Artwork: Edwardian Planes by Kevin Wals

Join us on Sunday, May 19th at 10:00 am Kitely time for a fun few hours of racing Edwardian era vehicles around the air, roadways, and waterways of Coopersville in Kitely. There will be Edwardian music provided by Rosa Alekseev on the large pier (finish line) beginning at 10:30 am.

The race will be set up a bit like a triathlon but involve 5 legs with the last dash on foot to the finish line. The race will include flying a hot air balloon, then an aeroplane, followed by a riding a horse, driving a boat, and an auto. Whether you want to participate or just come as a spectator these Coopersville capers will be great fun for all!

Whether you plan on entering the race or just being a spectator you are welcome to explore the area beforehand, either for curiosity or to practice with your vehicles, please come any time.

Or you can type this into your viewer map or chat:

http://hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Coopersville

Be sure to read the tips at the bottom of this page.

1) Please meet in Balloon Park on Coopersville on Sunday, May 19th at 9:45 am Kitely time. The race will begin at 10:00 am sharp.

2) You can use the vehicles available at Coopersville to rez or you may use your own vehicles providing they are 1930-ish or older and meet the criteria for each leg of the race. Ideally, the vehicles should be 1915 or older but we realize that there are limited types of autos, planes, and boats in the OS metaverse so we are making acceptions. You can reasonably find vehicles from the mid-1930s and earlier, if you can't you are more than welcome to use the vehicles available at Coopersville.

3) It is HIGHLY recommended that you come to Coopersville before Saturday to learn the course and practice with your vehicles, particularly if you are using the ones provided so you can learn how to pilot, drive or ride them. See the tips at the bottom of the page.

4) There will be checkpoints (⦿ red dot on maps) that you must cross through so you are not disqualified, even if this means you have to circle back around if you missed one. They must be done in the correct order. Well post of a map of those soon

5) IMPORTANT: Your avatar must pass through the checkpoint. This is usually easy but with the hot air balloon make sure the basket containing your avatar goes though, the top of the balloon won't count.

6) There will be prizes and trophies for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place. You can choose if you want to be paid in KC or USD (you must have Paypal to receive USD). There is also a special prize for creativity if you are using your own vehicle/s. Note: All vehicles must fit with the appropriate categories and they should appear to be from earlier than the mid-1930s, even if they didn't actually exist, Steampunk is okay.
 

1st Place: $2000 KC or $10.00 USD

2nd Place: $1000 KC or $5.00 USD

3rd Place: $500 KC or $2.50

Most creative vehicle gets a fun gift from Four Winds

There will be Edwardian music provided by Rosa Alekseev on the large pier (finish line) beginning at 10:30 am.

1. When it's time to start the race you will need to board your hot air balloon (or any flying vehicle that is based on this principle and doesn't have a motor). Please listen for the official to announce the start of the race.
2. You will fly north to the edge of the region then turn east. Continue flying around the outer edge of the region. ⦿Be sure to pass through the checkpoint on the east side of the region.
3. Land your balloon on the aerofield landing strip and delete your balloon.

1. At the start of the runway (south end) board your aeroplane, it must have wings and a motor if you are using your own and be pre-1920.
2. Once you take off fly north, then east and continue on around the perimeter of Coopersville. ⦿Be sure to pass through the checkpoint on the south side of the region. Do NOT fly her balloon through the aeroplane checkpoint. It will mess up your racing.
3. Land on the aerofield runway. NOTE: This is difficult, please come early to practice.

1. From the livery (you can teleport or run there) rez or wear and mount your horse. 
2. Ride it on the streets towards North Park, then turn east, south, and west along the outer roadways of Coopersville. ⦿Be sure to pass through the checkpoint on the east side of the region.
3. Dismount at the boat docks.

1. Board your watercraft at the boat docks. Your boat doesn't have to have a motor but you'll go a lot faster with one. 
2. Navigate west, then north, then continue on around on the perimeter waterways. ⦿Be sure to pass through the checkpoint on the north side of the region.
3. When you are back at the docks delete your boat.

1. From the boat docks either teleport or run to the filling station and get into your auto.
2. Drive north, then east, can continue around the outer roadways of Coopersville.
3. Once you are on the south side of the region (before you get to the beach area) take a right turn heading north up the hill to the downtown business district.
4. Take your first right turn and drive counter-clockwise around the perimeter of the down downtown streets. ⦿Be sure to pass through the checkpoint near the greenhouse.
5. At the end of the Hecla Block turn right and drive down the hill. Park your auto in the large parking lot.

1. From the parking lot run towards the beach. Run onto the long pier and pass through the finish line. 

Go go Coopersville grid.kitely.com:8002:Coopersville a day or two in advance and practice on the course. Compare the race maps to the land and note where all the checkpoints are. If you go through the checkpoints in the wrong order you will be disqualified.

During the race your AVATAR must pass through the open space under the banners or between the flying buoys. If you miss one you will be disqualified. You can loop back and try again but that will lose you time! The two aerial checkpoints are the most difficult to hit, so here is a good strategy: While you are studying the course, take note of the altitude of the aerial checkpoints. Then before you approach the buoys try to steady your vehicle at that altitude so all you need worry about during the crossing is steering left and right.

Practice with each of the vehicles, each one is different! Some come from rezzers, some you wear. Learn what controls you use to get each vehicle up to speed.

The racecourse has been set up so you can practice with the live race gates: Click on one of the lights on the right side of The Great Race starting line to do a test race. Pass under the banner during the time the green light is on and you are off! There is a Status Board near the finish line that will record your time to the nearest 100th of a second.

Coopersville is a busy region and it takes a while for everything to rez so arrive early the day of the race to have time for everything to appear.

At precisely 10:00 AM on May 19th the Status Board will be cleared and the yellow lights will count down. We are doing a “Le Mans Start”: When the green light comes on you will run under the start banner, rez your balloon and jump on. You will have 5 minutes to pass the start line, then the gate will close. Jumping the gun or crossing too late will disqualify you from the race. You can follow the race on the status board near the finish line, or see the same display on this webpage:
 

Check out this hysterical playlist of Edwardian Era vehicles through movies and documentaries.