[V8] Downeast Ramble?

Thu Sep 17 20:35:33 PDT 2009

So you're going to make me buy my V8 back from Scott in order to 
participate?!  Argh.

Could I just put four rings on the hood of the Miata and see if anyone 
noticed?  I can make it drip Pentosin...

John

-----Original Message-----

From: Roger Woodbury <rmwoodbury at roadrunner.com>

To: Etdmail at cs.com; v8 at audifans.com

Sent: Thu, Sep 17, 2009 3:14 pm

Subject: Re: [V8] Downeast  Ramble?

A surprising amount of positive response to the idea of a Downeast 
Ramble,

both from on this list and elsewhere.  Several things appear very clear 
at

this point.

First of all, the tentative dates for running this even will be October 
14,

15 and 16, 2011.  That's two years away, and should provide ample time 
to

settle all of the route and logistical questions.  It will also mean 
that

the rally is well planned out to provide a terrific fall tour, whether 
it be

5, 6, 7 or more hundred miles.

The format that will be followed will probably be self timing.  Each car

will arrive and depart from each checkpoint in their own time.  The only

timing for actual points and penalties will be done at the end of each

stage, I think.  Each team will turn in their own times for each leg, 
and

the times turned in will be compared against official times.  The 
timing car

will log in each vehicle at the end of each stage, and total times will 
be

compared to the official stage time.  Points will be accumulated for 
each

time over or under logged for each checkpoint and for the entire stage.

One big drawback to this formula is that there will not be any cutsey 
tricks

that get cars coming through checkpoints headed in the wrong direction,

which is something that my rallys used to specialize in in the "old 
days",

back along the dawn of time.  If there is enough support, there might 
be a

chase car, too, but I dunno about that yet... waaaaaay too soon.

Yes, it will be difficult and interesting at the same time to see how 
many

vintage car drivers really want to (a) drive up to Maine, and then (b) 
take

on Maine in October, in a rain or shine 1000 mile or so, rally.  This 
will

be a legal speed event only, of course...more a tour than a real, time 
speed

distance event, and the emphasis will be on enjoying the moment rather 
than

be "first" across the line.

So far, I do have some interest from a guy in Texas who thinks that a 
group

of his fellows in a vintage sports car club might convoy up to Maine to 
take

part.  There is a similar event in North Carolina the first weekend in

October, so such events do take place and having one in Maine just might

bring out enough crazies to make setting it up a reasonable venture.

Still to be considered will be the entrance fees and whether or not they

will include lodging and banquet (as has been suggested), or not.

Certainly the stages will need to end where there is sufficient lodging 
to

accommodate all of the entrants. I think I have that part figured out

already.

There will definitely be two classes.  There will be one class for

automobiles built prior to 1976. This is the main class.  There will 
also be

a "special" class for Audi V8 Quattro's only.  In the main class, any

vehicle will be allowed, so long as it is street legal, properly 
registered

and insured, and was built for model year 1975 and prior.

This sounds like such a yummy party that I have already spent an hour 
or so

looking through the pre-1976 auctions on eBay....but just don't tell my 
wife

because I haven't built her kitchen,  yet.