Lake Placid Gimmick Rally

A Day of Motors and Murals

By AJ Moffitt, Staff Writer

You may have read the article “It Was No Trick – It Was the Gimmick Rally at Everglades National Park” in the May 2022 issue of the Kassette. That article should have been titled “How Not to Win a PCA Gimmick Rally.” If you are interested in reading it, the article is available online at https://www.goldcoastregion.org/ kassette-2022-05/. Go ahead and read it – you might have a chuckle or two. Alternatively, the below article detailing the Lake Placid Gimmick Rally should be called “What It Takes to Win a PCA Gimmick Rally.” But, not wanting to sound conceited, the title remains “The Lake Placid Gimmick Rally – A Day of Motors and Murals.” The event, which took place on October 22, 2022, started at Hagerty Garage + Social in Palm Beach. The Facility Manager at Hagerty, Travis Hanna, led groups of gimmick rally participants on a garage tour. From pretty Porsches (including the 1979 Porsche 928 used in the film Risky Business) to magnificent McLarens, the garage houses an array of beautiful pieces of machinery. After completing the tours, attendees were invited to mingle in the front lobby and enjoy a small assortment of donuts, coffee, and water. Steve addressing the participants

Gimmick rally teams are composed of two members – a driver and a navigator. Those who wished to participate in the event but did not have a second party to join them had the option to elect for the Rally Master to assign them a partner. A few teams took up this opportunity so they could more easily join in on the fun. Before starting the rally, Steve and Dottie Kidd, the gracious organizers and hosts of the event, addressed everyone with the instructions for the day. You should know that rally questions aren’t easy to come by. They take ample planning and preparation to set the course and devise the questionnaire, which Steve and Dottie did beautifully. While talking to the crowd, they explained to everyone that this race would not be timed and that “The Rally Master’s answers are always correct.” Questions were asked and answered, then Ed Blair, Gonzalo Acevedo, and Andrew Moffitt assisted in handing out the gimmick rally questions, showing the map of the drive, and answering other inquiries. From there, teams left the Hagerty property and began their tour.

Let’s go back to my earlier comment about “How Not to Win a PCA Gimmick Rally.” After having participated in the previously mentioned Everglades rally, my husband, Andrew, and I knew that, just like in The Amazing Race, reading is fundamental.

First place - Andrew Moffitt and AJ Moffitt Second place - Christina Barea and Carolynn Ditrichs Third place - Harley Jacobson and Ori Schwend

This means the first thing you should do before you drive off is read the entire rally questionnaire. This will ensure you are aware of any bonus questions and give you a “heads-up” about items you will be looking for. After the last rally and learning how crucial this step was, Andrew and I sat in our car and read the instructions from front to back. Once we felt we were familiar with the queries, we headed out of the Hagerty’s parking lot and went on our way. I won’t bore you with the bulk of the drive. We answered questions like, “At Dreher Park Zoo, what is on the roof of covered parking?” “What campground has a lion on the sign?” and “What shape is the sign with the man on a tractor?” Having one person focusing on the road and, um, safely driving the car while the navigator looks to answer the questions is imperative. Even so, and with mile marker hints along the way, realize it is still quite easy to overlook an answer or two. For this reason, Andrew and I made a total of three U-turns during our drive. Because the timing was not a factor in our score, we didn’t mind taking our time to ensure that we answered as many questions as we could as accurately as possible. Upon reaching the endpoint, the Stuart Park pavilion, and turning in the questionnaires to Christy Spangler and Lori Renzetti for scoring, all rally participants could enjoy pizza and beverages, which were included as part of the entry fee. Though most groups arrived between 12:30 and 1:00 pm, ralliers were instructed to walk around Lake Placid, enjoy the murals, and return to the pavilion by 3:00 pm for the trophy presentation. Andrew and I opted to walk the area and find an air-conditioned restaurant because I am not a big pizza fan. We found many small shops and quiet cafes on our hunt for a place to eat. If you ever go to Lake Placid, make sure to go to Stuart Park and walk the area to experience these for yourself. We finally found a diner-like restaurant, where we enjoyed a bite and afterward headed toward the pavilion. On our way, we came upon other rally participants and joined them on the trek back. We stopped a few times to take in the breathtaking murals and the unique, if not scary, clown statues that also adorn the area. As it was now around 2 pm, some participants opted to grab a drink at a local brewery. However, Andrew and I instead walked around Stuart Park and enjoyed reading the dedication plaques found on most of the benches.

Because the rally ended about 2 to 3 hours North of where most Gold Coast members reside, some participants opted to head home immediately after turning in their questionnaire answers. When everyone who remained in

Christy and a clown Steve and Dottie (at the winery)

the area returned to the pavilion, it was time for the awards ceremony. Before winners were announced, a PCA Gold Coast 50th Anniversary commemorative cooler was given to Harley Jacobson and Ori Schwend for their 1972 gold-metallic colored 914 1.7 because their car is 50 years old. Not only did Harley and Ori get a cute cooler, but they also took third place with a score of 33. Second place went to Carolynn Ditrichs and Christina Barea, who scored 36 and were a duo that had only briefly met once before. At the Everglades Gimmick Rally, the second-place award also went to a team that had only met once. This illustrates that you don’t have to know your partner well to do well in the event. Plus, it can be a great way to meet other PCA members!

First place, with 38 points, went to, well, Andrew and me. We did it! We had learned from our first rally what NOT to do, and we used that knowledge to help us succeed at this event. I should acknowledge that while on the course, Gonzalo asked us for the answer to a question, to which I replied, “No, we’re going for the win!” I’m not sure if our lack of sharing contributed to our winning, but it didn’t hurt (well, it might have hurt Gonzalo a bit, or at least his feelings.) Once the awards were done, the remainder of us went in front of an orange grove mural and had a group picture taken. After the picture, a few additional participants also headed home. Meanwhile, about a dozen or so of us headed to Tropical Winery (www.tropicalwinery.us), a local Florida farm winery in Lake Placid. This quaint winery offers wine tastings where you can sample five wines of your choice. Coupons were available, buy one get one free, and included in the cost was a commemorative wine glass to take home. The group enjoyed their wine and charcuterie boards of meats, cheeses, and fruits. I took the opportunity to apologize to Gonzalo for not sharing the answer earlier in the day. He forgave me or at least told me he did. The group of us drank, ate, and shared some laughs. If you are interested in participating in future gimmick rallies, here are some helpful tips: • You’ll need a driver and a navigator – Remember, it’s okay if you don’t have a partner lined up! You can be paired with a partner, which is a great way to meet other club members. • Always read the directions – And reread them. And read them again. Wrong answers and missed questions won’t get you points. • Enjoy the views and have fun – A rally course is typically a place you might not have thought to drive to, so make sure to take in all the sites and the scenery on your drive. • Meet and mingle – Whether it’s at the end point of the event or if you opt to go out afterward, take the time to meet new people. You can learn a lot and may make a new friend or two. • There is the one most important rule – The Rally

Master is always right!

To find information on upcoming gimmick rallies and other great club events, read Die Porsche Kassette, or visit https://clubregistration.net/.