This Might Be The Perfect Casual Rally

Story by Noah Lambert // Photography by Matt Winte

I assumed the best automotive events were for other people, other cars, and in other countries.

The idea for the Mezzo 200 Reliability Trial was sparked just a few months ago after reading of such adventures in this very publication, Petrolicious. Why am I missing out on all the fun? It was time to act. It was time to organize.

I contacted an old friend, and we spitballed the possibilities. Kyle Tezak is a graphic designer by trade. More importantly, he gets it. He knows a real sign is painted by hand. He appreciates a well-executed perf line, and he finds joy in the familiarity of a stubby bowling pencil. He was on board.

We spent three months concocting our idea of the perfect motoring event. We cut out the frills and tried to focus on the fun stuff. None of that TSD nonsense, no plastic trophies, and no registration fees. Just 200 miles of the best pavement in 6 counties with plenty of good food along the way.

We began in Peoria Heights, Illinois. Coffee was flowing from a vintage Aervoid thermos. Jimmy Smith on the PA. Local apple cider donuts. Something about that old stainless thermos struck a chord with me, and you could say it summarized the whole event: a well built machine, used and maintained properly, still working just as it was intended many decades later. A lot like our cars, if we’re lucky.

As we racked up the miles and blew through the checkpoints I think we slowly realized that this wasn’t the one-hit wonder we had intended. Time to dig in and prepare for next year.

We’ll call this a practice run… See you next October.