[blackcloud13]

Delusional aging Japanese import car guy with a wild hair to build a fun, reliable, "BUDGET" (as if that were a thing) off-road/rallycross Mazda2 with my daughter.

We're starting this build with a lightly "tapped" salvage auction 2011 Mazda2 1.5L 5 speed manual with low miles and apparently cared for.

I am looking for stage rally/rallycross parts, modifications, and build ideas. I know through research and experience that a lot of the hardpoints, parts, and performance goodies from the Fiesta are compatible, and most of the breakable bits are cheap. I'm hoping that will equate to a rebuild and transformation into something I can reliably use to participate in local and regional rallycross events and to take advantage of the 1000's of miles of gravel and fire roads of the southwest.

So here's my first question...which organization has the largest presence in the southwest region, particularly AZ for rallycross events where I can join up and begin volunteering at events? SCCA, ARA, NASA...all of the above?

Thanks in advance for any assistance and advice. We're here to make friends, have fun playing with cars, and along the way, just maybe..."learn some stuff".

 

[mellow65]

i fully support any car project with your kids!!!!

in your area it seems that it's more of a NASA thing, but also ARA is down there too. They don't do much in the way of rally cross, they are more stage rally. Up here SCCA was the main rallycross people, but not sure else where. I would look at hooptie cross, they seem to be having way better luck with finding land to run rally crosses on vs the SCCA, again up here anyways.

I'm not familiar with the mazda2 enough to know if they cross over to any other platform. But for rally cross the recipe is pretty simple, keep it as stock as you can, get some new shocks, and go have fun. I don't rally cross, so I can't comment on the rules and classes, but i do know the more you mess with it, the more you get bumped in classes. sometimes simpler is better.

Good luck with the build!!!