New racing reality TV series?

I snagged this from another forum and it's the first time I've heard anything about it. It would be neat to see some grassroots-minded cars in the mix, as opposed to simply all the usual high dollar suspects. But given the entry fee, that may not be the case.

Subject: Robin Hood Rally - Begins May 2010 - NBC to Air - 3568335761

WANTED! - Participants for exciting new Reality TV Series to Air this Fall on NBC

A handful of lucky drivers will get the chance to test their driving skills on 10 closed public roads in 10 States beginning in May of 2010 and these events will be filmed for a Reality TV Series.

Participants will get to race their cars on some of the most scenic and exciting closed public roads. This is a competition for individuals interested in showing, not telling, everyone what they are made of behind the wheel. If you think you have the stuff and want to prove it on National TV, here is your chance.

All of the details are available at www.robinhoodrally.com. The site is currently password protected, so if you are interested in participation send me an email and I will send you the access information.

Many things have changed from 2009. The cost to compete is now $5k, you compete in your own vehicle, you must pass a TV screening interview, and we now have a great line up of prizes worth more than $500k including a Ferrari F430, a Porsche Turbo, and a Corvette Z51.

We have already begun accepting participant applications and received 25 last week alone. Next week we will open Rally registration to the public. If this is something that you want to do then now is the time.

We are accepting 100 participants. Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Stephan Condodemetraky Executive Producer The Robin Hood Rally V (603) 434-8218 F (603) 434-8755 scondo@robinhoodrally.com www.robinhoodrally.com

Wasn't there a scam like this going on about 5 or 6 years ago?

petegossett wrote: Wasn't there a scam like this going on about 5 or 6 years ago?

Could be. Looking at it in that light, perhaps the name of the rally actually indicates that!

I emailed nbc directly. Haven't heard back. Nothing on their website about it. I think scam.

Ugh!

Reality TV come to car racing.

I'm switching to bowling.

i recall MTV was doing something similar to this some years back... the test cars where neon ACR's... don't think it ever showed up though

Its sounds like a scam, but I could be wrong. There was a craigslist ad around the US a while back. You paid in for the chance to attend auditions, the winners of which would compete for a "sponsered" car in the Lexus series.

Like a dufus, I called. My first clue was when he answered the phone"..uh..hello?"

If it's a reality TV show, why do contestants have to pay? $500,000 is nothing in terms of network dollars.

Mental wrote: Its sounds like a scam, but I could be wrong. There was a craigslist ad around the US a while back. You paid in for the chance to attend auditions, the winners of which would compete for a "sponsered" car in the Lexus series. Like a dufus, I called. My first clue was when he answered the phone"..uh..hello?"

Sorry, since then I"ve started answering my phone MUCH more professional.

In reply to dyintorace: Bringing this back up, because GRM supports real rally. Did anyone see the near massacre at the "Robin Hood Rally"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKOkchJJ_Yk

Corvette nearly took out a dozen plus people. This series is the most unsafe event I've seen since the Toddler Lawn Dart and Three Wheeler Championships!!

There are almost no safety rules, no cages, no licensing, no fire extinguishers, basically if you have $5k and a fast car you can enter. This is breeding a climate of the ultimate in unsafe conditions. Over on SpecialStage there is a big discussion about it, with virtually everyone agreeing that it is unsafe and risks the good name that rally racing has built up. To that end, we have started a Facebook group to get Robin Hood Rally to remove 'rally' from their name. Intercity Lines, their transportation sponsor, has already pulled out of their sponsorship agreement and told RHR to not use the Intercity logo. We are not doing this out of a vendetta against the RHR people, rather for the safety of those participating in and watching the rally, and the good name of rally across North America. We don't want the good name of any type of Grassroots Motorsport draged through the mud! Per, you rallied a bit, so you'll appreciate the damage they can do with the Robin Hood "rally".

Please join and help. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=134094499947886&ref=ts

If you wish to write or email to the sponsors, here they are.

http://www.apexperformance.net/ http://www.carhartt.com

Thank you.

I was watching MTV's Slips the other day. Presentation was cheesy and over-the-top but it did have some grassroots racing action.

I am one of the racers in the Robin Hood Rally. And in the Spirit of the Grass roots Motorsports community, I am running a bone STOCK 91 Nissan Twin Turbo, not expensive equipment like most everyone else. I run for a charity, raising money for the Kids United Foundation.org and their Bullying is NOT COOL campaign. I am from South Florida. So look for me, Frank

Can we get a flounder filled canoe alert on this whole Robin Hood mess?

No flounder, nor canoe found.

I see some folks with opinions, but nobody is selling anything. (Charity solicitations are fine in small, tasteful doses like the one above.)

There are definitely some passionate opinions about the whole Robin Hood Rally. Here's mine-

Maybe we need to coin a new term for wanker-rally events like the Gumball 3000, Bullrun, or perhaps this Robin Hood event. The word "Rally" is used for a ton of events that aren't related to the rally we love. Moped get-togethers, political fundraisers, parties, and road tours all use the name.

If I were a RHR organizer, I'd be looking to change the name and add some additional safety steps to make peace with the traditional rally community.

If I were opposed to the concept of the RHR, I'd ignore them instead of posting their name all over and making people google their name and visit the RHR site. I bet their site traffic has increased 25% in the last week from all the hubbaloo.

Tom Heath wrote: No flounder, nor canoe found.

Fair enough, but this seemed to be a streetfight that was spilling over into our cozy little lounge here from the dive next door, that's all. I didn't want my beer to get spilled.

Duke wrote: Fair enough, but this seemed to be a streetfight that was spilling over into our cozy little lounge here from the dive next door, that's all. I didn't want my beer to get spilled.

Well put.