how to start

OLew3 · #1 10-19-2004, 10:13 PM

I am interested in participating in rally events. I have never done a rally event but, i do have autocross experience. i dont know if that is the same but it is seat time. I dont think my car is a good base rally car though. It is a 91 240sx, what would be a good car to start rallying with that is cheap. I have a low budget to work with. How could one get started in rally though. Where could i as a beginner start rallying?

drdisque · #2 10-20-2004, 11:28 AM

start doing rallycross, not all regions do it yet, but it is getting more popular, stage rally is incredibly expensive and you cannot do it with your street car.

Schister66 · #3 11-07-2004, 05:15 PM

I'm really interested in getting into rally too. I'm only 18, and in college at the moment, but how does someone get into doing amateur rally even? I've contemplated going to a school for it, but never anything seriously. My dad's friend Todd raced in a lower series of formula one for a year or two before he was in a bad traffic accident and hurt his back. He raced in this FranAm thing in France on turbo 4cylinder mini-indy cars. That sounded like a lot of fun. I would just die to do that.

drdisque · #4 11-07-2004, 09:32 PM

you start in rallycross, as I said before, stage rally is incredibly expensive and the base initial cost to get into it is $7000. Go to www.scca.org and then go to the rally section and go to the rallycross subsection.

JoonTae · #5 11-25-2004, 03:32 AM

Well since no one has really stated a car to start out with. I was told FWD was the way to go to start out. They suggested to me a Geo Metro for several reason. You crash a load in rallly and beat the crap out of it. Metro parts are common and cheap. Hope this helps.

tr0ike · #6 03-16-2005, 06:58 PM

Super old thread, but ...

I'm planning on starting out with some RallyCross this summer in SoCal (see the GravelX Post).

I know all I need is a helmet - where would I get one of the "snell 90" approved ones? Anyone know of a place in SoCal (preferably San Diego County) I could get one at, or how much a decent one run$?

Also, while my car would be in the stock class right now, I like to mess around on occasion here on the plentiful dirt/snow roads at my Uni in northern arizona. I have an extremely small budget (spent too much on the car!) but wonder what sort of affordable mods I could do to make my car all-around better for handling/driving offroad.

Here's my Golf right now:

P.S. Anyone know any other good, active amateur rally forums?
Not that I need yet another forum to be posting on

Dreamspawn · #7 03-16-2005, 07:56 PM

Good cheap rally would be a older awd car don't go with a FF 2 words TORQUE STEER. Grab u a old quatro or some other awd car. As drdisque check SCCA they have a fair amount. Rally has recently started to click here in th US so give it alittl time and it will become bigger.

SubaruRally · #8 03-17-2005, 04:08 AM

If i were starting rally i would DEFINATLY look at AWD as dreamspawn said its your best choice.. look at an older subaru, i drive a 2001 legacy right now and every now and then i go on some dirt roads and it preforms very nice, with some dirt tires i think it would be an excellent car to begin rally. I know in my area you can pick up a 2001 legacy for around $16000 CDN... thats with pretty low km;s around 60 000 .. good luck and keep us posted on how you do

Dreamspawn · #9 03-17-2005, 04:55 AM

His post kinda reminded me u didn't say what kind of rally tarmac,dirt? or both.

drdisque · #10 03-18-2005, 01:49 PM

you can get used helmets on ebay for pretty cheap. Any new helmet sold will be at least Snell 00 (the number is the year that it was built to the standards of, so a Snell 90 is built to 1990 standards so any helmet made after 1990 will be Snell 90 or better.)

Boosted76 · #11 03-21-2005, 02:26 AM

Probably some general advice on rallying.

It's a bit different here in Australia though. Rallying is still pretty expensive, however there is plenty of ways to get involved at " grass roots" level. Rallying has a large following in Australia and we also have the international Telstra Rally Australia on our door step too which helps.

Join a reputable car club that conducts events and talk to people in the know. Start with an old car to do off road events like rally sprints or autocross.The driving experience is invaluable to learn car control on loose surfaces. Second hand rally/mud & snow tyres are worth investing in, even for an old heap. It gives you better traction and more of a feel for what rally tyres will do in a real rally at speed.

Once you're competent, then graduate to rally. In other countries there's probably a few more steps before you can rally. In Australia you need a National Rally License, approved helmets, fire proof suits and a registered rally car with all the correct safety equipment, plus a few other bits and pieces.

The car doesn't have to be the latest model WRX or Lancer Evo. I built up a 1978 MKII Ford Escort in 1999 and started rallying that. It was awesome fun and very fast. Was great to do huge power slides with the rear end hanging out! Many older RWD cars are being built or rallied in Australia now as well as all the latest model FWD/4WD cars. Front, Rear or All Wheel Drive are down to personal preference. 4WD cars can understeer as much as FWD, it's just how you drive them.

I graduated from RWD to 4WD in the form of a second hand Mazda 323 4WD Turbo. That thing goes like a rocket ship and was relatively in expensive to get into.

Many guys here go rallying on a budget and have a lot of fun.

freakray · #12 03-21-2005, 07:21 AM

Hey boosted76, how come in one forum you're driving a Subaru Impreza WRC and in another forum you've got a Mazda 323 AWD turbo?

Boosted76 · #13 03-21-2005, 06:54 PM

Ray,

Got both cars.
The 323 is now up for sale as I'm upgrading to the WRX. Mazda is a great entry level 4WD car and a class winner, however it isn't likely to be a championship winner these days.
In Western Australia if you look in the right places you can get into rallying relatively cheaply and can run on a budget.

Karl

www.rallywa.com

Website of the WA State & Clubman Rally Championships

freakray · #14 03-21-2005, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boosted76

Ray,

Got both cars.
The 323 is now up for sale as I'm upgrading to the WRX. Mazda is a great entry level 4WD car and a class winner, however it isn't likely to be a championship winner these days.
In Western Australia if you look in the right places you can get into rallying relatively cheaply and can run on a budget.

Karl

www.rallywa.com

Website of the WA State & Clubman Rally Championships

A likely story.

You haven't posted here before have you?

BTW, is it an Impreza WRX or a WRC?

Boosted76 · #15 03-22-2005, 12:59 AM

Ray,

No I haven't posted here before.
It's a WRX, not WRC. I don't have the funds to run a WRC car and there's only one rally in Australia where you are allowed to run World Rally Cars anyway. The State and National championships are geared toward Group A/Group N competition.

As for a likely story, believe what you will.

Rallying in Australia may not be as expensive as it is in other parts of the world...

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