2G Rallycross- ride height?

[mowogbobby]

Just wondering if there is some precident here...

I have a stock 2G that im going to use for a rally cross (stock class) in CT. Have any of you had any problems with low points on the car at stock height?

So far all I can see as a problem is the front lip... it looks like im just going to have to hope with that one.

Thanks for any replies.
-Bobby

 

[mowogbobby]

Hm. Guess im on my own.

 

[ease]

I didn't have any problems with bottoming out on my stock suspension when I rallycrossed my car...but I have a 1g.

Good luck.

 

[mowogbobby]

Yeah, thats what im worried about, the lip is pretty damned low on the 98 2gs...

 

[RallyEclipse98]

Skidplate everything you can. With a N/T you're worst problem will be the low oil pan. You've apparently never gone down any courses fast enough if you've never encountered that problem. Protect the oil pan or you will crush it.

 

[mowogbobby]

I've not gone down any courses in a rally cross at all.

I was just wondering if there was any know caveats to this type of car for this type of racing.

such as low oil pans.

I can see alot of things for myself, but I'm just asking for anything I missed

 

[mowogbobby]

how about this- anyone have any good ideas for a simple skid plates?

Once i have some more time under the car i could just make one, but again, just wondering if there is some precedent...

 

[everbruin]

i ran stock springs on my 95 awd; bad idea on a bumpy rallyx course. my airdam has nasty scrapes and there was too much bottoming out. i'm back to coilovers and stiffer springs.
good luck on the skidplate; most likely it'll have to be custom
(no support as a 2g dsm in stage rally, where it's a must unlike rallyx, is rare)

 

[PieEyedPiper]

First, I'd better establish myself as a non-expert. Done.

It's my opinion that rallycrossing a 2g is at best a mistake. I couldn't imagine taking my car over a course like that, I'm sure it would self-destruct. The suspension travel is too limited and the ride is too harsh. I'm just thinking without some kind of seriously serious suspension work a 2g wouldn't survive rallycross.

The 1g has been successful though because of its massive travel (relative to a 2g) and other benefits from its suspension design.

To paraphrase Jtoby, 2g's are the road race cars. 1g's are the rally cars.

 

[1LE]

I've rallyxed mine. Front lip is pretty low, but didn't even suffer as much damage as road racing (where it would hit the ground under braking over bumps). Bottoms out a little from time to time, but that'll happen in any car. My biggest concerns are the relatively low oil filter, and the very low coolant line to the oil cooler... Oh, and mine is slightly higher than stock (sitting at the very top of GC coilovers). Skidplate would be the way to go, but since I haven't gotten around to fabricating one yet, I just take it easy on course

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I've rallyxed mine. Front lip is pretty low, but didn't even suffer as much damage as road racing (where it would hit the ground under braking over bumps). Bottoms out a little from time to time, but that'll happen in any car. My biggest concerns are the relatively low oil filter, and the very low coolant line to the oil cooler... Oh, and mine is slightly higher than stock (sitting at the very top of GC coilovers). Skidplate would be the way to go, but since I haven't gotten around to fabricating one yet, I just take it easy on course

I think thats pretty neat, actually, that you do that. Also, thought provoking, is that you experienced less damage from rallyx than road racing. Do you use a skid plate? Maybe I'm being overly cautious, having never done it myself, but you'd think going without one is a guaranteed crunched oil pan and oil filter housing. And your rad, possibly, regardless of a skid plate.

 

[everbruin]

i disagree, since i won rpa in 2006 for nor cal's rallyx series and my 2g only has cosmetic damage.

It's my opinion that rallycrossing a 2g is at best a mistake.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Perhaps I have misrepresented my position. I apologize if I made an apparently erroneous remark. I just think its nuts, based soley on owning a 2g for a daily driver, to take a stock or mostly stock 2g rallyx'ing. I'm here for the discussion, I'd like to know more.

 

[1LE]

I think thats pretty neat, actually, that you do that. Also, thought provoking, is that you experienced less damage from rallyx than road racing. Do you use a skid plate? Maybe I'm being overly cautious, having never done it myself, but you'd think going without one is a guaranteed crunched oil pan and oil filter housing. And your rad, possibly, regardless of a skid plate.

The oil pan and filter, while being a concern have not been a problem. The radiator is quite heavily protected, you'd have to mash up the front end severely to have an issue there. However, that does bring up the point of possible IC damage. I flattened the inlet to my SMIC on a TSD Rally when the nose hit the ground fairly hard (coming off one of those short steep country bridges, and recent rain had washed a gulley on the exit side). I could see that possibly happening at a rallyx as well. Large exhaust systems may also be a concern. Also while TSDing a couple times, I've gone over big bumps on high-crown paved roads and landed on my 3" exhaust. It's got a couple flat scraped spots now, but other wise is fine.

 

[mowogbobby]

mm, thats what i was wondering. at least somebody has done it.

My car is a RS so the IC isnt a problem. stock car, so exaust isnt a problem.
ok. so im reading a possible. ill have to see about making some kind of protection for the low spots. ill let you all know how it goes.

so, everbruin, got any tips on problem spots with the cars?

 

[everbruin]

damage potential to any car depends a lot on the rallyx venue and surface.
the bumpier (and faster), the more likely the damage (and the stiffer the springs needed).

a grass/dirt "county fairgrounds" lot can look nice but be brutal if very dry (even in portland when there's a dry spell). a rallyx course can start out ok but later develop nasty bumps and ruts after many cars have beat on it.

rallyx can be very punishing to a car, so i wouldn't advise it to someone afraid of some risk. if you want to play smart, first spectate at the venue in the afternoon, after the morning cars have beaten on the course. see if any cars are taking bad bumps, debeading a tire, etc. think about if you'd be ok w/ that for your car. if you then go and can't avoid bad bumps, either slow down for them or pray nothing breaks =).

autoX is much safer and is very good practice for rallyx. not quite as fun, but much more competitive since way more ppl are willing to do it (like 5 times more ppl in the nor cal bay area)

btw i did an offroad tsd once; it's the only race i ever thought my car might not finish. and most dangerous motorsport i've done, way riskier than the hillclimb and many raceways i've run.

 

[1LE]

btw i did an offroad tsd once; it's the only race i ever thought my car might not finish. and most dangerous motorsport i've done, way riskier than the hillclimb and many raceways i've run.

Yeah, I ended up skipping Son of Sno*Drift and didn't feel bad about it at all. Kind of nice not causing $1000 worth of damage to my car first thing this year... I've run that even many times and have always come home with something broken (usually around $1000 and 1 month worth of repairs, but last year was MUCH worse due to a water crossing that didn't go well). I'm debating whether or not I want to do any more dirt/gravel TSDs at all. I might just stick to tarmac events for a couple years to save money so I can buy a house...

 

[mowogbobby]

Oh, belive me, im not afraid of damage, im just looking to see what to expect.

Ive done autocross for some time now (but in a diffrent, more capable car), but its rally that i really like.

I got an email from one of the event people, a response to a question i sent-

"The terrain is a packed dirt parking lot. We expect the ground to be frozen as long as this ridiculously warm weather goes away. Snow cover would be even better.
In the past years, ruts and large rocks have not been a problem. Stock cars without skid plates should not have any problem. We have plenty of regular competitors like that."


Sounds good to me.