Beater Rallycross car: what the heck am I doing here?

mazdeuce wrote: Evo's in all the AWD classes at nationals.

Sorry, I have a 2WD mindset since most of those in here are talking about RWD/FWD rallycross, and since that's what I drive. So that's what my "lightness" comments refer to, in general.

Also the phrase "all other things being equal," which is not the case when you're comparing an Evo to a N/A GC and saying "heavier is better." The Evo is simply a better performance car in virtually every respect, including a much more sophisticated AWD system. And that's coming from a WRX owner.

I think in AWD power and traction can overcome weight. In FWD/RWD I'm not convinced that's the case. I don't think Mustangs and Camaros and e46s and Vics are dominating RWD in most places. Or Maximas and Accords in FWD. No, mostly Miatas, e30s, RX7s, Escorts, old Civics, etc....the light, low-power cars.

I think there's a balance that must be had. On a low-power car, lighter is the only weapon since it has to outhandle the competition. More power can compensate, up to a certain point (IMO, that's somewhere around 200hp on loose surfaces ala BRZ).

But we could argue forever on this and never come to a conclusion though. Which is why it's a good argument :)

You're absolutely right, I was just being obtuse. I'm already wondering if I can make a composite hatch for the RX7 that I haven't even gotten home yet. Fiberglass doors? Mod has so many possibilities.

I totally ninja edited out a few more poorly-constructed arguments that you would have torn apart, lol

Hell, for your RX7 - is a hatch even really required? Could you just do a composite bulkhead behind the seats (like a pickup truck) up to the roofline? That would be lighter and possibly structurally better than a composite hatch anyhow, perhaps/.

I really need to get out to another region and run on some "dirt" and "grass" (whatever those things are), and I think a lot of you guys need to come here and try out the hard clay/rock. I think we'd ALL have totally different mindsets if we were running on each others' venues

I'm gonna make every effort to get to the SW regionals next year (though not nationals....too berkeleying far). How far is that from you in Texas?

The SW event is in Texas and will be run at the venue we usually run at. The SE challenge was in Sweetwater TN last year. Same place in 2014? That's 13 hours away. It might he possible but only if it's a bit earlier in the summer. I'm usually in Michigan for the summer by then. I could probably make the event in Michigan if I could convince my wife that dragging my race car along for summer vacation was a good idea.

Whoops, yeah I meant SE regional, not SW. SW is like 20 hours from me, lol.

I also want to do a regional event someday. Heck, I just want to get up and see these dingy E30s I keep reading about.

Brett_Murphy wrote: I also want to do a regional event someday. Heck, I just want to get up and see these dingy E30s I keep reading about.

man, a fozzie driver calling e30s dingy.......low.

Compared to the top heavy roll-pig Forester, yes.

And sorry, "Dirty E30s" not "dingy".

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Best rally car ever: Buy a 4 door, they're $1000 or less in running, driving condition. Best combination of style and handling in the dirt. Plus tough as hell. I used to beat on my 2 door all day long at Rallycross events and then drive it home 3 hours. Had a b20 and 4.3 gears, with 195/65r15 rubber. 6500 rpm was just about 100 mph. That 2 liter four-banger sucking through dual carbs sounded great.

A 122 for $1000 in running condition? Where?

Brett_Murphy wrote: Compared to the top heavy roll-pig Forester, yes. And sorry, "Dirty E30s" not "dingy".

I kind of dig "Dingy e-Thirties" though, actually

dalek wrote:

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Buy a 4 door, they're $1000 or less in running, driving condition. Best combination of style and handling in the dirt. Plus tough as hell. I used to beat on my 2 door all day long at Rallycross events and then drive it home 3 hours. Had a b20 and 4.3 gears, with 195/65r15 rubber. 6500 rpm was just about 100 mph. That 2 liter four-banger sucking through dual carbs sounded great.

A 122 for $1000 in running condition? Where?

It requires spending most of your waking hours on CL, apparently...

dalek wrote:

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Buy a 4 door, they're $1000 or less in running, driving condition. Best combination of style and handling in the dirt. Plus tough as hell. I used to beat on my 2 door all day long at Rallycross events and then drive it home 3 hours. Had a b20 and 4.3 gears, with 195/65r15 rubber. 6500 rpm was just about 100 mph. That 2 liter four-banger sucking through dual carbs sounded great.

A 122 for $1000 in running condition? Where?

It requires spending most of your waking hours on CL, apparently...

Fair warning, I have not had the time to read this whole thread yet so if it has already been posted I apologize. That being said, I'm just gonna leave these right here.

This: or This: because This:

yes!

though....I'm not so sure that last one is actually a Chevette, is it? I very well could be wrong about that though

In reply to irish44j:

It's a Vauxhall... close enough.

irish44j wrote: yes! though....I'm not so sure that last one is actually a Chevette, is it? I very well could be wrong about that though

Vauxhall Chevette

GM T-Platform

How would one of these work?

I was just discussing Chevette's with my wife! We both grew up with them and she said she saw one for sale the other weekend when I was out of town. She stubbornly refuses to tell me where it was and I haven't stumbled on it yet. I think someone should be rallycrossing a chevette.

We had an old rusty Fiesta out there running in stock class last year. I considered protesting it due to significant weight reduction from his rocker panels and fenders, lol.

mazdeuce wrote: I think someone should be rallycrossing a chevette.

I have been thinking about it for awhile.

motomoron wrote: How would one of these work?

I had asked irish about a similar car a couple of years ago. It'll "work" fine... but you'll be running against WRX's.

mazdeuce wrote: She stubbornly refuses to tell me where it was and I haven't stumbled on it yet. I think someone should be rallycrossing a chevette.

Smart wife. You are now a man with a trailer. A dangerous combination.

Ian F wrote:

motomoron wrote: How would one of these work?

I had asked irish about a similar car a couple of years ago. It'll "work" fine... but you'll be running against WRX's.

yup, that's the rub. And you're running against Evos too in some regions.

We had an older Legacy wagon that ran in SA or PA last year and finished top-3 on the season (IIRC). But the older ones were much lighter than the newer ones and much more nimble to compensate for the lack of p/w. And he is a hell of a driver to boot.

I'd actually say a Fozzie may be better than a Legacy, just going on what I've seen on course over the last couple years. Especially a stripper MT Fozzie. But still would be tough to stay with the GCs and WRXs, forget the STIs and Evos.

Of course, you could always get the Legacy and pull a driveshaft or two, and run in a 2WD class That could be interesting.

EvanB wrote:

mazdeuce wrote: I think someone should be rallycrossing a chevette.

I have been thinking about it for awhile.

Chevette body swap onto the Miata? I bet the wheelbase/dimensions are fairly close.....

Junkyard_Dog wrote: because This:

Every time I get sick of RX-7 shenanigans, I scout around for a Chevette. ANY Chevette. Exactly because of this.

Mmm... Chevette with a 2.4 Ecotec hotted up to 280ish naturally aspirated horsepower (the best kind of horsepower) and all sorts of suspension re-engineering done. Because there isn't a car on the planet that doesn't need the suspension to be completely re-engineered.

irish44j wrote: I thought you ran a 1st gen RX-7? That qualifies as a "light car" in my book. What cars that would be considered "heavy" would you say are dominating in rally-x?

My car weighs more than some of the Subarus out there. I started with the heaviest year and added a lot more weight to it in the form of skid plates and about 2 Home Depots worth of angle iron and sheetmetal in the suspension, and balanced it out by removing some lightweight carpet.

On the other hand, it hasn't exactly been dominating this year either. It feels a lot more stable on rough stuff than the car that HAS been dominating, so there's that anyway.