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RULES: Monte Carlo-style Rally at the Tour de Sol

Purpose – To increase market demand and use of advanced vehicles, which can help
us reduce our dependence on foreign oil, while reducing the environmental impact of transportation.  The 2005 Tour de Sol offers a challenging, but fun, event for people
who have advanced vehicles, such as hybrids and biodiesels, to elevate the awareness of advanced vehicle technology, educate the public about currently available advanced technology vehicles, and demonstrate the performance and efficiency of Hybrid Electric and alternate fueled vehicles.  The Tour de Sol Race is an annual competition event conducted by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association to demonstrate the benefits and availability of sustainable energy transportation alternatives, and educate the public on emerging vehicle technology.

NEW - Self paced Monte Carlo-style Rally -  Entrants will travel to Saratoga Springs, NY at their own pace, starting at any of numerous pre-selected starting sites.  There will be 10 categories of vehicles, with a rally minimum distance of 150 miles, (500 miles for the "100 mpg Challenge" top award of $5000).  The Hybrid Rally finish ceremony and award presentation will be part of Saratoga’s Spring Auto Show on Saturday May 14 at the Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs, NY (9AM-5PM).  Awards will be presented at 3PM – 100 mpg Award on Mon.

Starting sites – Westboro, MA; Wellesley, MA.  Greenfield, MA; Lansdale, PA., Parma Hts, OH; Harriman, NY; Beresford, SD; Waterbury, CT; Toronto, CAN; Quebec, CAN;  others –
for full list see:  www.auto-careers.org/start_sites_for_hybrid_rally.htm

Finish site – Stewart’s Shops at Exit 13N, off I-87 NY Northway, in Saratoga Springs, NY. the official Tour Final Checkpoint and Refueling stop.  Entrants must arrive at Stewart’s on Rte 9, by 12 Noon on Saturday May 14, before proceeding to the Saratoga Auto Museum, at SPAC State Park, Saratoga Springs, NY (30 mi. north of Albany).

Route – Your choice – Any route that gets you to Saratoga Springs, NY by noon on May 14, (or by 9AM on Sat. May 14 to participate in the Saratoga Auto Show display).

Min. miles traveled = 150 miles (no max. distance limit, but awards for longer distances).
Note – To be eligible for 100 MPG Challenge award, entrants must travel min. of 500 miles.

Prizes and trophies – $10,000 total, including the $5000 award for the 1 highest mileage vehicle exceeding 100 mpg. over 500 mile trip.  – Up to 35 awards and trophies may be awarded, for various recognition in the 10 vehicle categories. See prize/award summary below.

Categories  
1- Toyota Prius Classic (’01-’03)
2- Toyota Prius (’04-’05)
3- Honda Insight
4- Honda Civic Hybrid
5- Honda Accord Hybrid
6- Hybrid SUV - Ford Hybrid Escape, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Lexus RX400 Hybrid.
7- Custom Built hybrids (modified non-hybrids or built from scratch) and Misc. gas vehicle
8- Modified Factory Hybrids, including ‘plug-in’ modified factory hybrids
9- Biodiesel vehicles (Stock diesel vehicles operating on BioDiesel fuel, min. B-20)
10- Modified BioDiesel vehicles, operating on min. B-20 fuel

Website – www.TourdeSol.org   -  Info and Registration for 2005 Tour de Sol

Rules - All entries must be licensed and insured and have valid state vehicle inspection.

All entrants must be pre-registered with NESEA and meet certain criteria, defined below. Entrants will meet at one of the pre-selected starting sites, at predefined times, to sign in and get vehicle data card filled in, and vehicle certified.  Entrants must start with a full tank of fuel: regular grade 85-87 octane fuel for ICE Hybrids, B-20 (or higher biograde) for Biodiesel and TurboDiesel vehicles.  All vehicles must be inspected at one of the official starting sites, and have their tire pressures measured, odometers reset, and gas tanks sealed.  Entrants traveling over 500 miles or requiring tank refilling must adhere to special procedures and certification with each refilling, and have the data forms properly filled in and certified, with each refueling.  

All entries in categories 1-6, and 9 must be un-modified factory built vehicles with standard engines and hybrid electric drive-trains, and standard issue batteries only; including all body panels, seats, bumpers, and equipment included with factory delivery, and a usable spare tire.  Allowed modifications include synthetic oil, non factory tires (same size as original), Nitrogen filled tires, scanners, & EV-Only switches (’04-’05 Prius).   Modifications such as custom cowling, spoilers, tires pressures over 50 psi, or over the max. allowed posted pressure, larger diameter tires, after-market turbochargers, superchargers, custom performance chips, nitrous oxide, racing mirrors, extra batteries, & other performance modifications, must be entered in category 7, 8 or 10.  All vehicles must have approved exhaust systems, windows, headlamps, hoods, trunks, and mirrors.  AC and alternator belts must be on, and operating.  

‘100 MPG Challenge’ - To participate in the ‘100 mpg Challenge’ and be eligible for the $5000 "highest mileage over 100 mpg" Award, entrants must use Production Hybrid or BioDiesel vehicles, and travel over 500 miles on one tank of fuel, and have their final odometer reading calibrated at the finish line, in a special calibration leg. Note – Custom Built or Non production Vehicles are Not Eligible for the 100 mpg Challenge. Special NOTE - All entries are subject to inspection at the finish line, at the jurisdiction of the judges.  In addition, the winning entry for the "over 100 mpg award" may be required to demonstrate similar mileage performance on a 35-50 mile course, to verify the mileage achieved is possible, and can be repeated for media & judges.  
Modified production vehicles must be pre-approved by Judges.  Adjustments will be made for any other power sources, such as the energy used from the grid, in Plug-Charge Hybrids.

Rally Timing – Entrants West of Mississippi can start anytime after noon on Mon. May 9, by prior arrangement.  Entrants east of Mississippi can start anytime after noon, Thursday, May 12, or earlier by prior schedule approval; and must arrive at Stewart’s Shops, at Exit 13N, in Saratoga for refueling by 12 noon on Saturday May 14, to be eligible for prizes.  Check-in and Refueling at Stewart’s Shops is available Friday, May 13 from 11am -11pm, and on Sat., May 14 from 6am - Noon.  Entrants arriving after noon Saturday will NOT be eligible for display at the auto Show, or for prize awards, but are still welcome to join us at the Saratoga Auto Show (and in Albany on Mon. May 16), for the special programs and award ceremonies.  Fun Rally Entrants can arrive at any time until 1 PM, Sat. but will only be eligible for certain awards.  

Vehicle Display  - To have your vehicle on display at Saratoga’s Spring Auto Show, you must arrive and set-up at the SPAC Auto show between 7am -  9am Saturday, May 14.  The first 50 vehicles to arrive at the site will be placed on display inside the Auto Show; other vehicles will be displayed in the Auto Show parking lot at SPAC (section reserved for Tour deSol entries).

$95 Registration Fee - Includes 2 magnetic signs for your car (stick-ons for Insights), with event name & vehicle #, Free entry coupons to Auto Show for 4 people, Free participation and display in the Saratoga Auto Show, Gas refill coupon with Stewart’s Shops, Discount card with local Saratoga merchants, refreshments on Saturday, 2005 Tour de Sol T-shirt, Dashboard Plaque, eligibility for special awards + lot’s of fun and new friends. Optional events include special press events, and other Tour events, such as an Autocross, Hill Climb, and seminars, in Saratoga and Display opportunity in Albany on Monday, May 16.  
[Note - Full registration in all Tour events including 2005 TdS race competition is $350].

Other Rules and information - Each entrant must have a navigator over 16 years of age, who will be required to keep certain records during the travel route. Each driver must obey posted speed limits and conform to the rules of Saratoga’s Spring Auto Show.  Entrants must maintain an average speed no less than 10 miles per hour below the posted speed, but will be allowed a 30 min. break every 150 miles.  Extra points will be awarded for each passenger of any age, and active valid media passengers.  Special Parking will be available at the Saratoga Auto Show for registered Tour de Sol race vehicles.  Entrants are encouraged to have a cell phone and Fire Extinguisher with them for emergency use or to confirm refueling verification.

Contacts:
Starting sites + Rules: Craig Van Batenburg: craig@auto-careers.org.  

Sponsors and special consideration: J. Dunn – jdunn@ctc.org,


Awards - The Award Committee will include: Jim Dunn, Craig Van Batenburg, Nancy Hazard, and delegates from Stewart’s Shops, NYSERDA, and other key sponsors

Final Award criteria, award categories, and award selection decisions will be determined solely by the judges, and will not be subject to protest.  

Categories that have only one entry will be merged with other similar categories for awards.

Proposed Hybrid Performance Rally Awards – Final awards to be determined at the discretion of Judges:  

Longest Distance Driven –  Furthest total distance regardless of starting point, based upon odometer readings at the start and finish line.

Best ave. Mileage per category (150-500 miles) – One Trophy per category – 10 Awards

Best ave. Mileage over long range (over 500 miles) – $5000 for the single entry with the highest mileage over 100 mpg,  -  Special award  for other vehicles that achieve at least 100 mpg average over a minimum 500 mile range.

Highest miles per tank for Ford, Honda, Lexus, Toyota, VW  (w/o running dry – min. 30 mph ave. speed) – overall miles on a tank – 5 Awards, one for each manufacturer

Oldest Hybrid Vehicle in Rally – based on year built and ser. #

Highest total road mileage Hybrid – (odometer must exceed 100,000 miles)

Best combined total - distance, speed, and mileage  -  10 trophies, 1 per category Calculated as ave. mpg x 10 + ave. speed x 6 + distance in mi.- one tank + Bonus = total pts.
Bonus - 35 Extra points for each passenger; 75 points for active media observer (write story)

  Example1   71 mpg x 10 + 30 mph x 6 + 300 mi. = 1190 + 70 pts bonus (2 pass.) =      1260
  Example2   63 mpg x 10 + 40 mph x 6 + 310 mi. = 1180 + 110 pt. bonus (1 pas.+1 media) =  1290 !

Data from Onboard computers will be recorded, for overall verification, but Odometer and refuel data will be the primary info. used in mileage determination.  Odometer data will be calibrated for each entry on a special calibration run after refueling.   Entrants will be Penalized if their onboard computers do not match the odometer mileage displayed.

All entrants will be required to keep periodic records by navigators, and have all refueling stops validated by gas station staff, and tanks sealed.


Other Awards:

Most Entrants from any MC Rally Site – 1 award to host site with most entrants registered

Best Host Site - 1 award to host site with the most visibility and pre-event promotion

Most educational vehicle/exhibit – Determined by exhibits both during race and at Saratoga Auto Show display

Most interesting/unusual vehicle – Judged at the auto show

Best Overall (Student) Team or Family Effort –  Includes displays, media interaction, education performed, and rally activities, and overall effort

Judges choice – optional award(s)