beebe Wrote:
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> Like Mr. Bottles said, Cost per fun ratio sucks!
>
> There are so many things in life that you can do
> for fun that cost less than ONE rally weekend! By
> that I mean that you can outright buy new toys and
> start a new hobby.
>
> Ony problem is rally is so frickin addictive, once
> you try it you cant ever get it out of your head.

These are good points that I battle with constantly. If I could get rallying out of my head I could take awesome vacations, have a 600hp+ track day car, take flight lessons, and all kinds of other fun stuff. But it's an addiction that isn't going away any time soon!

All above! Plus I get to drive 6000 km every summer on excellent Finnish gravel roads for free...
Still - IF I ever get to move to PNW I will get a car and rally DooWoops, at least. I've great memories from Capitol forest and other stages, and you guys up there are the closest to Scandinavian rally scene which I like. The only place with the same feeling was (is?) in Houghton. That SAAB guys "Library" was THE place! To me partying, socializing and friendships were 50% of reasons to spend a house size money on rallying. The other 50% is my love for danger, excitement, challenge, smooth fast roads and to show how good cars I can build and make business out of it.
A big damper is (was?) this stupid split among organizers. Two different rules, two licences, two memberships and so on. If Tony George couldn't affort it how can these hobbyists? If CART coudn't survive how can amatours? Well, we rallyists are hard a$$, selfish, ego maniacs and lunatics so why should organizers be any different...
When both go broke (one's in ropes already) maybe, MAYBE we get back to grass root level hell raising rallying for sensible price. I'd like to see 2 or3 back-to-back WooDoop style rallies in spring and 2-3 more in fall in WA and/or OR. That'd be a reason to place a car up there, like Grant's planning, and fly in.
We used to have Olympus and Nor'Westrn a week apart. We spend a week at Motel6 and had serious FUN! Ray Damitio stored our cars at his shop (free) and let everybody to use tools etc to fix damages. Always for FREE! That help was a big reason we went there knowing we'd get two rallies on one trip.

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- RWD rocks -

derek Wrote:
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> Fun to $$ ratio is out of whack.
>
> Hard to justify spending $20K+ on a asset that
> does not hold it value & can only be used a
> few times a year at great expense.
>

That's why I'm looking to build a Honda rally car. I want to try my best to see if I can work into the Honda challenge rules so I could throw in a road race if I wanted. I'll probably autox and track the car as well.

With that, I'm planning on selling my STI. No need for fast street car when you own a race car, even if it's slower.

I agree with Grant on the towing. Right now, I don't have a tow rig. After I sell the STI and get some cash that will change. But for now I'm renting Penske trucks since nobody seems to be nice enough to lend me their truck. After 2 years of dating his daughter, my girlfriend's father is letting me use his truck for Sno*Drift, but I still need to rent a trailer.

Then there's the fact that co-drivers want to race for free doesn't help either so I'm footing the bill for just about everything. I've been lucky to get co-driver's to help out on costs for my 3 events. I still gotta spend money with a tow vehicle on gas, if rental I need to bring another car since the Penske only holds 2 people.

NEFR was supposed to be a "cheap" rally on my part. Crew guy from S*D said I could borrow his truck and he'd crew anytime I wanted. I asked him before I sent in my money for NEFR if he could crew and use his truck, he said yes. Rolls around to NEFR and he isn't returning my phone calls, my co-driver backed out (he got a fiesta movement so free gas for recce vehicle). So I had to pay for my jobless buddy to crew, the GF took the STI out with her friend. Drove 2100 miles on the penske and w/ trailer going rate of 20 cents a mile. I think you can figure where this went, but a "just over a grand" weekend turned into "well over two grand" weekend and blew my budget for LSPR.

/endrant

Topi - "We rallyists are hard a$$, selfish, ego maniacs and lunatics."

Yep that is a big problem, keeps us from running sensible cheap cars with a tyre limit, sharing a shop and service crews, getting a club going etc.

Also I rather liked the start rallying at noon and run till 1 or 2 am format, left time to get to the event the day of the event and to get home on Sunday.

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In the long run reality always wins.

Rebuilding a car is taking a really loooong time - that may be that I only have 10hrs or so per week to work on it.

I've also noticed that people who do build cars in their garages/barns - spend a whole lot of that time doing it on their own.

Next race in Feb - that's the goal

For me its mostly about time--and the fact that my dad also has been unable to contribute much time (no fault of his own, just that he's been overseas for work much of this year).

Its all about prep time for me. It takes a lot of time and effort to develop a rally car and keep it in competitive shape.

Doesn't help that the shop is 100 miles from where I live.

Money.

I've finally got some so I could buy an hnr and a seat (which are on hold, why buy them if I can't use them). I've got more than that, but I'm looking at buying a house (or condo w/garage). Living in an apartment means I have to use every one else's garage or shop and it's just plain getting annoying.

There are enough events in the PNW that I wouldn't have trouble getting the time off work (I take it off now to volunteer already anyway). I've got a tow rig (and my parents would let me use their trailer).

vbares Wrote:
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>
> Next race in Feb - that's the goal

And a hell of a goal if you ask me. Bring on Perce Neige. :-)

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-Brian

the car, elusive and pricey. someday i would like to find one on the east-coast log booked and ready to roll, no pun intended. i would do NEFR until i was sick of it, and continue to drive my rally car evey oher day

I have a car that is ready to rock, a well equipped large heated garage at home, a diesel f-350 service truck, and my own trailer. But after 8 years in the sport (the first 4 hard core, the second 4 half ass), I'm having a hard time investing the time and money to actually commit to events. The house needs reno's, the service truck needs ball joints, the trailer needs the brakes looked at. I need an H&N, new helmet, and a new driving suit. I'd like new seats, and to make a few changes to the car even though it is ready to go. The wife (used to be my co-driver pre-first born) has told me to get back out on the stages, but life is still getting in the way. I'm also thinking more about the possibilities of the aftermath of a "big off" than I used to.

The fun/$/time/risk ratios just aren't there for me right now.

I think I'm moving backwards, I just sold my rally car last month.

well, I guess I'm beyond any 'obstacles' now as I started/completed my build in less than a few months this year and have done 2 rallies and will be at Seed 9 in 2 weeks.

> There are so many things in life that you can do
> for fun that cost less than ONE rally weekend! By
> that I mean that you can outright buy new toys and
> start a new hobby.

But what I've found is rally has eaten up my other hobbies (for better or worse), I didn't get to do much hiking/camping this year...my gf and I usually take at least 1 vacation out of the country since we've been together (not this year), i'm not in very good shape (working on the car all weekend doesn't burn too many calories) and I didn't really get into any new hobbies.

> Ony problem is rally is so frickin addictive, once
> you try it you cant ever get it out of your head.

That's the thing....its addicting, however, I am looking forward to letting the car sit for a while this winter and enjoying Tahoe/Skiing more than last year.

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Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/

Carl S Wrote:
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> I think I'm moving backwards, I just sold my rally
> car last month.


Ahhhh but you have something even better and way more fun to pound on, we know!

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

tmachnik Wrote:
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>The wife (used to be my co-driver
> pre-first born) has told me to get back out on the
> stages, but life is still getting in the way. I'm
> also thinking more about the possibilities of the
> aftermath of a "big off" than I used to.
>
> The fun/$/time/risk ratios just aren't there for
> me right now.

Amazing what one or two little curtain climbers can make you think about stuff.
Just a couple of times of "Look Daddy!" sure has made me think I want to be around for these little girls....

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.