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Rallye Glenwood Springs a half-century tradition

Willa Soncarty

As the 93 sports car drivers and their navigators raced their way through the mountains on April 23, 1955, the citizens of Glenwood Springs awaited their arrival. It was the weekend for the annual Rallye Glenwood Springs, a race organized by the Rocky Mountain Centre of the MG Car Club of England and by the Glenwood Springs Chamber of Commerce.Beginning in Denver at 4 a.m. on April 23, the drivers started their navigation of the 301-mile route that took them to Colorado Springs and to the Garden of the Gods, onward to Leadville, over Tennessee Pass and Battle Mountain to Minturn, and then to the finish line on Glenwood’s Grand Avenue. For the first time in the race’s history, ham radios were used along the route to monitor the drivers’ progress. The Colorado State Patrol set up radar checkpoints between Minturn and Glenwood Springs to ensure none of the racers exceeded the 60-mph speed limit.At 11:20 a.m. the first auto crossed the finish line, where the arrival time of it and each subsequent finisher was recorded. The cars were then taken to service stations where the gasoline tanks were unsealed and the fuel consumption calculated. For the Concours d’Elegance, the automobiles were impounded for a check of mechanical condition and cleanliness. After all steps were completed, the sports cars were then displayed on Grand Avenue. That evening, the drivers and navigators were treated to a barbeque and to a swim in the Hot Springs Pool. Trophies were awarded to the winners the following morning during the Hotel Denver’s Victory Brunch.For over 50 years Rallye Glenwood Springs has been an annual community event. This year’s rallye begins Friday, June 11 (see this week’s cover Options story). “Frontier Diary” is provided to the Glenwood Springs Post Independent by the Frontier Historical Society and Museum, 1001 Colorado Ave., Glenwood Springs. Summer hours are 11 to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.”Frontier Diary” is provided to the Glenwood Springs Post Independent by the Frontier Historical Society and Museum, 1001 Colorado Ave., Glenwood Springs. Summer hours are 11 to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.


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