Michigan HPV Rally Aug. 21-22, 2021

Rick Gritters of Pella, Iowa, in his homebuilt streamliner at a previous Michigan HPV Rally. The 36th annual rally was to have been in May 2020, but was cancelled for obvious reasons. 

     The 36th annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally will be Aug. 21-22,  2021, at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track in Clarkston, 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 (go to 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 mirroror mirrors enabling rear  vision to both sides. 

    The track, on the grounds of the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club, is  1.4 miles around, with nine turns and one hill. Sunday races use a shorter  course without the hill.

     Entry fees: $20 for one day, $35 for two days. College and high school teams registering in advance, $35 for first vehicle and rider; $10 for each additional  vehicle or rider competing; maximum $100. Spectators free.   Prize money will be awarded to top finishers in each class.  Free camping available at track Friday and Saturday nights, with indoor  showers.

     Registration (that is, filling out entry forms) and payment of entry fees will take place when racers arrive. 

   Even if you don’t want to compete, come and see some unusual  and very fast cycles.

Tentative schedule:

SATURDAY, Aug. 21

8 a.m. – Registration and technical inspection starts.

9:30 – One-hour time trial (streamliner, streetliner, tricycle classes). 

11 – One-hour time trial (stock, junior, women, tandem classes). 

Noon – Concession stand open for lunch. 

12:15 p.m. – Hot laps on short loop, all classes, ride as many laps as  you want; your fastest lap counts, electronic timing.

1:30-2:30 – Hill climb/coast down. Race up the hill from a standing start, then when you get to the top, start coasting. Coast as far as you can go,  then mark your stopping point with chalk (provided). Separate scores/points  for time up the hill and distance coasted. 

After 2:30 – Tricycle race (no hill) and urban transportation contest. 

6 p.m. (approximate) – Trackside barbecue: Burgers, hot dogs and pasta salad, soft drinks, with paper plates and plastic utensils, $10.

SUNDAY

8:30-9:30 a.m. – Flying start 200-foot sprints (all classes). 

10 – Short course (no hill) road race (faired classes), about 12 miles.

11 – Short course (no hill) road race (unfaired classes), about 9 miles. 

Awards ceremony after last race, expected by 12:30 p.m. Concession stand open for lunch.

Questions: Contact Mike Eliasohn (mikethebike2325@comcast.net,  269-281-0797) or Mike Mowett (mowett@aol.com, 586-863-3902) 

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  track, starting at 6 p.m. Friday. Restrooms, showers available and possibly electrical hookups.

STATE CAMPGROUNDS (www.michigan.gov/dnr). 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, 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 CAMPGROUND: 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  

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. (Note: Has been operating as long-term stay only during pandemic, so may not be accepting reservations/guests for one- or two-night stays.) 

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 – Days Inn of Whitemore 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.