[mlbbaseball]

Hey all, I was planning to do the LSPR (which was this past weekend) this year back in may/june of this year, I tried to get everything ready but didn't have the time/money when it came around to august/sept. so I kinda gave up. Now, I want to start building a car (hopefully a focus) for next years LSPR. LSPR is run through Rally America. I've read through the 120 pg rule book, well actually just skimmed the important parts, but I don't thoroughly understand the liscensing and what is required to be eligible. Can someone shed some light? I have very little track experiance, I mean, ive been to lapping days and ran at mid-ohio a while back, but thats about it. so obviously I would be in the novice category and would be a seed 8 runner. I also have plenty of confidence that we can make a car that will meet the requirements for safety and will pass inspection. Weldman0730 is a certified welder and we will be doing the car together. So creating a cage won't be a problem. So basically I just want to know what needs to be done to be able to race in reference to licensing. Also, what is the cost associated, not referring to the costs of insurance/safety equipment/or general costs of building a car as I know what they are.

Thanks,
mlbbaseball

 

[Geezer]

When I quit (2000), a weekend of rallying cost me over 2000.00. And that was a "poor boys" budget. I'm sure its quite a bit more now. Entry fees alone are easily in the 500.00 to 1000.00 range (some are more and there's incidentals like route books aka pace notes @ 150.00 each and so on). Then you have lodging (even budget motels and camp sites add up), food, and the ongoing never ending spare parts for each event (read tires, tires and more tires). The cost of towing to an event is now a make or break it issue now (you have a trailer and tow vehicle right?). It is not a poor mans sport. While its common for both drivers and co-drivers to split things up, its also common for both to cover some or most of their crews costs as well.

In Rally America they limit the performance of the car you can rally until you become more experienced. I believe you are now limited to a two wheel drive normally aspirated car (essentially a stock or G2 class). This is good as too many inexperienced drivers were stating in WRX's and EVO's and causing problems from a liability insurance standpoint for the race promoters. They were also wadding up lots of cars in the first few stages which caused considerable delays in an already tight schedule. All new drivers and co-drivers have to attend drivers seminars (at a minimum) held at and before each rally. All this is explained in the rule book.

 

[mlbbaseball]

Ya, I know about the other fee's, I'm just talking about liscensing fees. I would be competing in g5 which is 2.4 L and under NA cars, but non restricted.

 

[Geezer]

I'm pretty sure you'll will not be permitted to race in G5 as a rookie. That's the class i raced in with my basically stock RX7. Its the potential of the car not necessarily what it actually is. My car was about 125 rear wheel HP. With slight porting it could easily jump to 175 to 200. That's what they cared about. G5 simple covers all two wheel drive cars "over" a certain displacement. G2 is everthing under that displacement limit. G5 also includes forced induction two wheel drive cars. Check the formulas in the rule book. Forced induction has a larger multiplier.

 

[macdiesel]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$!

 

[jzizzle325]

lol.

 

[mlbbaseball]

Geezer, Ya, u were right, I got mixed up w/ classes, I for some reason thought that g2 was stock and g5 was NA only. I would be in the unrestricted NA class group 2. but you are allowed to modify ur motor in that class as long as the final displacement was under 2.4 L. I would do alot of the head work myself. But what I am really looking for is what liscensing would I need??? and how much does it cost for the liscense??

 

[mikebontoft]

Get an account on Rally-America.com...... they pretty much sell you the license if you're approved..... I believe ( I haven't looked for a while) that it's like $100 per region for license, and like $200 or $300 for a regional license.... then it's like $50 to renew in a year (I believe) You'd just fill out a form that states any injuries you've ever had, if any, and obviously a few basic questions, then just wait for them to approve you...

I almost bought a license for the hell of it, but obviously I didn't have the car or means to do it, lol. still would've been cool to be like "Yeah, I'm a licensed rally driver" []

Hmm as far as the SCCA goes, I don't know if you also have to go through them, but I know not all regions/events require the SCCA fee or whatever it is... good luck though [thumb]

now also, if you're too lazy to build your own, or you know what I mean, have it built, if just half...... anyway, try www.rallyclassified.com, they have two completed focuses ready to buy, but it also gives you a good idea of what you'd need in them [thumb] and of course, they have other cars for sale...

 

[mikebontoft]

ok.....logged in, it's actually $100 per region, and $200 for the regional...... also the same price for renewal. You'd select the FIA license, as I remember reading that CARS is either international, or Canada (lol, big difference). You would also have to submit a copy of your current driver's license, and all "supporting" documentations []

edit: oop I lied, I think CARS is like Canada or something (I wish I'd remember) but FIA is the International governing body for auto sports [thumb]

 

[wrc_fan]

I hear all the time that if you want to get into racing at a given level, work some events to get a feel for how things happen (if you haven't already).

So I'd say go volunteer to work the Sno*drift in January (yea!, a half hour from by hometown). See how rally america does things. Maybe try to get to a NASA event where people are running spec foci, see what breaks, see where your big spending's going to be.

Have you done any rally-cross? Seems like a good event to see where your weakpoints of the car are. Push the car to the limit in a variety of surface conditions, without trees.

And of course $$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[mikebontoft]

yeah true, I have heard that as well......I'd love to volunteer (but not without my camera!)
If you really get into it though, be prepared to run for hours.... a lot of those stages can take a long time, especially if it's dark or if there are rookie/ inexperienced drivers.... not saying from a personal experience, since I have none [] but I do try to find out as much about the races and what goes in and out of each of them [thumb]

 

[Geezer]

Most stages aren't too long time wise. The longest distance special stage I ever ran was 16 miles or so and that's uncommon and took about 20 minutes (others did it a whole lot faster). I'd say most special stages are 6 to 8 miles in length. You don't see too many long stages based on logistics alone...too many course workers needed to provide observation, too many people may live along the rout and the long closer time will piss them off, emergency access points, radio coverage/communications, etc. Transit stages are the time consumers as you are expected to drive at or below posted speed limits (severe penalities or out right disqualification if you don't). Up at Houghton, the special stages are spread all over and really long transits are common. That makes for a very long event.

 

[mlbbaseball]

The stages at houghton are around 40+ miles each!!

 

[mikebontoft]

yup lol.....

 

[macdiesel]

You guys are lucky you have these types of events up in the woods.

 

[Geezer]

Sorry guys...there were no special stages (the all out speed stages) even close to 40 miles. The longest special stage was stage 6 (of 17 total) and took 13.15 minutes. At a 60 mph +/- avg (yes some were a little faster) that's only 13 to 14 miles in length. Heck the total accumulative winning time was 1 hr 44 min. ( by Ken Block). There were 12 stages that took less than seven minutes each. I think your confusing transit stages with special stages.


See attached for both special and transit stage lengths at this years event longest special stage was actually 17 miles and the longest transit was over 39 miles:

http://www.lsprorally.com/itinerary.html

 

[Geezer]

You guys are lucky you have these types of events up in the woods.

Next one is Atlanta Michigan (near Gaylord). That's only about a five hour drive from the windy city. That's a great event since they have icy snow covered roads most of the time. They have some good spectating areas but its more fun to volunteer and work some stages for even better views. No experience necessary!

 

[mikebontoft]

well to be honest, I'm also thinking of those from the UK...... I have a photojournalist friend over there and he gives me insight from over there. lol.

 

[wrc_fan]

Next one is Atlanta Michigan (near Gaylord). That's only about a five hour drive from the windy city. That's a great event since they have icy snow covered roads most of the time. They have some good spectating areas but its more fun to volunteer and work some stages for even better views. No experience necessary!

[woot] that's my hometown. I might head back home for that weekend to watch again this year!

 

[mlbbaseball]

If I can get a weekend off, I'm going down there too!!!