Eyewitness Report: Road Rally

Jessica Poore, Corner Post Special Contributor

It's Sunday afternoon at Trowbridge, 2:19 p.m. to be exact, and it's the Road Rally day of Ag Week.

GDI Team #2 pulls into the starting spot and waits to receive instructions and directions from a member of the Ag Systems Management Club, the organization coordinating the afternoon's event.

Sam Huenefeldt, Elizabeth Miles, Suellen Harn, Jennifer Lauer and a certain Corner Post reporter shoot out of Trowbridge as soon as the sheets of paper are passed through the window. They have plenty of catching up to do. At least two teams have gone before them, placed in minute intervals.

The actions starts immediately, as a team member reads directions that instruct the driver, Huenefeldt, to "turn opposite of left," resulting in a quick U-turn. As soon as he finds the correct path, the fun begins.

Complicated directions lead teams through two counties via dirt roads, random streets and even a few ditches. The fast pace of the afternoon is intoxicating as the race gets closer and closer. Teams use cell phones to retrieve missed clues and determine locations.

It would seem that CAFNR students have taken over the roads, much to the dismay of certain citizens, especially one affectionately referred to as "Dirt Bike Billy," but it's all in good fun. The caravan brought several families out of their homes to watch the progression of the teams.

When Huenefeldt is asked about his favorite part of road rally, he mischievously says, "Passing people when they miss a question."

After a few detours and scenic routes, teams arrive at checkpoint No. 2, where they hike to retrieve an item that they were assigned upon arrival.

The afternoon ends with teams pulling back into Trowbridge, instructed to sing - what else - but "Friends in Low Places." GDI 2 earns third place for its efforts, behind GDI 1 and Block and Bridle 2, who tie for first based on their times, mileage and question lists.

While it's hard to put Road Rally 2002 into words, perhaps freshman Elizabeth Miles put it best when she said, "It's a vehicular scavenger hunt." And oh, what a hunt it was!


Story posted 10/7/02


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