which road to traverse and for how long to drive it. Finally, the directions will also tell you the average miles per hour you should be traveling on that leg. Following the route directions will never give you a reason to speed.

Each leg will have an official time (we won’t tell you what that time is). If you check-in at the end of the leg EARLY, it means your average speed was higher than the official average speed—which means you sped. Your score will be penalized and will be counted by doubling your team’s variance from the official time.

If you come in LATER than the official time, it means your average speed was lower than the official average speed. Your score will then simply be the variance.

Each checkpoint will have various Checkpoint Competitions that will allow teams to improve their score by winning MidCoast Rally Chips.

Each MidCoast Rally Chip is worth one point off of your final score.

Lastly—it could be easy for a team to be tempted to deviate from the route for many reasons. We want you to have as much fun as you can possibly pack into one day. But we’re going to keep you honest too. Secret Checkpoints are spread throughout the day and only open for 60 minutes at a time. Each team that stops at a Secret Checkpoint will receive additional MidCoast Rally Chips.

The maximum amount of chips any team can use will be ten.

EXAMPLE

Lastly, you will have the opportunity to get your mid-day variance at lunchtime by “bribing” the judges with at least $25. Don’t try to bribe them with anything lower—you’ll just offend them and they won’t sell you your mid-day variance for any amount of cash!

How do I enter?

Go to www.roadrallycharities.com and sign up on the website. Payment is due at registration. If you don’t pay, then you’re not officially entered. However, you can pay register online or at any official Road Rally event.

Do I need any special stuff?

This is not a race. So you don’t need a roll cage. Or a fire suit. Or a helmet. Unless you’re The Stig from 2008. But you may want to pack in some signs that lead your friendly competitors off course. Wait—that was also in 2008. Costumes are encouraged. If you’re unfamiliar with rarely-traveled rural Iowa roads—you may want GPS, or at least a compass and Iowa map. Pens and paper and clipboards also help. Some have even said stopwatches come in handy.

Is this event safe?

Again. Not a race. There won’t be any sane reason why a driver needs to show his buddies he can do 120 mph on a country road while a John Deere is coming at him. It IS harvest season—and we ARE in Iowa.

You are driving with other cars around you—into oncoming traffic just as you do in a normal day. It’s amazing we pass oncoming cars at 65mph within a couple of feet on a regular basis! We’ll be driving on some scenic curvy roads. This is why you have to be 18 to be in this event. And this is why you would practice all safe and defensive driving measures while on the road. Kapeesh?

Are there prizes?

Oh absolutely. This is the ONLY Road Rally Charities event that has really cool prize packages—including a trophies and cool stuff. First, Second and Third place will each receive a prize package. A FUN-FUN-FUN Award will be given to the team that captures the most fun of the day. And the Pink Panther Award will go to the best costume/theme of the day.

In 2008, prizes valued over $7,500 were awarded.

Am I going to be forced to speed in order to be competitive?

Nope. You know when you start. We tell you the average speed on each leg. Though this may be faster than the current posted speed limit (think of average speed of 40 mph when you are on a road going out of town—posting from 25 mph speed limit, to 35 mph, and finally to 55 mph.) And finally, if you get there early, it will cost you.

What’s it cost?

$100. Flat.

What am I getting for my buck… or one hundred of them?

Well—I’m sure we’re giving you $100 worth of fun and memories…. however, if you need more to help make up your mind—your entry fee covers your car’s event registration, the entry of as many people as you can legally hold in your vehicle, lunch and a spectacular Award Ceremony.

What if I have no idea what I’m doing?

Good. Makes for GREAT fun. We don’t either.

What if I have to cancel?

We’ll need all cancellations in 2 weeks before the event. Otherwise, your $100 is going to go to a good charity and you can still write it off. We will allow you to change the details of each team at Registration—allowing you to give away your registration to another person.

Am I going to have fun?

If you’re still contemplating, this may not be the event for you—we still love you anyway and want to see you on our MudCoast Run or MidCoast Rally and at our Cruise Ins. See you this summer!

Can I bring my minor child?

Yes. But they cannot drive. Let us know if you have any special requests (we’d recommend your minor not be in a baby seat.)

Where do we start and when?

Well… aren’t WE getting ahead of ourselves? You’ll get everything in advance via email.

Are you guys making a profit on this event?

We hope so. At least a little. We anticipate that about $100 of each entry for this event is profit for the organization.

Regardless, there is no individual that makes money on any Road Rally Charities event. We are incorporated with the state of Iowa. We have no employees, and none of our leadership can have a paid contract with Road Rally Charities. Simply put, the leaders are not making money. We’re making memories. And laughs. And fun. And we’re getting to know some really cool people. We hold our checking accounts at West Bank in Des Moines.

Oh, and by the way—Road Rally Charities exists to create a better Iowa by creating, organizing and producing exciting and competitive driving events. And because the leadership is very philanthropic, we like to even name charities to give a portion of the profits. In 2009, they are the Isisserettes, The Heart Connection Charities (chilcren’s cancer) and The Subjective Theater Company.

We have a super-talented production and organization team—and as we grow our coffers, we grow our events.

So long answer to short question—if we do make a profit—it’s the organization that’s making a profit—and that profit will simply create bigger and better events for you to attend, pay money, allow us to make a bit of a profit on it, so we can create bigger and better events… you get the idea.

Is there any other stuff I have to worry about?

You should be prepared to pay for your gas (driving all over rural Iowa—I’m sure NONE of you are from THERE!) and pay for your breakfasts and lunches. You might invest in a good AAA membership too—they tow up to 100 miles.