Couple navigates rocky road rally

• By DARLENE DENSTORFF
• Advocate Ascension section editor
• Published: Jul 9, 2009

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DONALDSONVILLE — For three days in June, Vincent “Cy” Tortorich’s every move in a 1934 Ford depended on the detailed directions given to him by his wife of 48 years.

Marie Tortorich didn’t have the benefit of a map, GPS system or any other electronic gizmos as she navigated her husband through a 200-mile course during a road race along unknown territory in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

She used her verbal skills, attention to detail and ability to follow written directions to guide her husband through the course.

The Tortorichs’ adventure took place during the third annual Hemmings Challenge, a cloverleaf-style open road rally designed to test the driving and navigation skills of rally teams from all across America. Racers are required to travel in antique or vintage cars.

She had to decipher detailed directions outlining every stop, turn, speed and speed change using only a stop watch, pencil and paper. The directions included few words, instead depending on maps signs and codes.

The couple’s trip was hampered from “the get-go” with car trouble before they ever left Donaldsonville. Engine trouble forced the couple to leave behind the 1936 Ford they planned to use, and borrow a car belonging to a friend from Arkansas.

“We left a day late, broke down and couldn’t compete the race, but we had a great time,” Cy Tortorich said after returning from the trip.

“We saw a lot of old friends, met new ones and stopped at a swap meet in Arkansas.”

During the vacation, the Tortorichs endured temperatures of up to 107 degrees and spent time waiting for car repairs.

This will not be the last time the Tortorichs hit the road for a rally race.

Cy Tortorich is a veteran of these type of road races, having competed since the 1989 Great American Road Race and similar events. Marie joined forces with her husband after he “kind of tricked her into it.”

After years of switching navigators, Cy decided to turn to the person he trusted the most to get him through the grueling race.

“At first, I didn’t know if I could do it,” Marie Tortorich said before leaving for this year’s journey. “I guess I have a good sense of direction.”