Monte Carlo-style Rally & Fuel Efficiency Competition

Drive-in Rally Instructions
Rally Data Collection Form

About the Competition

In 2005 we created the Monte Carlo-style Rally and 100 MPG Challenge to give advanced vehicle owners a fun opportunity to showcase how efficiently they could drive their hybrid or biofueled vehicles, meet each other, and encourage others to invest in these new clean and efficient vehicles and see the beautiful historic Saratoga Spa State Park.

The Monte Carlo-style Rally was the brain child of Jim Dunn of the Center for Technology Commercialization, Craig Van Batenburg of the Automotive Career Development Center, and Gilles Labelle of the Hybrid Center - and it was a huge success. Forty teams came from all over the USA and Canada! We had hybrid vehicles, biofuel vehicles, and modified vehicles such as plug-in hybrids.

How You Can Get Involved

Registration is a three-part process:

Follow these links for the rules and a preview of registration fees.

There are many ways to get involved in the 2006 Monte Carlo-style Rally held at the Tour de Sol! On April 15 there will be trials held at about ten “start sites” around North America. Then on May 11 and 12, these same “start sites” and others will hold send-off events for those participating in the efficiency rallies and the Tour de Sol weekend festivities at the Saratoga Spa State Park in New York.

Following is a list of events and activities, and how they work.

You can make a weekend of it, or expand it to a 4-day event or longer! If you would like to display your vehicle at the Saturday Auto Show, but do not want to compete, we will welcome you. Display space at the Auto Show is limited to approximately 75 vehicles, and early bird registration fees are available, so don’t delay, register today! Registration fees are a-la-cart.

April 15: Trials at sites around the country

May 10-13: Drive-in Rally: You must start at an official “start site” and then drive a minimum of 100 miles to the Saratoga Automobile Museum at the Saratoga Spa State Park. Trophies will be given to the most efficient drivers in hybrid vehicles for each vehicle category. Please see the rules for vehicle categories. The MPG calculator on your vehicle will be used to determine vehicle efficiency. This competitive aspect of this event is only open to hybrid vehicles. Others may participate, but fuel efficiency will not be measured.

If you cannot find a start site within a 50-mile radius of your home, please start from your home, and when you leave, please call us at 413-774-6051 ext. 26 and leave your odometer reading, your time of departure, your planned route, and your estimated time of arrival at the Tour de Sol.

Wednesday, May 10: Optional Hill Climbing Event at Saratoga Spa State Park – 4:00PM

Thursday, May 11: Optional Media Day at the Saratoga Technology and Energy Park

Friday, May 12: Optional morning display at the Tour de Sol “Student Day” hosted by the Saratoga Automobile Museum

Friday, May 12: Afternoon High Efficiency Competition. This is a beautiful drive of about 200 miles, from Saratoga Spa State Park to Cooperstown, NY and back.

Biofuel vehicles and EVs: This is the only efficiency run available to you. We will ensure that your tank is full when you leave, and then measure the fuel used during the drive to calculate your efficiency. If you are NOT using biodiesel, you must talk with us about your fuel and refueling plans at registration, and get our approval.

Hybrid and modified hybrid vehicles: This is your opportunity to compete for the cash prizes by driving an additional 200 miles. Your computer-calculated MPG meter will be used. NESEA may ask you to have an observer in your vehicle.

Saturday, May 13: Display at the Tour de Sol to be held at the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s Spring Auto Show 10:00 am-3:30 pm. Awards presentation will be held at 3:00 pm.

Saturday, May 13: Optional 4pm Autocross run by the Mohawk-Hudson Region SCCA.

The start sites are sponsored by the Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC)