In A World Of WRX's And Miata's, Be A Rallyvan

"i86hotdogs" (i86hotdogs) 05/22/2019 at 12:35 • Filed to: Rallycross, van

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After snoozing my alarm 8 times, I finally rolled out of the hotel bed. Toby pops his head up and starts following me to the bathroom as he always does. I look at myself in the hotel bathroom mirror; hair looks like I stuck my finger in a socket, undershirt and tie still on my body, head feels like Neil Peart was doing a drum solo inside it. A good chunk of me wanted to call the whole thing off, and go back to sleep. Waking up at 6:30 AM after attending a rowdy wedding in a barn should be an extreme sport. I am glad I chose to tough it out, because I now want to enter every rallycross event in a 300 mile radius.

Prior to the event, I received this e-mail from the organizer:

Never question the van

He initially asked if the van I registered was the tow vehicle. I politely informed him that the van is the competing vehicle.

I arrived with the van packed to the brim with snow tires, tools, jack, stands, our suitcases, cooler, tent, and a dog crate. Eyes and fingers immediately were pointed in my direction. I begin to unload the van and set up the tent. People start walking by asking “you racin’ this?” Lot of worried looks when they learn this is not only my daily driver, but I also have to trek 3 hours home after today.

There was a debate on whether or not the lack of rear seats put the car into the “Prepared” class. Rules state the car’s certain features have to be in condition from the factory. Technically , all Transit Connects leave the factory with passenger seats. When they arrive to the States from Spain, they remove the seats and send them back. They let that slide, fortunately.

For those following this story, I was shopping for some winter tires for the event. I debated on a few different brands and price ranges ranging from premium Nokia tires, to very cheap tires from Thailand. I settled on the cheap end, and bought some 215/60r 16 Sumitomo Ice Edge winter tires. The stock sidewall ratio is 55, and I was slightly worried about interference and rubbing in the front wheel well. Everything ended up working out, which was a huge relief.

I could not do too much to the van in prep. I wante d to keep it in a stock class, and didn’t have enough funds or time for any fancy work. I did the usual prep work: oil change, fluid check, battery check. Put a K&N filter in the box, put E3 plugs in, I cut the rear muffler which I discovered weighed about 45 lbs. Gave it some sound, but nothing fancy (I plan on removing the resonator, and try a few aftermarket mufflers out to help the sound, I read a Flowmaster 10 series works well with the 2.5). I also dropped the spare tire, I figured it could lose the weight, and I’m already carrying a full set inside, I wont need a dry spare.

There were 3 other cars in my “Stock Front” wheel drive class: Chevy Aveo that lost its flex-pipe exhaust mid event , a GM era Saab wagon with a baby seat in the back , and a 1993 VW Corrado with overheating issues . There were four WRX’s, four Miata’s, two Lancer X’s, and four Neon’s. There was an FB RX7 that sounded like it was operated by a million angry bees. There was a ‘93 Civic that burned oil so bad, it smoked through 90% of the course. There was an ‘02 X-Type that was well prepped for rally. There was a third gen Camaro, and a Sentra SE/R that reminded me how great those looked before Nissan ruined it. Someone competed in a Subaru Crosstrek that actually looked very sharp.

* All photos unless specified are credited to Josh Sharp and Tim Spellman*

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My first run was full of nerves and fear. I never pushed the van to its max yet. And I still h a ve to haul gear, and two loved ones back home, so my main goal was to not wreck. The course was still fresh, so there was the factor of fresh grass affecting it. They let the slower cars (me) run first to prep it for the faster ones.

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I had no idea how the van would handle throwing its 3600 lb curb weight around the course. I took the turns much more slow than I should. There is plenty of understeer in the van. My first run was a slow 65.387. My next few runs all were improvements, and I worked on tapping the brakes to get the weight to the front and rear end out. I improved to a 59.736 best for the morning runs.

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I would recommend snow tires if you can afford them. I can feel them working underneath me, and played a huge role in my improvement. There was another first driver with bald autocross tires on his Miata. It looked like he was on ic out there. The poor 2.5 duratec screams like its moving fast, but does not. The highest speed I saw was 36 MPH. I do need to work on using both feet on the pedals. I still do everything with one.

69...nice

We split the group in half to help work the course when not competing. I got to see the prepared and modified classes tear the course up. The RX7 was ridiculously loud and angry sounding. The driver tows a small trailer carrying a tool box and a set of tires to the event. Pure grit. I loved it. The Civic burned so much oil, there was billowing smoke coming from the welded Cherry Bomb exhaust. It looked like an old school locomotive passed trough the field. There also was the Jaguar that was everyone’s favorite. It was ve ry impressive seeing them throw that boat around. I got to see what some front drive vehicles do around the course. Some of them nailing the Scandinavian Flick with ease.

She’s a Spartan fan, not me.

We broke for lunch, and the tent we set up collapsed in the wind. One of the pla stic joints broke near the top. So that was the end of that tent. I checked all fluids and underbody. Everything looked good.The course was modified a little bit. The hairpins were shortened making the track faster.

OHIO BEEF

The course is now turned to dirt after the morning runs. I found myself throwing the van into the turns more comfortably, and can feel the rear end kick out more. I still felt hesitant in my first run, and turned up a slow time of 52.986.

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Those shorter hairpins came a lot quicker than I expected, and braked much later than I should. By runs 3 and up, I felt like I had a great rhythm going. I also was having so much fun, I wanted to run this course all day. My best time was clocked after a re-run due to a timer malfunction. I managed to cut almost 5 seconds off my first time nailing a 48.218.

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It was these runs when I started feeling the van’s height. It did not feel top heavy, so I did not fear tipping; but there was plenty of body roll from the stock suspension set up. It never felt like I was turning IN to the curve , more like following the curve.

I ended up placing 2nd in the Stock Forward class, being 12 seconds behind the Corrado, and 12 seconds ahead of the Saab wagon. Overall, there were 28 competitors , and I finished 20th overall. I was impressed with where I placed. I fully expected to finish dead last, or worse, not finish. I also had zero cone violations, which could be a good or bad sign depending on how you see it.

Another decal for the van

This was so much fun. I met a bunch of new people, and now have another hobby to throw money at. I don’t see myself getting into stage rally, but I will try to compete in every rallycross I can. It’s super convenient to be able to pack everything into the back of the van too. I wish I rallycrossed the Renegade I leased when I worked at Chrysler. That stick shift turbo toaster would have been a riot. Definitely doing this again. 10/10 would recommend to anyone.

Toby loved the sunshine and grass.

For Sweden > i86hotdogs 05/22/2019 at 12:37

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Ed: you can race the van, but only if it is completely impractical as a van.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > i86hotdogs 05/22/2019 at 12:42

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Holy shit that Civic...did they put oil in the fuel tank too?

Sir Halffast > i86hotdogs 05/22/2019 at 12:43

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69. Heh. Well, if there’s grass in the field...

i86hotdogs > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 05/22/2019 at 12:45

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We couldn’ t figure out if it was rings or gaskets. He kept it in 2nd gear and bounced the redline through most of the course.

CalzoneGolem > i86hotdogs 05/22/2019 at 12:48

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You really should make the van your tow vehicle if you plan to regularly rally cross . I know you want to rally cross the van. We all know you want to rally cross the van. It’ d be much smarter to get a beater and towing system.

CalzoneGolem > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 05/22/2019 at 12:49

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It only runs if the gas is 3 parts gas to 1 part S eafoam.

vicali > i86hotdogs 05/22/2019 at 12:53

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Looks like a bunch of fun!

I’ve long decided that there is always someone with a faster, more $$ car. I’ve even decided that there are better drivers than myself out there .

That’s why I love TSD, a huge part of it is luck, while another part is strategy, and a bunch of math. Then the Navigator has to tell me to go faster, slower, give directions, and read tulips.. and then I have to convert those directions into the driving.

In a class full of WRX, Evos, and even a few GTX rally cars - my brother and I can end up 2nd in our na Forester..

Plus I get bored driving around in a field.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > i86hotdogs 05/22/2019 at 12:54

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Great write up, thanks for sharing. That looks lik e so much fun!

Ive got a buddy with a 92 Volvo that hes thinking about selling and Im tempted to pick it up to use for automotive shenanigans like RallyX, possibly the Gambler, etc.  

diplodicus forgot his password > i86hotdogs 05/22/2019 at 13:01

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Did you pull the fuse for the traction control? Or do the newer transits have a button to defeat it?

RallyWrench > i86hotdogs 05/22/2019 at 13:05

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This is top shelf Oppo, awesome. These Transits are mighty tempting little vans. 

i86hotdogs > diplodicus forgot his password 05/22/2019 at 13:17

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It’s hidden in the settings page, but you can disable it.

i86hotdogs > RallyWrench 05/22/2019 at 13:18

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They’re built to last fleet beatings. The engine will run forever if taken care of. Just wish it had a little more power.

i86hotdogs > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/22/2019 at 13:18

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Do it!!

61hp > i86hotdogs 05/22/2019 at 15:53

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Love reading these updates - makes me want to take our TC out for some rallying!!

Have you looked at a skid plate for it? I know a lot of the Focus ST/RS rallycrosser s use skid plates and I’ve been tempted to get one for our dirt road adventures in our TC.

DirtisforracingAsphaltisforgettingthere > i86hotdogs 05/22/2019 at 16:24

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It was awesome to see you tear around in the Dixie Cups Van!  I'm the guy with the black and blue Neon that was running the grid for your run group.  I might have forgotten to send cars to start occasionally while watching the van turn in better than anyone had any right to expect.  Hope to see you and the van back!

i86hotdogs > DirtisforracingAsphaltisforgettingthere 05/22/2019 at 22:05

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Oh I’ll be back. Had so much fun!

i86hotdogs > 61hp 05/22/2019 at 22:07

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I doubt there’s a company that makes one for the TC. There’s hardly any aftermarket for these. You’ll probably have to hit up your local fabricator for something one off 

61hp > i86hotdogs 05/23/2019 at 15:13

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Skid Plate Guy, he’s on Instagram and Facebook, is pretty sure the Focus pan would fit, but I haven’t taken the time to put ours up on race ramps to see if the bolts look like they line up.

They are a bit pricey, so I may try to get a local fabrication quote.

i86hotdogs > 61hp 05/24/2019 at 07:13

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makes sense that they’re similar . I believe the TC and the Focus are on similar platforms