2009 BABE rally: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Aug. 27, 2008 9:29 p.m. JThw8 Dork

Hey all, it's still early but I wanted to post some info out for folks who don't follow along with the goings on on the BABE rally.

2009 has some changes, interesting changes!

The purchase price has been upped to $500, this was partially to allow for the rise in scrap prices and partially to allow folks with LeMons aspirations to take a road trip with their LeMons car before the event :) (Even more inspiration to start up the "Trifecta of Crap" challenge)

Also a new class has been added for American Iron. This is defined as pre 1979, american made V8 or straight 6 autos...a little classic fun for this year.

I've already started the prep on a 1963 Studebaker for next year

Yet to be officially announced but it seems the dates will move slightly so everyone who has standing memorial day commitments will have some more leeway and it appears an extra day will be added so the route can take "the road less traveled" instead of the close to 500 mile highway sprint on the final day. Day 2 this year deviated from the highway and introduced us to some absolutely amazing driving roads in Virgina, West Virginia and Tennesee....it was a good driving year and eliminating the day 4 highway sprint next year will only make it better.

Each year the organizers have improved on the event and each year the GRM crew shows up in force, its a heck of alot of fun.

There's an informal rivalry now with the GRM crew and the Motive Car Lounge crew as these are the two biggest groups represented. And Ive got to be honest, the car lounge guys kicked our butts in participation in 2008, this is a great grassroots event and I hope to see more GRMers out this year.

Seriously, Im not associated with this thing other than that I love it...I never thought piloting a POS 1500 miles could be so much fun. So Im not a shill just postwhoring this, I just want to get the new info out there and hope some of those who have considered this in the past will give it another look this year. I'd love to see more of my GRM brotheren out there this year.
Aug. 28, 2008 6:59 a.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

I'm still waiting on the final plans for the new route and dates. Depending on the dates I may not be able to go due to not having enough vacation days for everything next year. I'm hoping that they do the half route thing that's been discussed.

Go to my profile and look at my 1977 Civic. It's supposed to be my 2009 BABE rally car.
Aug. 28, 2008 7:13 a.m. littleturquoiseb Reader

JWD ... That civic is the bees knees ... if you can make it, you'll fit right in!!

I think the changes will be great, hopefully the best part is date switch will get us on some roads with less traffic!

Jeff
Aug. 28, 2008 7:21 a.m. 16vCorey Dork

I'm planning on being there with an '87 VW Fox station wagon turdball deluxe. I might go with some kind of Millenium Falcon theme, because it certainly doesn't look like much, but I'm not so sure she's got it where it counts. We'll see.
Aug. 28, 2008 8:11 a.m. GregTivo New Reader

I'm hoping the Volare will be in better shape after this weekend (maybe even running). I really want to tool around in this little bugger.
Aug. 28, 2008 1:32 p.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

littleturquoiseb wrote:

JWD ... That civic is the bees knees ... if you can make it, you'll fit right in!!

I couldn't pass it up. I haven't gotten a chance to do anything with it yet. It's just sitting in the corner of my garage right now.
Aug. 28, 2008 7:55 p.m. Datsun1500 HalfDork

jwdmotorsports wrote:

I'm still waiting on the final plans for the new route and dates. Depending on the dates I may not be able to go due to not having enough vacation days for everything next year.

Make sure before you pay. I had to back out last year about 60 days before it started, since there was nothing stating wether refunds were available or not I asked for one. I was told to Berkeley off.....
Aug. 28, 2008 8:05 p.m. JThw8 Dork

I sincerely doubt you were actually told to berkely off, but yes fees are generally not refundable. Per the organizations FAQ the refund policy is determined on a per event basis and if specific details are not listed on the event website you should contact the organizers to determine the policies for the event.

Although I'm not involved with this group formally I want to say I've gotten to know them and learn about what they are doing. This isnt some big corporate entity, this is a small group working their butts off to bring this to us. So far BABE is not even a profitable event for them, but they are doing their best to grow it.
Certain monetary commitments are necessary when organizing the logistics of any event. These commitments are based on number of participants, so if you signed up, the money is committed and refunds are rarely likely.

And if someone specifically told you to berkeley off please tell me who and I will do some checking because Im sure there is more to the story than that if it happened.
Aug. 28, 2008 8:55 p.m. Datsun1500 HalfDork

I asked if I could get one and was told it would not be a problem. I asked again a month later and was told no. I have some very nasty emails I can send you off list.

There is nothing that says refunds are not available, why should I assume they are not available? I have nothing to show for my $250, what expense did they incur on my behalf to justify keeping it? I got 1 email (explaining the rules) for my $250

Justin told me to put a claim in through Paypal to get my $250 back and when I did he fought it?

I hope all of the cars have valid inspections and working equipment when the go through New Jersey next year, there might be a few spot checks....
Aug. 29, 2008 6:14 a.m. carzan New Reader

Datsun1500 wrote: I hope all of the cars have valid inspections and working equipment when the go through New Jersey next year, there might be a few spot checks....

YEEEEAAAAH! THAT'S the Grassroots spirit!!!! Get pi$$ed at the organizers...and take it out on the participants. Nice.
Aug. 29, 2008 6:24 a.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

I'm sensing some bitterness.
Aug. 29, 2008 6:47 a.m. JThw8 Dork

Actually there were spot checks in NJ and Virginia this year and no issues. Remember one of the rules is the cars must have a valid inspection for the state in which they are registered, and this is checked at day 0 event registration.

As for the rest of the discussion I will be happy to follow up with you off list and see what I can find out, what Im hearing is very uncharacteristic and there may be extenuating circumstances.
Aug. 29, 2008 7:39 a.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

JThw8 wrote:

Remember one of the rules is the cars must have a valid inspection for the state in which they are registered, and this is checked at day 0 event registration.

Alabama = No Inspection
Aug. 29, 2008 7:56 a.m. JThw8 Dork

jwdmotorsports wrote:

JThw8 wrote:

Remember one of the rules is the cars must have a valid inspection for the state in which they are registered, and this is checked at day 0 event registration.

Alabama = No Inspection

I didnt say their weren't ways around it ;) But do remember, inspection or not you are required to have working equipment so the little threat a thon up there is somewhat valid. I haven't seen anyone try to get away with a car that is blatantly broke but your lights, signals, etc must work or any state can give you an equipment ticket.

In 3 years the only car I've seen get really harrassed was the 3 wheeled CRX. Most cops just couldn't find it in them to believe it was legal.
Aug. 29, 2008 11:45 a.m. dculberson New Reader

Most events have strict refund guidelines, although 60 days is enough time that you'd think it would've qualified you for a refund. But they do incur a lot of expenses, and even decide whether or not to run the event, based upon number of paid entries. So it's not as simple as "they didn't incur any expenses on my behalf."

Anyway, back to the original post: I'm excited, the $500 opens up a world of possibilities in interesting cars that the $250 didn't easily afford. I might try to go for "oldest car" but if Lisa ends up going with me, that's pretty unlikely. She's a trooper, but convincing her to jump in a '49 Dodge field find to go thousands of miles is a tall order.
Aug. 29, 2008 7:35 p.m. Datsun1500 HalfDork

dculberson wrote:

Most events have strict refund guidelines, although 60 days is enough time that you'd think it would've qualified you for a refund.

The street safari website says:

Every event will have its own rules for the availability of refunds and this information will be posted on that event's site or will be circulated among teams directly via that particular event's mail list.

The BABE site says nothing about refunds either way. Why would I assume one is not available? No one has been able to show me where it says no refunds allowed, I can't be the only one that asked. If the site said no refund from the beginning, I would have no problem with not getting one. I was told I could get one when I first asked, then ignored, and told to go away when I asked again.
Aug. 29, 2008 8:11 p.m. JThw8 Dork

You are right it doesnt say no refunds. It says it will be posted on the site or circulated among teams via email as you stated. Obvlously it wasnt posted, I couldnt begin to tell you what all the team emails said, so when in doubt ask before you commit funds. Any time spent reading the message boards makes it pretty clear there are no refunds but I will concede that message boards are not the place for this kind of information and I will recommend to the organizers that this be spelled out more clearly in the rules and policies.

Either way this has gone way off topic, this thread is for folks to discuss the upcoming event and new rule changes. I suggest if there are issues and bitter feelings from last year we take it off this board and either take it private or to the actual street safari board, it has no relevance here.

And for anyone considering this event or any other motorsports event I would suggest you never take anything for granted, get your facts before you commit your money.