There are lots of other hotel options in Ridgecrest, but only the Hampton Inn is within walking distance from Rally HQ (The SpringHill Suites).

The High Desert Trails Rally is a performance time trial event that will run on May 12th, 2012. Rally Racing is a motorsport where a driver and navigator (co-driver) race down closed dirt roads, one car at a time, as fast as they can. The cars race against the clock and not head-to-head. The racing sections are called Special Stages and are closed to all non-rally traffic. Performance rallies would not exist in the US without amateur radio! We rely on the skills of hundreds of volunteers to keep us safe in the woods. Hams keep track of all of the racers on the route, pass traffic, and handle emergency communications. Rally uses your skills as a communicator to the max!

Expanded last year onto the gorgeous roads of Kern County, the rally will be celebrating it’s 39th anniversary on stages south and west of Ridgecrest, California. Make sure to bring clothes to be out in the weather, sunscreen, water, and some extra snacks. As a communicator you will be out on the course all day. We will be providing a small sack lunch and waters. A mobile 2M rig is necessary and extra antenna options are always a good idea for your vehicle. Volunteers can find out more info and sign up for the rally here!

Thanks for your help! KI6IUC – HDT Organizer Kristopher Marciniak

Expanded last year onto the gorgeous roads of Kern County, the rally will be celebrating it’s 39th anniversary on stages south and west of Ridgecrest, California. With the spirit of that first event run in 1973, the exact route and stages will not be disclosed to the competitors until the organizer provided stage notes hit co-drivers hands. We have added to the mileage from last year, and we’re excited to keep things fresh for teams offering a Coefficient 3 event, with 70+ planned stage miles. To celebrate our history, High Desert Trails will be offering an “Alumni Reserved Early Entry” for those of you that have run High Desert Trails in the past (1973-2011), as well as a discounted early entry fee that closes on April 7th. All you will need is verifiable documentation that you were on the entry list and started the High Desert Trails Rally anytime in the past thirty eight years.

This event proudly kicks off the California Rally Series Championship for 2012. As the premiere rally series in the Southwest, and one of the biggest regional championships in the country, the California Rally Series provides an exciting, well run championship for competitors, plus support, equipment, and volunteers for the rally. The event will be sanctioned by NASA Rally Sport, the grassroots rally sanctioning body for the US. NASA Rally Sport focuses on competitor fun and providing support for rally organizers. Providing tools to the racers, organizers, and fans to increase their enjoyment of rally is one of the core missions of the organization.

Please join us in the beautiful high desert!

The amazing roads will be similar to what we had last year. We’re planning to open volunteer registration in a few days. We have spoken to the Spring Hill Suites Hotel, and the fantastic Casey’s BBQ about the event. We have contacted stage captains, and you should see a steady stream of HDT emails over the next few weeks.

- Kris & Christine Marciniak

Travel safe everyone – we’ll see you in Ridgecrest.
- Kris & Christine

With 28 cars on the start list we appreciate the help of all our volunteers! Our competitors have made appointments for Friday tech, and this should make the process go smoothly. We filled the SpringHill Suites this year, and we’ll have the main conference room for registration on Friday and Saturday morning. Directions to the stages have been printed out and will be available to you in registration on Friday night in Ridgecrest.

We are really excited and can’t wait to see all of you this coming weekend!
- Kris & Christine

Teams immediately stepped up to that challenge by taking the twenty reserved car spots, and when RallyMoto entries failed to appear, the organizers moved swiftly to reallocate those spots, maxing the event at thirty cars. Notable entries for this years rally include: Top drivers, Doug Chernis and George Plsek, who will each be piloting AWD turbo monsters, but Bill Holmes will also be pushing for the overall win in his powerful RWD Ford F-150 – having won this event in the past. In CRS-2, last years winner, Gaylord Van Brocklin, (pictured) will be defending against the very consistent George Doganis. Don’t be surprised to see any of these drivers on the podium.

The route will take competitors up twisty switchbacks and over ridgelines of hard-packed, wide, dirt roads. This is followed by a fast flowing route that rises up out of a valley and descends sharply onto a short section of tarmac. Over sixty miles of stages with a one hour service stop should make a great day of rallying!

If you still need to make reservations:
* Call (760) 446-1630 and ask for Taylor – She will book it under the rally rate if they have rooms available.

If you didn’t get the rally rate, but booked a room:
* Call (760) 446-1630 and ask for Taylor – She will change it to the rally rate.

If the host hotel fills, the Hampton Inn (760-446-1968) directly across the street is another option.

There are many additional hotels in Ridgecrest to choose from with rates ranging from $50-$150 per night.

Volunteered at a rally before? We need your experience!
Never volunteered? Let us make you part of a great control team! You’ll be right in the middle of the action. Taking time cards from competitors, timing rally cars as they finish the stage, you will help the event happen!

We heart our volunteers and make sure they get fed (provided waters and lunch), get a cool event T-Shirt, and have a great time at HDT! Click here to get signed up as a volunteer for the High Desert Trails!