Unfortunately I just received a call from the event organizers for tomorrows ASCC Kennetcook Conundrum rally and due to road conditions observed in today’s final check there’s no choice but to cancel the event. Official word from the organizers will follow this evening.
We’re sorry for the unavoidable late notice of this unfortunate cancellation.
Official Statement from the organizers:
[important]Alright…. sew……… (join, fasten, repair.)
First let me apologize to those who had planned for the event, only to have it cancelled yet again. I assure you I’m high on the frustration level at the moment too.[/important]
[important]Jim and I took this afternoon off for the route check. We met out at the start, checked our reservations at the various places, and headed out on the route to complete the required 24h route check. Make sure no roads were blocked, tree’s down, signs fallen, etc.
Things seemed to be going fine, some drifting, but nothing a rallyist worth their salt would complain about.
Late in Section 1, we came across a section of road that was getting rather poor. Clearly the rain and snow over the past few weeks had done us no favours. (John had done yet more route work a few weeks ago, all good at that time, Harold and John had done the whole rally for Green Crew several weeks ago, fine then.)
Three sections we came on we managed through, but made notes to be relayed at the Drivers meeting with distance and how you could traverse them with care.
Then we got to the last 250m of road. It had become an ice filled lake. We got out of the car, took shovel and trodded through some of the ice, to check the depth. The water was draining, but there was simply too much snow and ice about for it all to leave.
We got ourselves free, and made for high ground. We placed a call to John, who said he’d work on something. We b lined for the remainder of the route, while he worked in the background on solutions to the impassable road.
We stopped in at DOT, see how much sweet talking a person can do on a Friday afternoon and hour from quiting time. The answer is my glasses and beard don’t sway the boys like it used too, and while they were very very helpful, we were simply out of time for the week. (the operator said it was up to his grader doors on Wednesday when he tried.)
We made for the next road on the list, not so much concerned with signs and details anymore, but rather if we had a route of any amount. John had come up with a solution that involved an ET, cutting 62min of rally away, and several CP’s, but it might work.
Our hoped for even a truncated event were dashed less that 500m into road number two. While in a bit better condition that road one, it was simply not something that would could in good conscience send a street car down. We were pretty despondent by this point.
With the loss of these two roads, even with enough hours (there were not) we would not have had enough route left to make a worth wild event.
We found some higher ground again, and made the call to Gord.
Given that we are pretty much on sprint thaw season, and given how things looked today, the unexpected state of the roads, the sheer amount of water and snow melt in the Kennetcook area, I don’t see how we can revisit during the Winter season.
The good news is that we have a very nice event, ready to go. When the roads dry out. That won’t be soon.
We will revisit likely in late April or May.
My sincere thanks to John Pearce for his hard work behind the scenes, Harold Merklinger, all the checkpoint crews, and Jim Theriault for putting up with this show and his hard work.
Jim and I will be having dinner at Pizza Delight in Elmsdale tomorrow night at 7:30pm to discuss how much fun rallying is (when mother nature lets you do it.) All are welcome to join.
On behalf of the whole organizing team, our regrets.
-I[/important]
