DETAILS
Landmark Rally
Wednesday, Aug. 4
Cost for entry is $15
Visit rocknaugust.com for more details.
The newest addition to this year's Rock'n August festival might turn out like American Graffiti, St. Albert style, with a little rock around the clock.
The Landmark Rally is a driving trip that you can take in your own classic car, or whatever ride you have, on a stamp-collecting mission.
"The goal was to link the St. Albert community with Rock'n August. When you're looking back at 25 years, you think of landmarks: What are some of the landmarks in St. Albert? Maybe people know some of them; maybe they're not as familiar with other ones," said Greg Charters, president of the St. Albert Cruisers.
"It is an opportunity to showcase the city to all of the participants in the rally."
The rally works by having participants start at Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park with a list in-hand of several other notable city spots to stop at, ending at the downtown clock tower.
Charters himself conducted his own preliminary drive in his 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne – a real beaut – in order to achieve the benchmark time. Every participant will drive against that time, visiting those same destinations in whatever order they choose.
It is a race against time, Charter confirmed – meaning only his time. This is not a poker run.
"A lot of races are the lowest elapsed time or the highest speed. Not this one. This one, you want to complete the rally in a time that is as close to the benchmark time as possible."
He has noted the horsepower rating, the weight, the engine size, and transmission for all to view, though his route is a secret that is sealed in an envelope. No one will know his time until everyone has visited all the stops, received all the stamps on their cards, and had all their times recorded and handed in at the finish.
The winner is the person who has the closest time to the benchmark car. The first-place prize is $500. The second-place finisher gets $250. Third place gets $100.
Everyone also needs to drive safely and adhere to the rules of the road and common sense, he advised.
"It's a great way to get out drive around and see St. Albert and it's not going to take all day. It's certainly going to take less than two hours and you're going to drive around and see the landmarks, get your stamps, and enjoy a cruise in your classic vehicle."
By its very nature, it's not a competitive event, as people are meant to be out there enjoying a sweet summer evening, checking out the sights, admiring the chrome on their competitors' wheels, and letting the rumbling motors take them back to the good old days of yesteryear in their imaginations.
"It's a really laid-back rally."
