I have some questions about rally classes

3681 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by BLACK_ICE, Jan 9, 2014

BLACK_ICE

Discussion Starter · Jan 2, 2014

Hi, I am trying to get into putting together a rally vehicle. I was wondering weather a 4x4 geo tracker hardtop would qualify for production class events, open, or truck production class; since its considered a crossover? Also, in what classes is it ok to add forced induction to a vehicle? can forced induction be used in production class vehicles where the engine had it as an option, but not in that particular vehicle per say? (example: ecotec supercharged in some vehicles like redlines, but not in cavaliers or some Saab's). lastly, do front wheel drive vehicles in production classes hold a candle to the all wheel drives in the same class? I haven't gotten to see many rally events (hope to attend many more soon), but it seems like awd is the way to go. But I want to build as domestic to United states as possible, and there are no all wheel drive compacts by GM, ford, or MOPAR (that I'm aware of) at least not here that I can budget. any response is very greatly appreciated and thank you for your help in advanced.

sincerely, Shawn C

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czwalga

· #2 · Jan 2, 2014

Stay away from production. No one runs it. Classes keep it simple. 2wd, no turbo:g2 turbo:g5 AWD, no turbo:OL, turbo:Open.

Personally I'd say well away from a tracker. I feel like you could tip them just by leaning on them to hard.

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BLACK_ICE

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 2, 2014

Good to know, that must be why I never really see it covered much.
Thanks for the simple explanation, and the warning too about trackers too.
It kind of sucks theres no good domestic awd compacts.

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jimmy

· #4 · Jan 2, 2014

Welcome to the looney bin.

Now, have you read the rule books? Seriously. Study them. All of them (RA/NASA/CARS). Read the stickies.

Get to some events. Go to tech. Crew for some of us. Work the event(s).

You especially might want to read this:
http://www.rally-america.com/RuleBulletin/Rule_Bulletin_2013_011.pdf

Where are you? USA doesn't narrow it down much...

Above all - have fun.

press on,

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BLACK_ICE

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 2, 2014

thank you. Im new to it and I plan on going to events this year and try to volunteer.
Iv started reading the rally America rull book this past week bit by bit.
I havent gotten to read the others yet. Im in the united states Midwest Ohio,
Im intrested in rally America, Mexico and Canada though. Have you been to many events?

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Ferdinand

· #6 · Jan 2, 2014

BLACK_ICE said:
(BLACK_ICE wrote in response to Jimmy...): "Have you been to many events?"

LOL

Ah, young grasshopper, you know not what you ask.

Jimmy is old as the hills and has been to more events than all the rest of us combined.

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X Mon™

· #7 · Jan 2, 2014

Ferdinand said:
LOL

Ah, young grasshopper, you know not what you ask.

Jimmy is old as the hills and has been to more events than all the rest of us combined.

...

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RichardM

· #8 · Jan 2, 2014

Since you are in Ohio, you are not too far from Salem Missouri; only 538 miles from Columbus. So come down to spectate at the Rally of the 100 Acre Wood the last weekend of February. You can ask questions, look at the cars, meet lots of people. Heck, you can even work a control.

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jimmy

· #9 · Jan 3, 2014

Well, I have been to a "few" events....

You NEED to go to these:
http://www.sno-drift.org/
http://www.stpr.org/2014winterrally/
http://sandblastrally.linaracing.com/2014/
http://www.100aw.org/

They are all "close" to you (in rally terms)....

press on,

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heymagic

· #10 · Jan 3, 2014

Briefly...Production class is no more. Very under subscribed anyway. It did mean production, no modifications beyond suspension type stuff. Stock motor, no tweaks, stock radiator, pretty limiting class. So as a noob with Rally America in mind you can build a Group 2 ..2wd naturally aspirated or an Open Lite..AWD naturally aspirated. No turbos or superchargers for you just yet. NASA and CARS have different novice rules.

Now to the drive configuration...fast guys are fast in most anything. RWD has some benefits of sturdier parts and it is fun as hell. FWD can be very fast (I never cared for it) but generally you spend a bit more for gears and limited slip stuff and the drive axles can sometimes be problematic. Neon, Focus, Golf, Civic and Sentra SER have all done well tho. AWD , especially Sube, has lots of tips and tricks and common support. You can start out with the Open Lite and move to Open (turbo) when the time is right. Cost to build is the same , but cost to run AWD turbo stuff tends to be a bit higher.

Best to go to an event or three, volunteer to help and get to know the sport and its inhabitants before getting a car.

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BLACK_ICE

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 3, 2014

yeah I plan on seeing that one this year, among others. i want to learn as much as i can before i start a build, are the crews that service the vehicles pretty cool about newbies
coming out to ask them about the cars?

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KevinG5Hahn

· #12 · Jan 3, 2014

BLACK_ICE said:
yeah I plan on seeing that one this year, among others. i want to learn as much as i can before i start a build, are the crews that service the vehicles pretty cool about newbies
coming out to ask them about the cars?

Odds are pretty good it will be harder to get most to stop talking than start.

Most small teams have friends or family crew while driver or co-driver do most of the away from rally work.

Go to an event, most people will talk your ear off, find out what makes rally really awesome and make sure that what makes rally really awesome is what you want/think is awesome.

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Don Kennedy

· #13 · Jan 3, 2014

BLACK_ICE said:
IS there any event you haven't been to in the past 30 years?

Fixed that for you. A better question is, is the pope Catholic?

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BLACK_ICE

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 9, 2014

Iv mostly seen coverage and videos for different events online. my grandpa took me to one when I was really young.
But asside from that iv never gotten to go

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