I've known this was coming and hinted a bit about it but was sworn to secrecy until the official announcement, well it's official.
The 2013 BABE rally will be the final US based Street Safari event. If you've ever said "I really want to do that someday" This is your last someday. Sign ups aren't open yet but will be soon. Until then here's the official announcement.
"BABE Rally 2013 will be called BABE8 (it's our 8th BABE Rally after all), and I'm not a big fan of the number 13.
BABE8 will be the FINAL Big Apple 2 Big Easy Rally. There will not be another one after BABE8 and it is unlikely that we will be doing any event in the US after BABE8. We've had a good run in the US and we're calling it a day whilst we still enjoy the event.
If BABE Rally is something you've been putting off doing, then now is the time to sign up. This really is the last one regardless of how many teams sign up. This is not a wild marketing strategy.
BABE8 registration will open shortly and we will keep you informed. BABE8 is planned for early May 2013 and will most likely start in Harrisonburg, VA due to the problems of Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey (our biggest concern is hotel availability when we are competing against contractor crews for rooms). We will be finishing in New Orleans of course!"