Most Beach Road Magazine car rally participants this year are first-timers

This year’s Beach Road Magazine Car Rally participants are mostly first timers wanting to be part of the Saipan road adventure of a lifetime.

As the May 24 event draws near, more and more phone and walk-in inquiries are being received at the Beach Road Magazine’s office from people interested to know more about the rules, entry fee and requirements, according to Susan Marchitti, Beach Road Magazine account manager and lead coordinator for the car rally.

“Most of those who have signed up so far are excited first timers. We also have at least four groups who had joined the first car rally event and have signed up again,” Marchitti said.

Marchitti, who came up with the route to be taken by rally participants and the questions that they will have to answer along the way, said this year’s event will be more challenging from last year’s. Navigators will have to pay attention to details.

Participants are urged to be at the starting point no later than 9am on Saturday to check in. “It would be greatly appreciated if they could be there a few minutes early to ensure a smoother process,” Marchitti said.

The first car to be registered will be the first out of the start at 10am. The succeeding cars will be sent out at two-minute intervals. Eachcar will be given a number to place in their window for easy recognition at the checkpoints and finish.

Meantime, sponsors who had pledged support for the event have been presenting prizes to the car rally staff for the participants.

At stake are a gift certificate from Saipan Sea Ventures, 360 Restaurant; two gift certificates for an overnight stay for two at Saipan Grand Hotel, lunch and dinner buffet also at Saipan Grand Hotel; an overnight stay for two at Palms Resort Saipan, and buffet at a Palms Resort F&B outlet; lunch for two at The Green Flash Restaurant; four gift bags from Boarderline; 60 duffle bags from Western Union, gift certificates for Megazone from Megabyte; two Wear-A-Marconi shirts, and Wave Jungle passes, a gift certificate for two to Red Box 799 and a gift certificate for two to the Sunday brunch at World Café, from World Resort.

Cash prizes will be given to the top three winners. First prize winner will get $250; second prize, $200; and third, $150, Marchitti said.

Registration is $15 and space is limited to 60 cars. The awards party, where prizes will be presented, will be held at the Oleai Beach Bar & Grill in the evening of May 25 at 6pm. A special 10 percent discount on non-special food items will be given to car rally participants.

The Second Annual Beach Road Magazine Car Rally is sponsored by Shell Marianas, Pacific Telecom Inc., Department of Public Safety, American Red Cross, Pacific Islands Club, Oleai Beach Bar & Grill, Aquarius Beach Tower and Budget Car Rental.

The Second Annual Beach Road Magazine Car Rally is a competitive motoring event in which drivers must successfully complete a given course by following a set of instructions. Participants have been informed where the starting point is. They will receive a new set of instructions at each checkpoint, which will guide them through the next section of the rally up to the finish.

A car rally is not a speeding contest. It’s a cross between a scavenger hunt and an IQ test behind the wheel that’s guaranteed to take your driving skills to the next level. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]