Nebraska SCCA Rally Cross Write Up 3/19

[onekyoung]

I thought I would share some thoughts regarding a recent Rally Cross event in which I participated on Sunday March 19th.

In order to understand the prevalent conditions, imagine yourself in the Midwest with a little under a foot of snow on the ground, winds of about 20-25 MPH and the snow keeps coming. Now put yourself in the middle of one of Nebraska's famous cornfiled. Yes indeed a sloppy good time.

This was my first foray into RallyCross or SCCA racing in general. If there are those of you that have put weekend racing to the wayside for some reason or another, seriously reconsider. For that couple of minutes or less, all of the money, sweat and blood that you have poured into your seemingly endless gullet of your DSM comes together. I liken the high of SCCA RallyCross to the feeling you get right off the line at a motocross event.

Luckily for me, I was the only participant in M4 (AWD Modified). So I placed first! All of my horsepower was completely useless though... You definately need purpose built tires for this kind of racing, or at least some decent snow tires. From what I understand it was a very comical sight to watch my fiteen foot high plumes of mud and hay issue forth everytime I got a bit pedal happy. The conditions gave you a great deal of practice controlling slides in an AWD vehicle.

Eight dollars in car wash tokens aside, RallyCross is about the most fun you can have with your DSM offroad without feeling the need to spend tons of cabbage (Tires highly recommended!). If your local SCCA currently runs RallyCross, represent your DSM brethren and give those Subaru guys a run for thier money

Read the car classes carefully. It is very easy to find your self in modified class very quickly.

Aarion
Omaha, NE

 

[91glant218]

man, I really wish I would of went!

 

[Greg Collier]

Man, that looks like an absolute blast I'd love to try that someday... maybe I will! DSMs have proven they're worthy Rally contenders!

Greg

 

[Zero Bar]

I've always wanted to try that and they just started a Rally Cross in my region this year.....too bad I'm fwd. Nice pics!

 

[DevilSperm]

ugh wtf, I so would have gone to this if Id have known about it. That looks like a blast

 

[onekyoung]

ugh wtf, I so would have gone to this if Id have known about it. That looks like a blast

DS,
It was indeed a blast. The next Nebraska SCCA RX will be on April 30th near Licoln, NE. If you are not privy to the NRSCCA PM me and I can send you the details.
The April 30th RX will have an exponentially larger turnout. The conditions should prove to be less traction inhibiting as well

 

[1LE]

Yep, lots of fun. MORE fun if you're closer to stock in the horsepower department though. It's frustrating to barely start to get on the gas and spin all 4 wheels. I've come in last place every time to lower powered cars that actually have control/throttle response at low speeds

 

[tstkl]

I just got my car painted, so I don't drive it in the rain, but YOU GUYS ALWAYS have to make me want to drive my car in the snow/mud.... everyone says, "you got awd, use it"

just watch my launches....

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

I am going to do that when I pick up a 1g or something. Its a complete bi*** to keep it somewhat clean as the mud gets everywhere, and I mean everywhere. I dont have the patience to clean mud off of every little corner in the engine bay everytime I would go rallycross. But they look like tons of fun! For right now ill stick with solo and hpde

 

[onekyoung]

I am going to do that when I pick up a 1g or something. Its a complete bi*** to keep it somewhat clean as the mud gets everywhere, and I mean everywhere.

I hear that... I am in the process of swapping out my alternator (don't ask - UGH!) and I found a sizable glob of mud in the spark plug wire recess on the valve cover :WTF:

I don't know what kind of gravity / physics defying amorpous mud creature I distrubed within that field... but rest assured he left his mark on my poor eagle... oh well the best thing is to rinse and repeat

 

[DevilSperm]

...and cover that CAS