This morning was cold and it rained over night. We are at 2080 meters above sea level. Steve had a great sleep and was ready to go. Betty was ready to take us. The headlights failed to come to life but after a lot of checking the wiring Steve got them going.
Our start time today was 7.29am, 29th in order. dawn had broken and cars getting under way.
The first leg of the day was an 89km run to Baldy mountain where the first regularity event took place. It was a short 12km run on what was supposed to be gravel. But between the time of the reconnaissance of the course, and now the road had been sealed. It was a first class sealed roadway. It was a self starter with an average speed of 48 km per hour. These instructions are supplied on the start of the day. We did a good time and we’re happy with the run. We ended that leg at Tie Fork rest area for a pit stop and time control then to the next regularity at Skyline Drive. This was a test with ten speed changes over the 31km run. Was a good road for the event some of which was farm track conditions and a two way public open road. So the driver has to be aware of many obstacles as well as to take note the droning instructions from the navigator. Go two seconds faster or slower as the case may be.
Another good run. After this it was noticed that the fuel consumption was more than allowed for. Due to a number of factors such as the heat of the fuel in the delivery system, the type of fuel, some of which is 89 octane, and the 10% ethanol content of the fuel. As well the wheels slip/spin on the gravel more without traction on gravel especially on rougher surfaces and where there are a lot of corrugations on the road. But in the end we should have filled up on fuel closer to the beginning of the run. Anyway we had used up most of our fuel at the end of the regularity section and diverted to a small town 13 km away to fill up, or we would surely have run out. Then return at pace to the passage control at Ponderosa Grill where we had lunch. A quick bite as the petrol diversion had put pressure on our time.
From there we headed to Buckhorn Draw for a passage control. This process is the ensure that all participants are accounted for and can prevent entrants from taking short cuts if they’re available.
The next regularity was 8km away at the San Rafael River. This again was an average speed test on a 28km course at 60kms average speed. This stretch was though a landscape of canyons and a road surface containing many cords or dips as they call them. Some designated “rough”. Understatement.
A 130km run to the the accomodation in Moab.
It was a good day all round. Roads and the activity was good and not too long.
The size of these rock formations so much more massive than the photo depicts.
Tomorrow is a lay day in Moab. I will take some more photos of the massive rock structures.
gravel travel 
Corgi…what is a “regularity”….is this a contest among all the cars based on what measurements?
Did Moab blow you away?!
Tom
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No it’s a usually a gravel back road on which a timing/speed event takes place and all cars are judged the same. A set course where for instance for two kms the speed is 48ks then the next four kms are at 35km and another at 60kms until the end of say a 2lkm course. Hidden somewhere among the track is a time keeper who will stop you and ensure that you should be there at that time. And again somewhere down the course to do the same. We are given a composite speed table and use that to cover the course at any point in time.
It’s tricky to get a grip on it and I’m not really that good at it. Some crews get it so well that when stopped they measure up exactly as per the speed table.
Sounds convoluted and when on the track telling the driver to speed up or to slow down as well as advise him of the road to take and hazards up front can be somewhat stressful. But our attitude is, let’s enjoy the ride.
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