Preview: 34th annual Michigan HPV Rally

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, streamliners, 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, then under "recumbent racing," click on "Human Powered Race America," then on "racing rules." 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.

Prize money will be awarded to top finishers in each class. Even if you don't want to compete, come and see some unusual and some very fast bicycles and tricycles. 
Concession stand will be open.

Schedule of events (subject to change):

SATURDAY, May 19

Registration and tech inspection starts 8 am

1-hour time trial (streamliner, streetliner, tricycle classes) - 9:30 am

1-hour time trial (stock, junior, women, tandem classes) - 11 am

Lunch and hot laps, 12:15 p.m. (on short loop, all classes, ride as many laps as you want; your fastest lap counts)

Hill climb/coast down (all classes) - 1:30-2:30 pm

Standing start kilometer (all classes), 3 p.m.

Urban transportation contest - in afternoon.  Score/placing based on results of hill climb, coast down, time in running obstacle course and evaluation for lights, fenders, other weather protection, cargo carrying capacity, braking performance, rearview mirrors, security against theft, convenience (size, getting on/off or in/out), etc.

6 p.m. (approximate) – eat at local restaurants.

SUNDAY

200-foot sprints, flying start (all classes) - 8:30-9:30 am

Tricycle race - 10 am

Road race (faired classes, short course, no hill, 12 miles) –10:30 am

Road race (unfaired classes, short course, no hill, 9 miles) 11 am

Awards ceremony follows the last race, expected by 1 p.m.

Entry fees: $20 for one day, $35 for two days. For multi-rider college or high school or other teams, $35 for first vehicle and rider; $10 for each additional vehicle or rider. Spectators free.

Register online at http://www.hpra.bostonandpop.com/ and save time when you arrive.

For additional information, contact: teddwheeler@hotmail.com

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 orhttp://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/179549320/ 

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:

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 "make a reservation.

Highland Recreation Area, 5200 E. Highland Road (M-59), White Lake, 248-889-3750. Two miles east of Highland.

Holly Recreation Area, 8100 Grand Road, Holly, 248-634-8811. Five miles east of Holly.

Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, 7800 Gale Road, Waterford, 248-666-1020. Closest to Waterford Hills track, about 4 miles west.

OAKLAND COUNTY:  Groveland Oaks County Park, 14555 Dixie Hwy., Holly, northeast of Holly, 248-634-9811.

PRIVATE CAMPGROUNDS (www.michcampgrounds.com): Detroit Sportsmen's Congress Horseshoe Lake Campground, 1050 E. Oakwood Road, Oxford, 248-628-3859, e-mail dscoffice@gmail.com, www.d-s-c.org

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 – Quality Inn and Suites, 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.

Note: The Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Association was formed in July 1984 and officially came to an end Sept. 30, 2016, due to a lack of active members willing to continue to run the organization. However, the Michigan HPV Rally continues this year and hopefully in future years. This blog, website (www.mhpva.org) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mhpva) continue.