Yes. It’s true. Before anyone thinks I’m being a pessimist, I am certain there is a future for car rallies…but it’s not quite what anyone expects.
We must clarify the difference between an automotive "race" and a "rally" - there are many definitions, but they can be boiled down to two (perhaps overly simplistic) explanations:
Race - A competition whose victory criteria are based on shortest elapsed time(s).
Rally - An event which may be competitive, but whose victory criteria are not based on shortest elapsed time.
I will expound on these in the coming weeks, which brings me to how a lot of people have asked why I’ve yet to post my full Londino wrap-up. I’ve got a good reason. Although organizers Anders Bernunger and Jens & Erik Trulsson specifically (and wisely) shoot down any mention of the word "rally" in relation to what they call the "de Grisogono Londino Transnational Automobile Tour", their event represents the best-executed, most forward-thinking, utterly brilliant and legal evolution of automotive rallies.
Talking about the Londino - let alone writing about it - shouldn’t be so difficult given how delighted I was to participate, but the Londino - relatively unknown beyond its highly enthusiastic sponsors, drivers and organizers - is so vastly more complex in what it represents than its distant forebears that I don’t dare publish much more about it until I can fully explain why it is now the benchmark and example other events will have to follow.
If they can.
You may read more about the Londino here and on their partner blog The Cartorialist, but I can assure you that the pictures and stories don’t tell the full story. I will do so as time permits, but I can say with full certainty that if Team Polizei only participates in a single rally (or similar event) in 2008, it will be the Londino.
Good for you Alex.
From what I have read about the ‘tour’ it appeared to have some very high profile sponsors and I liked the litle photo challenges you had to do which helped make it more than just a point-to-point event.
The londino looks Fab!
but again, its very organized, and kinda takes out the nitty-gritty of a real outlaw RALLY
I don’t really think it matters what the event is called. If there is inherently dangerous driving done on open public roads, it’s just the same old shit with a different name.
“It depends on what ‘is’ means.” … Bill Clinton
@COLIN:
You are correct, in spirit, but only if/when an event encourages - whether unofficially/culturally/tacitly - speeding as part of participation.
In the three years the Londino has run, with approximately 20 cars per year, only one speeding ticket has ever been issued. I should know, because it was my co-pilot Michael Ross who received it…
I’d say that makes the Londino QUITE different from other automotive events…
Best,
Alex
I don’t necessarily agree that the number of speeding tickets pertains to how dangerous the driving is in these events. It just shows who got caught, or who couldn’t talk their way out of being written up. I should know, in 3 years I’ve only received 1 ticket… but that doesn’t mean I only exceeded the speed limit once.
I just don’t see the point in playing these semantics with “rally” vs. “race” vs. “tour”. It’s all essentially the same thing; drive like hell and try not to get caught.
Colin,
You are a bit misguided. The Londino Tour is not a race. Nor does it encourage participants to break the law.
Races, Rally’s, and tours are NOT the same at all.
The Londino is certainly the future of car events abroad and HERE in the united states.
The Police are already cracking down on Gumball style Rallies in Europe, and in the states.
Racing on a highway is against the law in the U.S.
So the logical future step is to have a LEGAL “Londino” type road tour, where participants can have fun safely.
And if they choose to drive recklessly, they are kicked off the tour.
By the way Colin, just because someone is going over the speed limit. does not necessarily mean they are a danger to the public. I have seen drivers impeeding the flow of traffic, who cause far more accidents than so called speeders. That doesn’t even count all the drivers who run intersections, and fail to stop at lights and stop signs. Or drivers who talk on their cell phone while eating a hotdog. Completely oblivious to the world around them. You know what Americans need ? DRIVING LESSONS
Obtaining a U.S. Drivers license is only one step up from inserting a quarter in a bubble gum machine, and hoping you get a secret prize with your watermelon flavored candy. It’s THAT EASY. If you have a pulse…..you can drive here.
Alex is RIGHT. Londino type events ARE the future of Road rallies.
The AKA Rally is one that has a very down to earth feel and draws less attention. The problem with these big rallies is everyone knows about them
Do you think the Gumball, Cannonball,…will change and become a rally like the Londino?
Really, what they need to do is balance the distance traveled with a realistic time window. Sure the Gumball was, and still is, the father of the modern day road rally, but there are flaws.
First, the whole “endurance leg” sections. There’s no reason you should put a driver up through 12 hours of driving through unknown areas and roads. When a driver gets lost, they would feel the need to speed up because of a long distance still ahead. From what I have read (and Alex correct me if I’m wrong), some gumball checkpoints could not be made in the allocated times if you had traveled the legal (or even just slightly above) speed limit. Another example was the “no room for error” 2004 gumball headed to the grand prix. Since you guys got stopped by the police and had to go on alternate routes, most of you did not make it to the race. Alex, you yourself were shown either calling or being called by another gumballer who held up the phone to passing by F1 cars.
Second, there were no goals aside from arriving at checkpoints. When all you have are checkpoints and have estimated arrival times, it can develop into a race. It would be nice if you had goals like taking pictures in Londino, or doing a scavenger hunt style as in one of the challenges on the 2006 gumball TV show Alex participated in.
I like the idea of the Londino, and I would like to see a detailed account of the run when you get the chance.
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