2004 Course

 

View the Picture Gallery for the 2004 Rally.

Each of the race's two legs includes:

• 1 Start Point
• 3 Mandatory Checkpoints
• 1 Bonus Checkpoint
• 1 Timing Point
• 1 Stop Point

The checkpoints, and therefore the course, change every year.  Only the start (HWD), the fuel/lunch stop (BFL) and the end (IFP) points remain the same.  The required and bonus checkpoints are announced the day before the race (see the race schedule) at the briefing and are documented in the race book provided to each team.  The exact course flown is chosen by the pilot of each aircraft.  Remember, this is not a speed race, it is a proficiency race; accuracy counts.

So that prospective racers can get better idea of the materials provided during the briefing, a copy of the 2004 Race Book may be downloaded here.

Checkpoints are to be overflown by race aircraft. Each checkpoint can be adequately identified from the air. The two timing points at Checkpoint Mike and Checkpoint Bette are also overflown and race officials on the ground will record the time overhead the timing line.

The 2004 course is described here to provide an example only, the 2005 course will be different, and will not be announced until the day before the race during the briefings.  The 2004 course included the following checkpoints and stops:

• Hayward (HWD) - Race Starts
• Westley (Private)
• Chowchilla (2O6) click here for a picture
• Corcoran (CRO)
• BONUS #1: Gilbreath (Private)
• Checkpoint Mike (35-36.12N, 119-12.67W) - Timing Point
• Bakersfield Meadows (BFL) - Landing, Fuel and Lunch
• Tehachapi (TSP) click here for a picture
• Apple Valley (APV)
• Bonus #2: Tower (35-06.2N, 115-46.6W) click here for a picture
• Town of Nipton click here for a picture
• Checkpoint Bette (35-11.59N, 114-51.22W) - Timing Point click here for a picture
• Bullhead/Laughlin (IFP) - Landing, Fuel, Race Ends

Approximate 2004 Race Course:

 

Each checkpoint has a question to be answered to ensure positive identification. A typical checkpoint question looks like this:

Checkpoint #4	Tehachapi (TSP)
Elevation 3998'
Pattern Altitude 5000'	Lat 35 deg. 08.1'
Overfly above 6000'	Long 118 deg. 26.4'
At Tehachapi:
J. There are 2 large warehousehouses on the airport NORTH of runway 11/29.
K. A new parallel paved runway in under construction.
L. There are 3 short curved streets on the other side of highway 58.

 

The checkpoint at Tehachapi looked like this from the air:

So, the answer was: L. There are 3 short curved streets on the other side of highway 58.