This isn't stage rally, so maybe it doesn't fit in the rules of this forum totally. On the other hand, it's info about a way to hoon around in the dirt in a car without spending much cash. Also, it's my attempt at something cool so I'm just going to throw it out there and see what you guys think.

I've just started Dirt Cheap Rally, a new racing series for $500 race cars.  It's affordable, off-road, wheel-to-wheel endurance racing.  The same cars you'd use for LeMons or Chump, only on gravel and dirt!  The rules are a little different of course, but most of the cars that race with those guys should be able to come play in the dirt with us!  We're hoping to offer an option somewhere between RallyX and full stage rally that most people can afford.

We've got two west-coast tracks set up for 2011, and I'm working on a few more.  Come take a look at the web site (dirtcheaprally.com), the rules, the events and join us for a race!  You can leave comments here and I'll try to get back and reply, or join our forum there and I'm sure to see them right away.  You can also email me any questions you have at erik@dirtcheaprally.com.

Erik. What's your name? Where do you live?

Where are your 2 tracks?

Come on, man. THIS is the home of the cheapest rallying in North America.

Show some respsect, dood.
Your whole post is a bunch of vague stuff and a link.
No name, no location, you're violating the ONLY real rule here

Details, please not spam.

Why not bring your discussion HERE rather than yet another splinter forum, another isolated idea......

---

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.

The course for OR looks pretty fun!

This actually reminds me of the Flivver races (is that what they're called in Finland? The closed course, crummy car dirt races <4000 Euro?) which seems like a very good way to teach loose surface skills in a cheap car. But the cost of entry is what would scare me away right now. If it were around $3-400 and I lived in the area, you bet I'd do it.

Oy eta.

Having just run a Lemons at Fernley, and being one of the organizers of the NNR which is based near Fernley, I'm all ears on this.

I'm sort of wondering where you're going to do it at the Fernley track. I scouted around there to do a closed course stage for NNR back in 2009, but the track went bankrupt before I could get anything sorted out. They were quite amenable to carving new dirt roads though, as long as I paid for it.

If you do it on the track, what's the difference between your event and the Lemons/Chumpcar events that're going on there?

Yeah, the price doesn't seem "dirt cheap" to me. Pretty sure the Mt Hood Rally is cheaper (and closer, for me anyway).

*edit* though it is always nice to have more options and variety



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/2011 05:23PM by 12xalt.

Quote
12xalt
Yeah, the price doesn't seem "dirt cheap" to me. Pretty sure the Mt Hood Rally is cheaper (and closer, for me anyway).

Pretty sure you're gonna spend many times more than $500 on a car for Mt. Hood Rally. Also, Dirt Cheap Rally isn't really a rally, it's wheel to wheel endurance racing on a dirt track. The entry fee is actually comparable to Chump Car or LeMons races, which is what it really is but on dirt.

Quote
Doivi Clarkinen

Quote
12xalt
Yeah, the price doesn't seem "dirt cheap" to me. Pretty sure the Mt Hood Rally is cheaper (and closer, for me anyway).

Pretty sure you're gonna spend many times more than $500 on a car for Mt. Hood Rally. Also, Dirt Cheap Rally isn't really a rally, it's wheel to wheel endurance racing on a dirt track. The entry fee is actually comparable to Chump Car or LeMons races, which is what it really is but on dirt.

I should have clarified that I meant the entry fees were cheaper for Hood.

The $500 car is just the car. Brakes and safety gear are pretty much open.
Some of the work that goes into some of the $500 cars are well beyond most peoples capabilities.
Check out the MotoIQ posts of Dave Coleman's about their Miata and Tim Taylor's Honda Z600.

However, I bought one of the colts that's in the process of becoming a rally car for $550.

So, I suppose that you can also get into rally with a $500 car (or in some cases a $100 car, I think that's what Mike Bosch paid for the one he ran OTR in this year (though it might have been $150). Could he keep up with Kristen? Nope. But he still had a great time.

Looks interesting, if not a bit pricey. I mean, $700-$900 entry fee is pretty much what I've been expecting to pay to enter a stage rally. And, since it's not right in my backyard, I'd have to tow out, making it just as expensive as any stage rally event.

I dunno. I guess, when I picture that "something between rallyx and stage rally," I'm thinking compact, single day event, possibly at a fairgrounds or something, that might run me $750 all-inclusive.

:shrug

---

Brian Driggs | KG7KCA | PHX, AZ | 89 Pajero
alterius non sit qui suus esse potest

Quote
DR1665
Looks interesting, if not a bit pricey. I mean, $700-$900 entry fee is pretty much what I've been expecting to pay to enter a stage rally. And, since it's not right in my backyard, I'd have to tow out, making it just as expensive as any stage rally event.

I dunno. I guess, when I picture that "something between rallyx and stage rally," I'm thinking compact, single day event, possibly at a fairgrounds or something, that might run me $750 all-inclusive.

:shrug

I talked to a shop owner in Nebraska who "went to a little small time (circle track) race down in Texas, you know, nuthing big, $20,000 total purse."
$45 entry.

---

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.

Quote
john vanlandingham
I talked to a shop owner in Nebraska who "went to a little small time (circle track) race down in Texas, you know, nuthing big, $20,000 total purse."
$45 entry.

Sounds like, somewhere, someone is making a small fortune. (This is motorsport related. I wonder how big the original fortune was.)

---

Brian Driggs | KG7KCA | PHX, AZ | 89 Pajero
alterius non sit qui suus esse potest

Quote
12xalt
Yeah, the price doesn't seem "dirt cheap" to me. Pretty sure the Mt Hood Rally is cheaper (and closer, for me anyway).

A LeMons weekend generally runs a team $1k/person depending on a number of factors. The car's actual cost is so little of a factor that it's almost not even worth putting on the list. Entrance fees, tow, food, accomodations, stuff getting broken, tire budget, fuel budget...

Now if you want dirt cheap fun in the dirt... (shameless plug)

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
DR1665
Looks interesting, if not a bit pricey. I mean, $700-$900 entry fee is pretty much what I've been expecting to pay to enter a stage rally. And, since it's not right in my backyard, I'd have to tow out, making it just as expensive as any stage rally event.

I dunno. I guess, when I picture that "something between rallyx and stage rally," I'm thinking compact, single day event, possibly at a fairgrounds or something, that might run me $750 all-inclusive.

:shrug

I talked to a shop owner in Nebraska who "went to a little small time (circle track) race down in Texas, you know, nuthing big, $20,000 total purse."
$45 entry.

Purse money at any circle track is generally quite high compared to entry fees. Having between 100 and 200 cars at most small tracks, the pit passes and the ever p[opular 'gate' makes that possible. This guys entry fee seems pretty high to me but that depends on his actual cost and I'm guessing he isn't a non-profit entity.

Quote
Pete
A LeMons weekend generally runs a team $1k/person depending on a number of factors. The car's actual cost is so little of a factor that it's almost not even worth putting on the list. Entrance fees, tow, food, accomodations, stuff getting broken, tire budget, fuel budget...

It was about $3000 to run our Golf in the 24hr event two weeks ago.

$500 base entry fee
$600 drivers fees ($100/driver)
$300 "license" fees ($50/driver)
$800 tires (8 x $100)
$500 travel trailer (rented 20' camper trailer)
$500 gas for the Golf (24hrs @ 5ga/hr, $4/ga)
$200 gas for my van towing the travel trailer
$100 gas for the truck towing the Golf
$200 food
$200 brakes for the Golf
$100 wheel bearings, etc

Split six ways, that was $500/person and was quite reasonable.