Event: Rally Against Leukemia 2025
Date: August 1, 2026
Rallymasters: Jon and Kelli Lamkins
For the 2026 Edition of Rally Against Leukemia, Rallymasters Jon and Kelli Lamkins tried a new GTA format. Whereas previous events had used the Scavenger Hunt, shortest distance format, this year’s event gave the competitors a TSD like set of Route Instructions (minus speeds and pauses) and required the teams to complete signs found along the route to earn points. Points could also be earned by taking team photos at locations at the three break areas, plus answering extra credit questions about landmarks at two of the break areas, however, the teams would not receive those extra questions until they made it to the finish.
The weather was perfect road rally weather on Saturday, August 1st as seven teams met at Norton Park in Plainville, CT. Teams ranged from experienced to novice to first timers. The event also drew a variety of rally vehicles including a Chevy Corvette, a Toyota Supra, a Ford Focus SVT, a Cadillac ATS, and a 1967 Plymouth Valient with a stuffed Homer Simpson riding shotgun.
Section 1 of the course took teams North through Avon, Simsbury, and Granby, CT before crossing into Agawam, MA to end at Stanley Park in Westfield, MA. This section gave teams the most signs to complete.
Section 2 headed West through Granville, Blandford, and Chester, MA. The week before the event, the town of Chester dug 2 mile section of road down to dirt giving the teams an unexpected unpaved road giving them taste of the changing surfaces that road rallies are known for. The section ended at the Historic Chester Railway Station and Museum where teams enjoyed a tour before continuing.
Section 3 could be called the ‘drivers’ section. While there weren’t many signs to complete in this section, the teams faced elevation changes, off camber turns and moderate to fast speeds as they traveled through Middlefield, Peru, Hinsdale, Pittsfield, and Lenox, MA before ending at the Lee Premium Outlets in Lee, MA.
Section 4 was the shortest at 19 miles as the teams went through Tyringham and Monterey MA before finishing at the Barrington Brewery and Restaurant in Great Barrington, MA.
Teams completed all the signs along the route correctly and submitted their team photos, so the final results came down to the extra credit questions. Only the team of Aaron and Kristen Corn answered both correctly, giving them the victory over a 3 way tie for second.
Thanks to all the team for participating and helping raise $110 for the Rally Against Leukemia cause. It was our pleasure to continue our support for RAL by organizing this event.
Final Results
