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Inside This Edition of USRRC 2017 Update, We'll Cover
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• PreCheck Report for Team Schneider
• Things to Do While You Are in Alaska!
• Questions From the Desktop
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United States Road Rally Challenge – July 2017 Update
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Greetings fellow Road Rally Enthusiasts,
The
United States Road Rally Challenge, sanctioned by the
Sports Car Club of America, will begin on Friday,
September 15th and travel from the Anchorage Hillside to Girdwood, the Hope Highway, and lodge in Seward. Saturday will see the teams traveling to Homer, before the events’ end on Sunday,
September 17th in Kasilof.
Fifty years ago there was a Road Rally for the
100th Celebration of the Cessation of Alaska from Russian — this USRRC is to celebrate that 1967 Road Rally, raise awareness of the
International Motor Racing Research Center SCCA Rally archives, and celebrate
Alaska's Sesquicentennial!
Teams are registered from
Florida,
Tennessee,
Maryland, Virgina,
Michigan,
California,
South Carolina,
Pennsylvania, and
Alaska — with teams from
Wasilla,
Kenai,
Anchorage,
Kasilof and
Fairbanks. The event was laid out for both
Cheechako Class (Stock) to
Sourdough Class (Equipped), so
no prior experience in the sport is needed. At this time, just two months out, we have 18 teams registered. We had to make our room deposits this past week and we had to guess at the total number needed — if you are attending, please choose to
register or
contact the
Rallymaster this week!
Peter and Joanne Schneider, SCCA Members from New Jersey, travelled up to Alaska in June. They spent three days with
Gail Engblom and
Cheryl Babbe on the USRRC Pre-Check. You can read Peter's write-up on the event below, and while we are wrapping up details in July, we are eager to get all interested teams registered by August 1st if possible.
We included some links at the bottom for travler ideas, and we encourage you to download
The Alaska App too!
We promise you will see more of Alaska on the highways and byways taken by the United States Road Rally Challenge than most who visit our beautiful part of the United States!
Come Join Us over the
September 15-17th Weekend and be a part of
America's Road Rally Weekend™!!
Safe travels,
The 2017 USSRC Clan
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2017 USRRC – Initial Pre-Check Report
by Peter & Joanne Schneider
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During the week of June 5th, my wife and I traveled to Anchorage, Alaska to run the initial pre-check of the 2017 SCCA USRRC.
Joanne and I first rallied in Alaska in 1989 on the Arctic Alaska Region’s 3rd Annual Mayday Mayday Road Rally. Since then, I have been back north to Alaska and the Yukon on eight events, such as the Alcan 5000 and the Rally of the Lost Patrol.
In order to understand rallying in the far north, you need to understand the constraints presented to event organizers.
Unlike rallying in the lower 48, road choices are very limited. The majority of the roads available are either State Highways (between population centers, used as transits), in town developments (paved/unpaved) or roads (paved/unpaved) leading to recreation areas (lakes, State Parks, National Parks, and wilderness areas.) After a quick review of a map of the Kenai Peninsula, south of Anchorage, you will understand the situation, as many of the towns lay between the mountains and the sea and surrounded by Federal or State land.
The route selected for the 2017 USRRC uses the available roads to their maximum potential, and provides those attending the event the opportunity to explore some magnificent vistas and the possibility of seeing wildlife, including moose, eagles and even bears. On the Pre-check we saw all thee, including Puffins and Sea Lions at the
Seward SeaLife Center.
This event is truly a destination rally, and for those traveling from out of state it is a small sample of the natural wonders that traveling in Alaska provides.
If possible, I would encourage adding several days prior to or after the event to visit ‘close by attractions’, such as Denali or Valdez, or stay a couple of extra days in the Kenai Peninsula to take in whale watching, glacier tours and wildlife cruises. The
26 Glacier Cruise out of Whittier alone is worth the trip to Alaska, part of the fun is driving to Whittier is traveling through North America’s longest Car/Train tunnel just to get there.
The rally consists of seven Timed Sections over three days. Every Timed Section has several timing controls. The Timed Sections are separated by transits utilizing the Alaska State Highways. The majority of the Timed Sections are designed as ‘Course Rallies’ utilizing multiple Main Road priorities to determine the correct route, the remaining are straight forward TSD Sections without course following challenges.
The Committee is building in time along the route and at the end of each day to take in what Alaska is all about.
With two months before the event, you still have time to plan your trip and determine how much extra time you want to stay to ‘see Alaska’.
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Questions across our desktop...
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Previous rally experience needed to compete in the USRRC?
No previous road rally experience is required to enter the USRRC. A sense of adventure, the lure of Alaska for a destination, and we will have a Rally School on Thursday for those who have questions!
That said, seasoned rallyists will equally enjoy the challenge of the routes and scenery along them in their quest for zeros!
What is the SCCA Sanction level for the USRRC? What Classes?
The USRRC was sanctioned by the SCCA as a Divisional Course Road Rally within the SCCA National Championship, yet as a first time rallyist — don’t let that deter you!
The rally will have main road rules, and it means that our standings are required to have Equipped, Limited and Stock Classes for National points. Our names for classes will have an Alaskan flavor and be Sourdough, Prospector and Cheechako!
What are the roads like? Do I need a four-wheel drive?
No car breaker roads! You will find, as we have over the years that non-paved roads are getting harder to find — even in Alaska! While on recon, one road we were concerned about from past years was now paved; we were stunned.
It is not necessary for Rallyists to have four-wheel drive vehicles; these roads have been run in ’64 Saabs, Miatas, MiniVans, RX-7’s and, of course, Subarus! And for those requiring a rental car, we have the major agencies here in Alaska.
What are the entry fees?
The full entry fee is $760 and we are offering a $25 discount to members of our sanctioning body, the
Sports Car Club of America. The fee covers the reception on Thursday, September 14th in Anchorage, lodging for the team on Friday evening at the Windsong Lodge in Seward and the Ocean Shores Motel in Homer on Saturday evening, as well as two meals along the route, event tee shirts and, of course, your route instructions! Our early registration $100 discount was closed out in April.
What is the weather to be?
Well, like most forecasts these days – who knows? We would encourage layers, walking shoes — because you’ll want to trek out to
Exit Glacier on the paved trail in Seward, and we are anticipating crisp fall weather with lots of sunshine!
Which airport should we fly into? We suggest Ted Stevens International Airport, which is in Anchorage. Depending on your anticipated travels, pre or post event, Fairbanks and Kenai would be two viable options too.
How costly are airfares?
Depends on routing, of course, yet one team from PA was
just booking passage
just this week on Delta at $482 for round-trip passage and one-stop flights out of Pittsburg! I admit, I am an Alaska Airlines flyer, and given their routing — there is coverage from East to West 'n North to South with their routing, yet we have many carriers who fly to Alaska! Please don’t hesitate to contact us for suggestions – we Alaskans travel
frequently!
The offer of raising funds for the IMRCC for passage, found on the registration forms, could still be an option!
Lodging for the USRRC
Unlike more traditional multi-day rally events, we are going to be on the move! Here are the two lodgings for Friday and Saturday evening.
The organizers are building a list for those who will need Thursday evening accomodations in Anchorage and for Sunday evening on the Kenai Peninsula or Anchorage.
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Seward Windsong Lodge | Alaska Collection
The idyllic Seward Windsong Lodge outside of Seward offers charming and spacious rooms surrounded by stunning Alaskan scenery nearby Kenai Fjords National Park.
Read more
www.alaskacollection.com
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Hotel Homer Alaska at the Ocean Shores Homer AK hotel motel
Modern hotel motel lodging Homer Alaska located close to Homer attractions. Short drive to Homer Spit, and many Alaska halibut fishing charter companies.
Read more
oceanshoresalaska.com
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Where can I learn more about the IMRRC Fundraising efforts of the Rallying to Preserve the SCCA Historic Rally Archives and find the USRRC registration information?
The Rallymaster has always been about raising awareness for causes important to her – Hospice of Anchorage, Bean's Cafe - a local soup kitchen, Friends of Pets and Kitty and Canine Connection with the Hittin' the Highway for Hounds and Hairballs, Challenge Alaska, and many others.
With the USRRC we are striving to bring awareness of the
International Motor Racing Research Center, located in Watkins Glen, NY, and their enormous task of work with the SCCA Archives. The
SCCA Foundation has accepted our restricted donation that funds raised will be used for the digitization of the SCCA Road Rally archives (75%) and ProRally archives (25%), after the box-level inventory is complete.
Click the links below to learn more of our fundraising efforts! We hope you will make a donation through our event or you could mail your check, payable to the SCCA Foundation: RPM Alaska, PO Box 220108, Anchorage, AK 99522-0108
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Rallying to Preserve SCCA Rally Archives
The 2017 Sports Car Club of America's United States Road Rally Challenge, will be held Sept 15-17, 2017, in Alaska. Join fellow motorsport enthusiasts in raising funds for the SCCA Rally Archives conservation at the International Motor Racing...
Read more
www.usrrc2017.causevox.com
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REGISTER TODAY! Click for Registration Info on the USRRC...
You want to be a part of America's Road Rally Weekend™ – the SCCA's United States Road Rally Challenge!! Curious to know who has already entered? Click this link to view the Entry List...
Read more
www.motorsportreg.com
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The Sports Car Club of America Collection | IMRRC
The IMRRC is honored to have been chosen to manage the national archives of the Sports Car Club of America. Read on to learn more about the collection.
Read more
www.racingarchives.org
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While we certainly can't promise wildlife along the route (short of a few of our checkpoint workers), we encounter moose, this friendly little two-year old bear, five dozen+ eagles, porcupine, chickens, gootches, and moose along the roads during layout!
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Alaska Sealife Center
The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is inviting visitors to see wildlife response and rehabilitation in action. A tiny sea otter pup is now receiving 24-hour care in the Center's "I.Sea.U" area where members of the public may observe the pup being...
Read more
alaskasealife.org
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ALASKA.ORG | Alaska Vacations & Travel Advice from...
Plan your cruise, land tour, or custom package. Discover Alaska's best destinations and excursions. Videos, photos, and hundreds of expert advice articles.
Read more
www.alaska.org
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Alyeska Resort - Tram Rides to the Top
Explore the last frontier with an Alaska vacation and stay with us at the Alyeska Ski Resort - a premier Alaska Vacation Resort close to Anchorage. Book your reservation today.
Read more
www.alyeskaresort.com
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Exit Glacier Area - Kenai Fjords National Park
The Exit Glacier is "just down the road" from our Friday nights lodging!
Read more
www.nps.gov
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Request The Alaska Map | Alaska.org
Plan your Alaska journey with The Alaska Map. See Alaska's top destinations, National Parks, transportation options & more. Order a copy or view online.
Read more
www.alaska.org
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Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center - Portage
We look forward to seeing you at the Wildlife Center and hope you enjoy your visit! The Wildlife Center is the perfect place to tour the vast acreage on foot or in a car. Parking is available near the gift store.
Read more
www.alaskawildlife.org
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Polar Bear Garden - Alaska's 150th Cessation Celebration
The historic home of William H. Seward is now a museum in New York. The collection includes gifts that Seward received during his 1869 Alaska visit, including a kayak, slat armor, carvings and a scrapbook of pressed Alaska flowers and plants.
Read more
www.anchoragemuseum.org
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Plan Your Visit | Alaska Native
Feel the heartbeat of Alaska's indigenous people, hear their stories, explore their history and discover a cultural heritage still living and thriving today at the largest cultural institution in Alaska!
Read more
www.alaskanative.net
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