Follow us on the trip of a lifetime: Rally North America's Big Sky Rally 2016!

Road Rallying is, to non-car people, an odd way to spend your holiday allowance. You spend your precious time off, sitting in a car for 10+ hours a day, bouncing from hotel, to motel, holiday inn, collecting speeding tickets, and selfies in equal measure!

Moreover, the high profile events such as Gumball 3000 and Gold Rush are just as exclusive as they are expensive – hence as people’s weapon of choice, you tend to see Ferraris, Bugattis, and in some cases, Batmobiles as rally cars.

To us petrol heads, these high profile rallies look awesome – although they often remain out of reach of the average tuner or enthusiast. If only there were a way to make the rallying experience more affordable, less debaucherously extravagant, and ultimately more achievable to Joe Public…

Well last October, I discovered it – Rally North America.

... a trial of navigation and cunning, that requires you to use your brain to find obscure and interesting landmarks with only minimal clues...

Rally North America is very different from the party-heavy, speed crazed experience that the most infamous rallies promise. It’s a scavenger hunt; a trial of navigation and cunning, that requires you to use your brain to find obscure and interesting landmarks with only minimal clues. The organisers are huge car guys too, so naturally the waypoints link up the most interesting roads in the area, as well as stunning views to boot.

And the kicker? It’s about as affordable to enter as a rally can be.

Last year, I took my 1986 T-Top Camaro (pictured above) on the 2015 RNA Ohio Valley 700 – their autumn mini rally, crossing Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, all in the name of raising money for the Epilepsy Foundation of West Ohio - it was a fantastic experience!

I got to see so many parts of the state I’d just moved to, learn some history, drive some great roads, and meet some fantastic people in awesome cars. Best of all, I was doing what I love and raising money for a good cause.
And from the second we hit the start line, I was hooked.

This summer, my Rally Team is taking it to the next level. For Rally North America’s 2016 Big Sky Rally, we are road tripping right across the USA to compete in the event. My co-pilot, CTzen Timbo is flying over from London, and our road adventure begins in Detroit on July 8th. From there, we travel halfway across the country, through the Midwest and the Dakotas, to the start line in Billings MT on July 10th.

The rally itself is a five-day trip through the Rockies & northwest, scavenging for interesting waypoints through some of the most dramatic scenery in the country. But we will cover that in more detail when we come to it.

The finish line is Portland OR, on Saturday July 16th. And then from there (assuming our car makes it) we have to haul back to Detroit by Monday so I can make it to work on time!

By now (if you’ve made it this far) you will be wondering what car we are we doing this in. Well, I already sold my Camaro – so luckily I don’t have to endure 5,000 miles of rattly GM dashboard. However, the car we’ve chosen is equally American, and synonymous with the cross country American road trip (and that most American of rights, freedom).

So we, Team Not Found (car 404) will be doing this year’s rally in my 05 Mustang GT.

It’s mostly stock for now, with the exception of ford racing suspension, an intake and some wheels and tyres. Prepping the car to do 5500 miles in 10 days is no small task, and most of my pay between now and the rally is going into prepping the car, but I can’t think of a better tool for the iconic American adventure.

We’re hoping to raise over $1000 for this year’s charity, Camp Sunshine, a summer camp for children with life-threatening and debilitating illnesses, and I am putting this up here with the hope that, as a community, CarThrottle can come along for the ride.

If even only a few CTzens could give a dollar or two to Camp Sunshine (via our team page at the link below) in support of our team’s effort, then that would make all the pain, sweat, hundreds of gallons of fuel, and late nights on the road worthwhile - spurred on by the spirit of the community.

In return, we will post pictures and videos at every opportunity so you can share the adventure throughout this entire trip.

Anyway, until then, stay posted for updates as we prep the car, with modifications, vinyl & decals, and for the unveiling of our epic team outfits. You can follow us on our Facebook page at the link below, and we will continue to post everything on CarThrottle for your CTzens enjoyment!

Till next time!
Derpins – Captain of Team Not Found
Timbo - Tag-a-long & Co-Conspirator