Rallying.

[bastarddsm]

So we have a few guys around here pissing around with rally cars, and I have always wanted too, soo....

I have a 90 Galant GSX that I'm pieceing back together, and I want to run some rallyx events, and then maybe build a open light car out of a 1g dsm. Anyway, I know that the SCCA does rallyx events, but what else is out there? I'm from the Northern part of Illinois, and goto school at SIU in carbondale. I know the St. Louis chapter has rallyx events, but the info is sketchy at best. The Chicago region doesn't have anything listed. I've heard of some info about some stuff in Wisconsin too.

So what forums are out there for rally/rallyx? What other sanctioning bodies are there? Anyone know of any events in the midwest?

 

[PotatoFlakeSTi]

So we have a few guys around here pissing around with rally cars, and I have always wanted too, soo....

I have a 90 Galant GSX that I'm pieceing back together, and I want to run some rallyx events, and then maybe build a open light car out of a 1g dsm. Anyway, I know that the SCCA does rallyx events, but what else is out there? I'm from the Northern part of Illinois, and goto school at SIU in carbondale. I know the St. Louis chapter has rallyx events, but the info is sketchy at best. The Chicago region doesn't have anything listed. I've heard of some info about some stuff in Wisconsin too.

So what forums are out there for rally/rallyx? What other sanctioning bodies are there? Anyone know of any events in the midwest?

Stage-Rally forum;
Specialstage.com

Sanctioning bodies for stage rally in North America are;
USRC
NASA (NRS)
Rally America
CARS (Canada)

Starting out with Rally-X is what I did, intended to do some dirt hillclimbs but ended up moving to NJ, so I'll be trying to jump into the stages this fall.

Remember, basic safety equipment for Rally-X is around $200 (unless they have loaner helmets)
For stage rally you're looking at $3500 on the low end, to over $8000.
(Cage, seats, helmet, suit, so on and so forth)

Edit; also consider ~$20-$50 entry fees for RX, $600-$1000 for stage rallies

 

[cait sith]

I suggest buying a used rally car with a current log book versus building your own car, like a cheap old Volkswagen Golf or something of that ilken of cheap and lots of parts out there. It will be much, much, much cheaper, and you will be able to get into the sport faster. You will also more than likely be banging the crap out of the car with a hammer/hitting trees/rolling it. You do not want to do this with some car you are in love with and spent all your money on. You will also need a tow vehicle/trailer/tires/willing participant for stage rally.

Think of it this way: If you love your car, you shouldn't stage rally it. You have to hate your car to go fast in rally.

 

[everbruin]

some events Midwest - DirtyImpreza Forums

 

[jmc94gsx]

The second round of Rally America is the Rally in the 100AW is this upcoming weekend in Salem, Missouri which is 90 miles southwest of St. Louis and 30 miles south of Rolla, Missouri in the Ozark foothills. That is the closest any national stage rally will be for the original poster. Rally America
Some teams look for help on specialstage.com , perhaps if you are up to it you could ask to volunteer for a team which is a good way to get your feet wet and you still have a couple of days if you decide this route. You could also volunteer for Rally America, or just go spectate for a day and ask racers questions during park expose, but I understand that you are a PhD student and are probably up to your head in work. But good luck!
Edit:
Salem to Carbondale is 172 miles and a 3.5 hour trek. This event will be a good place to check out how top teams in of the US and Canada operate.