Rally in the US Breakdown

[griffsfsr]

This is in response to Rich's question in the rally thread. I figured I would start a new topic so that one would not have to look through the pictures and such in the previous. Sorry it has taken a while, I was gone last weekend at the NASA Nationals, I should have the rest of the questions researched shortly. Feel free to ask more I will do my best.

How many organizations put on stage rallies? Any outlaw clubs, like the old MONY Series?

In the US we have two main organizers, Rally-America and NASA Rallysport. Each has there own regional championships which are broke down as follows;
NASA Rallysport
USRC United States Rally Championship (National)
ESRC Eastern States Rally Championship
NRSW NASA Rally Sport West
CRS California Rally Championship

Rally-America
Eastern Regional Championship
Central Regional Championship
Western Regional Championship

This is a full North American Schedule for this season and includes Canada
http://www.rallyracingnews.com/2006rallyschedule.html

As for outlaw clubs like back in the day, I have heard of none. But since I am not real familiar with how the MONY series was governed our ideas of outlaw could be different.

More important links:
http://www.unitedstatesrallychampionship.com/
http://www.nasarallysport.com/
http://www.rally-america.com/index.php

Into what classes do DSMs fit? Do we gotta run against Evos in that class?

The luck we have with DSM’s is that we have NA 2wd, Turbo 2wd, and Turbo AWD which allows entry into many classes. The first break down is for Rally-America.
Thing are well laid out here http://www.rally-america.com/info/2005_Rules.pdf starting on page 80 of the file. I will give a quick break down for DSM’s

Rally-America Classes:
Open= All DSM Variants, Turbo AWD 34mm inlet restrictor. Min Weight is 2700lbs.
Largest class with many Subarus and EVO’s
Group 5= Open 2wd Max Adjusted Displacement 5100cc, No restrictor
Group 2= Open 2wd Max Adjusted Displacement 2400cc, No Forced induction
PGT=Production, 32mm restrictor on turbo awd, Open 2wd, Weight 1.05 lbs per cc
Must run 14b, EVO and Subaru allowed
P= Production, Naturally aspirated
Group N= Large scale series production touring cars in accordance with FIA
Technical Regulations, Appendix J, Articles 251 (definitions), 252
(general prescriptions), 253 (safety equipment) and 254.
EVO and Subaru friendly.

Historic= 25 plus years old, not eligible.


Spread Sheet on page 7 for NASA Classes. http://www.unitedstatesrallychampionship.com/Downloads/2006 USRC Regulations Final.pdf

NASA Rallysport Classes:
Open AWD= Same as Rally-America
Group N = Same as Rally-America
Super Stock = Rally-America Production GT
Open 2wd = Group 2 and Group 5 of Rally-America
Stock = Production of Rally-America

The classes get split up for the regional’s but that gives you and overall outline. In the turbo awd you will be up against the EVO’s but the inlet restrictor really chokes out a turbo in a hurry.

To be Continued

 

[Ludachris]

Great info, thanks for sharing!

 

[Slow old poop]

You didn't tell us about entry fees. I heard $1,000

I heard that DSMs are killers in Production GT class. Is that the same as PGT? What's the killer setup for a DSM?

I can't see at night any more. How many rallies are run in the daytime?

Rich

 

[griffsfsr]

Rich, I got to tired to continue last night hence the note at the bottom. Here is some more info.

What does it cost to enter? (I read in Grassroots that the entry fee is $1,000)

I will take and break the entry fees down by sanctioning body and national , regional cost.
Rally-America:
The National events early entry fee will start between 900 and 1000 and go up as time goes on. This is the 2 day event that is eligible for National points. Rally America is the premier series at this time, and is where you will find the likes of Pastrana and Block Racing.

The regional which are run on the same roads at the same time as the Nationals is cheaper. The typically run two regional, one for each day of the Nationals. Friday usually ranges between 225 and 350 while Saturdays can be 350 to 500.

For those serious about their rally both the national and regionals can be registered for, the cost is generally a couple hundred over the price of the national. This does not mean twice as many road miles. It is just points in both series.

Those are all early entry fees which cut off a couple weeks before the event. Entry at the door in considerably higher.

NASA Rallysport
NASA tends to be very close to Rally-America but a little cheaper. I couldn’t find it today for the exact information but if I remember right Rally Tennessee was pretty cheap and offered big discounts for competitors coming from the west. NASA also does a two day national with regionals thrown in the mix.

Other cost incurred can be:
Notes: This is your route book and course instructions.
Recce: A preliminary pass down the road to make your own notes.
Shakedown: A practice stage to sort your setup out

Each event varies a bit, they generally post there cost and schedules on there site under the Supplementary Regulations. I will get to the other questions later.

 

[griffsfsr]

How many events are strut-busters? In the olden days, all the Michigan events killed suspensions.

Well suspension technology has come a long way, but there are still a few events out there that are known to break a car. A good number of cars rolled last year at the upcoming Colorado COG event. Maine has some rough roads which caused the welders and spare shocks to come out a few times in service. STPR generally has a high DNF rate due to high speeds and close trees.

I heard that DSMs are killers in Production GT class. Is that the same as PGT? What's the killer setup for a DSM?
Production GT is PGT and DSM’s were “killers” back in the day. Since then it is looking a little tougher now that the WRX is and has been sold in our country a few years. Production GT follows some unique guidelines. As for the killer setup in a DSM it depends on what class you would plan to run and what DSM.

I can't see at night any more. How many rallies are run in the daytime?

Night:
Snow Drift Ends 8:30 and 7:30 Held in January
100 acre Woods 7:00 Held in February
STPR Ends somewhere around 11 pm
Maine Ends 10:00 and 6:00
Ojibwe 10:00

Most of the rallies start during the day and tend to end towards the night if it is a national event. Some of the regionals will only run during the day as long as everything stays on time. There are also a few that will go late into the night. I would recommend checking on the event you plan to run as it can change year to year.

 

[Slow old poop]

Thanks for all the information.

Who knows, I might get back into rallying one of these days. Lord knows, it was one of the most exciting times in my life.

I see that my favorite rally -- the Sunriser 400 -- seems to have disappeared. I'd like to take Forest Road 5 at speed one more time before I pull the pin. Or thump over the tree stumps on Tower Ridge Fire Trail, splash the creek crossing on Sparcy Run, or even revisit my namesake, "Merritt's Gulch," just for old time's sake. *sigh* Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be.

Life is nothing more than a series of experiences. When they finally take me away to the Iowa State Home for the Bewildered, I'll regale my fellow inmates with my experiences on those old rallies.

Rich

 

[jtmcinder]

Keep in mind that 2Gs were never homologated, so classes which require this are only available to 1Gs. Not that you see many people rallying on double-wishbone fronts.

- Jtoby