THE GEORGIA PEACH RALLY 2008

2008 The Georgia Peach Rally

October 3-5, 2008
Newnan, Georgia

A “PEACHY TIME” IN GEORGIA

Please notice, we have the rally pictures in the left, the right column and at the bottom of the page.. Click on any image to see a bigger picture of that car.. Don't see your car? E-mail Bubba and I will look again for your picture.

Twenty three rally teams from across the country descended on Newnan, Georgia to take part in the “Georgia Peach Rally”, the second event in the 2008-2009 VCRA Points Series. After registration and inspection, all competitors attended the “mandatory meeting”, at which the bar was set for the weekend. Our hosts (the Caldwells & Knowles & Gentry) treated all to a “Chic Filet” box lunch (you know..The “Eat More Chiken” guys), and we all started the event with a full stomach. And that was not to be the last meal provided by our hosts. If you didn’t gain at least five pounds during this event, you had better food intake control than I did.

Stage one, under picture perfect skies, sent the competitors on a scenic tour north of Newnan to Carrollton, where they were treated at a pit stop at “Checkers” restaurant. When the dust settled for the day, the team of Maher & Secrest were in the number one spot with a 3 second score (factored to 2.31). And that score, which we all thought was a great one, was not to last as the best day of the event. And at the end of the day, all were invited to the Caldwells’ for what has to be the best steaks in Georgia.

Stage two, a full day of rallying, sent the group south and west, with a pit stop at the beautiful Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain. Then it was on to LaGrange, for lunch, courtesy of the Dairy Queen king, Taylor Merrill. From there it was a quick trip to Franklin for a pit stop in the city park. And guess what..the winning score of the day was another 3 second score (factored to 2.28) by the team of Hersey & McDorr. Is this tight racin’ or what!!!

Needless to say, there were other contenders right up there ready to pounce if anybody made even the slightest mistake. Team Stumb, Fredette & Loubiere, Feeney, Knowles & Gentry, Cothern & Hadskey , Bell & Taylor, Haverty & Dewitt and the Tourjes’ were right there ( only 8 seconds between the top 10 teams) WOW!! And make no mistake, there would be ample opportunity to make a mistake. But on to better things…after the teams completed stage two, everyone was invited to “Catfish Hollar” for a scrumptious catfish (or other choices) dinner courtesy of one of VCRA’s best friends.. THANKS!!!

Stage 3..Sunday morning….nerves are showing for some of the teams. Really close.. one little mistake and you loose!! “Best I can do is the best I can do” was heard in a conversation just before start time. And so it came to pass…Team Feeney posted an astonishing score of just 2 seconds (factored to a 1.58) for a total score of 10.27 seconds to win the event by just 1.63 seconds over Fredette & Loubiere, followed ever so closely by Hersey & McDorr by just 2.65 seconds. In fact, the first five places were within 6.01 seconds…is the course too easy or are they really that good? We will surely find out at the next rally in ’09. And to cap it off, guess what…another fabulous meal at the finish/ awards at the home of Chad & Jennie Caldwell.

To say we had a “Real Peachy Time” would be a gross understatement!! It was way better than that…a special thanks to our hosts , the Caldwells and Knowles & Gentry families, and to all the volunteers that manned the checkpoints..a great job by you guys!!

Now on to next year..schedules and locations will be announced within the next couple of weeks..

Thanks for a great 2008!!