Rally in the Fast Lane

Arlene and I had a lot of company has we headed west on I-70 Friday night. The commuter congestion is always intense, but on this particular trek north we jockeyed for lanes with swarms of Harleys, punctuated by iridescent classic sports cars on trailers. Throw in some construction, a few emergency lane closures and Peterbilts the size of freight trains, the exburban migration was a road rally competition worthy of sanction. (No more complaints from me about Howard Street.)

We shed the commuters at various Frederick exits, but the roadsters and easy riders continued the pace. It was going to be quite a night in Mountain Maryland. West Virginia may be wild and wonderful, but the action was going to be on our side of the Potomac this weekend.

There are a lot of reasons to love Western Maryland. The rugged beauty of the mountains and rivers make it one of the most appealing parts of the state. History and heritage abound here, as Cumberland, a transportation hub, played a significant role in the nation’s development. River commerce, the C&O canal and several railroads provided a transportation grid from pre-colonial days through the rise of the industrial revolution. Spanning every era is the National Road. First an Indian trail across the mountains, then a trade corridor and Revolutionary army route, the National Road is recognized as the first highway of the modern transportation era. It was a combination of this history, the heritage of regional sports car racing, and Western Maryland’s daredevil appeal that brought us to this race.

Hilltop races in Flintsone predate the yabba dabba doo jokes by more than a decade, but the recent incarnation is actually just three years old. They are the brainchild of Mountain Maryland’s (tourism office) marketing efforts in tandum with the National Road Autocross club. The Autocross series takes place at the Cumberland Airport. Realizing that Western Maryland has an economic future in its bounty of natural resources and challenging geography, Mountainside Maryland has focused on attracting motor sports fans, action athletes, fitness buffs and weekend warriors to experience the hills and the great outdoors.

Arlene and I stayed at Canal Place in Cumberland, close to where the C&O meets the Allegheny Highlands trail. We wanted to hike the Canal in the morning but our choice in accommodations offered another bonus – it overlooked the amphitheater where a production of “Hair” was being performed. (Yes, we danced and sang along like true 60′s veterans.) Hard for this aging Baby Boomer to imagine “Hair” being staged in Western Maryland, but I never thought I’d see the Dye Works plant restored either, and that process is now underway. Cumberland’s Canal Place is a gateway to outdoor adventure and cultural heritage. Staying there was one of the best parts of the trip.

Because a bicycle and outdoor equipment rental shop is on site, we weren’t surprised to see a number of cyclists, hikers and joggers on the trail Saturday morning. Had we stayed later, I’m sure we would have seen canoes on the Potomac, as those excursions are also available. We were amazed there was so much activity that early in the morning, and that so many of the trail travelers were our age or older. The parking lot was full, with tags from Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as Maryland.

Our trip to Polish Mountain took us off the interstate and back into the rural community where the original National Road crossed. In order to close the roads for the climb, it was necessary for the autocross club to get legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly. Even in its third year, the race shows tremendous promise as an iconic event. Participation has grown each year, the meet is sanctioned by the regional hill-climbing body, and there are plans to incorporate it into a larger event with the airport. That will require cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (not the easiest sell) but the organizers have been laying the groundwork and have a promising business plan to persude the feds.

(After seeing how the notion of Grand Prix style racing on the streets of Baltimore has been embraced, I’m convinced anything is possible.)

Arlene and I spent a few hours in the paddock, visiting with drivers and chatting with Dave Williams, the tourism marketing guru who drives a hot Porsche. We saw two of the cars who were part of the caravan up Route 70 with the battalion of bikers. We also saw a vehicle that looked like the telecommunication devices on the space station. Several resembled insects, including a vintage bug that reminded me of Herbie.

The cars and their drivers are an eclectic fraternity. A co-ed fraternity at that. One of the most interesting competitors was Dr. Kay Skitarelic Swanson, a pathologist from West Virginia who grew up in Flintstone at what is now Rocky Gap. Dr. Swanson’s father, Dr. Benedict Skitarelic, was one of the founders of the Cumberland races.

Be sure to visit National Road’s website for more pictures of the Polish Mountain Climb. It is an event worth watching, as it is one more reason people gravitate to Western Maryland for excitement, entertainment, and exploration.

As for the Wild Ones, they were with us on the way back, too. Seems Little Orleans is the site of Sturgis East, a weekend motorcycle rally on Apple Mountain. 7,000 bikers were expected to camp on Apple Mountain and ride the scenic hills of Western Maryland. Like the hillclimbers, their weekend visit provides a welcome bump to the local economy. Almost as lucrative as the opening of deer season, one native observed.

This should be an adrenaline charged week. Tomorrow Baltimore City Council considers a resolution to support the IndyRace, the Birds are back in town and the Ravens swoop in to open preseason against the Redskins.

Autocross Appeal

It’s the Google effect — every time I learn something about one sport or facility here in Maryland, it leads to something I knew nothing about. Thus, my visit to Regency Stadium opened my eyes to yet another popular Maryland pastime.

This revelation came after I stopped in to see Phil Hutson, project manager at Regency, to tell him how impressed I was with the finished product. We chatted for a moment about the versatility of the stadium and the multitude of uses it provides the community.

“They race down there, too,” he mentioned casually.

With what, bumper boats? I revved up my favorite search engine for answers. That’s when I learned about the popularity of autocross in Maryland.

So what’s autocross? Simply stated (Wiki version,) it is a precision driving race against the clock. It tests the driver’s skill and reflexes as he/she maneuvers the vehicle on cone marked, asphalt slalom course.

Substitute pot holes, rail tracks, disoriented pedestrians and stalled vehicles, and autocross sounds a lot like my evening commute up Howard Street. There must be more to it. Turns out, there is.

Autocross meets, (sometimes called rallies) are organized by clubs. In Maryland, there are quite a few autocross clubs, and each has a home course. Regency is the tarmac of choice for the Autocrossers. However, it isn’t the only minor league stadium with a motor sports constituency. The Bowie Baysox share their asphalt with Capital Driving Club and for at least two seasons, Ripken did too. Even FedEx stadium hosts regional autocross meets.

Autocross meets don’t seem to be spectator oriented, although the competitors usually bring friends along to watch. It is an activity with a strong element of camaraderie bound with appreciation for driver skill and vehicle performance. Also a lot of socializing and general bonhomie.

One of the oldest auto clubs in the region is National Road Autosports. They sponsor an annual series of events at the Cumberland Airport. I planned a mountain journey for the Summer Sizzler next week when I made an embarrassing discovery.

It seems Cumberland Airport is actually in West Virginia. Oops. When the region broke from the Commonwealth of Virginia during the Civil War, Maryland could have annexed Mineral County in the confusion . Unfortunately, they didn’t, and the little bend in the river called Wiley Ford has both a nice airport and a West Virginia address. Fortunately, the club also has an August event on our side of the Potomac called the Polish Mountain Hill Climb. That rally takes place on a public road which SHA (bless them) closes for the race. It’s just outside of Flintstone, so maybe I can make a Rocky Gap weekend out of it. Stay tuned.