RBTS

PARTICIPANT GUIDE
Newest updates are in blue color.

REQUIRED - IN GENERAL

Wear your seat belt at all times when you are in your car.
No alcoholic beverages are allowed in and around any participating car during the event. Each participating car may be inspected for compliance at any time during the event.
Attend drivers meeting at the beginning of each day's drive. DO pay attention to information, advice, and suggestions at this meeting. Almost always there is a change or some information you wish you had.

REQUIRED - PREPARATION FOR YOU AND YOUR CAR
Bring an FRS radio (walkie-talkie) to get updates from other drivers throughout the drive. Cars without a functioning radio will not be allowed to drive with the group.
On your radio: Please make sure to TURN OFF the VOX feature which is the voice activated hands-free communication mechanism on your radio (if available). Keeping VOX off will prevent unnecessary interference with communications.
Have a technical inspection form completed for your car at your shop of choice. See the forms page to download this form. Bring completed form to check-in on event day. You will not be allowed to drive with the group without a properly completed technical inspection form.
Arrive at the starting point each morning with a full tank of gas. It's not nice to hold up 30 or more people who want to be on the road while you're filling up. If it's a long drive to the starting point, leave early enough to fill up your car's tank near the starting point.
All drivers and passengers should be prepared to show their actual valid drivers license (no copies will be accepted) and proof of automobile liability insurance coverage to the Tourmaster, staff, or volunteer during check-in at the starting point. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to drive or ride with the group.
Your vehicle should be in good mechanical condition. You don't want to have a breakdown miles from the nearest service station or tow truck - but if you do have a breakdown we will assist you in any way possible.
Ensure your car's brakes are working perfectly (rotors, piston seals, brake pads, brake fluid etc. all okay).
Tires with minimum tread of 4/32 inches. If your tread depth is less than this, your car will probably be hauled away some time during the day on a tow truck and you will regret it for a long time. All cars will be inspected to ensure their tires meet this requirement.
Check air pressure in each tire to ensure it meets minimum requirements for your car. Inflate to higher pressure depending on your driving style.
Make sure your spare tire is inflated to proper pressure. Most people forget to do this.
Torque lug nuts at recommended rate.
Bring cash for eating out. Restaurants in rural areas usually do not accept credit cards or personal checks.
Get a good night of rest the night before. With a challenging road course, your attention level needs to be at the highest level possible.

REQUIRED - WHILE DRIVING
PLEASE HELP THE TOURMASTER KEEP THE RAGING BULL CORVETTE STAMPEDE A SAFE DRIVING EVENT FOR EVERYONE.
IF YOU OBSERVE ANYONE PUT YOU, THEMSELVES, OR SOMEONE ELSE IN DANGER DURING THE DRIVE, PLEASE REPORT THEM TO THE TOURMASTER. YOUR ACTION MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.

THE TOURMASTER WILL HAVE A DISCREET AND APPROPRIATE CONVERSATION WITH THE REPORTED DRIVER(S).
NEVER overtake the Tourmaster's car unless you have been given verbal permission.

THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT DRIVING RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
#20                         Ride the Bull at a safe pace
#21                         Maintain a safe and reasonable distance
#22                         Lane discipline
#23 through #29     Safe passing/overtaking
RIDE THE RAGING BULL AT YOUR OWN SAFE PACE!
Don't try to push or keep up with faster drivers. There will ALWAYS be faster riders than you. Don't try to be King of the Hill. It's not worth taking the risks.

Leave yourself plenty of room for errors, misjudgments, and unexpected road hazards. There is the possibility of an unexpected road hazard over every blind hill and behind every blind turn. It only takes ONE error, ONE misjudgment, ONE moment of distraction to ruin your car, hurt yourself and your navigator, and possibly kill both of you. It's not worth taking the risks.

Nobody's going to congratulate you at your bedside in the hospital for that one last risk you took for whatever reason. At your gravesite, no one's going to praise your courage for taking that one last risk which ended your life and the life of your navigator.

Be a responsible driver: Know your limits. Know the limits of your car. And stay well within them.

Your mindset should be of enjoying driving your car; you should have nothing to prove anybody including yourself.

The Raging Bull Corvette Stampede IS NOT A RACE.
Racing is to be done on closed tracks. The Stampede is held on public roads. Therefore, racing and trying to keep up with or pass faster drivers has no place on public roads. Floyd S., a veteran Bull Rider, summed it up accurately when he said that the spirit of the Stampede was "...the overall feeling of camaraderie through the group... the bonding of everyone there to work together and complete the Stampede... No one goes to show who's the best driver, who has the fastest car, who has the most mods. We all go to enjoy our cars for their purpose: to be driven."

You will not get left behind.
The group will stop to regroup at virtually every turn (with special consideration given to turns that are easy to miss). It is rare for the group to wait more than a minute or two even for the slower drivers. The Tourmaster will not continue until he gets confirmation that the last car has caught up or made the turn.

Position yourself in the right place in the Stampede
Each driver feels comfortable driving at a different pace. If you are comfortable with the pace of the leading group, stay there. If you like driving at or below the speed limit and enjoy the scenery, stay towards the back of the group. The rest should position themselves between the leading group and the tail group.
MAINTAIN A SAFE AND REASONABLE DISTANCE between your car and the car in front of you. Follow the 2-second rule: Identify a marker along the road you are driving on. Your car should pass that marker no sooner than 2 seconds after the car in front of you passes that marker. If it is less than 2 seconds, you are driving too close to the car in front of you. Adequate distance between your car and the one in front of you will give you time to safely and properly respond to road hazards ahead. It will also help avoid damaging your car's paint finish by road debris thrown by the car in front of you. Be particularly careful to leave adequate space as you approach cattleguards where the car in front of you may slow down unexpectedly.

Maintaining a safe and reasonable distance also applies to approach speeds. When approaching another vehicle from behind at significantly higher speeds than the vehicle in front of you, please slow your car's speed to the speed of the car in front of you within a following distance in accordance with the 2-second rule. Do NOT approach cars at much higher speeds in a manner which will make the driver of the car in front of you worry you won't be able stop without hitting his car i.e. do not slow down your car within feet of the rear bumper of the car in front of you.
LANE DISCIPLINE: STAY IN THE CENTER OF YOUR LANE
Don't EVER cross the yellow (center) line (except when passing another car).
Don't EVER cross the white line (if there is one) on the right edge of the road.
Stay in the center of your lane especially driving through curves and tight corners.
1. IF ANYONE COMMITS THIS OFFENSE, REPORT THEM TO THE TOURMASTER. YOUR ACTION MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
2. Even when you have a clear line of sight through a turn, stay to the right of the centerline and to the left of the white line.
3. When you cross the centerline or white line, you are putting yourself, your fellow drivers, and the traveling public in grave danger. By crossing the yellow centerline, you and your vehicle are at risk of colliding with oncoming traffic. By crossing the white line on the right edge of the road (or by driving on the non-asphalt surface), you risk losing control of your car (due to lack of adequate traction and/or inferior surface quality)
4. When you cross the centerline or white line in curves, it is a sign that you are driving too fast.
5. Public roads are not a track and no place to be apexing in the corners.
6. Staying on the right side of the centerline is much more challenging than simply straightening out every corner.
7. When the whole group is committed to this intelligent practice, the temptation to cheat is eliminated through peer pressure and logic.
8. Always stay in the center of your lane, except to avoid specific visible obstacles on the road. Do NOT apex even within your own lane (see next bullet).
9. Staying in the center of your lane will give you equal space (i.e. protection) against gravel and other road debris to your right and oncoming traffic crossing the centerline to your left.
10. Road debris and dust usually accumulate on or near the centerline (because it is the least traveled area of the road). Driving on or near the centerline will pick up and throw debris to the car(s) behind you.
11. Staying in the center of your lane will also help you avoid hitting roadkill which is more likely to be on or near the centerline.
12. Road debris and dust also accumulate on or near the right edge of the road. Driving on or near the right edge of the road will pick up and throw debris to the car(s) behind you.
SAFE PASSING/OVERTAKING
Passing/overtaking is the most important of the four most impotant driving rules because failure to execute this properly carries the greatest safety risk to you and others.

You may pass other Bull Riders as you wish, but only if it is safe to do so. Passing other cars can be lots of fun, but do not take any unnecessary risks to do so. The points below should already be known to all. However, given the Tourmaster's experience, their importance requires repeating:
1. NEVER, EVER attempt to pass another Bull Rider approaching a hilltop or curve (which is virtually always a double yellow center line i.e. a no-passing zone).
  IF ANYONE COMMITS THIS OFFENSE, REPORT THEM TO THE TOURMASTER. YOUR ACTION MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
2. Try to pass on long straights when there is maximum visibility of potential traffic ahead. Do not attempt to pass unless you have visual confirmation that there is no oncoming traffic.
3. ALWAYS look in your mirrors to make sure someone else is not trying to pass you already (otherwise you may run into them or run them off of the road!)
4. ALWAYS use your car's turn signals (more on this below)
5. ALWAYS make sure you are 2 seconds ahead of the car you just passed BEFORE merging back into the lane so that your car doesn't spew the car you just passed with rocks and debris from your car's tires.
  IF ANYONE COMMITS THIS OFFENSE, REPORT THEM TO THE TOURMASTER.
6. PLAN to have adequate space in front of the other car AFTER you pass it.
  1. DO NOT assume the car you plan to pass will or can make room for your car after you pass it.
  2. DO NOT plan to force the car you will pass to brake to let you in front of it. You will be placing everyone nearby in needless danger.
  IF ANYONE COMMITS THIS OFFENSE, REPORT THEM TO THE TOURMASTER. YOUR ACTION MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
7. NEVER attempt to pass another car when someone else is already in the process of passing other cars behind you (it compounds the risks to everyone nearby). The car already in the process of passing cars behind you has planned its move. Wait until he/she is done with his/her pass before you begin yours.
  IF ANYONE COMMITS THIS OFFENSE, REPORT THEM TO THE TOURMASTER. YOUR ACTION MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
8. NEVER pass another car on a curve.
  IF ANYONE COMMITS THIS OFFENSE, REPORT THEM TO THE TOURMASTER. YOUR ACTION MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
ON THE ROAD: CONDUCT YOURSELF WITH HIGHEST LEVEL OF MATURITY WHEN DRIVING NEAR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND DRIVERS
With all the curves and double-yellow lines, you will be tempted to get impatient and pass local drivers when you shouldn't.

Never forget that when driving near local residents and drivers as part of the Raging Bull Corvette Stampede, you are not an anonymous lone driver passing through without being noticed and never to be remembered again, but a representative of the Raging Bull Corvette Stampede. Your behavior directly reflects upon the reputation of the Tourmaster and the Raging Bull Corvette Stampede group as a whole.

Our overarching priority during these drives is to maintain a low-key presence and not be noticed. But, when noticed, to leave local residents and drivers with a positive impression.

Treat local residents and drivers with the greatest of respect. We are on their turf, in their neighborhood. They are protective of it. Never forget that their general impression of "outsiders" in fancy sports cars has already been determined by the worst experiences they have had – which you have no control over because it was caused by other groups and people.

If you get stuck behind a slow-moving local driver, don't tailgate or intimidate them in any way. Don't display any impatience. Fall back and give them plenty of room. If you do this, most times, they will appreciate your patience and respect and make an effort to pull off the road and let you and our group pass.

Don't pass local drivers at the risk of putting them in danger. Wait patiently until there is a long straight-a-way when it is safe to pass. After passing them, do not return to your own lane until you are at least 10 car lengths ahead of them (to the extent possible). Give a friendly wave after you pass them. Follow the applicable rules listed in this section, especially the next rule (#25).

REMEMBER:
1. If we upset the locals, they will likely complain to LEOs, which can only result in stricter speed enforcement or perhaps a stop by a LEO later down the road when we least expect it
2. Many of them resent your freely taking advantage of the beautiful countryside they live - where they moved to get away from city people like you
3. Many of them see you as invading their privacy
4. Many of them resent you for driving on their roads
5. Many of them resent you for driving an expensive sports car
6. Many of them resent you for having the free time to come out and invade their beautiful countryside for your own selfish pleasures
7. Many of them resent you for having the money to come indulge in such pleasures at their expense
Therefore, if any local is bothered by your behavior, they will surely embellish what actually happened to make you look as bad as possible and compel LEOs to do something about it. We do not need any more attention than we already attract as a large group.
RADIO-ASSISTED PASSING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED
With all the curves and double-yellow lines, some drivers will be tempted to pass locals using their radios. As mentioned above, passing/overtaking is the most important of the four most important driving rules. Passing -- blindly -- by relying on information passed on through the radio is recklessly dangerous and strictly prohibited.
1. DO NOT rely on road and trafffic information provided via radios to pass cars in front of you
2. DO NOT attempt to pass unless you have visual confirmation that there is no oncoming traffic.
3. DO NOT provide road and traffic information via radios with the intent of facilitating this practice
4. DO NOT encourage anyone to pass cars using information provided via radio messages
IF ANYONE COMMITS THIS OFFENSE, REPORT THEM TO THE TOURMASTER. YOUR ACTION MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
If you want to pass a Stampede car in front of you BUT the road does not allow for a quick and easy passing:
1. DO NOT tailgate or intimidate the car in any way,
2. Turn on your left-turn signal to indicate to the driver in front of you of your desire to pass him/her
3. Wait PATIENTLY for the driver to:
  1. move towards the right edge of the road (1 feet) to give you more forward visibility of the road ahead
  2. give his/her right turn signal, and
  3. slow down 5 mph.
  DO NOT PASS UNLESS THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF YOU HAS GIVEN YOU EXPLICIT PERMISSION BY TURNING ON HIS/HER RIGHT-TURN SIGNAL.
4. If the driver in front of you is unresponsive for a long time, signal the driver with two short and quick high beams (or communicate your intention to pass via your radio)
5. Once the driver in front of you has executed the three steps listed above, proceed to pass the car quickly by following the passing/overtaking rules listed under #23.
Check your mirrors for cars approaching you from behind. If a car has caught up with you, it is probably faster than you and might want to pass.
If a car behind you has its left-turn signal on, it is signalling its desire to pass your car. In this case, do the following:
1. Check your mirrors to confirm that no other car(s) is (are) in the process of passing your car.
2. During the next straight (or safe) section of road move your car towards the right edge of the road (by 1 feet) to give the passing car more forward visibility of the road ahead.
3. Communicate your permission to let the car pass you by turning on your car's right-turn signal.
4. To allow the car behind you to pass you more quickly AND have more room in front of you, reduce your car's speed a little (no more than 5 mph). This can usually be done by lifting gently and slightly off the gas pedal.
5. After the car(s) has passed your car, cancel your car's turn signal, move your car back to the center of the lane, and resume driving at the speed you feel comfortable with.
Steps ii, iii, and iv should be executed rapidly and smoothly within 1-2 seconds.
PASSING OF MULTIPLE CARS AT THE SAME TIME IS PROHIBITED UNLESS
1. the road is straight and long enough to complete passing of all cars intended,
2. there is clear visibility of the entire stretch of the road needed for passing,
3. the cars you intend to pass are not traveling at high speeds, and
4. all passing/overtaking rules under #23 are followed.
In all other situations, passing should be done one car at a time.

Just because you have received permission to pass one car does NOT mean you have received permission to pass other cars which may not be aware you are coming and which have not explicitly given you permission to pass them. You need to explicitly get permission from each driver you want to pass.
Use of cell phones by driver while driving is strictly prohibited.
Drag racing during the Stampede is strictly prohibited.
No drifting, drafting, close-following, tailgating, and sliding will be tolerated by the Tourmaster.
Reset your trip meter to zero at every turn, then monitor your trip meter to prepare for your next turn as well as road hazards marked on the maps.
Our goal should be to be as low-key as possible while driving through or dining at the small towns along our route. PLEASE do NOT rev your engines, do burn-outs or make any other unnecessary noises that will be perceived as disturbing the peace. Doing so will only attract unwanted attention from LEOs.
Keep your vehicle's headlights OFF. Having them on defeats the goal of maintaining a low-key presence.
As we go through traffic lights, spread across all lanes so that we get through the intersection as quickly as possible.
Fill up your car with gas well in advance of running out during one of the planned breaks. There will be sufficient number of breaks to get gas throughout the day. Don't wait until you're close to running out of gas before you decide to get gas; you may not make it to the next break location.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Find a good co-pilot. A good co-pilot is: A person you can tolerate for 12 hours a day, can read a map, someone you can trust behind the wheel, has reasonable judgment, does not get car sick, does not snore.
Prepare your car's engine for a long and hard run:
- Lubrication: Change your oil and filter (if your car is close to needing service)
- Air Flow: Clean your air filter(s)
- Cooling System: Top off your system; after warm-up, inspect your coolant reservoir and fill if necessary
For an extra degree of protection install a bra on the front nose of your car. Most of the cars running in the Stampede have sticky tires which lift and shoot back small rocks and pebbles on the road surface to the cars running behind them. A car bra is particularly advised to those drivers with new cars and those who can't or don't want to leave large gaps between their car and the car in front of them. Otherwise, leave adequate distance with the car in front of you.
If you have intention to record video during the drive, it is recommended that you use a firm windshield mount. It is the Tourmaster's opinion that the single greatest factor in the usability of video recordings is how firmly the video camera is mounted to your car. The FAQ has additional information about this subject and the best company to get windshield mounts from.
Bring a cell phone.
Give your cell phone number to the Tourmaster to assist in locating you if necessary.
Secure (or remove) all loose material from your car that can become airborne, fly, or slide around during sharp turning or heavy braking. This will minimize chances of driver distraction.
Have a fire extinguisher in your car.
Have a First Aid kit in your car.
Bring with you some bottled water, sunscreen, cold-weather clothing, and wet-weather clothing.

SUGGESTED/REQUESTED COURTESIES
Plan to be at the starting point a little early so that we can leave on time.
Radio communications: If you are in the middle of the train, pass on messages to the back of the group by repeating the message.
PLEASE try to be very friendly when driving through small towns. A simple wave to locals you come in eye contact with will make a big difference in their perception of us.
Alert your fellow tourists to road hazards using your radio. Road hazards include but are not limited to deer or cattle on or on the side of the road, roadkill, debris on the road, potholes, etc. Make sure to state mile number of the road hazard.

THINGS TO BE CAUTIOUS OF
Staying on the route: Do not assume the driver(s) in front of you knows where he is going. Do not blindly follow the car(s) ahead of you. Follow your own route instructions. Pay attention to radio announcements for every turn. Radio to drivers who miss turns. If you don't have a navigator, follow a car which does since it is more likely that they will be on the correct route.
A follow-up to the point made above about staying in your lane: You need to do it, but even that may not be enough to keep you safe. Out in the country, the folks who drive pick-up trucks often don't stay in their OWN lane. The lane is barely wide enough to fit their oversized pick-ups to start with. It is not uncommon for these trucks to cut corners and come around a blind corner while being several feet in YOUR lane, with a loaded trailer in tow (which is even wider than the truck). Driver beware!
Many portions of the routes are technical and require proficient skill at handling tight curves, blind curves, and elevation changes.
Watch for cattle on or on the side of the road. We will be going through some running ranches. Cows are very stupid animals, especially the young ones. They like standing on the road because it is usually the high point of the area. Must make them feel like they are King of the Hill. Don't assume they will move away when you approach them in a speeding car. They won't. Slow down to nearly a stop and go around them very cautiously. Alert your fellow tourists using your radio.
Watch for deer crossing the road. Slow down immediately. They tend to run into cars, not around them. Alert your fellow tourists using your radio.
Watch for dead animals (road kill) in the middle of the road. Drive around them, not over them. Alert your fellow tourists using your radio.
Watch for buzzards (they look like vultures) feeding on dead animals in the middle of the road. Don't assume they will just fly away as you approach. Buzzards are very large birds and have a surprisingly slow rate of ascent. They also tend to fly toward the car as they try to fly away. Slow down quickly and give the bird a chance to fly away. Otherwise they WILL hit your car and cause SIGNIFICANT body and window damage.
Be cautious, especially if your car has lowered suspension, driving over dips in the road which usually exist over creeks and low-water crossings. If you are concerned your car may bottom out, slow down well in advance. Moreover, the surface on many low-water crossings is rough so slowing down to a crawl may be the best thing to do to save your wheels, tires, and car's bottom from damage.
Be careful driving over dips which are not over low-water crossings. At high speeds, the G forces subjected to your car may cause it to bottom out, especially if your car's suspension has been lowered and/or your suspension is soft/stock. Slowing down in advance of these dips would help prevent damage to your car. Follow the method explained by the Tourmaster to smooth out the drive over dips. This method also applies to driving over cattleguards.
Be careful driving over bridges on rural roads. The beginning and end of bridges may have strong bumps. Slow down well in advance and release compression on your suspension to minimize the effects on your car.
Watch for steep drop-offs (areas of broken off or missing asphalt) on the edge of the road, especially on curves. They can cause wheel damage and even cause you to drive off the road.

WHILE RIDING THE RAGING BULL
Go around and introduce yourself to everyone.
Take photos and/or video (make sure your navigator does this while driving).
If the traffic light turns red, STOP. Don't worry about the group getting separated. That is probably going to happen anyway. Most of the time you will manage to catch up in a matter of a few minutes.
Sometimes it will be necessary for the whole group to stop on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. The Tourmaster will try to do this at the most convenient spot available at the time. If this happens, pull off the road as much as possible to clear the main road for traffic. However, in the case of extreme drought conditions in which the ground cover is very dry and prone to catch fire easily, please avoid parking your car over tall grass as your hot exhaust system may start a grass fire.

AFTER THE STAMPEDE
Develop your photos and video of the Stampede and email them to the Tourmaster so he can put them on the web site for everyone to see.
Write an article for your local club's newsletter.