AMHERST-MAPS

For over a hundred years people have participated in road rallies as a fun past time or as serious competitors. Either way, road rallies are a fun way to spend your time.

First here are the basics of a road rally. Teams gather for the road rally clueless as to where they are travelling. A couple minutes before they are set to leave each car is given the directions for the race. The map coordinates tell the drivers where to go. Depending on the rally, the team’s goal is to either finish with the best time, or the time closest to the “perfect” time. Those races factor in arriving at the checkpoints in the time it should take you if you follow the proper speed.

So how are these road rallies planned? Organizers use map coordinates to put together a rally that is fun for all.

Today, there are different ways to use map coordinates. Some people still do it the old fashioned way using traditional maps to put together a race. They determine the latitude and longitude of each point and record the location for the race. Other people use modern GPS systems to help determine coordinates for the race course.

Both ways will work to determine the race course. Regardless of the method used, the course creators have a great time trying to decide the course and the checkpoints. After the course has been determined and the checkpoints chosen, the race designers have to meticulously record the map coordinates. If the coordinates are off by just a little bit there will be havoc during the race.

Road rallies continue in popularity and their popularity means people are continuing to rely on map reading. No matter how much technology changes, map coordinates will continue to serve an important purpose in getting all of us from point A to point B.