[Max Overcrest]

I grew up in upstate New York, and my first car was a 1986 Turbo Volvo with a manual transmission. Heavy as shit, but fun to drive in the snow storms of the early 90's. I always preferred the feeling of slipping and sliding to regular driving. I bought myself a 2002 Mini Cooper last year. It's the first car I've owned with good handling and decent power for its size. I probably need to find a safe outlet for my urge to drive fast. Soon. I haven't actually participated in any events, but I'm itching to get out there. Though fun, not the Cooper. I'm also saving up for a starter car. FWD for sure because that's what I'm comfortable with. I've only used a sequential shifter in video games, but I would love to have one IRL.

Anyway, glad its not a "rich man's sport" like performance racing. Hoping to meet some people in or around Chicago, or just on here, that I can learn from. If you've read this far, you have read too much.

 

[John Vanlandingham]

I grew up in upstate New York, and my first car was a 1986 Turbo Volvo with a manual transmission. Heavy as shit, but fun to drive in the snow storms of the early 90's. I always preferred the feeling of slipping and sliding to regular driving. I bought myself a 2002 Mini Cooper last year. It's the first car I've owned with good handling and decent power for its size. I probably need to find a safe outlet for my urge to drive fast. Soon. I haven't actually participated in any events, but I'm itching to get out there. Though fun, not the Cooper. I'm also saving up for a starter car. FWD for sure because that's what I'm comfortable with. I've only used a sequential shifter in video games, but I would love to have one IRL.

Anyway, glad its not a "rich man's sport" like performance racing. Hoping to meet some people in or around Chicago, or just on here, that I can learn from. If you've read this far, you have read too much.

Life is full of unexpected irony and unexpected flashes of pure insight and subsequent enlightenment..
Your first car just may have been the best car for having fun.

The FWD vs RWD is a false argument used to fill time. It is more a 'social marker" excercise than a substantially important detail..
A strong, and reliable and well balanced car being a given, the question gets distilled to: what is the eventual cost to make an acceptably strong and relaible and well balanced car..

Simply put: FWD is multiple times more expensive than a good RWD car, and this is a good RWD car.

[video=youtube;g5U6cwX8RcE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5U6cwX8RcE[/video]

If you chose to spend 4-5-6 times more for a FWD car gear set, or 5-7-8 times more for a final drive or 6-8 times as much for a LSD
and some unknown costs to buy upgraded and reliable CV and axles....
A good FWD car can of course go just as good on SS times..

But it can never do THAT up there ^ in what we are now calling "The Clip"....and that car, with the right parts can be built here, or one effectively similar...and if you can drive, then you can do ^ THAT..

And that is much more fun...fun so deep that it can be enough to fill your "needs"....
That fact it can be done for vastly less is just icing on the cake.

Who'd a thunk it that your first car was the best choice..
Life is full of wonderful surprises...

I've only rallied (driven) FWD, but I've driven and helped build lots of other cars.. I am a Ford (rwd) and Saab guy... But THAT car in the clip I honestly believe should be the 'default" beginner car , basically a Ford Escort MkII sized and cost adjusted for North America.

 

[NateEllis]

Come down May 3rd for the Indiana Rallycross event. Tons of guys come down from Chicago. Look us up on Facebook for details.

 

[steve]

John, don't entice the poor fella - you know that "they" tell you that you can't shift mid turn, yet while sideways. That is why they made sequential gearboxes and awd and all that expensive stuff....

the hell is wrong with you.

EZ just sent me this. How the hell am I supposed to sleep now? http://youtu.be/EWBOKD6fGu0


Oh, to the OP. Glad you found us. So happy that you like driving in the snow, any wheel drive.

Get a rwd.



enjoy, even at 125hp if need be. http://youtu.be/w1xYKpuvizk doesn't look like much but it is cheap, reliable and 35.

 

[jayn_j]

There is also rallycross over in Rockford: http://statelinerallycross.com/

and a few up an hour north of Milwaukee in Chilton: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wisconsin-Autosports-Group/114105318600103

There are active road rally events that would work well with the Mini. Here is a brisk one I am organizing in Madison on May 3: https://www.facebook.com/groups/356211661190537/

 

[Max Overcrest]

I really want to, but I probably have to get gravel/dirt tires first, huh? Any idea where to get some around here?

 

[jayn_j]

Kind of depends on conditions. During the summer, you will do OK on good performance street tires. A true rally tire will place you in modified classes around here. That is not a place you want to start.

I recommend you have a set of street tires in reasonable condition, probably not new. Crank the tire pressure up to 50 PSI and go learn how to drive the car on dirt. The increased tire pressure is important as the most common failure out there is pulling a tire off the rim when you hit a rut in a corner.

Most novices seem to want to over-prepare the car itself, either the tires or the engine, when the real need is to learn how to drive on a dirt track. Nobody is going to laugh at you as you learn. You won't win your first event, but then who does? You will quickly figure out what is important and can improve over the course of the season.

Also, if you stay bone stock, you will run in stock class. Modifications will place you in prepared or even in modified where the competition is tougher. In addition to the level of prep, the classes are divided into 2wd and 4wd, and sometimes 2wd is separated into fwd and rwd. So, your mini is likely to be in the rally stock FWD class unless you have modified it. It should be nicely competitive there and your main competition would be Escorts, Focus, Civics etc. You should do fine.

 

[Max Overcrest]

Makes sense.

I recommend you have a set of street tires in reasonable condition, probably not new. Crank the tire pressure up to 50 PSI and go learn how to drive the car on dirt. The increased tire pressure is important as the most common failure out there is pulling a tire off the rim when you hit a rut in a corner.

Well, that's a lot easier than trying to find the cash for new set of Scorpions . That means I'm pretty much ready. I need a helmet. Maybe a harness?

It was almost winter when I got the car last year, so I put my money into a set of 195/50 R16 Blizzaks and some Konig aluminum rims for them. They were great in the snow.

I'm not sure what tires I have on now. They're just what came with the car. I'm the second owner. They're probably basic 15" all seasons. They're on the stock mini wheels.
I can change the wheels, yes?

And yes, the car is stock.

Thanks

 

[jayn_j]

Yeah, you'll need a helmet eventually. There will be loaners there if you just want to try it out. A harness is not necessary, but it will hold you in the seat better. However, check with the organizers before committing as at least one organization will bump you up a class for the harness as it is a performance advantage.