6th Annual Chuck Coble Memorial Rocket Run APR’19
On April 27, IOR held it’s big event: the 6th Annual Chuck Coble Memorial Rocket Run. What is it? You ask?… well, it’s a “night time land navigation challenge”. There- question asked and answered. I guess we can all go home now.
no- REALLY! what the hell is a ‘Rocket Run’?
well.. It’s food, it’s fun, and it’s a bit of Wheelin’ –Night-Wheelin’.
FOOD: Was Tri-Tip, with Cheesy Potatoes and a salad w/ Cookies. Now that reads pretty simple. But in the middle of a desert in the Owyhee’s, it’s the feast of Hemingway Butte. The perfect setup to a great evening of prizes, and wheelin’.
FUN: IOR had its RTI ramp out along with the Balance Blocks. These events are a fun challenge for drivers of all levels.
After dinner, IOR held a raffle where lots of great prizes, swag and kit were raffled off to the lucky. –Thank You sponsors for your help making the raffle so successful.
NIGHT-WHEELIN’: The IOR Rocket Run event is where 81 vehicles, 4×4’s, buggies, Trucks, Hummers, ATV, UTV, Motorcycles and yes, even a 6×6 run around in the Owyhee desert in the middle of the night looking for 3 hidden checkpoints and try to find a fourth that is roaming.
Snow kept us down in the lower elevations this year and limited our choices for trails and spots. -which lead to some congestion on the trails. -A point to improve on next year.
Traveling in groups DID prove to be the leading cause of success, however. I was at tower #2 for the night and saw all but 8 of the 81 drivers. That’s a pretty high count.
ProTips:
1) If you can manage, be at a vantage point at the top of the hour.
2) At the top of the hour, stop, turn all of your lights off and scan the countryside. Each of the checkpoints will shoot a flair and light up their tower for a full minute.
3) Travel in groups (but be mindful, large groups makes for difficult on-coming passes on tight trails) –Smaller groups move faster.
Thank you again to all who came out for the fun.
Thank you to all who left feedback on the survey –we heard you.
Thank you sponsors for your generosity – you made all this fun possible.
& Thank you IOR Volunteers – You made the possible a reality.
