The 2010 BABE Rally
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From: Sacramento, CA
The 2010 BABE Rally
Not sure who here has or has not heard of the BABE Rally, so I'll start with a little introduction.
INTRODUCTION
2010 will be the 5th year of this "interesting" road rally (I say road rally, because it is not a race). The premise is fairly simple. You get a car, assemble a team, and drive from New York City to New Orleans (Big Apple to Big Easy, get it?). The idea is not to reach New Orleans first overall, and there is in fact no prize for being the fastest. Points are awarded for various challenges along the way, and whoever finishes with the most points wins. The route takes you through the Appalachain Mountains, and the teams receive the official route a mere 2-3 weeks before the beginning of the event. Traditionally, it involves a jaunt through Deal's Gap, and at least one light off-road section. Overall, it's a 5-day event.
The rules are pretty simple. All cars must be registered and insured for street use, and all drivers must carry insurance and have a valid license. Basic safety guidelines are to be followed, and excessively dangerous vehicles or driving will result in expulsion from the event. Simple, right? Well, there's one other catch. The car must cost less than $500.
Yep, that's right. You can not spend more than FIVE HUNDRED dollars on your vehicle of choice. It can be whatever you want, as long as it's dirt cheap.
__________________________________________________ _______
THE DETAILS
Now that we have the basic gist of it down, here's where I come in. I know a few people who have entered over the last couple years, and they all say it was a blast. So I decided this would be the year that I try my hand at punishing an extreme beater across a country. I'm looking for a car now so that I have plenty of time to prep it, "decorate" it, and generally get it ready to make it the distance.
What I need from my dear friends: An awesome team. I'm going to be taking care of purchasing the car, paying for any shoddy temporary repairs it might require, and will store it safely at my house until June. The entry fee is $300, so if anyone who wants to be on my team wants to pitch in and help cover that meager cost, it would be greatly appreciated. If not, I'll suck it up and pay myself. All my teammates really NEED to pay for is their own food and lodging, and the occasional gas fill-up once my wallet empties out towards the end of the rally.
As for how many people I require, I guess that depends primarily on what type of vehicle I settle on. If I find a sweet Geo Metro, I'm afraid I'll only be able to take 1 person with me. If I wind up with a sweet GMC Astro, I will take up to 3 folks along with me. Either way, our ride is gonna be sweet!
__________________________________________________ _______
THE IDEAL TEAMMATES
- You must be ok sharing close quarters with me (and possibly others) for the better part of a week. If we hate each other, it's going to suck.
- You can afford to pay your own way (as far as food and lodging), and not be too stingy helping out with other stuff.
- You are at least 21, have a valid driver's license, and don't mind driving a piece of crap for extended periods of time.
- You can read a map. I'll have GPS, but I don't want to rely solely on it, because, you know...shit happens.
- You must be able to drive stick. Even if the car we find is autotragic, you never know what can happen. What if the car breaks down halfway and the only replacement we can find has a stick shift? You're just dead weight if you can't help out with driving duties.
- You should have at least some mechanical knowledge. When you're driving a car this cheap for this long, things are bound to happen. I'd like to have a few people that can identify a problem and help fix it (as affordably as possible). You also get bonus points if you have photography or writing skills to help document our voyage.
- You can take orders. I'm a pretty agreeable guy, and will always listen to advice. But in the end, it's my car and my rules. This isn't a democracy and my name isn't Obama.
__________________________________________________ _______
FAQ STUFF
And to answer some basic questions I either have received, or undoubtably will receive in the coming days/weeks/months.
Q: Are you serious?
A: Yes, I'm serious. I'm going to be entering this rally, and I do need at least one person to accompany me.
Q: How much cost can one expect to incur?
A: To be fully honest...I have no idea. Like I said, I'm paying for the car itself. But figure you'll be spending money on food, beverages, maybe some gas, and possibly a few bucks on cheap repairs (such as duct tape). Obviously, the more people we have, the cheaper it will be per person.
Q: How many people can you bring?
A: Like I said earlier, depends largely on the vehicle. If we have a 2-door coupe or hatchback, it's likely that I'll only bring one person with me, as it would suck to be stuck in the back of a tiny car for half of a ~1500-2000 mile journey. Also, everyone in the car must have a working seatbelt, so that plays into effect also. There's really no set limit as to how many people you can have, but I would prefer to have no more than 4 of us in a vehicle.
Q: How strict is this $500 rule?
A: Ehhh...I imagine if they see a vehicle that obviously cost more than five hundred, it'll draw some questions. I'd rather purchase a vehicle within the allotted limit simply because the spirit of the rules is a big part of what makes this such an experience. Any nice $15k vehicle should be able to do this drive without breaking a sweat. But when you're spending half of a thousand, things tend to get a bit more interesting. I can't find anything that says that needed repairs done prior to the event are to be factored into the overall cost. So I'm thinking if we find an old hooptie for $400 and it needs a transmission, we should be alright.
Q: Can I help pick out the vehicle?
A: Absolutely, in fact, I encourage people to help me find the perfect ride. Additionally, people are also very encouraged to help work on and decorate said vehicle. And this is something people can do, even if they can't/don't want to enter the actual rally with me.
Q: How about sponsorships? Can/Will we have any?
A: I imagine we CAN. Don't know if we will. If anyone wants to sponsor us, you will get advertising space on the vehicle, no questions asked. And I don't care if the sponsor is a company, regular person that just wants to help, or the Pope himself. Every little bit will help, and anyone who helps will receive recognition.
Q: How will we get the car to New York for the start of the rally?
A: Well, that will be the car's first test, now won't it? I thought about just flying up there right before the event and buying something. But that leaves way too much to chance. I mean, what if we can't find a car, or the one we do find can't even get out of the state of New York without breaking down? Depending on funds at the time, we will either drive the car up a couple days before, or just send it up on the Auto Train from Sanford.
Q: This is a great idea, but what if I want to start my own team and have it be way more awesome than yours?
A: Sweet, go for it. The more the merrier. Hell, we can even caravan together.
Q: Do we have a theme for anything like that?
A: I'd kinda like to go for a WRC-inspired theme. But I'm open to suggestions.
Q: What if the car breaks down?
A: Well, that would sure suck. But it very well may happen. We will either try and acquire another car nearby, or find rides with other competing teams. Worst case scenario, we fly home.
Q: What happens to the car if we finish?
A: That all depends on how decrepit the car is. If I think it will survive the rest of the journey back to Orlando, we'll drive it home. If it's quite literally on it's last leg, we'll junk it at a scrapyard, and either get another car home, or just fly home. If all goes well and the car makes it back here in (more or less) one piece, I have no idea what I'll do with it. I can't imagine any charity will want it. Maybe I'll try and sell it or part it out to re-coup some of my expenses. Maybe I'll just use it for circle track racing at Bithlo. Possibly, if it's decent enough, I'll keep it and put some more money into it for the Grassroots Motorsports 20XX Challenge.
__________________________________________________ _______
LINKS AND INFO
The event runs from May 31st to June 5th officially. Plan on a couple days before and after to get to New York and to get home from New Orleans.
The Official BABE Rally website
Street Safari. The people that host the rally
Feel free to e-mail me, PM me, call me, talk to me in person, send me a postcard, communicate with me telepathically, or scribble a note onto a strip club napkin and staple it to my dog.
I'm putting this info up on a couple of forums, and passing it on to certain friends. So if I get multiple interested persons, I will try to devise a fair way of deciding who is on the team and who has to sit at home. If there is enough interest, perhaps we can field an informal two-car team.
_Scott
INTRODUCTION
2010 will be the 5th year of this "interesting" road rally (I say road rally, because it is not a race). The premise is fairly simple. You get a car, assemble a team, and drive from New York City to New Orleans (Big Apple to Big Easy, get it?). The idea is not to reach New Orleans first overall, and there is in fact no prize for being the fastest. Points are awarded for various challenges along the way, and whoever finishes with the most points wins. The route takes you through the Appalachain Mountains, and the teams receive the official route a mere 2-3 weeks before the beginning of the event. Traditionally, it involves a jaunt through Deal's Gap, and at least one light off-road section. Overall, it's a 5-day event.
The rules are pretty simple. All cars must be registered and insured for street use, and all drivers must carry insurance and have a valid license. Basic safety guidelines are to be followed, and excessively dangerous vehicles or driving will result in expulsion from the event. Simple, right? Well, there's one other catch. The car must cost less than $500.
Yep, that's right. You can not spend more than FIVE HUNDRED dollars on your vehicle of choice. It can be whatever you want, as long as it's dirt cheap.
__________________________________________________ _______
THE DETAILS
Now that we have the basic gist of it down, here's where I come in. I know a few people who have entered over the last couple years, and they all say it was a blast. So I decided this would be the year that I try my hand at punishing an extreme beater across a country. I'm looking for a car now so that I have plenty of time to prep it, "decorate" it, and generally get it ready to make it the distance.
What I need from my dear friends: An awesome team. I'm going to be taking care of purchasing the car, paying for any shoddy temporary repairs it might require, and will store it safely at my house until June. The entry fee is $300, so if anyone who wants to be on my team wants to pitch in and help cover that meager cost, it would be greatly appreciated. If not, I'll suck it up and pay myself. All my teammates really NEED to pay for is their own food and lodging, and the occasional gas fill-up once my wallet empties out towards the end of the rally.
As for how many people I require, I guess that depends primarily on what type of vehicle I settle on. If I find a sweet Geo Metro, I'm afraid I'll only be able to take 1 person with me. If I wind up with a sweet GMC Astro, I will take up to 3 folks along with me. Either way, our ride is gonna be sweet!
__________________________________________________ _______
THE IDEAL TEAMMATES
- You must be ok sharing close quarters with me (and possibly others) for the better part of a week. If we hate each other, it's going to suck.
- You can afford to pay your own way (as far as food and lodging), and not be too stingy helping out with other stuff.
- You are at least 21, have a valid driver's license, and don't mind driving a piece of crap for extended periods of time.
- You can read a map. I'll have GPS, but I don't want to rely solely on it, because, you know...shit happens.
- You must be able to drive stick. Even if the car we find is autotragic, you never know what can happen. What if the car breaks down halfway and the only replacement we can find has a stick shift? You're just dead weight if you can't help out with driving duties.
- You should have at least some mechanical knowledge. When you're driving a car this cheap for this long, things are bound to happen. I'd like to have a few people that can identify a problem and help fix it (as affordably as possible). You also get bonus points if you have photography or writing skills to help document our voyage.
- You can take orders. I'm a pretty agreeable guy, and will always listen to advice. But in the end, it's my car and my rules. This isn't a democracy and my name isn't Obama.
__________________________________________________ _______
FAQ STUFF
And to answer some basic questions I either have received, or undoubtably will receive in the coming days/weeks/months.
Q: Are you serious?
A: Yes, I'm serious. I'm going to be entering this rally, and I do need at least one person to accompany me.
Q: How much cost can one expect to incur?
A: To be fully honest...I have no idea. Like I said, I'm paying for the car itself. But figure you'll be spending money on food, beverages, maybe some gas, and possibly a few bucks on cheap repairs (such as duct tape). Obviously, the more people we have, the cheaper it will be per person.
Q: How many people can you bring?
A: Like I said earlier, depends largely on the vehicle. If we have a 2-door coupe or hatchback, it's likely that I'll only bring one person with me, as it would suck to be stuck in the back of a tiny car for half of a ~1500-2000 mile journey. Also, everyone in the car must have a working seatbelt, so that plays into effect also. There's really no set limit as to how many people you can have, but I would prefer to have no more than 4 of us in a vehicle.
Q: How strict is this $500 rule?
A: Ehhh...I imagine if they see a vehicle that obviously cost more than five hundred, it'll draw some questions. I'd rather purchase a vehicle within the allotted limit simply because the spirit of the rules is a big part of what makes this such an experience. Any nice $15k vehicle should be able to do this drive without breaking a sweat. But when you're spending half of a thousand, things tend to get a bit more interesting. I can't find anything that says that needed repairs done prior to the event are to be factored into the overall cost. So I'm thinking if we find an old hooptie for $400 and it needs a transmission, we should be alright.
Q: Can I help pick out the vehicle?
A: Absolutely, in fact, I encourage people to help me find the perfect ride. Additionally, people are also very encouraged to help work on and decorate said vehicle. And this is something people can do, even if they can't/don't want to enter the actual rally with me.
Q: How about sponsorships? Can/Will we have any?
A: I imagine we CAN. Don't know if we will. If anyone wants to sponsor us, you will get advertising space on the vehicle, no questions asked. And I don't care if the sponsor is a company, regular person that just wants to help, or the Pope himself. Every little bit will help, and anyone who helps will receive recognition.
Q: How will we get the car to New York for the start of the rally?
A: Well, that will be the car's first test, now won't it? I thought about just flying up there right before the event and buying something. But that leaves way too much to chance. I mean, what if we can't find a car, or the one we do find can't even get out of the state of New York without breaking down? Depending on funds at the time, we will either drive the car up a couple days before, or just send it up on the Auto Train from Sanford.
Q: This is a great idea, but what if I want to start my own team and have it be way more awesome than yours?
A: Sweet, go for it. The more the merrier. Hell, we can even caravan together.
Q: Do we have a theme for anything like that?
A: I'd kinda like to go for a WRC-inspired theme. But I'm open to suggestions.
Q: What if the car breaks down?
A: Well, that would sure suck. But it very well may happen. We will either try and acquire another car nearby, or find rides with other competing teams. Worst case scenario, we fly home.
Q: What happens to the car if we finish?
A: That all depends on how decrepit the car is. If I think it will survive the rest of the journey back to Orlando, we'll drive it home. If it's quite literally on it's last leg, we'll junk it at a scrapyard, and either get another car home, or just fly home. If all goes well and the car makes it back here in (more or less) one piece, I have no idea what I'll do with it. I can't imagine any charity will want it. Maybe I'll try and sell it or part it out to re-coup some of my expenses. Maybe I'll just use it for circle track racing at Bithlo. Possibly, if it's decent enough, I'll keep it and put some more money into it for the Grassroots Motorsports 20XX Challenge.
__________________________________________________ _______
LINKS AND INFO
The event runs from May 31st to June 5th officially. Plan on a couple days before and after to get to New York and to get home from New Orleans.
The Official BABE Rally website
Street Safari. The people that host the rally
Feel free to e-mail me, PM me, call me, talk to me in person, send me a postcard, communicate with me telepathically, or scribble a note onto a strip club napkin and staple it to my dog.
I'm putting this info up on a couple of forums, and passing it on to certain friends. So if I get multiple interested persons, I will try to devise a fair way of deciding who is on the team and who has to sit at home. If there is enough interest, perhaps we can field an informal two-car team.
_Scott
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,490
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Area FTW!!!
Dude, Scott. I want to do this. I really do.
I can steal us a car cheap too. Is it just you going?
Call me in a bit and we can talk about it.
Maybe Mags would want to do it with me and we can be in a second car.
I can steal us a car cheap too. Is it just you going?
Call me in a bit and we can talk about it.
Maybe Mags would want to do it with me and we can be in a second car.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,095
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From: Sacramento, CA
So far, I have a couple people who have said they might be interested, but the only one so far who said they were down to go for sure was my friend Kelly.
I'm at work now, but I'll call you when I get a chance and we can talk about it.
I'm at work now, but I'll call you when I get a chance and we can talk about it.
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