You Should Rallycross, but Don't.

by "Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
Published 03/22/2017 at 13:30

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The Thunder Valley Sand Drags were dusty. Dustier than a panhandle bean field during the Depression. Dustier than the room seems to get at the end of Braveheart . Each step and dropped cone sent up a pale cloud above the long field, but a strong, cool, southwest wind cleaned it up for us just as quickly. Saturday was my first rallycross experience, and the racing was so awesome that I didn’t mind a little fesh fesh. I didn’t drive this event, but by the end of it, I wished I had, and I will the next chance I get. You should, too. But don’t.

Let me explain. SCCA rallycross is almost exactly like autocross , but it’s off-pavement. Dirt, sand, gravel, mud, snow, and even ice are all potential rallycross surfaces, with the last two a bit unlikely at this point of the year. Run a short course between the cones for time. It’s that simple. There is one other difference. In autocross, your best time of the day is used for scoring. In rallycross, you are scored by the total of your day’s times. This is, after all, how full stage rallies work.

But unlike a stage rally, a rallycross doesn’t involve any jumps, high speeds, or water crossings, unless you count large puddles. Actually, despite the fact that most rallycross courses are just unused fields with cones in them, rallycross isn’t that hard on a normal road vehicle. Sure, if you drive a sports car so low you could use its oil pan to start a fire in an action movie (writing that one down), you might do some scraping. And yes, you’ll wear out your suspension faster if you rallycross all the time. But the average road car can handle the occasional rallycross without issue.

I know this because I saw a fully stock 2013 Chevy Volt out there churning up the clouds. No issues. Reuben, my friend who purposely built his Hyundai Genesis Coupe for rallycross, tells me that he has seen vehicles break on rallycross courses, but it’s not extremely common. As with autocross, rallycross courses are designed to keep the focus on technique, rather than speed.

Technique, however, is different with rallycross. Well, not exactly different. More pronounced, perhaps.

For instance, in autocross, rotating the rear of the car around cones can slightly can improve times. In rallycross, the same principle applies, but it’s so much easier to overrotate, especially in a rear-wheel-drive car like Reuben’s. Jamming open the throttle in a turn can get you sideways, which is fun, but bad for your times. You want just enough oversteer to keep your revs up without breaking forward momentum. Rebuen’s key to this was left foot braking. Braking and accelerating simultaneously causes the front wheels to “dig in.” They get more pressure as the weight shifts forward, and suddenly you can control the oversteer.

Reuben’s wasn’t the only RWD car out there in need of left foot braking. There were 4 Miatas, all hardtop-equipped due to rallycross regulations, an SW20 MR2, and one perfect, rally-prepped Beetle. Still, FWD, AWD, and 4WD vehicles were more common. AWD cars were the fastest of the day, of course, with a Subaru STi taking the overall victory. But even my friend Stephen’s automatic Audi Allroad, which he’s just running for fun, proved more than adept in the loose dirt. I rode with Stephen three times, and each time the car nicely collected itself out of turns when I thought it would certainly fly sideways out of the course. Stephen only hit one cone all day. It also helps that he’s a talented driver.

It was incredibly fun to ride with these guys, and as the day progressed, I began to mentally kick myself more and more often for not entering. Sure, my ’06 Civic has some dumb traction control that you can’t turn off, and yes, the electric throttle is perfectly useless, and yeah, the tires are best on pavement, but I’m not trying to impress anyone or win any trophies. Besides, most of the course can be run in first gear, and with the Civic’s 8,500 RPM redline, that’s an advantage.

I worried, however, that it would break. I think most people share those worries when they first hear about rallycross. That’s understandable. But statistically, most of you should be fine. Because most of you own a crossover, SUV, or truck. America is going crazy for them. Chrysler basically doesn’t even make cars anymore because trucks and SUVs are so popular.

Now, you might have bought that CRV/CX5/X3/Escape because you didn’t want to bend over to get the kids out of the car, or because you thought it was a refuge from the Minivan Stigma (it isn’t), but the fact is, it’s higher off the ground than the hatchback it’s based on, and probably has more suspension travel. That means it’s perfect for rallycross. I know this because I saw a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a Nissan Exterra, and a Subaru Forester put down some very respectable times on Saturday.

Imagine explaining to other parents at Sports Practice why your Audi Q5 is so dusty and has Rokblokz.

So you can and should autocross, but please don’t.

My favorite thing about Saturday’s rallycross is that there were so few entries. Only 27 drivers showed up. The last autocross I drove, as awesome as it was, had 193 entrants, making for a very long day and limiting runs to 4 each. On Saturday at rallycross, each driver got 10 runs, and they were done and gone by 4pm. So if you bring your Rav4 out, and all your friends bring theirs, we won’t get as many runs in.

But you should come anyway, because it’s awesome. But don’t. Check out the SCCA site to get started.

Full disclosure: This post originally appeared on StreetsideAuto.com , but I reposted it here, which explains why you thought I was accusing you of owning a CUV.

Replies (21)

"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
03/22/2017 at 13:41, STARS: 1

All that and you still haven’t said why not.

"random001" (random001)
03/22/2017 at 13:44, STARS: 0

Where does a Fiat 500c fit in?

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/22/2017 at 13:48, STARS: 1

So you can and should autocross, but please don’t.

My favorite thing about Saturday’s rallycross is that there were so few entries. Only 27 drivers showed up. The last autocross I drove, as awesome as it was, had 193 entrants, making for a very long day and limiting runs to 4 each. On Saturday at rallycross, each driver got 10 runs, and they were done and gone by 4pm. So if you bring your Rav4 out, and all your friends bring theirs, we won’t get as many runs in.

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/22/2017 at 13:51, STARS: 0

Hmm...That’s an interesting question. I’ll bet it could run, but you’d have to check with your local SCCA safety person. They’re allowed to make judgment calls.

"random001" (random001)
03/22/2017 at 14:03, STARS: 1

Cool. I mean, it still has the roll cage, since it’s just that center section soft top, but I will ask. Thanks!

"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
03/22/2017 at 14:07, STARS: 1

I REALLY want to rallycross. But last time I checked my local SCCA doesn’t even offer it. It really bums me out because I used to have a Subaru Crosstrek which would have been just about perfect for it. My current Civic, less so. I know it’s still doable, but that thing is pretty low to the ground, and the suspension isn’t exactly designed to go on even a bumpy road, let alone a rallycross.

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/22/2017 at 14:16, STARS: 0

That is a bummer. Maybe you can lobby them to start it up? The big hurdle, I believe, is finding a place to do it.

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/22/2017 at 14:16, STARS: 1

Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was allowed.

"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
03/22/2017 at 14:38, STARS: 0

I live near Philadelphia and I think the closest chapter that does is DC. Philadelphia SCCA has been saying for a LONG time they need someone to run the Rallycross division. That certainly isn’t me. Especially since I’m not even a member. lol

Side note, does anyone know if you’re a member of one SCCA region if you can do another one’s event? Basically I guess what I’m asking is SCCA membership inclusive across the country?

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
03/22/2017 at 14:49, STARS: 0

GOD DAMN PLASTIC CORE SUPPORT!!!! I really want to get back into playing in the dirt but 1 bump to the nose and my radiator falls out (not really but the core support will crack the first time my car bottoms). I need to find a way to reinforce it to impacts while still allowing me to mount a plate (plastic support is the only structure across the front of my car forcing you to mount the plate to it).

"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
03/22/2017 at 14:50, STARS: 2

Man, I love when WRXs are used for what they were intended for! That last picture brings me so much joy I can’t express it in words. Focus RS owners seem like the new vegans. Doesn’t matter if you ask, they’ll tell you it’s an RS.

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
03/22/2017 at 15:03, STARS: 0

I’m inclined to say no dice on the 500c. Hard tops aren’t allowed to have their sunroofs open beyond the vent position and even with a full cage Miatas have to have a solid roof. The issue is that if you were to roll the top would likely rip open which would allow objects into the vehicle which is bad. Ask your SCCA tech inspector though. My region has occasionally allowed vehicles without windows to run.

"random001" (random001)
03/22/2017 at 15:06, STARS: 0

Yeah, it’s worth asking. Technically, if you were to roll, the windows will break and allow objects into the vehicle, too. Just, you know, maybe not as many objects....

"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
03/22/2017 at 15:09, STARS: 2

But unlike a stage rally, a rallycross doesn’t involve any jumps , high speeds,

Oh, really.... Sounds like your local rallycross is flat and boring!

The group near me runs a course where half is on a motocross course and the other half is a more typical flat rallycross course (though the insides of the turns WILL roll your car). Typical runs are 2+ minutes. As for speeds... in my terrible Impreza wagon, I still managed to hit 50+mph, as well.

Unfortunately, I wish it was a less extreme course. It’s way too easy to break a car out there, so I’m done. I couldn’t imagine taking anything other than a junky car that you expect to break. Certainly not a new car.

Side note: this is also the same place where shop-teacher broke his Roadmaster wagon. It’s a seriously intense course. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND checking out an event before you sign up for one, just so you know what you’re getting into. Most are flat and pretty safe for your car... but not all!

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/22/2017 at 15:41, STARS: 1

Agreed. I meant to get to that point. Our region runs 2-3 different places throughout the year, but I’m only comfortable running the one I’ve already seen.

"GUYMANDUDE" (guymandudebro)
03/22/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 0

I believe having an SCCA membership means you can compete in all SCCA events across the county.

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/22/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 1

This guy was really cool about it. He said he’s driven sports cars for years, but they’ve all been garage queens. When he bought the RS, he thought, “This is a rally car. I need to rally it.”

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/22/2017 at 15:43, STARS: 1

Ew. “Plastic” and “support” should never be used in conjunction.

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/22/2017 at 15:44, STARS: 0

I believe it is.

"WinrickRacing" (winrid)
03/10/2018 at 16:11, STARS: 0

This sport is about getting people into rally. Don’t turn them away because they have a slightly slower vehicle that still fits the rules.

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/10/2018 at 22:03, STARS: 0

I’m not. I thought that was clear in the article.