Slipstream - August 2003

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Florida Parade Rally by Bob Knight Linda and I are avid once-a-year rallyists. We were fortunate to finish in fourth place at the <strong>2003</strong> Tampa Parade. We have pulled off a similar feat at another Parade, but have yet to score the big one. Since Linda cannot operate a manual transmission, I am the driver and she is the nagivator… I mean navigator. The Knight family got started rallying back in the 1980s. I say family because we used to strap our two daughters in the back seat of our 944 and give everybody a set of rally instructions. Some people may think that having the extra set of eyeballs might be an unfair advantage. Trying to referee at rally speeds three different opinions of what “turn right at the second opportunity” means is no picnic. Also, having a ten-year old, say, “I told you so” can be pretty humiliating. Parade rallies typically are run on Tuesday of Parade Week. On Monday, recent Parades have hosted a Beginners Rally School and an Advanced Rally School. Linda and I try to attend both. The schools offer the entrants a chance to brush up on rally terminologies and skills. The Boise Parade even offered a 45- minute practice rally. The practice rally offered a glimpse of some traps and tricks that you may encounter on the course. At the Tampa Parade, Maverick Region’s Teri Davis was the Head Master of the rally schools. Teri also had a panelist of expert rallyist to offer their advice and tips. The best advice they give each year is to stay on course and finish, and don’t worry ...and Amy’s barf bag... Photo by Matt Platts “Standing room only” at Teri Davis’ Rally School While packing for the trip to Parade, we always toss in the car the “Rally Box” and the “Rally Clipboard”. The Rally Box is a twenty-five year old cigar box. It sets on the closet shelf the remainder of the year waiting patiently. The Rally Box contains the tools that we can use while running in the unequipped class. We have different colored highlighters, Post-it notes, adhesive tape, pens and pencils, and Amy’s barf bag. Amy’s barf bag, unused thankfully, is one of those paper bags you see in the seat pocket in front of you while flying commercial aircraft. The episode that necessitated having the bag in first place has faded from memory, but it stays with us, just in case. The most important tool in the Rally Box is the stopwatch. Ours is a cheapo model, but amazingly keeps fairly accurate time year to year. I am amazed that the battery last so many years. At Parade registration, each rally team selects an “out-time” which is the official start time for that team. On the day of the rally, you show up 20 minutes before your start time. At the start of each rally, you need to reset the stopwatch to the Universal Coordinated Time broadcasted by shortwave radio over WWV in Fort Collins, CO. You do not want to be 2 – 3 minutes late or early leaving the start line. Our watch is usually less than a minute off. Never throw away the instructions that come with the stopwatch when you purchase it. Stopwatch button functions, that seem intuitive when playing with your new purchase in the store, are forgotten at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot at the start of a rally. Photo by Ed Mayo about your time. Experience being the best teacher, Linda and I typically fall for one or two of the tricks the rally master hides in the route instructions. Over time, we notice tricks that have bitten us before, and we successfully navigate the correct course. We try to not to get too stress-out by our mistakes and carry on. As Teri Davis reminded us, we are only racing for a trophy that costs $20, and it is not worth ticking off your rally partner or damaging your vehicle. Regardless of how we did, Linda and I know that if we make it to the end of the rally we can drown our sorrows at the ice cream social. Two, three or four scoops of ice cream with sprinkles tend to smooth things out. We swap stories and scores Carey Spreen gets ready for the Rally with other Maverick rally teams such as the Breithaupts and Suttons. It seems like each team has their own version of the rally course, based on where they feel for the various tricks and traps. This year we convinced Ted Morgan of Comfort, Texas to team up with Aubrey Sutton. Ted was talking about how they managed to see West Palm Beach on the rally route. Talk about being off course! Nevertheless, they made it back to the ice cream. So, Same Time, Next Year, Linda and I will be out touring the countryside around Fort Worth at the 49th Porsche Parade, hosted by Maverick Region. I encourage everyone to come out and have fun on the rally. 20
Photo by Wendy Shoffit Parade is also for Kids! by Lisa Steele The Florida Parade was not only full of fun for the adults, but the kids stayed very busy and were involved with many activities. Janet Ledesma (chairman of kids activities) did an outstanding job of organizing activities such as making various crafts, swimming in the super pool, a trip to Malibu, and an overnight stay at the Tampa Aquarium. She also managed to have pizza and a movie for the kids who did not attend the banquets. Parade for Kids would not be complete without the wonderful Kids Autocross sponsored by Michelin and put together by our very own Lanean Geneva Spreen guides her RC car through the AX Hughes. The Maverick Region was represented by two very talented girls, Geneva Spreen and Jasmine Shoffit. A very determined girl actually maneuvered the entire course on her hands doing cartwheels. WOW! Photo by Wendy Shoffit With next year’s Parade right around the corner here in our very own Fort Worth, I have already had lots of suggestions for some exciting activities from both adults and children. Of course we will have to put a little “Texas twist” on it all so that everyone will have a darn tootin’ good time and remember us Texans have to do everything bigger and better! James and Jasmine get “crafty” Photo by Mimi Spreen Photo by Mimi Spreen Jasmine and Geneva show off their trophies The “kids” contingent surprised everyone with a group song Hope Shelter Needs Your Donations! Clothing, Household, Furniture, and Kitchen Items Please contact Lanean Hughes for more information, 972-484-3040 or lhughes@fmstech.com 21
Page 1 and 2: www.pca.org/mav Special Florida Par
Page 3 and 4: www.pca.org/mav Volume 47, August 2
Page 5 and 6: 3
Page 7 and 8: Road Ramblings by Keith Olcha, Mave
Page 9 and 10: Email: mayos@imagin.net or FAX at (
Page 11 and 12: Happy Hour at Champps by Dennis Cha
Page 13 and 14: Father’s Day Picnic by Jean & Dav
Page 15 and 16: Florida Parade Concours by Ed Mayo
Page 17 and 18: Thank You! Photo by Hart Photograph
Page 19 and 20: 17
Page 21: 28” x 35” Garage Posters! PRINT
Page 25 and 26: Photo by Jan Mayo 996 (class P18L).
Page 27 and 28: Photo by Wendy Shoffit Getting Read
Page 29 and 30: New Wheels If you have any changes
Page 31 and 32: Slipstream Advertiser for 25 years!

Slipstream - August 2003

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