The 28th annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally will be Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, 2012, at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track on the Oakland County Sportsmen's Club grounds in Clarkston, near Pontiac.
The oldest such event in North America is open to riders of all human powered vehicles -- recumbents, regular bicycles and tandems. There are classes for streamlined, unstreamlined cycles, tandems, women, youth and tricycles. The rally is conducted using Human Powered Race America rules (www.recumbents.com/hpra/rulesand.htm). Note: HPRA rules require all vehicles to have mirror/mirrors enabling rear vision to both sides.
The track is 1.4 miles around, with nine turns and one hill.
ENTRY FEES: One day only, $30; both days, $40 (includes $10 MHPVA membership. $1 of each entry fee goes to support the League of Michigan Bicyclists. Test ride pass, $10, which includes MHPVA membership. Spectators free.
Even if you have no interest in racing, come and see some unusual and some very fast bicycles and tricycles. Some members of the Great Lakes chapter of the FreakBike Militia may bring their creative bikes on Saturday to show, not to race, which will mean even more unusual bikes to see.
Prize money will be awarded to top finishers in each class.
SATURDAY, May 19
Registration and technical inspection starts at 8 a.m.
One-hour time trial (streamliner, streetliner classes) - 9:30-10:30 a.m
One-hour time trial (stock, superstock, junior, women, tandem) - 11 a.m.-noon
Lunch (bring your own food or eat at nearby restaurant).
Hill climb/coast down (all classes) - 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Urban transportation contest - in afternoon (see details below).
Standing start kilometer (all classes) - 3-4 p.m.
Dinner - Steak fry at Sportsmen's Club lodge or at nearby Big Boy's - 6 p.m.
SUNDAY
200-Foot Sprints (all classes, flying start) - 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Tricycle race (infield parking lot) - 10 a.m.
Road race 1 (faster vehicles, 20 laps, 12 miles, no hill) - 10:30 a.m.
Road race 2 (slower Vehicles, 15 laps, 9 miles, no hill) - 11 a.m.
Awards ceremony by 1 p.m. (hopefully)
Location: Oakland County Sportsmen's Club: 4770 Waterford Road, Clarkston, MI 48346. For a map of the competition track, visit http://www.waterfordhills.com/downloads/facilitymap.pdf.
For additional information, contact: Mike Mowett, 586-863-3902 or mowett@aol.com, or Mike Eliasohn, 269-982-4058 or mikethebike@acd.net.
TO GET TO THE RALLY:
From I-75, get off at exit 91. Take M-15 south to Dixie Hwy. (US-24). Turn left, continuing south about 1 mile and turn
left onto Waterford Road, then proceed to track.
If coming from the west, take U.S. 23 north (or south) to M-59 (Highland Road). Go east on M-59 to Airport Road, then left
(north) to US-24. Turn left, then immediately right onto Waterford Road. Go about a half-mile to track.
URBAN TRANSPORTATION CONTEST
By Paul Pancella, UTC coordinator
We will include the Urban Transportation Contest (UTC) at Waterford this year, in the “traditional” format. It will start on Saturday afternoon and run simultaneously with the hill climb/coast down event. In fact, the coast down is one of three phases of the UTC, so the more aerodynamic the vehicle, the better. The other two phases are static measurements and some dynamic testing. The dynamic tests include a measure of the turning radius, braking distance, and a run on a short curvy course carrying some simulated groceries.
This contest is open to all competitors entered at the rally at no extra charge. The results will not be included in the HPRA points series, but there will be prizes for the top finishers. Vehicles will have to pass the same technical requirements as for the rest of the rally, with the exception that rearview mirrors will earn points, but are not a requirement for UTC participation. UTC vehicles must have more than one wheel.
Points will be awarded more or less equally in three areas:
Utility -- The basic ability to do the job, and do it efficiently.
Safety -- Mostly of the operator, but including security against theft.
Convenience -- The ideal urban vehicle is fun and easy to use. Here I will include items that affect operator comfort, as well as vehicle storage capacity.
To compete in the UTC, register on Saturday morning like everyone else. There will be some additional paperwork to fill out for the UTC. If you enter a separate vehicle in the UTC, get an official vehicle number from me, then be sure to run it in the hill climb/coast down in addition to your primary racing vehicle. I need to have your UTC forms by about 11 a.m. The contest will start in the parking lot when I get back from lunch.
So bring your lights, tools, and whatever else you think makes your vehicle more practical on the streets (or a whole different vehicle) and see how it stacks up.
PLACES TO STAY:
MOTELS (with approximate distances/direction from Waterford Hills track)
Clarkston - Clarkston Motor Inn, 6853 Dixie Hwy. (US-10), 248-625-1522, 12 rooms, 2 miles northeast.
Clarkston - Olde Mill Inn of Clarkston, 5835 Dixie Hwy., 248-623-0300. Across Dixie Highway from Waterford Road leading to track. This is the closest motel to the track.
Hartland - Best Western of Hartland, 10087 M-59 at US-23, 810-632-7177, 61 rooms. About 18 miles west.
Waterford – Comfort Inn, 7076 Highland Road (M-59), 248-666-8555, 111 rooms. About 3 miles southwest.
Waterford – Waterford Motel, 2201 Dixie Hwy. at Telegraph Road, 248-338-4061, 50 rooms. About 6 miles southeast.
Waterford – Holiday Inn Express, 4350 Pontiac Lake Road, 877-786-9480, 83 rooms. About 7 miles southwest..
Whitmore Lake - Best Western of Whitmore Lake, 9897 Main St. (off US-23, exit 53), 734-449-2058, 61 rooms. About 33 miles southwest.
CAMPING
Free camping available overnight Friday and Saturday at the Waterford Hills Sportsman Club, site of the HPV rally, starting at 6 p.m. Friday. Restrooms, showers available and possibly electrical hookups.
STATE CAMPGROUNDS (www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails)
Highland Recreation Area, 5200 E. Highland Road (M-59), White Lake, 248-889-3750. Two miles east of Highland,
Holly Recreation Area, 8100 Grange Hall Road, Holly, 248-634-8811. Five miles east of Holly.
Ortonville Recreation Area, 5779 Hadley Road, Ortonville, 810-797-4439. Four miles northeast of Ortonville.
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, 7800 Gale Road, 248-666-1020. Closest to Waterford Hills track, about 4 miles west.
OAKLAND COUNTY
Groveland Oaks County Park, 5990 Grange Hall Road, northeast of Holly, 248-634-9811.
PRIVATE CAMPGROUNDS (www.michcampgrounds.com)
