Route Book in Process

Route booking of the NEW stage is complete.  The new stage replaces last years popular “Salt Creek” stage with the same roads, run in reverse direction.  Big Fun – and as last year, will be run two times in succession.

8/10/09:  Complete route book check done.  Roads are in the excellent condition, probably the best in the history of the rally.  Several have been re-graded in the last few months, and 90% of the “hard dips at apexes” that were throughout the “Elkhead Loop” stages have been smoothed.  (so now they are mostly ’soft’ dips….)  Still, dont lower your suspensions just yet…..  Will be doing at least 2 more full route checks before the rally weekend, so more posts will be made.  Stay tuned!

9/6/09:  Major changes to the popular Stokes Gulch and Breeze Basin stages.  Due to speed concerns by the underwriter, these stages have been shortened significantly (about 2.75 miles) and three chicanes have been added in the middle of the longest straighaways.  These will be 3 element/1st gear chicanes, and each will be manned by a course marshall to ensure that each competitor drives through the chicanes without touching the barricades. (Movement of any element in the chicanes will result in a substantial time penalty)  Sorry guys – but the insurance gods won this battle.

Other news – the roads are still holding up exceptionally well overall, this weekend was our first 50% speed check of the route, and things look really good.  We’ve added a few minutes to nearly all the transits, which should solve the problems we had in the last couple years of competitors feeling rushed in getting to their next ATC.  Also, this will be the last year that you will be zeroing your ODO at the ATCs.  Sorry I couldnt get that ‘nuance’ of the Rally Colorado route book changed for this year, but I promise to have that sorted for next year!