Let's see. Assuming they are starting in approximately the same location as last year:

Son of Sno*Drift (Michigan) - January 8 - 4.5 hours away

Long Way Home (New York) - January 15 - 3 hours away

Rallye Des Neiges (Quebec) - January 22 - 7 hours away

Ohio Winter Rally (Ohio) - February 5 - 5 hours away

Maple Leaf Winter Rally (Ontario) - February 12 - 2.5 hours away

Winter Challenge Rally (Vermont) - February 19 - 8 hours away.

Thanks for your support Ross.  Having a series like this without an Ontario event would greatly diminish its prestige.  The MLWR will surely be a great winter challenge.

Steve McKelvie

Great idea.
But my question is, are these (will these) be like the old winter drive-x rallies of the early 2000's that we had (individuals that did them will know what i am talking about here), or like the more recent navigational rallies, kind of boring for the driver.

The details of the first WINTR Series event have been announced. The Son of Sno*Drift XIII Rally will be held on Saturday, January 8th, 2011. I am really pleased that this event will be the first rally in the inaugural season of the WINTR Series. This will be a great way to start the WINTR off!

Son of Sno*Drift is a straightforward Time, Speed, Distance (TSD) Road Rally with simple instructions and no traps. Roads used on Son of Sno*Drift will be primarily unpaved and will run within Oakland, Livingston, Washtenaw and Jackson counties of Michigan. Total distance will be approximately 175 miles with two breaks. Mileages will be provided with each instruction, which will be by tulip diagram and written description.

With very few exceptions, this rally will be run to the SCCA tour rally rules. This event will count toward the Detroit Region and Great Lakes Division SCCA road rally championships, as well as the new Winter INTernational Rally (WINTR) Series.
Awards will be presented to the first and second place teams in each of the following classes (plus third place Novice):
E (Equipped) – unlimited equipment.
L (Limited) – calibratible odometer and any calculating device (which does not take input from the odometer).
S (Stock) – stock odometer and any non-programmable calculator.
N (Novice) – any team where the total number of rallies entered by the two members of the team does not exceed six (6); and equipment is restricted to that of the Stock class.

For scoring in the WINTR Series, we will use the Overall placing in the rally, regardless of class.

Start/ Finish: Mexico Lindo restaurant in Waterford, Michigan. Mexico Lindo is located on M-59 (Highland Rd) just west of Airport Rd, on the south side. (6225 Highland Rd. (248) 666-3460).

Son of Sno*Drift is not to be confused with the “Sno*Drift“ Performance Rally, which is presented by RallyCar. Son of Sno*Drift is expected to be a challenge to the driver, the navigator, and the vehicle. Suitable tires and nighttime driving lights are recommended. Snow extraction equipment is also a wise idea. This should include, warning triangle(s), tow strap, shovel, etc.

Tentative schedule:

11:00 AM Registration Opens/ Route Instructions available
12:10 PM Driver’s Meeting (Navigators welcome)
12:31 PM Car #1 Starts Rally
4:01 PM Car #1 Starts Section Two (Tentative)
7:01 PM Car #1 Starts Section Three (Tentative)
9:00 PM Car #1 Finishes (Approx.)

Entry Fees (per car):
• $40 for SCCA members who pre-register (non-members add $15)
• $50 postmarked after 1/5 and day of rally (non-members add $15)

Everyone who enters the Son of Sno*Drift Rally will be automatically entered and scored in the WINTR Series. Make checks payable to: Detroit Region SCCA, Inc.

Mail Entry To: Son of Sno*Drift, 7307 **** Rd, Algonac, MI 48001-3011 (Mary Shiloff: Registrar)

For More Information: Scott Harvey (248) 683-0207 or (248) 488-4316 (leave message please) or e-mail to: TeamHarco@juno.com

To learn more and download an entry form at: www.detroit-scca.org

Motel accommodations in the area: Holiday Inn Express, 4350 Pontiac Lake Rd, Waterford 248-674-3434 or at the Waterford Inn (or Comfort Inn) 7076 Highland Rd, Waterford 248-666-8555 or 248-666-8431

Frank Beyer has asked me to navigate for him at the Son of Sno*Drift, which should be fun. I look forward to taking part in this first WINTR Series event and hope that others come out to enjoy WINTR. Let it snow!

The WINTR Series will consist of six of the best winter rallies in the USA and Canada. The other events willl be the Long Way Home (New York), Rallye des Neige (Quebec), Ohio Winter Rally (Ohio), Maple Leaf Winter Rally (Ontario), and the Winter Challenge Rally (Vermont). Your results from the best three rallies will be used to score in the WINTR Series. Winning this series will be very challenging and should show who the top winter ralliests are.


Steve McKelvie
Franklin, MA

For scoring in the WINTR Series, we will use the Overall finishing position in each rally as determined by the organizers of each rally.  So you should take steps to finish as high in the field as you can.  You say that you would run in the Son of Sno*Drift in the Limited Class.  I am going to compete in the Son of Sno*Drift in the Equipped Class to help me finish as high as possible.  My advice to you is "Don't bring a knife to a gunfight."  For the purposes of the WINTR Series borrow/bring the best stuff you can.  Each rally and organization will likely give class awards and points towards a class championship, but for the purposes of the WINTR Series we recognize the Overall finishing position.  The goal of the WINTR Series is to be a top winter rally series that is difficult and prestigious to win.  When to win the WINTR Series you will really have something to brag about.  You will have beat the best from all around and on both sides of the border.  

You mentioned that you would be in the Novice Class at the MLWR.  That would put you in an advantageous position for that rally, as I understand the rally instructions would be simplified.

Regards,
Steve McKelvie

We are thinking about taking part at the Son of Sno* Drift.   But I just realized that it's being US, what if the instruction are all in miles and the odometer is in kilometers?  Converting every instruction in kms is impossible.  Is there going to be a set of instruction for Canadians with distances converted to kms?  Same would apply for Americans wanted to participate in Canadian events.  

 

Taras wrote on 12/25/10 at 14:13:12:


You know there are a fair amount of rallyists out there with American or British cars that have odometers in miles that have survived this long.  It's not the end of the world, especially since Winter rallies tend to be lighter on instructions and the navigators need something to do anyway.