Want to Live the Legend?

[RallySnake]

Once in a while you get a chance to relive history. When this happens, you have to grab the opportunity with both hands and go for the ride of your life. The Starlite Rally was a truly legendary event. Over a hundred cars blasting through the night over the two lane back roads from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas. The thrill of competing with top notch rally teams with nothing but a kitchen timer and WINNING! The excitement of driving into the parking lot full of exotic cars and knowing that for one night of your life, you’ll be testing your skill against theirs’ on wide open roads. For twelve hours, you’ll be making memories that will live for a lifetime.

The Santa Barbara Sports Car Club put on the Starlite Rally every December from 1971 to 2000. It was not a technically difficult event. It was just an excuse to drive to Vegas for fun going over the best roads in the world. You didn’t need compasses or protractors or elaborate timing equipment. You didn’t need to follow boring “Left at T” instructions. You just find the next checkpoint on the map and drive there. It was a lot like the TV show “Bullrun” long before that was ever invented. Over the years, it got a little more competitive with timed checkpoints and became the Premier Monte Carlo Rally in North America. But, people who had no interest in competition, brought out their nice cars just to make the drive. You ran with the best cars that BMW, Porsche. Jaguar, Audi and Mercedes could build. All the best Japanese machines were there with hot rides by Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Honda, Mazda and one very special black NSX. Every type of sports car has competed over the years, too, with one crazy team running a topless red Cobra.There were muscle cars, pony cars, luxury cars and all kinds of modified machines running through the night. The banquet in a big ballroom in Vegas was also memorable. Prime rib dinners and an open bar and the funniest talk you have ever heard about the antics of the night. Huge bronze trophies were awarded to the winning teams. It was a legendary party with some legendary hangovers, too.

Here’s your chance to relive history. The Into the Night Rally Team is putting on “Stellar Luminescence” to celebrate the wonderful years of the Starlight Rally. It will have many of the same things we loved about Starlite with some differences to make it even more fun and affordable. If you think you’re a good driver, here’s a chance to prove it. If you’ve never seen the sun rise over the desert, you really should. If you just love driving your car, here’s a guided tour of the best roads you’ll never find on your own. It WILL be legendary.

Stellar Luminescence will run Friday night November 30th starting in Santa Barbara. The starting location is confidential at this time. More information will be provided here: http://carzero.freeservers.com/

A “warm-up” rally is scheduled for October 27th in Santa Barbara. This is to give teams and work crews a chance to refresh their skills before the big event. It will be a challenging six hour drive in which everything is expected to go wrong as a learning experience. The tradition is, if you win the warm-up rally, you’ll never win Starlite, oops, Stellar Luminescence!

Paul

[RallySnake]

The warm up rally was pretty difficult and the fog through Drum Canyon slowed us down a lot. So, we were really late on one checkpoint. Otherwise, we did well and are really looking forward to the main event on November 30. I hope we see some of you in Santa Barbara.

Paul

[JBCOBRA]

WOW!
Good luck on your adventure. Man O Man We would really enjoy doing that Rally!
Are they doing it next year????

We are members of a Philadephia based club that was incorporated in 1960. The Main Line Sports Car Club. We do a couple Rally's a year. The goal is to come in Second. Because if you win you have to host the next one! LOL
We have hosted 4 or 5 and the amount of work that goes into a good Rally is huge.
Keep us posted on how you do on this one.

[khansmith]

This is the coolest concept I have ever heard of happening today. Possibly more fun than the Gumball Rally (and I am sure less expensive). I wish they had something like this on the East Coast! Doesn't sound as fun if the destination was altantic city...but maybe it would be?

Can't wait to hear about the stories.

EDIT: Posted right after JB Cobra's post and didn't see your response. Would love info on your rally....anything up in Jersey?

[JBCOBRA]

We have folks from New Jersey come for every Rally. The last one started in Gladwyn and the next one (that will be in the spring) starts in Exton and the fall rally starts at my place..............because I won instead of coming in second.
Should I keep you posted?

[RallySnake]

JB and Kahn,

Good luck on your next rally. Do you post your events and results on the web somewhere? You can read about ours on here: http://carzero.freeservers.com/blank.htm

Paul

[JBCOBRA]

Rally
We do have a newsletter and quarterly updates of scheduled events (we also have parties, etc..)

[RallySnake]

It's looking cold and wet for this ride. Temps in the 20's and 30% chance of rain. I better drill bigger holes in the floor!

Paul

[Clois Harlan]

Good luck Paul,

I knew when you and your son drove out to the Austin Ralley a few years ago you were certified. I hope you have a great time this weekend. Take pictures and post them here please.

Clois