You may have seen this idea out there in General Automotive. I believe it is something in which many members are going to be highly interested.

This idea came from the Tennasee chapter leader. What do you guys think?


"The basic idea is that with a full tank (how else?) a group of chapter members start around a course that is laid out with "waypoints" where chapter volunteers are standing by with "Waypoint Cards" to prove that each participant made it to a "checkpoint".

At the end, tanks are refilled with a chapter judge recording the gallons put back in the tank. Filling up anywhere along the way is grounds for immediate disqualification..

Courses can be long or short, and should include historically or otherwise significant way points, and factor in enough time for stopping and taking pictures.

A loose "RALLY" that is not only a challenge, it is an opportunity for families to drive around sight seeing, it brings people together as a team, it would promote mileage improvement, and ought to be one heck of a lot of fun!

The course would be flexible in this way: You have to touch base at the waypoints. They are the only places you can get a card. HOW YOU GET THERE is up to the individual - so the route is up to each team to decide on.

Who do you think would be interested in such a game?

The beauty of it is that since it is about mileage, not speed - all of it can be done without special dispensation, closed roads, or breaking the speed limit anywhere on the routes...

It is "WITHIN THE LAW".

If there were a commercial scale (such as at a truck stop) at the beginning of the course, total weight could be factored into the fuel consumed for the final point score, so it would be fair across the board.

It's a concept I am still working out the details of, but the precedent is the "MOBIL Economy Challenge" which you can search out on the net."


Maybe by total weight class?

 

I like it. Kinda like a poker-run. I'd be up for that if it falls on an "off" weekend for us.

 

Goose You would win. I seen your post about your gas mileage..

This old 68 with it's 352 was always known as a gas hog so I would go for the fun of it..

jd

 

Can I use my '01 f150, or do I have to drive my son's '73 F250? Ooh, wait.. I got it. I can drive my daughter-in-laws '95 Escort. If I take my sawzall to it, will it qualify as a pickup?

 

drive the 73 f250..it will give me a shot...

jd

 

Goose, run your 25 mpg van if you want - you just have to run it on pump gas!

 

How would milage be calculated? My speedo is 1/10th of a mile off every 1 mile. By the time I get to 100 miles its 10 miles off.

Would be unfortunate to say get 21 miles to the gallon and get beat by somebody who gets 18, cause your speedo say's you get 15. See my point? If everybody took the same route that could be compensated for.

And how would you configure trucks with two gas tanks? Fill both? one empty?

I would also suggest to do it by engine class, as well as weight class, and have a best in classes.

Best in the 300 I6 F-100, best in the 300 I6 F-250, best in the 390 V8, etc... best of them all etc.. That would give the gas gusslers an even break to perhaps win their class.

just some suggestions thrown out for your thinking caps.

 

My speedo has the same problem, 1/10th off for every ten miles. I think everyone here is honest and would let us factor that in.

jd

 

No problem on the mileage - we would run from set points to set points, all fill at the same station at the same time, and fill again at the end of the rally. I guess those with two tanks could cheat, but why would they? The best we can hope for is a few tee shirts as prizes, so mostly it would be just a fun day.