The Great Race is a competitive, controlled-speed endurance road rally for antique, vintage, and collector vehicles. It is not a test of top speed.

Each driver and navigator team follows precise course instructions while maintaining assigned average speeds. Participants must obey posted speed limits at all times.

The challenge is a combination of navigation, timing, teamwork, and the ability of both the participants and vehicle to complete a demanding cross-country event.

Learn more on the What Is the Great Race? page.

Each day, the driver and navigator receive detailed course instructions that identify turns, speed changes, stops, and starts throughout the route.

Hidden checkpoints record the exact time each team passes. The goal is to arrive at each checkpoint at the correct time — not the fastest time. Every second early or late results in a penalty.

GPS and computers are not permitted for competition, and odometers are covered. The event is designed to test human navigation, timing, and endurance rather than technology.

Timed portions generally use scenic local, county, and state roads rather than interstate highways whenever possible.

Visit What Is the Great Race? for a simple overview.

All participants are responsible for knowing and following the current Event Regulations. We recommend reviewing them before the event even if you have participated before.

View the Event Regulations

Vehicle eligibility is governed by the current Event Regulations. For the main Great Race, eligible vehicles are generally from model year 1974 or earlier.

Some regional events may allow newer vehicles, so always check the specific rules for the event you are entering.

Review the Event Regulations

Choose a vehicle that balances reliability, accurate speed feedback, comfort, and age.

Older vehicles may receive a greater age-factor adjustment, but you should also consider whether the car can reliably handle long days, changing terrain, and many miles of competition.

You and your partner will spend a lot of time in the car, so comfort and mechanical dependability matter just as much as scoring advantage.

If both you and your partner are new to the Great Race, you will compete in the Rookie Division.

Other divisions are based on participant experience and the current event rules.

Visit Competition Divisions for details.

It varies from event to event.

Over the years, Great Race has included vehicles dating back to the early 1900s, including cars from the 1907, 1909, 1911, and 1914 model years.

The current field changes with each event, so visit Participants & Cars to see the vehicles currently participating.

Our tutorial resources explain the basics of time-speed-distance rallying, navigation, timing, and what to expect during competition.

Visit the Tutorials page to get started.

Yes. The driver and navigator may switch positions throughout the day as often as they would like, as long as they remain in the same vehicle and comply with the Event Regulations.

No. Support crews are not permitted to follow participants on the competition route.

Each day, support crews receive specific directions that are separate from the participant route. These directions are designed to get crews safely to the next stop while keeping support traffic away from the competition course.

Support crews can also use the day for sightseeing, local attractions, or other stops as they travel between official Great Race locations, provided they do not follow or intercept competitors on the competition route.

Support crews should follow the official support crew directions each day and should not attempt to locate, follow, or intercept their participant on the competition route.

Support crews receive their own daily driving directions between stops. These are separate from the participant course.

Everyone traveling with your team should understand that the participant route and support crew route are not the same.

Anyone traveling with your team throughout the event and participating in Great Race-provided meals should be registered as part of your support crew.

Support crew registration helps us accurately plan meals, credentials, and event logistics.

Absolutely. We encourage participants to invite family and friends to join them at evening stops.

Visitors are welcome to see the cars, spend time with participants, and enjoy activities in the host community.

If a family member or friend wants to eat meals provided as part of the Great Race, they must be registered as part of your support crew.

If they are only visiting for one evening or one meal, we encourage you to enjoy a local restaurant together and support businesses in the host community.

The entry fee covers participation in the rally and competition, along with scheduled Great Race activities, selected meals, awards, the competition prize purse, and the extensive logistics required to operate the event.

Lunch is generally provided for the driver and navigator teams. Meals for registered support personnel are provided as outlined in the event materials.

Participants are responsible for hotel rooms and personal expenses such as additional meals, snacks, fuel, repairs, and other travel costs.

Always review the current registration and event materials for exact inclusions and participant benefits.

Yes. Participants should book their event hotels through the official Great Race hotel booking process provided for the event.

This helps keep the group together, supports event logistics, and ensures participants receive the contracted Great Race hotel rates and room blocks.

A Business/Corporate Entry allows approved business identification or sponsorship signage on the participating vehicle, subject to the current Event Regulations and signage requirements.

A Private Entry does not include commercial advertising rights on the vehicle or participant.

Entry categories, fees, placement, and advertising requirements may change, so always review the current registration materials and Event Regulations before committing to a sponsorship arrangement.

If a business contributes toward your entry and expects commercial signage, advertising, or recognition on your vehicle or participant apparel, the entry may qualify as a Business/Corporate Entry.

Review the current Event Regulations and entry materials for the specific requirements.

Potentially, yes. The key difference is whether the business expects advertising or commercial recognition on your vehicle or person.

If no business signage or advertising is involved, the contribution may not necessarily require a Business/Corporate Entry.

Check the current Event Regulations before finalizing any arrangement.

A Business/Corporate Entry sponsors an individual participating team and receives the advertising rights associated with that entry category.

An official Great Race Event Sponsor supports the event itself and may receive broader visibility across event signage, programs, official vehicles, participant materials, apparel, digital media, and other event assets depending on the sponsorship agreement.

Daily starting positions are posted on the Order of Start page.

Always check the current day's order rather than relying on your position from a previous day.

Daily and overall results are posted on the Scores page.

Visit Participants & Cars to browse available participant, team, and vehicle information.

Public lunch and evening stop information is available on the Event Calendar.

This is the best page to share with family and friends who plan to meet you during the event.

The overall host-city route is available on the Route page.

Detailed competition routes are provided to participants as part of the event and are not published publicly.