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Bigger and better. Those terms would aptly describe the fourth annual running of this road rally, which is sponsored by the Lighthouse Depot Retail Store of Wells, Maine. Last year's event won New England Region, Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA's) prestigious "Rally-of-the-Year" award. This year the event has been raised to the next plateau, having been incorporated into SCCA's Northeast Divisional road rally series.

You can be a part of the action. No special kind of car is required. Your "everyday" vehicle would suffice; as long as it's registered, insured, plus has a working odometer and speedometer. A beginning rally team (consisting of a driver and a navigator) only needs to bring along a few provisions: a watch that displays seconds (digital is best; but a sweephand is OK), a basic pocket calculator, a clipboard, pad of paper, 3 or 4 highlighters of assorted colors, and a few pencils and pens. A novice rally seminar will be held on the evening before the event to provide guidance to those new to the sport. You'll be running in a class separate from the experienced teams, which is bound to increase your odds of winning a trophy.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First let's consider what a road rally is and how it's conducted. A time-speed-distance road rally is an automobile tour that takes place on public roads, obeying ordinary traffic rules. The object is for the rally teams to stay on the prescribed course, while maintaining specified average speeds. A rally is not a race! Each vehicle is timed at checkpoints found along the course at locations unknown to contestants beforehand. Penalty points are acquired for arriving either early or late at each checkpoint. Low score wins.

This year's edition of Lighthouse Depot Road Rally will feature a 160-mile scenic route which tours coastal York County in the morning, where a close-up look at Nubble Light can be enjoyed; then ventures inland to take in some mountain views in the afternoon. The starting point will be located at the Lighthouse Depot Gift Store in Wells, Maine; and the finish locale will be at The Falls Restaurant in Sanford, Maine. Here a Pasta Feast Buffet will be available at $16.00 per person, tax and tip inclusive, for those who sign up before September 14.

Pre-registration to enter the rally by this date is encouraged; although entries will be accepted on the weekend of the rally. The entry fee is $35.00 per car. A portion of each entry fee will be donated to the American Lighthouse Foundation. Awards, courtesy of the Lighthouse Depot, will be presented to the top-placing teams of each rally class. No one will go away empty-handed, however. Commemorative dash plaques and other items will be provided by the rally's sponsor, as well.

To obtain a rally/entry form, stop in at the Lighthouse Depot, or contact the event organizer Patti Mikkelsen, e-mail address: mikks@megalink.net or by phone: 207) 583-4148. If you're online, check out the rally's web page at: http://www.agate.net/~cmotorclub/lhdepot.htm

This story appeared in the July 1999 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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