who rallys

[Geezer]

Originally Posted by Impaled

Costs 40 bucks to enter the rallycross here.

Rallycross and rally (often referred to as pro rally) are two completely different things. Rallycross gives a token tasteing of what real rally is.

Rallycross - Maybe 45mph tops on a small staight (per SCCA rules)- total course a couple of miles if lucky. Rare to get out of second gear.

Rally - 60 to 70 mph sustained - 100mph+ bursts on a 10 to 20 MILE stage. Many events have 10 or more stages each different, or the same stages run backwards or at night making it entirely different each time.

[Impaled]

he never specifically said pro rally.

[thehubster]

hell i was just wondering if anyone has raced there focus or if they use a different car specifically for it. i can see how it would be very hard on a car but i think i would be loads of fun so would you guys say that it is a good 2000 spent or would you rather have not done it.

[Impaled]

Umm i don't think any of those pro rally focus' are still FWD. Those cars have tons of cash sunk into them.

[arrestmespi]

acutally most are
see nasa rally spec foci

[Geezer]

Originally Posted by thehubster

hell i was just wondering if anyone has raced there focus or if they use a different car specifically for it. i can see how it would be very hard on a car but i think i would be loads of fun so would you guys say that it is a good 2000 spent or would you rather have not done it.

When i first started I could do a whole weekend event for well less than 1000.00 and yes we had a blast for that kind of money which is still a lot in my book. I'd estimate that the teams competeing for the championship easily spend 5000.00 and up. I believe the prices have driven out alot of us who were there for fun. In the past it was not unusual for 75 to 100 cars to show up for an event. Numbers are down in the 40 and 50's now, sometimes less. I'm sure cost is a very big, if not the sole reason for it.

What costs so much now is car preparation and travel expenses in addition to the really high entry fees. For example, the required cage now can "easily" exceed 1500.00 installed. Mine was less than 500.00. The trouble, as I see it, is that my car dictated the design at the time it was done, now the rules dictate the design and they're the same for every car. What's good for a 3000+ pound 4 door subaru may be complete overkill for a 2000lb+ 2 door RX7.

The only real way to do it now is to have a deep pocket sponsor(s) or be independently wealthy (and yes there's a number of these). Sponsors only go for the winners and winners drive $100,000.00 cars. Its a "catch 22".

[thenorm]

I've done a couple rally-x on frozen lakes in the winter. The FoFo does very well. I was running non studded tires and I was first for all 2wd cars (even beat the studded guys)

[dwain]

I have been a co-driver/navigator for a couple of rallies and it is a blast. Although it has not been in a focus, it is a awd turbo eclipse. As a co-driver you usually pay half of the entry fee, half of the crew lodging (depends on what you work out with the driver), but you do not have the expense of buying the car and prepping it. (which as Geezer said is very expensive) It is not the cheapest hobby but it allows me to get the adrenline going two-three times a year

You can find out more about rallying in North America on specialstage.com.