The rally will be held at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track on the Oakland County Sportsmen's Club grounds in Clarkston, near Pontiac - the location since 1986.
The oldest such event in North America is open to riders of all human powered vehicles — recumbents, regular bicycles, tandems and handcycles.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 a mirror or mirrors enabling rear vision to both sides.
The track is 1.4 miles around, with nine turns and one hill. Sunday races use a shorter course without the hill.
ENTRY FEES: One day only, $30; both days, $40 (includes $10 MHPVA membership); college/high school teams with several riders, $100. $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 don't want to compete, come and see some unusual and some very fast bicycles and tricycles. Prize money will be awarded to top finishers in each class.
Concession stand with hot food will be serving lunch on Saturday and possibly on Sunday, breakfast and lunch.
Schedule of events, subject to change:
SATURDAY, May 17
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, junior, women, tandem) - 11 a.m.-noon
Lunch
Hill climb/coast down (all classes) - 1:30-2:30 p.m.
1-kilometer standing start time trial - 3-4 p.m.
Urban transportation contest - in afternoon. Scores will be based on finishing position in the hill climb, coast-down and obstacle course, plus vehicle evaluation. For instance, if there are 10 competitors, the fastest in the hill climb gets 10 points; second fastest, 9 points, etc. In the evaluation, 1 point is awarded for each feature: Lights, front and rear (1 point for each); fenders, front and rear (1 point for each); reflectors; daytime visibility; cargo carrying ability (minimal, one grocery bag, or two grocery bags – maximum 3 points), rearview mirrors, security against theft, convenience (size, getting on/off or in/out), weather protection, horn, bell, tools, tire pump, spare inner tube or tube repair kit and "anything else."
6 p.m. (approximate) – Trackside barbecue. Choice of hamburgers, hot dogs or chicken, plus salad and soft drinks. Paper plates, napkins, etc., will be provided. Minimum donation of $5 per person. (Note: This is a change from what was previously listed of either bring your own food to barbecue, plus supplies, or eat at a nearby restaurant. )
Followed by – Dessert (provided) and an opportunity to reminisce about 30 years of HPV racing.
SUNDAY
200-foot sprints, flying start (all classes) - 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Tricycle race - 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 track, visit
http://www.waterfordhills.com/downloads/facilitymap.pdf or
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/179549320/ 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.
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, 248-674-3434, 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.michigan.gov/dnr, then click on "camping and
recreation," then "camping and harbor reservations." Reservation can be
made online.
Highland Recreation Area, 5200 E. Highland Road (M-59), White Lake, 248-889-3750. Two miles east of Highland.
Holly Recreation Area, 5300 McGinnis 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, 3480 Teggerdine Road, White Lake, 248-625-9112. Closest to Waterford Hills track, about 4 miles west.
OAKLAND COUNTY: Groveland Oaks County Park, 14555 Dixie Hwy., White Lake, northeast of Holly, 248-625-9112.
PRIVATE CAMPGROUNDS (www.michcampgrounds.com): Detroit Sportsmen's Congress Campground, 10150 E. Oakwood Road, Oxford, 586-739-3500, e-mail dscoffice@gmail.com, www.d-s-c.org
