Rally North America - 2015 Smoky Mountain Rally Part 1_2

**Exploring Rally North America: A Journey Through Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains**

The Great Smoky Mountains, often misunderstood but undeniably stunning, form a lush backdrop for some of America's finest bourbon, barbecue, and natural beauty. This region, home to the iconic Smoky Mountain National Park with its trademark fog, is not just about nature—it’s also a haven for car enthusiasts. Here lies "a driver's playground," where enthusiasts can unleash their vehicles on ribbons of asphalt, echoing thunderous exhaust across the vast Blue Ridge.

Knoxville, Tennessee, stands as the gateway to this national park and one of Appalachia's largest cities. It was here that Rally North America returned for its second consecutive year, bringing together nearly 80% rally veterans for a family reunion of sorts. The event is more than just a race; it’s a celebration of camaraderie, with handshakes, hugs, and new teams welcomed into the fold. Teams compete to raise funds for "Hope for the Warriors," a nonprofit supporting service members, their families, and those who have lost loved ones in service.

**Rally North America: A Test of Skill and Strategy**

Unlike traditional races, Rally North America is a checkpoint-style event where competitors navigate through clues and puzzles to reach destinations. The challenge lies not just in speed but in precise navigation. Teams must provide photographic evidence of their stops, and the lowest time wins. However, any traffic violation results in disqualification, emphasizing the importance of stealth and accuracy.

The rally kicked off with a quick address from Knoxville's mayor, sending participants eager for the road ahead. The weather, a wildcard in Appalachia, added an element of unpredictability. Teams drove through fog-covered roads, making navigation even more challenging. Despite these conditions, the event showcased a diverse range of vehicles, from high-performance rally cars to creatively decorated FedEx trucks.

**A Journey Through History and Nature**

The rally led participants through historical sites and breathtaking natural landscapes. One such stop was Fort Lowden, built in 1756 by the British colony of South Carolina during the French Indian War. This fort, now a historic area near Venor, Tennessee, marked one of many checkpoints where teams had to provide evidence of their visit.

Nature enthusiasts were treated to Bald River Falls, recognized as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the region. The journey highlighted the beauty of the Smoky Mountains, with winding roads offering perfect backdrops for rally cars. However, the weather played a tricksy role, with rain and fog reducing visibility at times.

**Challenges and Triumphs on the Road**

Teams faced both mechanical and environmental challenges during the rally. A participant recounting their experience shared how they had to jumpstart a car using a paperclip—a testament to quick thinking under pressure. Such anecdotes underscored the real-world problem-solving skills required in rallying.

The event culminated with a visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway, where participants enjoyed stunning views from Water Rock Knob. Despite the day's challenges, Team Danger Zone emerged victorious, setting the tone for another day of competition ahead.

**Emotional Reflections and Charitable Impact**

Among the participants was a driver racing in memory of his late friend, who had passed away from a heart attack. This participant’s story added an emotional depth to the rally, highlighting how such events bring people together for both competition and camaraderie.

The primary beneficiary of Rally North America is "Hope for the Warriors," which works tirelessly to support service members, their families, and those who have lost loved ones in service. The event not only raised funds but also awareness, with teams striving to contribute meaningfully to this cause.

**Conclusion: A Celebration of Passion and Charity**

Rally North America is more than just an automotive event; it’s a celebration of passion, skill, and community. It brings together enthusiasts who share a love for driving and a commitment to supporting those who serve. The scenic backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains adds an extra layer of charm, making each rally a unique experience.

To learn more about "Hope for the Warriors" or to get involved, visit their website at [hopeforthwarriors.org](https://www.hopeforthwarriors.org). Whether you want to donate, volunteer, or simply follow the rally's progress, this platform offers numerous ways to contribute and engage.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe Great Smoky Mountains often misunderstood misrepresented and at worst case overlooked entirely a stunningly green and Lush part of America that's home to some of our finest bourbons and barbecues not to mention the national park and its trademark fog from which the region gets its name but perhaps most importantly the Smokies are home to some of America's Finest ribbons of asphalt a driver's playground upon which to Unleash Your chosen weapon and Echo your thundering exhaust across a vast Blue Ridge which brings me to Knoxville Tennessee the gateway to Smoky Mountain National Park and one of appalachia's largest cities for the second time in as many years the folks running Rally North America have invited us to their family reunion and that's what it is really as so many of the participants nearly 80% are rally veterans hands are shaken hugs given and new teams are welcomed into the fold stories are exchanged new car modifications checked out and hotel trash cans overflow with equal parts vinyl backing paper and micr brew beer bottles at the driers meeting those teams who raised the most money for this year's charity hope for the Warriors are congratulated and given their starting grid positions as always those who raise the most money get to start first each day a huge Advantage hope for the Warriors we're a nonprofit that works with service members their families and Families of the Fallen that's everything from talking to a social worker financial aid and Readiness working with your family to outdoor sports and recreation Hunting Fishing getting a service member back into their community so there's really not too much that you can ask Hope for that we'll say that we can't do or that we can't refer you to good morning rally day yay getting excited getting excited I got team Car Wash team champagne formerly 911 Turbo now FedEx truck that's how you move up in the world right there best best costumes of the rally they actually got me yesterday with a fake package delivery it was it was good package for Farah package for Farah got a package here thank you got package fortunately that was a that I apologize I apologize the world's on time world on time okay let's drive now before I break anything Rally North America isn't a race it's a checkpoint style rally in which competitors must solve puzzles or follow Clues to locations providing photographic evidence of their stops lowest time wins but if you get ticketed by the police you're disqualified for the whole event so you want to keep a low profile it's all about navigation because all the cars primarily go fast or all of the drivers like to push them to go fast so every there's you can't go fast enough to make up that much time for a m so it's all about navigation and making the correct Choice after a quick word from Knoxville's mayor we were off excited for the literal road ahead but a bit worried about some of that Appalachian weather we've been hearing about suddenly an all-wheel drive crossover seemed like the Smart Plan morning sir no Shenanigans no sir you got it man the light wait for the cycle checkpoint one built in 1756 by the British colony of South Carolina during the French Indian War this fort is one of the earliest British fortifications on the Western frontier in August 176 by the Cherokee Indians and from what I can tell it is called Fort Lowden Fort luden state in historic area in venor Tennessee yep you got it yep go uh where's go go go she she asked me my navigator the other day we're going to make a left right and I said wait what am I making the left or the right she's like a left right I'm like will you listen to yourself there's a comma in there to indicate I meant correct so it looks like we just take this what do we have to take a picture of uh we have to go to the the site just take a picture at the site that's it there's no specific Monument no those one of those things there maybe front of the garison oh with a red coat with a red coat did you find a red coat in there I did I did find a red coat was it a real person oh way too much running that all right watch watch out well we know what' we see just Harper Y and uh next checkpoint is a 90t high waterfall uh uh recognized as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the region I have looked it up it is called bald River Falls and it is 31 m away your car in a pack of rally cars is utterly invisible you not there's no perfect we got so many I don't know if that was you or another FedEx car driving us we next to somebody I look over they look over and they go thought it was just a FedEx truck perfect how's it handling the windy road better than expected better than we thought it would yeah we thought it would be uh loaf of bread but it'll move being from California every time I go hike to look at a waterfall there's no water so this is a nice thing to seees shall we the chera Skyway is truly one of America's motoring Treasures so it would have been nice if we could see any of it dense fog covered the whole thing drastically reducing visibility from Gorgeous to sketch as expected here is the sheeting and uh immediately immediately feel sorry for anyone 500 this driving an open top car9 by the time I'd arrived at the grave site of Jalisa a Cherokee Indian leader it was absolutely pissing rain fortunately a driveby would suffice yeah it's not that bad it's not that bad you're right let's go a what there where right there on the right so close okay that would have been slick if we didn't get make it do that light you think you're pretty much in first now is that what's happening Terry was so I feel like if we're if we're close to Terry I think we'll win overall cuz it's all about how long it took you not exactly the first one into the Finish gate as we reached the world famous Blue Ridge Parkway clouds and rain main made way for Sunshine curves and blue skies this road is truly every bit as good as they say and the views are stunning especially from the high Peak at Water Rock knob the kind of site where you just stare and appreciate that Rally North America's organizers asked you to stop here on the fast run down the mountain We Came Upon a broken DSM some people would offer real help we simply rolled cameras we have oh we're still going uphill yeah it'll be okay it just needs to cool down you think um going to do that I'm going to jump the relay for the fans we need something to jump for the Relay for the fans so you need wire wire paper clip all right let's see what you got I want to watch this this car belonged to my best friend he passed away last year a heart attack and basically I bought it from his wife this car had been setting for eight years whenever I got it and I completely went through it in the last roughly two and a half months to do this rally in memory of him what was your friend's name uh don traml okay paper clip in the truth fans all you need DSM fix huh the sensor being in the bottom of the radio sitting there for 8 years might not have been the best thing you think that's something you can fix quickly once we get to town yeah if they anywhere has them in stock but it's fine now all I did was unplug the sensor and bypass it all right good job guys perfect roads turn into more perfect roads winding through the Peaks and valleys of the Smokies we managed to smell campfire for Miles eventually following our noses to the Flat Rock Wood room outside Hendersonville North Carolina where yes team danger zone did take the overall win for the day each team brings its own adventure to the table and we take a respit from the road simply to do it all over again the next day join us next time as we continue eastbound on Rally North America raising awareness and money for Hope for the Warriors plus we put our overpowered crossover to the real test on the drag strip and at the RAC trck the best way to contact hope for the Warriors or find out for more information is going to be hope forth warriors.org at that site you can actually click on a programs you can find out all the programs that we have to offer there's a tag that says donate you can click on that directly and donate but the great thing is there's also the option to volunteer and that's one of the things that I personally love so much is that people who want to personally be Hands-On with service members and what we do so all that can be found at Hope forth warriors.org and um my name is Shay Wright you can also call and ask h\n"