Rallycross Questions

[Hazard1556]

Well I am new to rallycross and had some quick questions. I don't have enough money to buy an Impreza so I was wondering if a front wheel drive or a rear wheel drive car would be better for a beginners rally car? I would buy it used of coarse.

I was also wondering what else you would need in a rally car. I kinda of figured if I got a car good secure engine, dropped a lot of unneeded weight out of the car (radio, air-conditioning unit, back seats, etc.), put in a roll cage, mounted a fire extinguisher in arms reach, good set of off road tires, and racing seats I would be set. If anyone has any other things I would really appreciate the help. Sorry I am incredibly new to this...

[lminette]

You can use any type of car for rallyX!! I'd suggest a front wheel drive as a beginner as they will be much easier to control. Focus's, Neons, and Old GTI's are all good choices but take your pick and have fun!! I'd start off running the car in stock form first. You'll learn better car control with street tars which will make you a better driver in the long run!

[rollo]

RWD is probably more fun though. And you don't need any of that crazy gear just for rallycross.. just a helmet and an appetite for dirt! I started out with street everything riding on worn Goodyear Eagle F1s :D

Off the top of my head, some non-AWD vehicles that I've seen at our local rallycrosses:
Neon
MR2
Celica
Golf/GTI
Saturn wagon
Corolla
Echo
Maxima
Yaris
Lexus IS (!)
Merkur XR4Ti
Sentra
Kia (r)
Aveo (r)
Mustang (r)
Outback (r)

The (r) means rental.. shhhh...

[lminette]

^^^ Agreed!!!

[Hazard1556]

Would a used honda civic (any sedan model) or toyota camry (probably a 1990's) be a good idea or does it not have the power I need for rallying?

[MConte05]

Those are great cars to start in. Even a 90hp civic can beat out a 400 hp STI given the right driver. In RallyX it's almost 90% about the driver. Learning how to control the car and get the most out of a "slow" car will result in you being much much much quicker in a more "advanced" car, aka STI's or Evo's.

*EDIT* take a look at the variety of cars in this video I made, it also includes the Civic that my friend and I used to race around in.

e7dzIwSQ9Yk

[rollo]

Quite. Power is not the deciding factor in rallycross, generally speaking. In the "Street Stock 4" class a few years ago we had a duel for first place all season between an older fellow in a bone stock 1988 Civic Wagon and a guy in an STI. My first ever event in the Evo, I got my doors blown off by a Honda Element :D

The old saying "it's fun to drive a slow car quickly" has a lot of truth.

(edit) Thinking about it, I've done two "rally school" days back in the UK.. in one they used good old hachi-rokus, and the other used classic rally 1970s Ford Escorts (http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x234/rollog60/DSCF1641.jpg). At the fabled Tim O'Neil school, all the initial learning is done in A2 VWs. I guess what I'm saying is that relatively low-powered 2WD seems to be agreed on as a good place to start.

[Hazard1556]

Sounds good, I am glad to hear that a can use a Civic or Camry in rallycross, but probably won't buy one till there is more of a chance of the permits for the corse getting through, really hope it does soon! Thanks for all the help so far, oh and great video MConte05.

[u3b3rg33k]

I watched a 95hp CRX kick everyones backside at a local event this year, including the tweaked out STi cars. nothing like knowing how to drive.


I rallyx my RWD bmw. I'd recommend you go with whatever you're accustomed to, unless you are interested in learing how a "wrong wheel drive" (subjective of course) car works, which is cool too.

[Hazard1556]

haha, well I am on a low budget so I am just going to keep my eyes out for any car I can find wether it be front wheel, rear wheel or all wheel drive car.

[SoCalBoomer]

I would stay away from a modern Corolla or Camry - Camry because of weight. Just big. :/ Could still be fun - a friend has driven a Maxima and done well. . .just power to weight thing. . . Corollas have a beam rear axle which doesn't seem to absorb bumps too well. . .same actually with the Sentras - and MarkA and Jon Olschewski, who do VERY well with them, talk about their instability if you get them a bit unsettled.

Just a caveat there.

I ran a Honda for some time. Loved it! LOVED it! Only problem is that the suspension does not seem to have much travel, so in rough terrain it starts to fall behind and takes a lot of abuse. I was seen to "bunny hop" mine 18" sideways (literally) and off course as she crab-walked out of ruts. Exciting. . . ROFL


Personally, I moved to a Neon and I LOVE my Roxanne! You can get decent power out of them (thrash them! LOL) and their suspensions have enough travel to absorb crap without too much problem. The biggest issue with the Neon is that you are limited to a 22" diameter tire - which can be a limitation. . . that's because of the shock perch. If you go to true coil-overs, you don't have that. . .but the stock perches won't let you go more than 22 1/4" (something like that. . .) or you'll rub. Jack Szanto's SRT doesn't have that (he's got the full coil-over setup) and I can't even think about running his tires! DOH. Tried them. . .car would not move.

I WOULD stick with FWD. RWD slides around more and "drifts" better but definitely is slower than FWD. With the exception of a desert prepared race-truck on a VERY open and VERY rough track, I can't recall a RWD car beating a FWD car.

You should be able to find a Neon, a Civic, a Focus (also very good) or any number of inexpensive econo-boxes for very cheap! Cheap grins, baby! WOOO

[tzdevill]

in my area the fwd top runners all run ser's. There is a guy in a 2.5rs that is just fricken quick. I personally go out with my dog park going forester xt. Any car will be fun.

cars that have run with us
neons, corollas, saturn wagon, focus wagon, focus hatch, 88 corolla, 87 sentra(5 drivers fro the past 3 years) crx, civic, integra,

[rollo]

I think Jay won some events in the MR2. He certainly did very well on a regular basis, although admittedly he is an exceptionally good driver.

It all depends on (a) what you can get (and afford to run), (b) what you want out of the experience. As a newbie, you really just want to race. Winning doesn't come into the equation. So (for example) if your cousin's neighbour is selling his beat up four-banger E30 for $200, who cares whether you can win in it.

Having driven both on the loose.. much higher thrill factor of controlling a RWD on the limit cos they're so easy to loop, whereas with FWD (and AWD to some extent) it's just getting the damn things to turn. Depending on your diffs the challenge then moves to keeping them turning, whereas with RWD the challenge is stopping them turning, if you see what I mean :D

Bottom line.. it's all good. Pick something and increase that critical mass of people who will make Hawaii rallyx happen :)

[SoCalBoomer]

You're right - forgot Jayson in Stock. DOH - sorry Jayson! :D

[u3b3rg33k]

I WOULD stick with FWD. RWD slides around more and "drifts" better but definitely is slower than FWD. With the exception of a desert prepared race-truck on a VERY open and VERY rough track, I can't recall a RWD car beating a FWD car.


Hey! I'm definitely not the slowest guy at events (most of the time), and I'm RWD!
:D

[Drew84]

You can have tons a fun with FWD, Me and My co-driver do in our Mitsu Mirage, pretty much in the dirt once the car has enough power to spin the wheels, your good.

[SoCalBoomer]

Hey! I'm definitely not the slowest guy at events (most of the time), and I'm RWD!
:D

there ARE exceptions to any rule. :headbang:

[scootfd3s]

You can have tons a fun with FWD, Me and My co-driver do in our Mitsu Mirage, pretty much in the dirt once the car has enough power to spin the wheels, your good.

+1 on a mistubishi mirage. you can always add the Evo-V bumper for a more cool RAlly Look too! and because i used to have one lol. fun nimble car, extremely lightweight.

(2002 sedan) 2283 pounds ... mpg: 28c-37h.. fun rally car w/ great milage, awesome.