The old rallies in Europe, the Monte Carlo Rally, the Alpine Rally and the likes, the rallies in which MG's actually participated, were quite different from the rallies we are used to in our clubs. We have adopted their system for the directions, the Tulip System, to make finding the correct route quite easy.

But what was the challenge, what was the goal of those rallies? The answer isn't quite as simple as you may think, but one thing is certain. The driver and navigator were not looking for answers on billboards and store fronts. There were no trivia questions and no gimmicks. Driving was the name of the game. There were sections with average speed goals, sometimes so high that going flat out wasn't even going to make it - essentially an automobile race on public roads. Sometimes, sections were closed to normal traffic and drivers went as fast as possible to get to the finish in the shortest time. These timed sections are called Special Stages and the Tulip System was used to direct the participants safely from one Special Stage to the next.

It would of course not be a good idea to try to replicate some of that in the Halloween Rally, but we'll be chasing the 'ghost' of these rallies. With Special Stages that include simple, safe, slow, and fun driving, and skill, tests. The route will take you to several forest preserves for the Special Stages without any answers to look out for on the way. The score will be entirely based on the Special Stages!

We will meet at our house in Prospect Heights. The coffee will be ready at 10:00 AM and The Halloween Run starts at 11:00 AM. The Run is approximately 40 miles long and will take about 3 hours. We will finish at Emmett's Brewing Co. in Palatine.

Start: Reinout and Henneke Vogt 211 East School Lane Prospect Heights, IL 60070 Phone 847 909 7564

Finish: Emmett's Brewing Co. 110 North Brockway Street Palatine, IL 60067 847 359 1533 http://www.emmettsalehouse.com/

Please call Reinout Vogt at 847 909 7564 with any questions and keep an eye on
www.chicagolandmgclub.com, and Facebook for any last minute updates. We hope to see you for the first ever MG Special Stage Rally of the MG Clubs of Chicago.
~~Henneke and Reinout Vogt