New Guy

Hi All

I am new here. Looking to get into Rally. I dont want to spend a mountian of money to get started. There are a few NASA events close to me. I will be at the one in new york in sept. as a spectator. it is a 10 hour drive but that isnt too bad. I have been involved i many types of motor sports over the years. Rally has always been a big interest.

Ok now the big question. What FWD car woud be good to start out with. I know everyone has thier favorates I am just looking for some help picking a car to start with

Thanks

Woody

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smwwoody
it is a 10 hour drive but that isnt too bad.

Good! That attitude is a necessity for rally. Unfortunately, we're pretty spread out in North America. If you're already past that reality, you're in a good shape.

You'll learn a lot more about rally if you volunteer. Learn as much as you can while you're up there. Talk to people. Look at their cars.

What cars are you familiar with?

Tim.

I am a good mechanic. built a few rock crawlers mud racers and drag cars. i know the american stuff best but have done lots of work on nissans also. not affraid to work on any of them

Currently the obvious choices for FWD would be Focus, VW, Civic and the Sube or Sentra. Focus, Civic and VW are current cars so parts and help at an event are more available. Sube Impreza from the middle 90s is a good bet. You can really upgrade the shell to big power and AWD very easily. Sentra is still a viable option but gettin a bit long in the tooth.

Is something like this worth looking at http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/4028867646.html

Or would this be better http://lynchburg.craigslist.org/cto/4022992298.html



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2013 09:08PM by smwwoody.

welcome to the fracas David

Both those subie look great, I'm a dye in the wool RWD sasquatch, but thats a great platform. Its all been figured out, lots of parts available and easy to grow, plus they seem to work pretty dang well.

is it worth trying to start with an automatic

Todays automatics are very efficient and many are faster accelerating than their manual counter parts. Probably not so much back in the 90s. I think the car would be a bit of a dog and not as reliable. I like the red 4 door tho.

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smwwoody
is it worth trying to start with an automatic

Converting it to manual isn't too hard. If you can find a good manual go for that but if the best rust free shell is a AT don't sweat it and get that.

Get Randy Zimmer's manual on building a GC Subaru on the cheap. Looks like his site is down. Try the email below. I don't know the current price either.

"Rally on a Budget - The Subaru Rally GC Manual" has arrived.
100's of tips and tricks, sizes and settings.
The thought behind the process and real-life examples.
Price $200.00
Comes as a 100 page PDF with text, pictures and captions.
Updates and communication.
E-Mail or call me for more information.
"rzimmer@adelphia.net"

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"Talk about drugs. Driving a car like that, going that fast, it’s like all the drugs at once." - Tommy Byrne

"Now, Pinky, if by any chance you are captured during this mission, remember you are Gunther Heindriksen from Appenzell. You moved to Grindelwald to drive the cog train to Murren. Can you repeat that?" - The Brain

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smwwoody
I am a good mechanic. built a few rock crawlers mud racers and drag cars. i know the american stuff best but have done lots of work on nissans also. not affraid to work on any of them

There is a Canadian team looking for someone to crew for them at BRS. They are in a Nissan, you could probably help them out and learn a lot at the same time. I'll get the info when I am on a real computer. It's on Special Stage if you want to hunt for it.

Why FWD? Not to start serving the kool-aid around here, but seems like you'd be really comfortable with a RWD. I got my start in mechanics on American Muscle and learned from drag racers, too. I do rally an AWD Subie, though.

Tim.

Quote
wvonkessler
Get Randy Zimmer's manual on building a GC Subaru on the cheap. Looks like his site is down. Try the email below. I don't know the current price either.

"Rally on a Budget - The Subaru Rally GC Manual" has arrived.
100's of tips and tricks, sizes and settings.
The thought behind the process and real-life examples.
Price $200.00
Comes as a 100 page PDF with text, pictures and captions.
Updates and communication.
E-Mail or call me for more information.
"rzimmer@adelphia.net"

DRASTIC price reduction, $75 in the link below.
http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?51201-Rally-on-a-Budget-the-Subaru-GC-Manual

Not that I'd suggest a NA fwd subaru is a good place to start in the sport. It is hard to go wrong with a Golf and there seems to be growing knowledge base for honda civics out there.
Kool-Aid aside, there are many good reasons to consider a RWD car, but it can be frustrating for a FWD guy to get used to.

Also somewhat controversial, but looking for an already built car as a starter car is worth it. Look, and buy, carefully however. If you can get someone local to help you vet the cars you're looking at you might be able to save a bunch and get on the stages sooner. If you're looking for the challenge (and cost) of building, then this doesn't apply.

---

First Rally: 2001
Driver (7), Co-Driver (44)
Drivers (16)
Clerk (10), Official (7), Volunteer (4)
Cars Built (1), Engines Built (0) Cages Built (0)
Last Updated, January 4, 2015

Quote
john vanlandingham
Blame is for idiots. losers.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2013 02:14PM by Morison.

there are also a pile of build threads on dirtyimpreza.com some are better than others, some are caught up in getting the stickers just right....

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-KTurner
Stomp down on the exhilarator and hold on to the wheel.

Quote
Morison
DRASTIC price reduction, $75 in the link below.
http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?51201-Rally-on-a-Budget-the-Subaru-GC-Manual

Not that I'd suggest a NA fwd subaru is a good place to start in the sport.

How about a NA AWD subaru?

In any event, echo your advice for him to purchase a built vehicle. Oodles over at Special Stage right now. Given where he lives, he might want to get in touch with Mark Bowers or Marcel C or the Wimpeys or whoever.

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"Talk about drugs. Driving a car like that, going that fast, it’s like all the drugs at once." - Tommy Byrne

"Now, Pinky, if by any chance you are captured during this mission, remember you are Gunther Heindriksen from Appenzell. You moved to Grindelwald to drive the cog train to Murren. Can you repeat that?" - The Brain

Quote
wvonkessler
Oodles over at Special Stage right now.

I see one that would even be worth consideration and it's 50% more than I'd pay for something similar.

If you're set on FWD, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, or a FWD Subaru are all good starting points.
If you want to maximize fun, an E36 BMW left bone stock and caged such that it is legal for Chumpcar and rally is a decent starting point.
If you want to get on stage easy and cheaply, build a GC Impreza as quickly and cheaply as possible.

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Grant Hughes