39th annual Michigan HPV Rally - June 15-16, 2024

The start of the first one-hour time trial at the 2023 Michigan HPV Rally.

The 39th annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally will be Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16, 2024, at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track in Clarkston in southeastern Michigan, the location since 1986.The track is on the grounds of the Oakland County Sportsmen's Club, 4770 Waterford Road, Clarkston.

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 or 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: $30 for one day, $45 for two days. College and high school teams, $40 for first vehicle and rider; $10 for each additional vehicle or rider. Online preregistration will probably start in May. (Entry fees same as in 2023.)

Following is a description of events, taken from last year, so tentative for this year:

Saturday, June 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Registration starts at 8.

ONE-HOUR TIME TRIALS: ride as many laps of the main 1.4 mile loop including one small hill, as you can in one hour, no drafting.  Usually two races for faster and slower vehicles, and for folks who race two classes of bikes.

HILL CLIMB / COAST-DOWN; riders start at bottom of hill and race up it one at a time.  Hill height is about 28 feet and max 4% grade.  Once at top, riders start coasting until they stop and mark off their final position on the track.  

KILOMETER: Racers start one at a time from a standing start and go 0.62 miles around course.

URBAN TRANSPORTATION CONTEST: Results based on hill climb / coast down score, obstacle course time and such features as lights, cargo carrying capacity, rearview mirrors, security against theft, weather protection in addition to fenders, bell, carrying tools.

Sunday, 8 a.m.-noon approximately.

SPRINT EVENT:  Racers start at top of hill, pedal down it one at time for an acceleration boost, then are timed over a 200-foot stretch.

ROAD RACES: Racers use part of main track (not including hill) and do 20 or 25 short laps (about 12.5 miles or 20 km).

Question, comments or suggestions, contact co-organizers Mike Eliasohn (mikethebike2325@comcast.net, 810-990-8919) or Mike Mowett (mowett@aol.com, 586- 863-3902). 

We don't know yet if concession stand will be open for lunch on Saturday and if we will have on-site dinner Saturday evening.

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.

CAMPING

Free camping available overnight Friday and Saturday in the infield of the Waterford Hills track, 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 Grange Road, Holly, 2486348811. Five miles east of Holly.

Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, 7800 Gale Road, Waterford, 248-44471020. Closest to Waterford Hills track, about 4 miles west.

Website for each recreation area has list of campgrounds and phone numbers.

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

HOTELS / MOTELS (with approximate distances/direction from Waterford Hills track)

Clarkston - Olde Mill Inn North, 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 Highland Road (M-59) at US-23, 810-632-7177, 61 rooms. About 18 miles west.

Waterford – American Inn and Suites, 7076 Highland Road (M-59), 248-666-8555, 111 rooms. About 3 miles southwest.

Waterford – Holiday Inn Express, 4350 Pontiac Lake Road, 248-674-3434 / 866-430-6157, 83 rooms. About 7 miles southwest.

Whitmore Lake - Days Inn, 9897 Main St. (off US-23, exit 53), 734-550-0105, 61 rooms. About 33 miles southwest.