rally? autox?

[paraguin]

heya I am still making my way through college but always planning for the future, what i want out of life and such. Things that give me a rush :-p driving fast and on the line still in control and spinning out.

I have thought about getting into autocross once out and have steady income. But Rally racing still seems like a better choice, seems like you have much more thrown at you with the shifting gravel/snow and high speeds then what autocross could give.

Anyone have experience in both and can give your take on the rush and most fun?

[Mishimoto]

Originally Posted by paraguin

heya I am still making my way through college but always planning for the future, what i want out of life and such. Things that give me a rush :-p driving fast and on the line still in control and spinning out.

I have thought about getting into autocross once out and have steady income. But Rally racing still seems like a better choice, seems like you have much more thrown at you with the shifting gravel/snow and high speeds then what autocross could give.

Anyone have experience in both and can give your take on the rush and most fun?

I have experienced rallycross, both as a passenger and watching the event. It is a great time and takes a little bit of a different vehicle to compete. A majority of the field was wrx's, however a few mr2's and rx7's were in the mix which made it exciting. My ride along was a blast and I can't wait to attend or compete in another.

I would recommend getting involved with an SCCA chapter and attending both a rally and autocross. You may be able to find a driver willing to let you go on a ride along with them(bring a helmet). Try to be a volunteer at the events if you can and you will be sure to meet some cool people and have a great time.

[Draco-REX]

AutoX and RallyX (not stage rally or global rallycross) can both be very inexpensive sports to pursue. The big $$ is in competing for a national championship. And RallyX is a fraction of the cost. I have a national-level RallyX car and I have maybe $25K in it, including the cost of the car.

So there's no need to wait until you graduate to participate in AutoX or RallyX. Get out there now and drive what you've got. Seat-time is the best thing you can do for the future. Even if it's in a ragged-out FWD econobox.

Now as far as AutoX, Road racing, RallyX and Stage Rally, there are a lot of differences and similarities.

AutoX vs RallyX: Same basic idea. One's on asphalt, one's on dirt. AutoX is all about maximizing the grip your car has. It's precise, challenging, and has a high level of competition. RallyX is about using what little traction you have to get the car to go where you want it. You play outside the traction circle primarily. It's fun, engaging, and very driver-dependent.

RallyX, is more fun to do, in my opinion. You get to slide the car around corners, throw dirt around, and make a hoon out of yourself. But, the car constantly needs cleaning, you can't keep a pristine paint job, and the rough surface beats shocks and struts into pulp very quickly. It also lacks the precision that AutoX has, which might be a strike against it to some people.

AutoX teaches line choice, setup, and walking the fine line between grip and slip. AutoX skills translate into RallyX very well. RallyX skills translate into crash avoidance and skid control.

My honest opinion is start with AutoX. It's usually easier to find AutoX events and you can get a feel for how the whole system works. Then start looking for RallyX events before you dig into your suspension too much.

Stage Rally vs Road Racing: I haven't done either yet, so I can't fully comment. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Road Racing is a lot easier to get into. PDX and HPE events are held all the time and give you the change to get out onto a track in your stock car. Passing is limited and tightly controlled, so these events are about as safe as you can make it. Also, events like this can help you get your racer's license. Progressing beyond these events will require an investment. Cages, safety equipment, and other mods wil be come mandatory, not optional. Price per event skyrockets too.

Stage Rally doesn't have as easy an entry as road racing, because it's so dangerous. There are no tire barriers or runoffs in Stage Rally. So right off the bat, you will need a fully caged car, full safety equipment, and a weekend or two at a rally school before you can compete. Car selection is limited also for beginning stage drivers. You'll need a navigator you can trust (and who trusts you), and the ability to repair your car quickly on-site. You pretty much have to start with a crew of some sort. This type of driving is, IMO, the toughest and most skill-dependent. Unfamiliar public roads at triple-digit speeds leave no room for mistakes without big penalties.


Ultimately, my recommendation is to stick with cone-dodging for now and grow into road racing or stage rally. Driving around traffic cones in a parking lot or a field seems silly at the surface, but the sport has a lot of depth to it. For AutoX, it's in car setup and grip management, in RallyX it's car control and instant adaptation. RallyX is a small spot now that's constantly growing. AutoX is one of the largest motorsports in the world. The national championship will see fields of 1200+ cars each year. No other motorsport can boast that attendance.

Try both and see which sport you like more.

[TheRipler]

As Draco said, you want to look at AutoX vs RallyX.

I've done both, and in many ways they are similar. For both, you are driving around cones. AutoX is paved, and RallyX is a natural surface. Both usually require you to work when a different group is running, picking up cones.

Try both, it won't hurt you. AutoX events may be a little cheaper per event for entry because it is more popular, but you can quickly spend money on the car to be competitive in your class. You can spend extra monies on RallyX as well, but competition isn't normally as tight.

I prefer standing around in a field rather than a parking lot for the work portion, and I'm also more fond of going slide-ways. Other people would rather do the parking lot rather than get their car all dirty and potentially scratched up. It's just up to personal taste. There are fewer rules in RallyX, and I like that freedom as well. I found the AutoX rules too restrictive. Again, other people really get into picking through and exploiting the rules, just personal taste.

Full on stage rally is indeed the deep end of the pool, and has similarities to open road racing (ie: Silver State Classic, Sandhills, or Big Bend Open Road Race). For either, you're probably looking at $5K/weekend on top of the initial car/tow rig/safety investments. That's if things go well. If you ball up a car, it can get a lot more expensive.

Draco left out Rally Sprints, which is the step between RallyX and Stage Rally. They were trying to get that cranked up a couple of years ago, but I haven't seen anything in my area. It was supposed to be like what Global Rally Cross turned out as, like stage rally, but just one special stage.

I try to volunteer every year for the local stage rally. It's a great way to learn more about it without the huge expense, and it's a lot more fun than working an AutoX or RallyX. Ours gives volunteers food, and sometimes beer in the evening for your service. If you have a HAM radio license, you can get the cool jobs out on your own watching cars go by. I don't have one, but I enjoy working start/finish for timing and scoring.

Alternatively, you could volunteer for a Rally team and travel with them. Sometimes they need someone to drive the parts truck, or you could get more interesting jobs depending on how handy you are with a wrench.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by justaquestion

Don't rally events have a lot more safety regulations than auto-x? Something to keep in mind while your still in school.

Not for RallyX. I doubt he really meant rally but I could be wrong. I only say that because the difference in expense from AutoX to actual rally racing is massive...

Oh and what Draco said.

[paraguin]

I Will probably wait until I am out and have decent income. Support myself with a scion xd and school and work, just trying to learn before I get out so I can jump right in. 10 more months thrmen career tulime and can get all my toys :p

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by paraguin

I Will probably wait until I am out and have decent income. Support myself with a scion xd and school and work, just trying to learn before I get out so I can jump right in. 10 more months thrmen career tulime and can get all my toys :p

Up to you man. But an AutoX event is usually less than $50 to get in, then it's just gas/food. As long as your seat belts work, your battery is tied down, all your caps are in place, you're not leaking anything, your wheel bearings have no play, and your tires aren't showing cords, your car is fine to go AutoXing.

So if the opportunity arises, don't wait. Go have some fun and kill some cones.