Today has been the travel to the “Start City” day! A morning flight from Ottawa to Detroit, followed by a 4 1/2 hour drive through beautiful Michigan to Traverse City finds me set up in the Holiday Inn in downtown Traverse City!
By the time that I had arrived, many of the teams had already been through technical inspection. There was registration and getting updated with staff and then visiting began…getting to say hello to returning teams, introducing myself to rookies and generally getting up to speed with some of the most beautiful vehicles that I have ever seen! The first scheduled activity was a dinner, hosted by the Hagerty family (Hagerty Insurance is a major presenter of this years event), held at their “garage” which is both a restoration shop and display area of vintage collectable cars and boats. What an amazing way to get acquainted with sponsors and rally teams.
Back in my room, it’s time to prepare for tomorrow’s activities, which include Rally School in the morning followed by the Hagerty Trophy Run a warm-up rally which will start from and finish at the Holiday Inn, our host hotel. A recepton early evening followed by a mandatory General Meeting will put a wrap on the day prior to the start of the real deal!
Follow me as the Great Race winds its way through Michigan with a lunch stop at Saint Ignace on through to Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan where the teams will spend their first night!
If all goes well, I plan to post to my blog before my head hits the pillow each and every night of the event. I’m pumped and ready to go!