Put simply, a rally is countryside driving with a purpose! It is a timed logic contest that is driven on paved, public roads, at or below legal speeds. It consists of two principles: Course Following and Timing. The Rally team works together to find and stay on course and to be exactly on time. Most Peachstate Rallies are TSD (Time Speed Distance), where the time is calculated based on assigned speed and the distance in miles where that average speed must be maintained.

Is my car eligible?

Any street legal vehicle is eligible.

Am I eligible?

If you have a valid driver?s license, you are eligible to drive the Rally vehicle.

How Much does it cost?

The 2011 fee for Rally participation is $15 per Rally team. The fee for food and soft drinks at End-of-Rally party is $5 per person, but if you do not care to stay for the party, then there is no charge.

How do we follow the Course?

The Rally team is given a set of instructions (called "Rally Route Instructions), based on the Peachstate Rally Generals, (here), that will define the Rally course. The team must interpret these instructions in order to stay on course.

What is a Rally Team?

The team consists of a driver and a navigator. By definition, the driver drives a rally vehicle along the course, while the navigator instructs the driver when to execute a written instruction. To be successful, both team members must work together to follow the course and be on time.

How do we stay on time?

The Rally is subdivided into Legs and each leg is its own entity. It is measured and a completion time is calculated and assigned. The Rally team?s goal is to traverse each leg in exactly the assigned time. The Rally Master assigns a CAST (Change Average Speed To command, which sets the rally speed limit for that section of the Leg) based on legal speed limits encountered along various parts of the Leg. The Rally Team should maintain that average speed.

How do we score points?

A point is awarded for each second early or late at a checkpoint that ends a Rally Leg. A zero on a Leg means that the team traversed the Leg in exactly the calculated/assigned Leg time. As in golf, where the lowest score wins, so also in rally does the team with the lowest total score win.

What is a Checkpoint?

A Checkpoint defines the end of a rally Leg. At a ?manned? control, a rally worker will record the rally vehicle?s ?in-time? and assign an ?out-time? to begin the next Rally Leg. At a DIYC (Do It Yourself Control), the Rally Team assigns their own ?in-time? and their ?out-time is exactly 3 minutes later.

What do we do at a Checkpoint?

After your rally vehicle passes the red and white "PCA Checkpoint" sign, pull off the road (usually into a parking lot), park your car, and bring your scorecard to the worker?s table. Your ?in-time" called in by a rally worker when you passed the PCA Checkpoint sign will be recorded, and then a new ?out-time" will also be recorded on your scorecard. After receiving your scorecard along with a Critique Sheet (which gives the official time for the Leg you just completed so that you can immediately determine how well you performed), position your vehicle close to the ?Out? sign, read and execute any Special Instructions on the Critique Sheet, and then leave the checkpoint on the next leg at the assigned ?out-time.?

What if this is my first Rally?

Peachstate has two rally classes. SOP (Seat of the Pants) is our competitive class, allowing only driver and navigator in the rally vehicle. The Tour class is for new or occasional rallyists which also allows extra passengers to ride in the vehicle during the rally. The Rally Route Instructions are much more detailed for the Tour class, thus making following the course significantly easier than for the SOP class. Each major turn is explained to keep the rallyists on course. We also offer a Rally School that explains rally basics and provides fundamental understanding of the logic contest called "Rally."

How do we Register for a Rally?

Rally registration is located at the Rally Start point (as defined in the annoucement of the Rally event itself) and is usually held at 1:00 - 1:30PM on Rally day.

Pre-registration is not necessary for competing in a rally, although the Rallymasters always need a full contingent of rally workers prior to Rally day. If you have some concern about competing in a rally, then starting out as a worker may be very beneficial as an introduction to rallying.

At registration, the Rallymaster will assign you an ?out-time.? Before that time, you will have some free time to set your watch to the ?official? rally time, to socialize with other rallyists, to attend a driver's meeting, to receive the Rally Route Instructions (given to you 10 minutes before your out-time), and to prepare to start the rally at your designated out-time on the ODO leg.

What is an ODO Leg?

ODO is short for "odometer," as in the part of your speedometer that measures and reads out  the distance the car has traveled in miles. In a rally, the ODO Leg is a 5 to 10 mile leg in which you can calibrate your vehicle's mileage against the ?official? rally mileage, based on the Rally Master's vehicle used to lay out the Rally Course. A set length of time is provided to complete the ODO Leg, but the ODO Leg is not scored. The odometer leg is provided to allow odometer (and perhaps speedometer) calibration in relation to official mileage.  The timed and scored portion of the Rally starts after the ODO leg according to your start time. Therefore, you'll actually begin the rally on Leg 1, not the ODO leg.

What should I bring to a Rally?

A clipboard or notebook to hold the route instructions, pencils, a timepiece (digital is best), a copy of the Peachstate Rally Generals, available (here), and whatever you want to drink at the party. A clear head may help and the determination to have fun and a great drive through the countryside.

We are planning to attend the PCA Parade in Savannah this summer. How can we do well in that national-level rally?

First, attend the Rally School on March 20, and then participate in the Spring & Summer rallies to give you a good foundation for competing well in the national Parade rally. As with most of PCA competitive events, practice will enhance the prospect of performing well. We hope you will participate in this year?s rally program and enjoy the only Peachstate PCA competitive driving event that requires a team - two people - to work together to accomplish their best.

Come out and join us and have FUN while driving on a Rally (hopefully in your Porsche) through the countryside with a purpose.

Chris & Barbara Gellner?Your Rally Masters