by: Markus Woehler

The annual Pebble Beach Sports Car Club Polar Bear run was held on Saturday morning, 22 February.

Although the weather remained at very normal and moderate central California temperatures, there was no rain and no snow but cool enough to at least force people to bundle up a little.

To the organizer’s surprise, almost 35 cars showed up at the starting point in Salinas with over 50 people signing waivers and intending to go to lunch.

We ran out of printed directions and ran out of space for waiver signatures…..all signs of a very well attended event.

The route toured some rough roads through the Salinas farm lands including some surprise early morning sprinklers.

The tour continued through Castroville, Prunedale, the Elkhorn Slough, Aromas and then finally a long string of cars through the Main streets of San Juan Bautista.

The only difficulty we encountered was the extreme long line of cars and maneuvering through traffic in order to keep all of the participants together. Some cars began to overheat as a result of waiting for others to catch up and the pace was a bit too slow for some.

Otherwise it was a very well received tour through our beautiful local area, capped by an excellent lunch at Dona Esther’s, lots of conversation and reacquainting with fellow club members.

Thank you to all that participated, brought out their sports cars and made this a very successful first club outing for 2020.

By Sandi Miller

First off I want to thank everyone who came out to celebrate with us this year. Lots of good food and good people. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and hope to see you in the new year.

By: Sandi Miller

On March 16th 22 hardy members of the Pebble Beach Sports Car Club gathered for the annual Picnic in the Pits pot luck lunch.  

This has become an annual event held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in conjunction with HMSA’s spring opener vintage race.

Along with the 22 for lunch the club which had five members racing, five crewing and two working registration.

Weather was perfect and a good time was had by all. Lets keep the tradition going.

How to run and win this year’s Nacimiento Rallye Revival

Background:

The traditional format for P.B.S.C.C.’s Nacimiento Rallye was always Time, Speed & Distance, sometimes referred to as TSD or simply T&D. The route was straightforward with no “course-following traps” because the original organizers felt the route itself was challenge enough.

In a basic T&D rally, each team is given a set of route instructions that include assigned average speeds that are to be maintained during the run of the course. The rallymaster chooses speeds that consider local traffic conditions and legal speed limits.

Along the course participants encounter checkpoints at unidentified locations where their time is taken. Penalty points are awarded for either early or late arrival.

This type of event puts pressure on navigators because they need to keep the driver on course while continually calculating whether or not they are running on-time.

This year:

The Nacimiento Rallye will be run as a T&D but without manned checkpoints. Checkpoint locations will be clearly identified in the route instructions with  

Teams are to calculate what the elapsed time should be for each leg. Scoring will be based on how accurately each Team follows the course and calculates the elapsed time for each leg based on the assigned average speeds.

This eliminates the pressure of running on-time, all the time. How fast or slow you drive the course is irrelevant.

Odometer Adjustment:

In order to be competitive, you’ll need to do a little math. It’s unlikely that the odometer in your car will match that of the rallymaster since the course has been measured using a calibrated electronic odometer with precision to .001 miles. To help you match the rallymaster’s odometer the rally begins with a 10-mile odometer check. After running the odometer check your odometer reading needs to be compared to the official mileage. This simple formula gives you a correction factor:

Official mileage ÷ your odometer reading = mileage correction factor

Multiplying your odometer reading by this factor should then match the odometer reading of the rallymaster.

For example, at the end of the odometer check your odometer reads 9.3 miles. By the formula, 10 ÷ 9.3 = 1.075. Keep this 1.075 factor handy.

Using the odometer adjustment:

Leg starts are identified in the route instructions with a 

As an example, you start the first leg with an assigned average speed of 35 mph. You follow the course to the next speed change and note you have traveled 8.5 miles by your odometer. Multiply that 8.5 by 1.075 (your factor) and you’ll see the official mileage is 9.14 miles for that section.

Time Calculation:

Next you need to know how long a mile takes at the assigned speed. By the formula:

60 ÷ Avg. Speed = Minutes per Mile

At 35 mph you’d travel 1.714 miles per minute (60 ÷ 35). So, 9.14 miles at 35 would take 15.67 minutes (1.714 * 9.14) or 15:40 (15 minutes 40 seconds).

If the leg has additional average speed assignments simply repeat the above process for each speed section then add those results together at the end of the leg. That result is the elapsed time for the leg (by your calculation) and should be filled in on your score card.

As an example, a Leg may be broken into 3 sections run at 45 mph, 60 mph and 40 mph respectively. You note the following mileages for each speed section:

If you’re using a trip odometer you can simply reset to zero at each instructed speed change but be sure to record the mileage to that point first.

You record the elapsed time for each leg on your score card in minutes like 55.67 in the above example. You could also convert the .67 minute to seconds if you wish (.67 * 60 = 40). The rallymaster will accept either but you’ll need to indicate which method you are using on the score card.

Alternative to an odometer correction factor:

Some rallyists prefer to adjust the average speeds instead of an odometer adjustment. In that case you’d use the formula:

Your odometer reading ÷ official mileage = speed correction factor

Then multiply the assigned average speeds by that factor to adjust for your odometer’s error. One advantage of this method is that it allows you to adjust all the speeds for the entire rally after the odometer check and odometer readings need no modification.

Using the example above:

Your speed correction factor would be 0.93 (9.3 ÷ 10), so the assigned speeds would be corrected as follows:

Speed Speed(corrected) Miles(your odo)|Min./Mile Time

45      41.85                   6.5                        1.434         9.32

60         55.80                   5.0                        1.075    5.38

40         37.20                  25.4                      1.613     4.97

                                                                                                                Total leg time     55.67 minutes

As you can see the total leg time result is the same.

Awards:

Remember only the Rallye Class will be eligible for awards and the winning member’s name will be forever engraved on the Ed Leslie Perpetual Trophy.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at tim@singmaster.com.

By Warren Pierce

What do an Alfa GTV, Aston Martin Vantage, Audi TT, Barracuda, BMW, Cadillac SRX,  MGBGT and a Subaru all have in common? All these cars participated in the Polar Bear Run on Saturday Feb 16th. The rules for the run were simple, top down no heater for convertibles, windows down air conditioning on for tin tops, ice cream at the end of the run.

The unlikely trio.

Alfa in the rain: Courage

The Italian stealing the spotlight 

Smile!

A British supermodel stealing the spotlight.

The unfair advantage.

Roll-call.

Taking advantage of the nice weather we departed for a scenic drive through the outskirts of Salinas to Old Stage Road. Following Old Stage Road along the foot hills east of town past the old Kaiser plant, past ranches and houses, dodging pot holes and puddles.

The daring survivors.

After the lead car, MGBGT, almost gets wiped out by a pickup we turn right onto San Juan Grade Rd for the climb up the grade. The road is in good shape and has a nice view of the Salinas valley until we reach the San Benito County line at the crest of the grade. Things are down hill from there, pun intended, as the road is potholed and patched as it winds through the oak trees. Arriving in San Juan Bautista we have a nice lunch at Dona Esters Mexican restaurant  where ice cream is replaced by margaritas! 

Now time for the real reason we all did this.

Over all I’d say the event was a success. The turn out was good and the drive was very enjoyable (pot holes and kamikaze truck aside). Once again I want to thank everyone that participated, and of course one last round of car pictures for the road.

A rag tag group of brave men and women

Two stars sharing the spot light.

One of these things is not like the other…

Ssshh I’m a sports car!

Just enjoying the view.

By: Anthony Jimenez

First I’d like to thank Steve and Wendy Fields for once again hosting this wonderful event. As always this event was one of the high lights the year. To kick things off there was of course the mandatory impromptu car show on the driveway.

Fallowed immediately by the always popular cocktail hour.

It was so nice conversing with everyone it was easy to lose track of time. So many friendly faces so little time.

And of course lets not forget the star attraction and the main event, the food, and there was quite a the spread. There was way more than enough to go around although I did hear the turkey went quick.

Not to be out done dessert was next and what a selection. Full or not it was hard to resist not taking more than one slice.

Thanks to everyone that participated in the toy drive we had quite a turn out.

And as always one more look at the cars before we part.

Again thank you so much to Steve and Wendy for hosting this event. It was a great time and the food was spectacular. Special thanks to Jim Eckhart, Frank d’Aquanno, Mike Hayworth, Monica
Nathan and Warren. And Mike Burger, Frank and Mike Hayworth for showing up
at 10 that morning to set up the tables and canopies. Hope to see you all next time.

Photo Rally 2018

A tour of the back-roads of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties

Saturday October 20, 2018

Join us for our annual rally event     A new look for this year’s rally.

In the past, the photo rally has featured written, turn-by-turn route instructions with a fist-full of photos to find along the way. To be competitive, teams had to drive the route slowly to locate each photo, sometimes too slowly for safety.

For this year’s event each team will be given several maps accompanied by route instructions that feature photos containing clues to each photo’s location. Teams then determine their own route to those locations. As in the past, the photos will be missing some information that teams need to gather as they locate each photo. In addition, there will be a timing element at Checkpoints along the route.

No special equipment is needed. Bring pens/pencils and a clock or watch. A clip board can be handy as well. The rally will finish at the Gizdich Ranch berry farm.

START:  We’ll meet at the parking lot next to the Nifty 50 Café at 1760 Fremont Blvd. (at Echo) in Seaside. Come early and have breakfast or coffee before the start.

RALLY FEE:  $20

TIME: Registration opens 9:30 a.m. Drivers meeting at 10 a.m. First Car Out at 11:01 a.m.

Please RSVP to Tim Errington and if you have additional questions please contact Tim.

Call or Text (831) 293-4570 or e-mail to tim@singmaster.com

Photo Rally Flyer 2018

Photo Rally 2018

A tour of the back-roads of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties

Saturday October 20, 2018

A bright sunny morning greeted 12 rally teams as they took up the challenge of this year’s annual Photo Rally.

This year’s edition was a little different from previous Photo Rally events in that the photos were used to define the rally route. The teams were given five linked maps and a set of photos that were to be located on the maps. Then each team devised their own route from photo to photo. When arriving at a photo location they had to find some missing information.

There were also several checkpoints along the way where teams had to arrive at or before a certain time. This proved important as finding the photos was much simpler than in previous editions. The route took in a bit of old Fort Ord, the fields north of Marina, the eucalyptus groves near Elkhorn Slough, berry ranches east of Watsonville, apple orchards and deep redwoods in the foothills of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains. The route ended up in Corralitos, then a short drive to the finish at the Gizdich Berry Ranch.

In the end the rally proved to be a bit too easy as we ended up with a five-way tie for first place, all with perfect scores. After invoking the 4-F’s tie breaker (flashlight, flares, first-aid kit & fire extinguisher) there were two teams left standing. First and second had to be decided with a coin flip. Thanks to everyone who participated and special thanks to Steve Kellogg who worked the pre-check and ran a checkpoint and Warren Pierce who also ran a checkpoint and helped with the tie-break at the finish.

By: Anthony Jimenez

We started our journey by gathering at the bottom of the main entrance of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca off hwy 68 for a drivers meeting following the Monterey Cars and Coffee event that morning.

It was a bright beautiful day as the cars started gathering around slowly to make what would become our caravan for the trip.

After everyone had showed up, we all gathered around for a group photo before we set out on our journey.

The road there was amazing, lots of sun and beautiful scenery a plenty (sorry no photo of that… I was driving).

Once there we did our best to park together in the same lot before you made our way to the Big Sur River Inn & Restaurant for a bit of brunch.

Once seated we were greeted by a friendly server how took our drink orders as conversations around the table began to strike up from all sides.

Aside from the long wait time the food was delicious and in large quantities.  I ordered the try tip sandwich and by the looks of things, this was going to be an adventure of its own, “sorry body”.

It was such a beautiful day we all decided to hang out just a little longer after the meal just to enjoy our afternoon and good company a little more.

Thanks to Dean and Monica for organizing this event and here’s to many more events like these in the future.