Rally : An Exercise in Following Instructions

Looking for a pleasant yet adventurous way for you and your Porsche to get away on a weekend? Try a rally. It’s a great way to get to know both your car and the surrounding countryside.

A rally is an exercise in following instructions. The object of the rally competition is to follow a prescribed course and to arrive at each checkpoint when you are due, neither early nor late. You are given a set of instructions that describe the route you should follow and the average speeds you should try to maintain over each section of the course. One must understand the rules and definitions so as to understand the instructions, which, if followed to the letter, should bring the participant to the designated destination at the proper time.


Driving on Interesting Roads Off The Beaten Path

Cars travel independently, competing against each other. Checkpoints are located along the route at unspecified locations to time your arrival. If you maintain the assigned speeds and routes perfectly, you would reach each checkpoint exactly on time. One point is assigned for each .01 minute you are early or late at a checkpoint. The goal is to keep your score as low as possible. Most rallies use interesting roads that are off the beaten path. Rally masters attempt to create courses that are scenic and fun to drive, as well as stimulating to the mind.

Rallying requires teamwork. Every car must have two occupants, called the driver and the navigator. In most teams, the navigator reads the instructions to the driver and helps to look for signs and landmarks. Some experienced teams have equipment that allows the driver to read the instructions while the navigator calculates time, distance, and average speeds. To keep it fun and fair there are different levels of competitive classes, from novice to very advanced.

Rallies are a fun and competitive — but safe — way to enjoy your Porsche on the open road.


More Information

Want more information on Rallies? Check the PCA website at www.pca.org/rally.