Road Rally. . dynamite!

(If you weren't there, you missed a blast!)

THIS YEAR’S ROAD RALLY TEAMS encountered blazing guns, gorgeous women and high adventure, but what else would you expect from the James Bond Road Rally 2007 ?

         The story began at the Lodge at Blue Ridge Summit.  It was clear and breezy and warm enough to have your convertible top down.  You could see for miles out across the forests of western Adams County painted in bright fall colors. 

          First stop for teams was the trap shooting range at the Lodge, where five experienced marksmen blasted clay pigeons to score points for each team.  Next stop was the East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue where teams were introduced by their friendly staff to many animals including an alligator, a mountain lion, lots of monkeys, African lions, and their Siberian tiger named Roscoe, among many others.  Mr. Ed’s provided the peanuts that rallyers fed to the animals.

          Then after a delicious crunchy apple from Rice Fruit Company (the official snack food of the Road Rally), the teams were off to visit the beautiful new Harbaugh-Thomas Library in Biglerville.  Once there, the teams watched as players from “Gettysburg Stage” acted out a scene adapted from Ian Fleming’s “For Your Eyes Only.”  During the show, they learned that before the end of the day, the rally teams would have to save the world from certain destruction by a ruthless villain.

          Along their way to the next stop, rally teams used the 48 inch yardstick provided by Adams County National Bank to de-code an encrypted message they received from Secret Service HQ in London. Arriving at the shooting range of the Adams County Sport Handgunners Association, teams were given the opportunity to fire a real handgun like the one Agent 007 used in the books and movies. 

          The handsome new ballroom of the Gettysburg Country Club provided the perfect setting for the Finish Line party, “Casino Royale” complete with table games.  Billy Leonard parked his snazzy right-hand drive 1960 Rolls Royce out front, and the charming and beautiful “Three Martini Lunch” performed as party facilitators, entertaining the crowd.

          After a demonstration of Okinawan martial arts by Dubbs Karate Academy, the environmental terrorist and evil leader of Vortex Worldwide was apprehended.  As a reward for correctly identifying Blowhard (convincingly portrayed by Gary Lowenthal), rallyist Jason Boyer won the $250 gift certificate to Scott & Company Fine Jewelers in New Oxford.

          And everyone lived happily ever after.

          Next year’s Road Rally theme will be “The Seven Wonders of Adams County: Ancient, Natural and Otherwise.”  See you on Saturday, October 18, 2008!  (Mc nominates Harry Seifert as one of Adams County’s Ancient Wonders.)

          Folks, after reading about this fun-filled adventure, how can you stay away from next year’s Rally?!

Goldfinger and friends were contenders for this year's "Character" award, which went to . . .

. . . Gettysburg Marine's diving crew - Steve and Amy Gorman, with their trusty side-kick.

"Three Martini Lunch" helped to liven up the Finish Line Party while LCAC staffer Fred Schwenker sought the evil villain "Blowhard," the latest Bond nemesis.