Post by Sean on Mar 22, 2008 19:18:54 GMT -5
I've got a lot of emails asking about what people should bring on the New England Rally and what to expect so I decided to throw together something.
If you can think of anything to include please post it.
Preparing for the rally:
Your vehicle:
A tune up is a great idea before you put your car through the torture of driving 1500 miles of New England roads in the summer time.
Give your car a good coat of wax. It will assure that the stickers are easy to remove and won't pull up the clear on older cars or freshly painted cars. We use removable vinyl, but it never hurts to be safe.
Make sure your tires are in good shape and all your valve stems are tight.
Get a fresh oil change. 1500 miles is a long ride on old oil.
Make sure your engine coolant and all other fluids are full.
Check your belts for wear. Change them if there is any wear at all. You don’t want to snap an alternator belt in the middle of the night.
Make sure your windows are clean inside and out. (This one is HUGE. You will thank yourself as the sun is coming up in the am.)
Top off your washer fluid. It will come in handy if it rains.
Make sure your wipers are good. It's no fun not being able to see in the rain.
It's a good idea to have a set of wrenches “just incase”.
A can of fix a flat is also a good idea in a pinch to help get you to a repair shop if you don't have a spare.
Easy pass is a HUGE time saver! Consider getting it.
You:
It's a good idea to get a good night sleep for a few days before the rally. Chances are that you will be up for 2 days straight.
Eat well for the days before the rally. Make sure your body is nourished. You'd be surprised how much better you feel when your body is not starved for nutrition.
Things to bring:
Pillows, blanket
Tylenol
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Visor or hat
Quarters for tolls
Napkins
Hose clamps
Various nuts and bolts
Assorted zip ties
Toilet paper. (You never know…)
Deodorant
Soap and a wash cloth
Tooth brush and tooth paste
2 way radios that can be purchased at Wal-Mart or best buy for $35.00
Laptop with web camera if you would like to broadcast video for the New England Rally.
Mobile laptop wireless card if you have one.
Digital camera or video camera. (You will want videos and pictures. Trust me!)
Snacks, drinks, energy drinks. It saves a lot of stops.
A flash light. It’s a great idea to cover the lens with red or blue cellophane. Then if you need it while driving at night you will be able to see clearly (for the most part) and not lose your night vision.
Tips for driving in New England:
Keep in mind from the start of the rally that you are in a stickered up vehicle that will no doubt attract attention.
You will be the focus of the roads, especially if you are in a group of cars. It's a good idea to drive as if you are expecting to get pulled over because there is a really good chance you will if you are doing something wrong. Please obey the traffic laws. I can’t stress this enough.
Driving in the left lane is not a good idea. The cops usually park so they have a good focus on the "fast lane" or “passing lane”. In Maine they WILL pull you over for traveling in the passing lane. Not only that, but it’s not good practice. Travel in the lane to the right of the passing lane. This allows for a smoother flow of traffic. If you come up on another car use the passing lane to…. Pass them. Then get back in the travel lane. This is a good habit to get into.
Don’t use the breakdown lane or median to pass. PERIOD! It’s not safe and makes us look bad and I will not be happy if I see it.
If you get down to ¼ a tank of gas it is a good idea to start looking for a stop. It’s not uncommon to hit a stretch of New England road that does not have a gas station for 30-50 miles.
At night:
It’s a good idea to stay in a group at night for a few reasons. If there is a break down at night it is a lot safer to deal with it as a group and chances are you will be able to deal with most anything. You will find that most people are more than happy to help if something goes wrong. If there is an accident there are people there to assist. It’s also easy to get lost at night. With more people in the group the chances of getting lost are much smaller. It’s easy to get tired while driving at night. In a group you have people to focus on and you can talk over the 2 way radios. This will keep you awake a lot better than if you are alone.
Don’t be afraid to let your co-driver drive. That is why they are there. It’s a lot to ask of yourself to drive the entire rally. Don’t try. There is no reason to. You will be much safer and have a much better time if you take a nap while your co-driver takes a turn behind the wheel. Also don’t be afraid to take a break and stretch your legs and get your blood flowing.
You see a Cop or he is behind you
So… you are cruising down the road and your radar detector did not go off. You see a cop. What do you do?
DO NOT slam on the breaks.
Just lift your foot off the gas and gradually bring your speed.
You have a cop behind you.
Same as above. Don't slam on the breaks. Hold your speed and slowly lift your foot off the gas. Slowly bring down your speed to just faster than traffic and change lanes slowly while using your blinker. Hopefully he will pass you.
He didn't pass you. The lights come on
Turn off your police scanner if you have one. Turn off your radio and radar detector, all cbs and 2 way radios and extinguish all cigarettes (it's not something he wants blowing in his face while he's talking to you.). Remember now is the time to attempt to make the cop feel comfortable like he is your best friend, but you also want him to forget you when the stop is over.
You also need to do this by saying as little as possible. It's more about your demeanor and the way you present your self to him.
First thing to remember is less is more when talking to the police.
Turn on your interior light and have your hands on the steering wheel. Suggest that all passengers have their hands where he can see them. A cop at ease is a lot better than a nervous cop wondering why you are hiding your hands.
Smile. Talk with a happy tone. Don't sound scared or nervous. Cops like to have that "in power" feeling some times and more times than not will use it to give you a lecture.
Address him as Sir and answer yes sir no sir. (remember they like the position of power… (who wouldn’t) and addressing someone as sir shows respect.)
If you are smart you already have your license and registration where it is quickly and easily accessible. Tell him you are going to reach for your registration so he does not think you are making sudden moves.
If he asks you if you know why he pulled you over JUST SAY NO SIR, nothing more. He knows you know why, but he also now knows that you are not stupid enough to incriminate your self by saying "I was speeding."
If he asks you questions answer his questions only. Don’t offer any more information than he asks for and be as polite as possible. Be aware of what you say. If he says I caught you at XX mph. Leave it at that. Don't tell him no sir I was going XX. You are only contradicting him and confronting him. This will do nothing to help you. Remember... Less is more. They can and will use any information you use against you if at all possible.
When he asks if you are in a race (and he will.. you are in a stickered up car that looks like a race car) politely tell him "No sir. The New England Rally is not a race. It is a poker style road rally to benefit the Boys and Girls clubs of America. Speed is not a factor in any way. The object is to form the best poker hand by drawing cards at each checkpoint."
This is important to remember. If you are part of an illegal road race you will be locked up and your car WILL be impounded. That is why we are not in any way a road race. We are a rally. Remember that at all times.
If he gives you a ticket don't try to argue it on the side of the road. Once he has written your ticket he is not going to retract it on the side of the road. If he will retract it, it will be at the court house.
Make notes of everything you can remember.
Mile marker he pulled you over at.
Traffic conditions.
How long did he follow you before he pulled you over?
If he clocked you and how or if he paced you.
Time you were pulled over.
Speed he says you were traveling and the actual speed you were traveling. Was he right?
Remember you don't have to prove you were not speeding. He has to prove you were. The more information you have when it comes time to fight the ticket (if you decide to) you have a better chance of winning.
If you have anything to include feel free to post it. We have a bunch of people that have never been in a rally before. The more we can inform them, the better prepared they will be and the more fun they will have.
If you can think of anything to include please post it.
Preparing for the rally:
Your vehicle:
A tune up is a great idea before you put your car through the torture of driving 1500 miles of New England roads in the summer time.
Give your car a good coat of wax. It will assure that the stickers are easy to remove and won't pull up the clear on older cars or freshly painted cars. We use removable vinyl, but it never hurts to be safe.
Make sure your tires are in good shape and all your valve stems are tight.
Get a fresh oil change. 1500 miles is a long ride on old oil.
Make sure your engine coolant and all other fluids are full.
Check your belts for wear. Change them if there is any wear at all. You don’t want to snap an alternator belt in the middle of the night.
Make sure your windows are clean inside and out. (This one is HUGE. You will thank yourself as the sun is coming up in the am.)
Top off your washer fluid. It will come in handy if it rains.
Make sure your wipers are good. It's no fun not being able to see in the rain.
It's a good idea to have a set of wrenches “just incase”.
A can of fix a flat is also a good idea in a pinch to help get you to a repair shop if you don't have a spare.
Easy pass is a HUGE time saver! Consider getting it.
You:
It's a good idea to get a good night sleep for a few days before the rally. Chances are that you will be up for 2 days straight.
Eat well for the days before the rally. Make sure your body is nourished. You'd be surprised how much better you feel when your body is not starved for nutrition.
Things to bring:
Pillows, blanket
Tylenol
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Visor or hat
Quarters for tolls
Napkins
Hose clamps
Various nuts and bolts
Assorted zip ties
Toilet paper. (You never know…)
Deodorant
Soap and a wash cloth
Tooth brush and tooth paste
2 way radios that can be purchased at Wal-Mart or best buy for $35.00
Laptop with web camera if you would like to broadcast video for the New England Rally.
Mobile laptop wireless card if you have one.
Digital camera or video camera. (You will want videos and pictures. Trust me!)
Snacks, drinks, energy drinks. It saves a lot of stops.
A flash light. It’s a great idea to cover the lens with red or blue cellophane. Then if you need it while driving at night you will be able to see clearly (for the most part) and not lose your night vision.
Tips for driving in New England:
Keep in mind from the start of the rally that you are in a stickered up vehicle that will no doubt attract attention.
You will be the focus of the roads, especially if you are in a group of cars. It's a good idea to drive as if you are expecting to get pulled over because there is a really good chance you will if you are doing something wrong. Please obey the traffic laws. I can’t stress this enough.
Driving in the left lane is not a good idea. The cops usually park so they have a good focus on the "fast lane" or “passing lane”. In Maine they WILL pull you over for traveling in the passing lane. Not only that, but it’s not good practice. Travel in the lane to the right of the passing lane. This allows for a smoother flow of traffic. If you come up on another car use the passing lane to…. Pass them. Then get back in the travel lane. This is a good habit to get into.
Don’t use the breakdown lane or median to pass. PERIOD! It’s not safe and makes us look bad and I will not be happy if I see it.
If you get down to ¼ a tank of gas it is a good idea to start looking for a stop. It’s not uncommon to hit a stretch of New England road that does not have a gas station for 30-50 miles.
At night:
It’s a good idea to stay in a group at night for a few reasons. If there is a break down at night it is a lot safer to deal with it as a group and chances are you will be able to deal with most anything. You will find that most people are more than happy to help if something goes wrong. If there is an accident there are people there to assist. It’s also easy to get lost at night. With more people in the group the chances of getting lost are much smaller. It’s easy to get tired while driving at night. In a group you have people to focus on and you can talk over the 2 way radios. This will keep you awake a lot better than if you are alone.
Don’t be afraid to let your co-driver drive. That is why they are there. It’s a lot to ask of yourself to drive the entire rally. Don’t try. There is no reason to. You will be much safer and have a much better time if you take a nap while your co-driver takes a turn behind the wheel. Also don’t be afraid to take a break and stretch your legs and get your blood flowing.
You see a Cop or he is behind you
So… you are cruising down the road and your radar detector did not go off. You see a cop. What do you do?
DO NOT slam on the breaks.
Just lift your foot off the gas and gradually bring your speed.
You have a cop behind you.
Same as above. Don't slam on the breaks. Hold your speed and slowly lift your foot off the gas. Slowly bring down your speed to just faster than traffic and change lanes slowly while using your blinker. Hopefully he will pass you.
He didn't pass you. The lights come on
Turn off your police scanner if you have one. Turn off your radio and radar detector, all cbs and 2 way radios and extinguish all cigarettes (it's not something he wants blowing in his face while he's talking to you.). Remember now is the time to attempt to make the cop feel comfortable like he is your best friend, but you also want him to forget you when the stop is over.
You also need to do this by saying as little as possible. It's more about your demeanor and the way you present your self to him.
First thing to remember is less is more when talking to the police.
Turn on your interior light and have your hands on the steering wheel. Suggest that all passengers have their hands where he can see them. A cop at ease is a lot better than a nervous cop wondering why you are hiding your hands.
Smile. Talk with a happy tone. Don't sound scared or nervous. Cops like to have that "in power" feeling some times and more times than not will use it to give you a lecture.
Address him as Sir and answer yes sir no sir. (remember they like the position of power… (who wouldn’t) and addressing someone as sir shows respect.)
If you are smart you already have your license and registration where it is quickly and easily accessible. Tell him you are going to reach for your registration so he does not think you are making sudden moves.
If he asks you if you know why he pulled you over JUST SAY NO SIR, nothing more. He knows you know why, but he also now knows that you are not stupid enough to incriminate your self by saying "I was speeding."
If he asks you questions answer his questions only. Don’t offer any more information than he asks for and be as polite as possible. Be aware of what you say. If he says I caught you at XX mph. Leave it at that. Don't tell him no sir I was going XX. You are only contradicting him and confronting him. This will do nothing to help you. Remember... Less is more. They can and will use any information you use against you if at all possible.
When he asks if you are in a race (and he will.. you are in a stickered up car that looks like a race car) politely tell him "No sir. The New England Rally is not a race. It is a poker style road rally to benefit the Boys and Girls clubs of America. Speed is not a factor in any way. The object is to form the best poker hand by drawing cards at each checkpoint."
This is important to remember. If you are part of an illegal road race you will be locked up and your car WILL be impounded. That is why we are not in any way a road race. We are a rally. Remember that at all times.
If he gives you a ticket don't try to argue it on the side of the road. Once he has written your ticket he is not going to retract it on the side of the road. If he will retract it, it will be at the court house.
Make notes of everything you can remember.
Mile marker he pulled you over at.
Traffic conditions.
How long did he follow you before he pulled you over?
If he clocked you and how or if he paced you.
Time you were pulled over.
Speed he says you were traveling and the actual speed you were traveling. Was he right?
Remember you don't have to prove you were not speeding. He has to prove you were. The more information you have when it comes time to fight the ticket (if you decide to) you have a better chance of winning.
If you have anything to include feel free to post it. We have a bunch of people that have never been in a rally before. The more we can inform them, the better prepared they will be and the more fun they will have.