An Introduction to Road Rallies   

Rallying is by far the most accessible form of automotive competition available to the average person since, at least at the local event level, no special car, skills, or equipment are needed. You don't even need to have a "sporting" car, as ANY street legal and properly insured car, van or truck is suitable. Road Rallying has been a part of automotive competition in the US for many years, and was the activity that bound together the enthusiasts who founded the Sports Car Club of America over 50 years ago. A road rally (sometimes also spelled in the classic British way as "rallye") can take on many different forms, but in general it can be said that rallies are a form of motorsport where cars leave a starting point individually and are directed to follow a more or less complicated route to a finish point where the competitors gather (or "rally") together again. Types of rally range from the high speed events that comprise the World Rally Championship and SCCA Pro Rally series, to just-for-fun "gimmick" events that are more of a parlor game for adults played on a REALLY big board. Here in the Des Moines Valley Region we stage an occasional "gimmick" event, but the type of rallies used for the DMVR Rally Championship are limited to a combination of two classic forms of rally which are conducted at legal speeds on public roads with normal traffic; T.S. (Time-Speed) and Q&A (Question and Answer). Let us emphasize strongly that our rallies are NOT races! In a race the objective is to be the first competitor to finish. In a Time-Speed rally the object is to arrive at precisely the correct time.

As you begin an event you will be given a set of Route Instructions that you will follow to complete the rally. These will include numbered instructions which define the points at which you turn, and the average speed(s) you are to maintain. This is the Time-Speed component of the rally, and the object is to maintain your average speed(s) as closely as possible so as to arrive at the final checkpoint at exactly the right time; neither early or late. Since the "Rallymaster(s)" who planned the event know in advance the exact distance for each average speed segment, it's a simple matter to calculate when a specific car should arrive. Since the competitors don't know these distances their job is a bit more challenging. To discourage unsafe driving, cars arriving before their scheduled time will suffer twice the penalty of cars arriving after their scheduled time. Since stop signs, turns, other traffic, etc. will affect your overall average speed, it's usually necessary to drive somewhat faster than the average speed given in order to arrive at the correct time. While in most instances the average speed will be below the posted speed limit, there may be sections where the average will equal or exceed the posted limit. In these cases there will always be a segment which follows where the average speed is sufficiently below the legal limit to allow you to make up time without breaking the law . Between the numbered route instructions there will usually be some questions and/or "fill-ins" that you must correctly complete based on signs and objects that you see along the route. This is the Q&A component. The winner is the team with the lowest combined total points from time, fill-in, checkpoint and/or Time Allowance penalties (See "Scoring"). And as implied by the name, the competitors "rally" together at the end of the event to find out the scores, and share their experiences. These post event gatherings are a great way to meet your fellow motorsports enthusiasts and the party often continues well beyond the final car's arrival.

Are you ready to find out more details about how rallies are run? Click here to go to the Rally Rules and General Instructions page..

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Last Revised 2/08/03