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Keith’s Blog: GPS vs. Route Book

Keith Martin

The organizational wheels for a potential SCM 40th Anniversary Tour are slowly turning. One of the more pressing questions is what navigation aids to offer.

I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a variety of tours all over the world and observe the navigation tools they provide. These have included the Mille Miglia, California Mille, Colorado Grand and Argentine Mille. 

Except for the last one, these were pre-GPS, route-book-only events.

European route books are full of no-nonsense clear directional information, with helpful rally-style diagrams for teach turn.

American-style route books tend to have extra pages describing the scenery you are seeing and the towns you are going through.

Phone-based nav is no longer a novelty, but almost expected.

Please let me know in the comments below which nav systems you have used on tours that you liked, and which ones were not so good.

Should there be a printed route book as well as a nav system? Or are printed route books obsolete and no longer necessary?

I look forward to your thoughts.

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Keith Martin Avatar
Keith Martin
Keith Martin has been involved with the collector car hobby for more than 40 years, and is the founder and publisher of this magazine. Keith has also written for the New York Times, Automobile, AutoWeek, Road & Track and other publications, has been an emcee for numerous concours, and had his own show, “What’s My Car Worth,” shown on Velocity. He has received many honors, including the Lee Iacocca Award, the Edward Herrmann Award, was inducted into the Concorso Italiano Hall of Fame, and more. He has served on the board of directors of The LeMay Museum and Oregon Ballet Theater, and was formerly the chair of the board of the Meguiar’s Award. Learn more about Keith here.

13 responses to “Keith’s Blog: GPS vs. Route Book”

  1. Ryan A. Avatar
    Ryan A.

    I recently completed a driving event that used Porsche’s (free) Roads app in addition to a printed route. Quite a few Roads users got lost or off track and found it difficult to get back on track if missing a turn. Those with the the printed directions and a co-pilot fared better.

    On my own, I’ve used an app called Scenic, which is primarily for motorcyclists. The interface is a bit intimidating and tailored for power users, but once you get the hang of it, it’s impressive. If you stray from the route, it’ll recalculate quite well — if you don’t change their recommended settings, like I did. Routes can be shared with others, though I have not tried this.

    I do like the printed books, because I can save them – both as a souvenir and to re-drive the route.

    Reply
  2. Cindy Meitle Avatar
    Cindy Meitle

    Over the last 30 years. I have represented several rallyes, and a great many friends have partcipated in the Mille Miglia, Colorado Grand, Going to the Sun, Calfornia MIlle, and other events. It seems to me that one of the highlights for particpants of the top 1k mile rallies has been the 2-(wo)man teams bonding over navigation, the passenger holding on to the route book and effectively communicating to the driver. I’ve heard hysterical stories with some comparing it to marriage, with longtime friends bickering the entire time, but in the end having an absolute blast. Lol! Keep it classic! Technology has already swallowed up enough of the wonderment in this world.

    Reply
  3. Victor Holtorf Avatar
    Victor Holtorf

    I vote for the book. The internet is wrong half the time! And sometimes there is no service/signal.

    Reply
  4. Robert Avatar
    Robert

    Been on dozens of new-car introductions in my late-in-life journalism career. Printed stuff is best for the over-35 bunch, but Kids love electronics and seem nt to like any reading requirements. The Euro-direct books are best, no tourism information. Actually, when you’re somewhere you don’t know, what you really need is a MAP.

    Reply
  5. Rand Wintermute Avatar
    Rand Wintermute

    Having participated as the “Driver” in many Rally’s and TSD Rally’s including many NW Classsic rally’s, California Mille, and Tour de Paris, and other French rally’s, my concern was always with the “Navigator” I chose and his/her comfortability, which is the “critical” requirement for success!
    ( read “fun” which often leads to winning !)
    Hands down, a PRINTED route book is the preferred choice by Driver and Navigator !
    …. And easier to see when the Driver has to assist under speed !

    Reply
  6. Brad B Avatar
    Brad B

    My wife used well written Tulip Rally format instructions, in the French Alps a few years ago and absolutely loved the experience. Easy learning curve, easy puzzle solving challenge, comfortable driver/navigator communication. Easy and fun for both of us, and very traditional to the sport.
    The Giulietta Register has used routes planned on Google Maps for several years. It works, but Google thinks we want the fastest, most direct way, and will override the rally designers good work, if you’re not very adept at managing the map while motoring along.

    Reply
  7. Dave Reimold Avatar
    Dave Reimold

    As a techie, I’d say the printed one would better with an option to also use GPS if the entrant wants for all the reasons shown above,

    Reply
  8. Lars Wikblad Avatar
    Lars Wikblad

    This!…”I do like the printed books, because I can save them – both as a souvenir and to re-drive the route”…. works even when “No Signal”…

    Reply
  9. Frank Barrett Avatar
    Frank Barrett

    I produced the Colorado Grand route book for 25 years, and this option has been discussed for that event, yet I prefer the route book, for several reasons.

    First, the Grand spends hours in remote places where cellphone coverage is sketchy at best. Second, cellphones don’t work when their battery dies, which is likely to happen when using route-following for eight hours a day. Sure, you could plug in a phone charger, but does your 1950s Ferrari or 1930s Bugatti have a cigarette lighter?

    Second, a good route book contains far more than the route. It has an entry list, car descriptions, car photos, useful information, sponsor’s ads, and more. It can cover local history, not just in written form but with period photos, etc. Entrants like to have a tactile reminder of what they did. When friends visit me in Colorado, I often toss them an old route book and tell them to go out and use it.

    Third, if the route has to be changed (road closures, weather, etc.), a printed addendum can be created and distributed quickly. How would you revise a digital map and make sure everyone had the updated instructions?

    Fourth, just how reliable is your phone anyway? A printed route book is right there, 100 percent of the time.

    Reply
  10. Bruce McCaw Avatar
    Bruce McCaw

    Keith

    The Colorado Grand was always the best. I have all my old copies and treasure them. The information about each place we were passing was wonderful as well as the info on the other cars.
    Keep it traditional!

    Reply
  11. anatoly arutunoff Avatar
    anatoly arutunoff

    a book for me. of course i only carry my phone when i go out of town so i’m mostly electronically illiterate. a routebook is a perfect souvenir!

    Reply
  12. Scott Crater Avatar
    Scott Crater

    I have planned the annual Alfa Romeo Club of SWFlorida Winter drive for about the past 10 years.
    In the past few years, I started using an app called Rallista. This is a homegrown low budget event that cost nothing for Alfa Romeo club members. It’s one day only and we are out in rural areas of South Central Florida. We finish with a lunch in Sebring.
    The reason why we use the app is that it’s free and many people are driving solo. If everyone had a navigator, a book would be nice. But you can’t safely look at a book and drive. But you can listen to turn by turn directions. And put your phone up in a holder within the line of vision. So that’s one reason to use an app. The app does not require cell service. You can just save the route and work off GPS

    Reply
  13. B.Mitchell Carlson Avatar
    B.Mitchell Carlson

    For the entirety of SCM’s history, we’ve been primarily “a piece of paper in your hands” magazine – much to the chagrin of the “paper is dead” crowd. Get the hint?

    Reply

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