51st Annual Road Runner Road Rally

The Road Runner Car Rally is an annual event that has been held since 1972, originally organized by a group of South Windsor residents. It takes place on the first Friday in June, starting from the Corpus Christi Church parking lot (Formerly St. Gabriel’s Church) at 6:00 pm. Each year, the rally has a unique theme, which often inspires participants to dress up in costumes. The event is run by volunteers, and the proceeds from the entry fees and community business contributions, are donated to a different local non-profit organization each year. Teams consisting of as many individuals as legally allowed in their vehicle are given a package of nine puzzles, which must be solved in sequence. The rally begins when teams are instructed to open the first puzzle envelope, containing a puzzle that they must solve to discover their next destination (Multiple copies are provided to share among team members). If the team is unable to solve the puzzle, they may open a separate “panic” envelope for each puzzle, which discloses their next destination, but they receive a penalty for doing so. Teams drive to the next location and search for a clue indicating which side of the next puzzle envelope to open. These puzzle envelopes and completed puzzles are turned in for points and the end of the game. The teams continue in this manner until all nine puzzles have been solved or attempted, and all clues have been discovered. The last puzzle reveals the location of the post- race dinner. Teams record their arrival time at the final destination and submit their envelopes containing puzzle solutions, which are graded, and scores are calculated. Trophies are presented to the top two finishers, and cash prizes are awarded to the first, second, and third place winners. A prize for the best costume may also be awarded, or bonus points for the scoring may be given to participants in costumes. The winning team is asked to organize the following year’s rally, ensuring that no team is responsible for the event more than once. Participants are asked to bring canned goods, which are collected and donated to a local organization such as a food bank or a mission. Each participant pays an entry fee, currently set at $45, which covers the cost of dinner and other incidentals necessary to run the event. Additionally, the organizers solicit door prize donations from local businesses, which are raffled off during the dinner. Any profits from the event are donated to a local charity that has been chosen by the race organizers. The Road Runner Car Rally is a fun and engaging event that supports the community in a meaningful way. This years proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House of Windsor