Northeast Honda SUV Rally
Let the games begin!
The Olympic portion of the Northeast Honda SUV Rally consisted of two events. Both were variations on low speed autocross; the Blindfold Autocross and the Brady Crunch Driving Course. Scores were based on how fast the contestants could complete each course and penalties were assigned for hitting cones or other violations.
The games commenced with the ceremonial running of the torch. Gadget, piloted by Ron, provided the running while his daughter Stephanie held our Olympic torch.
The Blindfold Autocross
This event required teams of at least two. The driver's job was to navigate the course. Our contestants thought that was simple enough... until we told them they had it do it blindfolded. His or her team mate assisted them by giving verbal directions. Click here for a map of the course.
Each team was given instructions at the beginning of their run. They were also allowed to bring a map of the course with them in the car. Still, the track took its toll as two teams got so far off course they never crossed the finish line. One of the highlights from the day was when CJ removed the blindfold (a white T-shirt) and used it to signal surrender.
Use the force, Varmint
Diana weaves through the cones
Ron gets instructions
(which he promptly forgets)
Matt cuts a corner awfully close
CJ works his way around the first turn
Rudy takes the last corner
The Brady Crunch Driving Course
Remember the episode of the Brady Bunch when Greg and Marcia duke it out to see who was the better driver? That was our inspiration. For this event, the course needed to be a bit more complex.
Drivers were allowed to drive solo or select a backseat driver... er.. copilot. The first leg had them park the nose of their vehicle just past the first cone. Then they had to reverse around the second marker before heading between the third and fourth. After weaving through a series of tightly spaced cones, the driver braked as close to the last cone as possible. We measured the distance from the bumper to the cone. The driver who stopped closest had three seconds subtracted from their time. Click here for a map of the course.
I am happy to report that everyone completed this event. Rudy probably won't appreciate me telling you that his wife bested his time by at least ten seconds, but there it is. Diana proved formidable in the slalom and completed the course without hitting a single cone.
Matt storms the field
Rudy starts out strong
Michele gets ready to beat her husband
Ron does much better with his eyes uncovered
Diana and Craig rev it up!
Ron measures the distance from the last cone
On the podium
The competition was stiff. Rankings were determined using a combination of the scores from both events. Rudy was our gold medallist, Diana claimed the silver, and Matt grabbed a hard-earned bronze. I feel it is my sworn duty as judge to point out that my wife and I actually had the fastest times in both events. We were not included in the rankings to avoid any judging controversies (though, neither of us are French).
