What would you tell your past self?

I also posted this on that other site, but figured I may get more honest answers here...

There is a plethora of real-world knowledge that could be gleaned from those in the rally community and occasionally some of these nuggets o' knowledge get tossed around when noobs come calling w/ good questions. But, as you already know, typically those threads quickly turn sour because participants are/become thick-headed and/or butt-hurt and the thread devolves into a succession of pointless tirades and manhood measuring competitions.

So, in an effort to avoid that, I ask:

With hindsight being what it is, what answers would you give your past self if he(she) came to you for advice?

1) What is the biggest mistake(s) you made when you started rallying?

2) What is the single best thing you did, intentional or otherwise, when you began rallying?

3) What piece of advice do you wish you would have listened to?

Perhaps more interesting...
4) What piece of advice do you wish you had NOT listened to?

I'd tell myself to build a car big enough to fit two guys 6'2" 200+ lbs. Celica is just too tight.

...wait for it.....

1) What is the biggest mistake(s) you made when you started rallying?
Buying a car with an insufficient roll cage and using credit to pay for rally related things.

2) What is the single best thing you did, intentional or otherwise, when you began rallying?
Rallycross and friendships.

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Grant Hughes

1) What is the biggest mistake(s) you made when you started rallying?

Pushing too hard. Gotta relax a bit and take it easy out on stages, it takes people dozens of rallies to really learn how to react (racing in general) even if they've been racing a decent amount of time. It is fun pushing yourself, but then you just have to accept the fact that... (point number two)


2) What is the single best thing you did, intentional or otherwise, when you began rallying?

Start as cheap as possible. Rallying is expensive. I have more "disposable" (emphasis on that part) income than 90% of North Americans I'd reckon, and it doesn't matter. As joe schmoe, keeping your costs as low as possible will be what keeps you rallying. Starting with the Talon is one of the best things I ever did (under $6k all in getting it out to it's first event including disposables, another $2500 for a trailer, and another $1700 for a truck), I can honestly say I may have only started rallying this year if that hadn't of happened, and certainly not 4 events in one year.

3/4) I listen to all advice, filter it, and decide if it is useful information. Most people have good intentions and their information is sound, but sometimes it has to be tailored to specific individuals circumstances and what works for one person won't work for all. Which is why I don't like JVL's fanatical ideology about rallying and the way to go about things.

Do not go into Open, go straight to gp5...

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Jay Woodward
Snohomish, WA
'90 Mazdog Frankenprotege
Chronologically, 46...

I would tell myself to get a job that F'n PAYS, so I could actually Rally....

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Parfois, on fait pas semblant!

I am:
I know:
I am from:

Nobody.
Nothing.
Nowhere.

Quote
Creech
I would tell myself to get a job that F'n PAYS, so I could actually Rally....

amen!!!

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I would rather drive a slow car fast as a fast car slow!
first rule of cars: get what makes you happy, your the one paying for it!

Oh HELL yeah. I'da told myself to sink every penny I had into Microsoft in '89.

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Jay Woodward
Snohomish, WA
'90 Mazdog Frankenprotege
Chronologically, 46...

Wear a condom.....

don't get involved in anything you have to feed or paint

Quote
deaner
Wear a condom.....

true that, and that doctors are wrong.

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I am not an alien

Koolaid on specialstage just an FYI

What piece of advice do you wish you had NOT listened to?

"You should check out this new 'Rally Anarchy' forum"

What piece of advice do you wish you would have listened to?

"You're not going to make it" - exclaimed by a co-driver as we headed into a hairpin


?t=59s


I would have made it... and did later:


?t=4m1s

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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 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/02/2013 11:41AM by Morison.

I would have told myself to finish the bachelor's and go to law school RIGHT after high school. I'm 25 now and just finishing up the bachelor's(paid cash for it, luckily), and will have 3 years of (very pricey) law school after this.

3) What piece of advice do you wish you would have listened to?
To stick with codriving until I was done with college.

4) What piece of advice do you wish you had NOT listened to?
You can pay for your college tuition and living expenses with student loans.

The latter is non-rally related, but directly rally related. I will have around $1500 per month for TEN years to pay once my student loans go into repayment. I've been paying on them bit by bit currently, but think about that. $1500 per month. That's enough to do at least 4-5 rallies per year for ten years. Wish I had struggled my way through college living minimalist and such.
Oh, and go to India or another safer 3rd world country for at least 6 weeks the summer after high school graduation. I never received that advice, but I give it regularly now. That's got to be one thing the Mormons definitely have figured out...

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Grant Hughes