The Great Volkswagen Cross Country Endurance Race

Rules and Regulations…

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1. General Description
   
   The Great VW Cross Country Endurance Race is intended to be for ALL types, makes, models and years of VW’s (including trikes and kit cars) and is to be a competitive controlled-speed endurance road rally on public highways. It is not a test of top speed. It is a test of a driver/navigator teams ability to follow precise course instructions and the vehicle’s (and team’s) ability to endure on a cross-country trip. The course instructions require the competing teams to drive at or below the posted speed limits at all times.  The course for 2020 will be approximately 1200 miles over 4 days and there will be two distinct routes, one from the West Coast and one from the East Coast.  Each route will be defined by the Executive Committee that will attempt to keep the vehicles on a fixed route and keeping them off major highways to the fullest extent possible.  The exact route will be provided to each participant at the start of each leg along with exact directions that must be followed and their exact starting times that will be approximately 45 seconds apart for each vehicle that enters the race.
   
   The 2020 race routes will start in the following two locations:  Albuquerque, NM and Myrtle Beach, SC.
    

2. Race Schedule. 
   At that time, handouts will be provided to each race team as to their next expected stopping point and the next scheduled starting time.  The race will continue each day from June 8th to June 11th with an approximate 2-hour break for lunch at the first check point of the day and dinner/lodging at the last check point of the day.  The 2020 race will end at Mid America Motorworks located at 1 Mid America Pl, Effingham, IL 62401 on Thursday evening, June 11th.   Mid America’s Funfest is held June 12th and 13th where the winner will be announced on the morning of June 12th.  Due to time restrictions and work schedules, it will not be required to participate in the Funfest except for staying around on June 12th around noon for the awards ceremony.
    

Entry Fee and Prizes

The entry fee for The Great VW Cross Country Endurance Race is $200 total and is to be paid no later than May 8th, 2020.  However, for the race to proceed, there is a $50 non-refundable registration fee (this helps guarantee that you are serious) that is due no later than February 29, 2020.  The money from the entry fee will be divided approximately 60% to cash awards and 40% for the execution of the event, i.e., costs associated with equipment required, racing decals, banners, personnel such as timers, spotters, etc..  No individual will be paid or reimbursed for their participation in the planning of the event!  This race is being planned for a minimum of 50 vehicles from both the West Coast and East Coast.  If the race is cancelled for any reason, deposits will be refunded.

Assuming that we have a full compliment of 75 cars per leg, i.e., West/East, the cash awards would be:

1st Place                          - $4000.00
2nd Place                        - $2000.00
3rd Place                         - $1500.00
4th Place                         - $1000.00
Special Cash Award*     - $  500.00

* Notes: 

Just for fun, we will also be having a poker run associated with the event where all participants will be allowed to choose one (1 card) at each of the 8 designated check points of the race with the best hand winning a Special Cash Award of  $500.00.

Also, as of December 31st, 2019, we are around 70 registrants.  With this lower than expected number of racers, we will be combining the total amount of money anticipated as income by 50/50, i.e., 50% towards expenses and 50% towards prizes, and dividing/awarding the cash prizes to the most accurate 4 racers from both runs.  If the number of racers continue to increase, the money will once again be split 60/40.
 

1. Timing
   
   Each leg of the route will be measured using Global Positional Satellite (GPS) coordinates and each team will be given the exact distance to be covered and the time allowed for that leg based on expected traffic, estimated stops, etc..  Unlike The Great Race that is put on each year by Hemmings Motor News and the Hagerty Insurance Company, each team will be allowed to use any digital timing device that they believe will be of benefit to having the most accurate overall time.  The race will begin at a fixed time to be announced at the start of each leg based on The Official NIST US Time, https://www.time.gov.  It is expected that starting times will be 8:00am each morning and around 2:00pm in the afternoon.  These times are subject to change and no one will be allowed to start earlier than specified by the executive committee.
   
   Two official time pieces will be started at the exact same time and used to determine the team(s) exact time for each leg.  Time will be measured in milliseconds and the goal of each team is to come as close to the specified time for each leg as possible.  The check-in points at the end of each leg will be set up with digital timers that record the exact time when the front wheels of each vehicle passes the finish line for that leg. 
   
   No entry will be allowed to stop or to go at speeds slower than 10 mph while within one quarter (¼) mile of the finish line for each leg.  The winner of the +race will be the team that has the best overall score, i.e., who was able to average the best time allowed for the overall course.  The average times will be based on the total average of all legs.   Arriving under or over the desired time will be counted the same, i.e., coming in 10 seconds sooner than scheduled will be counted the same as arriving 10 seconds late.
   
   All public highway laws will be in effect during the race including speed limits, stop signs (complete stops), etc..  Spotters along each leg will be observing at random the participants progress and any deviation from the law will be penalized by a reduction of points as deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee.  Each team will be given two noted infractions during the race with a third being grounds for disqualification.  Likewise, any deviation from the rules with respect to the finish line will also be penalized by a deduction of points.
    

2. The Route
   Each route will be broken up into approximately two four (4) hour segments with an average cruising speed of around 40mph, giving each team time to enjoy each leg of the route and stopping as needed along the way as they deem necessary.  There is no limit as to how many stops can be made during each leg of the race or how many individuals may be in each vehicle.  Each team is allowed one support vehicle if desired.  The support vehicle’s will be allowed to follow the identical path but will not be allowed to leave the starting areas until at minimum of 30 minutes after the last registered race vehicle has left the starting line and may not interfere with any of the race cars along the route as to impede their progress.  If a support vehicle finds itself in front of one of the race vehicles where they may be impeding their progress, they must pull over to the side of the road immediately to allow that vehicle to pass.
   
   The details of each leg will be provided in a sealed envelope along with the staggered starting time (45 seconds between racers) that will be computed into that entries time for the leg in which they are running.  All cars will be allowed to start the race at the official start time for that day, i.e., 8:00am on June 8th and to adjust their individual time accordingly after they open the contents of the envelope.  Envelopes may not be opened until after the official start time. 
   
   Since some older cars with low horsepower engines, older brake systems, etc., may have difficulty maneuvering or covering areas such as hills and mountains, these cars may ask in advance for an adjustment in their overall time for any particular leg of the race.  These times will be added to the set time for that leg and the driver will have to calculate this and add it to their given expected arrival time, i.e., if it is expected to take 3 hours and 45 minutes to cover a distance at an average of 40mph and you were to ask for a 15 minute extension, you would then be expected to arrive in 4 hours and your time would be based on how close you come to that time.
   
   In case of any long term delay, the team(s) affected will also be able to call in to the master timer and request an extension based on how long of a delay is expected.  These would be handled similar to the above paragraph.  A vehicle that breaks down during the race will not be able to request an extension since time for repairs are unpredictable. 
   
   Detailed instructions such as approximate distance between turns, road numbers/markers, etc., will be included in each envelope and must be followed to the fullest extent possible.  Remember, there will be spotters along the way looking for each car to pass pre-determined areas.  Missing a turn could cost you a penalty and will be decided by the executive committee.  All decisions of the executive committee are considered final unless subject to question.  Any disputes or disagreement with this committee must be submitted in writing within 30 minutes of the announced results for the leg where the penalty was noted and will be resolved by the committee at the end of each day.  All decisions are final!     

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