STeveD
01-16-2011, 11:01 PM
The supps are up, registration is open, let the mayhem begin.
http://www.mlrc.ca/MLWR/index.html
385 km. starting at 10 pm Feb 12, running until about 7 am Feb 13. Not for the timid.
Here's a bit of a look at the roads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HprpPdD9h_A
If you're interested in working the event (we'll keep you moving), please contact Bruce Leonard (contact info in the supp regs.)
SECRET NOTE TO SPDA TEAMS:
This is one of those rallies where pre-registration order can give you an advantage. If you read the supp regs, they plan to put novices first on the road, and in order of received payment. They may reverse this decision, but it's often unwise to be the very first car on the road.
If you're intermediate or expert class, you're probably going to want to register ASAP. There will be fewer people polishing the road in front of you and creating ice. That lets you run your own rally without worrying about your competitors.
A second strategy would be to intentionally register after your main competitor so you would know if they've gone off, dropped out, or can't maintain CAS. You can ask at CP's if their car number has already arrived, etc. You can then adjust your strategy accordingly. But I prefer to prioritize by position on the road.
Now, if you're competitive in novice class, you might want to bide your time a bit.... you DON'T want to be first on the road. First car finds all of the deer, and all of the black ice. 3rd to 5th on the road is pretty good seeding. You won't have many slow novices holding you up, you'll have clear tracks in the snow from the previous cars if your Navigator DOES get lost, most of the deer should be scattered, and two to four cars will have found any perilous black ice before you. So watch the confirmed entry list for updates and register accordingly.
If you're NOT competitive in novice class, you might want to wait until there's 30 slots filled before you register. Fewer competitors will be passing you if you can't maintain CAS; mostly only the intermediates and experts. Intermediates and experts also usually have auxiliary lights, so if your lighting is woefully inadequate, let them by and you can actually go faster with confidence using their lighting to show you what is 200m to 300m down the road. Following the cues from their brake lights also can tell you what to expect. But don't think that because THEY can maintain a speed that you can as well.
So that's my tip for how to get "ahead" weeks before the event.
http://www.mlrc.ca/MLWR/index.html
385 km. starting at 10 pm Feb 12, running until about 7 am Feb 13. Not for the timid.
Here's a bit of a look at the roads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HprpPdD9h_A
If you're interested in working the event (we'll keep you moving), please contact Bruce Leonard (contact info in the supp regs.)
SECRET NOTE TO SPDA TEAMS:
This is one of those rallies where pre-registration order can give you an advantage. If you read the supp regs, they plan to put novices first on the road, and in order of received payment. They may reverse this decision, but it's often unwise to be the very first car on the road.
If you're intermediate or expert class, you're probably going to want to register ASAP. There will be fewer people polishing the road in front of you and creating ice. That lets you run your own rally without worrying about your competitors.
A second strategy would be to intentionally register after your main competitor so you would know if they've gone off, dropped out, or can't maintain CAS. You can ask at CP's if their car number has already arrived, etc. You can then adjust your strategy accordingly. But I prefer to prioritize by position on the road.
Now, if you're competitive in novice class, you might want to bide your time a bit.... you DON'T want to be first on the road. First car finds all of the deer, and all of the black ice. 3rd to 5th on the road is pretty good seeding. You won't have many slow novices holding you up, you'll have clear tracks in the snow from the previous cars if your Navigator DOES get lost, most of the deer should be scattered, and two to four cars will have found any perilous black ice before you. So watch the confirmed entry list for updates and register accordingly.
If you're NOT competitive in novice class, you might want to wait until there's 30 slots filled before you register. Fewer competitors will be passing you if you can't maintain CAS; mostly only the intermediates and experts. Intermediates and experts also usually have auxiliary lights, so if your lighting is woefully inadequate, let them by and you can actually go faster with confidence using their lighting to show you what is 200m to 300m down the road. Following the cues from their brake lights also can tell you what to expect. But don't think that because THEY can maintain a speed that you can as well.
So that's my tip for how to get "ahead" weeks before the event.