he United States RoadRally Challenge (USRRC) serves as the SCCA’s premier
RoadRally weekend and is
designed to combine equal parts
competition, adventure (a little
bit, anyway), sightseeing, and
ample opportunities for
socializing. But being arguably
the pinnacle of SCCA RoadRally
competition also means that
many who are new to the sport
think the USRRC is too much for
them to handle. But with the risk
of sounding rude, we’re here to
say that you’re wrong.
RoadRally has been part of
the SCCA since the Club was
first created nearly 75 years
ago. Technically, rallies have
been around almost as long as
there have been automobiles
and men and women to pilot
them. In its historic form, an
automobile rally is a long-
distance road trip from point “A”
to point “B,” with a number of
stops in between, a schedule to
Touring rallies that new or casual
teams can run SOP [seat of the
pants] – a Course [traditional trap]
rally that is more challenging
but still understandable for
the casual rally team, and
a GTA [gimmick] rally that
should be fun for everyone.”
Simple, right? For those
fluent in RoadRally speak, sure.
For the rest of you, we’ve got
you covered with a cheat sheet
to help you tackle this year’s
Oct. 4-7 USRRC in St. Louis.
YOUR SCHEDULE
The 2018 USRRC will offer a
diverse program that includes
every kind of SCCA rally, Ferris
says. On Thursday, Oct. 4,
competitors will experience Tulips
by Night, a short Monte-Carlo-style Divisional Touring rally
using tulip diagrams for route
instructions. (A tulip diagram
is a bird’s-eye illustration of a
road intersection.) Expect an
early evening start and a rally
of about three hours duration.
On Friday, Oct. 5, competitors
will tackle the Kaskaskia
Trails National Course Rally, a
traditional SCCA “trap” rally of
about eight hours (including
breaks) and 180 miles in
duration. This rally sets the tone
for Saturday’s Le Petit Rallye du
Rocher National Touring Rally,
another rally that will employ
easy-to-follow tulip diagrams
for route instructions, but like
Friday, competitors should expect
to spend about seven hours
and 170 miles in their cars.
The event wraps up Sunday,
Oct. 7, with the Monopoly Redux,
RALLY ON
(BOT TOM LEFT and TOP
RIGH T) With the USRRC taking
place in different parts of the
country each year, the event
always features challenges
unique to the location, like in
2013 when DC Region hosted
the key event. (TOP LEFT)
Southern Illinois features plenty
of history, some of which
will appear during the 2018
USRRC. (BOTTOM RIGHT)
Red Bud, Ill., is in the heart
of USRRC 2018 country.
maintain, and a route to follow.
It’s that simple. But if you’ve ever
competed in a RoadRally, you
know it isn’t. But that doesn’t
mean you shouldn’t try.
“Our goal since we first
applied to host the 2018 USRRC
is to create a weekend that
will appeal to a wide range of
SCCA members,” explains Ron
Ferris, St. Louis Region rally
chairman, multiple-time National
Champion, and one-third of
this year’s USRRC rallymasters.
Ferris notes that St. Louis offers
a central and easily accessible
location, has convenient access
to great countryside and
enjoyable sports car roads,
“and has significant experience
hosting National events.”
As for this year’s USRRC
rallies, Ferris says that the
Region has focused on creating
rallies for the event that can
be enjoyed by experienced and
not-so-experienced teams alike.
“There are two straightforward
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