Little River Canyon TSD Rally

Limited to 40 cars.  We will have a wait list if necessary.

WHAT:  Little River Canyon TSD Road Rally

REGISTRATION OPENS: September 1st, 2025

TIME: Saturday, November 1st, at 10:00 am

START LOCATION:  Little River Canyon National Preserve parking lot on Highway 35 Fort Payne, Alabama.  The GPS coordinates are 34°23'43.3"N 85°37'31.5"W.

NOT SURE WHAT A TSD RALLY IS, CHECKOUT OUR RALLY SCHOOL:   AL SCCA Rally School

MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE:   ALSCCA Road Rally

WHAT DOES IT COST TO REGISTER? Per car:   $50 with an SCCA member (see below for the discounted schedule on EARLY entries).   First Timers:   $25, plus $20 if a weekend membership is needed.  Cards aren’t charged until the day of or after the event.
You are either a "First Timer" or an "Entrant" who must declare a class (Novice, Experienced, or Observer).

 First Timers:   $25 for this event, all others are per the schedule below:
                                                   Entrants can take advantage of timed discounts below:
                                                   September 1 - 15                     $25
                                                   September 16 - October 15     $40
                                                   After October 15                       $50

Free T-Shirts will be provided to competitors that register before October 15, 2025.  Please provide the shirt size for both entrants.

CLASSES:

• This rally is being run as an ‘unequipped’ event which means no direct links between distance and timing.
  Non-variable rate time pieces, (watches, stop watches, Smartphones/Smartphone Applications) readable in seconds or 1/100th of a minute are allowed in all classes.  .There are two groups:  First Timers and Entrants.  Within "Entrants," there are three classes:
• ‘First Timer’:  neither the driver nor the navigator may have competed in an organized road rally of any type (TREK not included) prior to this event.
• 'Entrant':
  • ‘Novice’:  both the driver and the navigator have competed in fewer than five rallies of any type.
  • ‘Experienced':  all teams that do not qualify for one of the other two classes listed above.
  • 'Observer':  more than two adults in the car (non-competitive, but still fun)

CLASS EQUIPMENT LIMITATION:

• No limitation on timing equipment in any of the three classes.
• For ‘First Timers’ and ‘Novice’ classes, the only rally aids permitted are pencils, paper, clipboard, and the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) speedometer/odometer in your car or the equivalent.  Simple electronic calculators (add, subtract, multiply, divide, 8-digit display, no more than one memory) are permitted.  TSD tables or similar rally aids are prohibited.
• Teams who wish to utilize GPS applications, or TSD tables of any kind or cars with OEM computers capable of computing average speeds must compete in the ‘Experienced’ class but, remember, no direct links between distance and timing.
• Observation of any prohibited rally aids on or in your car implies their use and will result in alteration of your class during the scoring process or your car not being scored.  

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?  Approx 6 hours, broken into an odometer check and two competitive legs, 2:00 and 1:15 hours, separated by a 20 min break. The mid-point break is at the competitor's discretion in Guntersville, Alabama. The end point is an eating/entertainment in Leeds. The first car will depart at  am 10:30 with a car following every 2 minutes until all are gone.

SURFACE DISCLAIMER:  The rally is on paved roads originating at Little River Canyon National Preserve and making its way to the Birmingham area through Dekalb, Jackson, Marshall, Shelby, and Jefferson Counties.  Any roads with minor (avoidable) potholes and some surface deformation along the edge of the road or lack of centerline will be mentioned in the appropriate route instruction.

IS IT SAFE?  This is not a race, and you don't need any special equipment or any kind of special car.  You have to remember you are sharing the road with other drivers.

SO WHY IS IT FUN?  What is a Road Rally? It’s a scenic drive with a purpose:  a chance to enjoy a day with a friend and is the least expensive form of motorsport.  One participant described it as, “The most intense thing I have ever done!"  Considering that this, “most intense thing,” was done on a public road without ever breaking any laws in a car with absolutely no modifications, it’s clear that a Road Rally is much more than a simple phrase can describe.  You might also find a quote about your heart pounding, and that could actually happen.

CAN MY CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN COME?  You can have observers less than 18yo in the back seat with no penalty.  The driving is easy, but the discussion can be intense at times, so we're limiting drivers to those who have a valid license-- NO learner's permits. See separate information about minor waivers!

CAN I BRING MY PET?  Because we will visit several commercial establishments, use the general guidance that only trained and certified service animals are allowed.

I / WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS, CAN WE COME ALONG AND OBSERVE?  We had not thought of that!  Yes, you can enter as a NON-competitive team, but the cost is the same and the rules are the same. You can have a group of more than two adults in the car if you want to preview the operation of a rally just to have the experience.  REMEMBER, our events are basically open to all via weekend memberships.

WAIVERS? We are not using MSR SpeedWaivers for this event.  At the event, we will have you sign a waiver or show that you have an SCCA annual waiver.  A separate minor waiver is required for any participant below Alabama's age of adulthood-- 19yo.  It doesn't matter if you live in another state.  MINOR WAIVERS are critical and must be correctly completed and notarized PRIOR TO THE EVENT.  This Waiver must be printed and executed in color.  It can be found here:  SCCA Minor Waiver   Don't forget to bring it to the event, OR, contact the registrar and we'll try to make this as painless as possible.  LAST MINUTE MINOR WAIVERS AT THE EVENT ARE NOT POSSIBLE

ALSCCA IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES