Bring your 2WD, 4WD, or AWD Sub to RallyCross race in Clayton, NC on 21-Nov!

[thecarman]

Please forward to anyone (or any list) you think might be interested.

 

Make sure you pre-register ASAP if you'd like to go, because they will cancel the event if we don't get at least 25 people pre-registered by 14-Nov. You do NOT have to pay online when you pre-register. You can just pay your entry fee when you get to the event.

 

The Tarheel Sports Car Club puts on RallyCross events about once a month at a few locations just outside the RTP area (Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Chapel Hill, Durham and surrounding areas).

 

These are like autocross, but on dirt. Only one car on the track at a time, course is layed out by cones, the course is about 60 seconds long. It is in the open, so no chance of hitting trees.

 

The next event is 21-Nov on some private land near Clayton, NC. Directions are here: http://www.thscc.com/general/directions/bmwfarm.html

 

You can pre-register here: http://www.thscc.com/rallycross/prereg_rallyx.html

 

Rules are here: http://www.thscc.com/rallycross/info/rallyx_rules.html

 

If you have any questions about the event, I'd be happy to discuss.

 

Some pics and vids from previous races are at:

http://www.thscc.com/rallycross/photos/index.php

(for this specific course from February 2009, see:

http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff49/csuich/RallyX%202009_0201%20Sandblast%20RallyX/?albumview=grid

http://picasaweb.google.com/morgan.mehler/20090201RallyXAtBMWFarm#)

 

The format of a race is that each car in your class gets 3 timed runs in the morning and 3 timed runs in the afternoon. The scoring is cumulative - all your runs count. But to me, how my time stacks up against others is not as important as the fun I have racing in the dirt. With that said, I won the street-tire AWD class last August in a beat 89 GL-10 wagon, and got 2nd overall out of all entrants.

 

While one group is running the course, the other group works the course to watch for knocked-over cones, call them in to the scoring table, and set them back up. Knocked over cones are a +2 second penalty each.

 

We break for about an hour for lunch.

 

The race is usually over by 2PM, after which you can have "fun runs" that aren't part of the competition, but are still timed, so you can practice against the clock or just have fun.

 

You get a plaque if you place in your class, but there is no monetary reward.

 

I have been racing in this series for over a year. I started out with an 89 Subaru AWD wagon, and now have a 91 Audi Quattro. Neither car is far from stock. Last race in the Audi, I glanced down at the speedo, and hit 50mph at the fastest part of the track. That feels very fast on dirt (especially if it's slick). Most cars stay in 2nd gear the whole track - if that gives you an idea of the speeds.

 

Lots of people run daily drivers, but some run dedicated RallyX cars that are gutted to save weight, and there are several highly modded Subarus that throw a lot of dirt and are fun to watch. Even so, I won the street tire AWD class against these cars in a GL-10, and I also won the race-tire AWD class in the Audi we have now.

 

Front-wheel-drive cars are very competitive because they are so light and generally have better dirt traction than a RWD.

 

You can register for multiple drivers in a single car. Since the runs are solo (only one car on the track at a time), this works out fine, and each driver gets their 6 timed runs. I co-own my car with a friend from work. You can also have registered participants ride with you in your car, which is fun (and is also a good way for your co-driver to get a good look at the course before they run it themself).

 

Vehicles have to pass tech, which means no loose suspension joints or bearings (they shake the tires with car on the ground to see if they are loose), brakes work, seatbelts work, no loose items inside the car, structurally sound floor and body, no rust holes in the floor where stuff could fly in.

 

You need an approved helmet.

 

If this sounds like fun to you, definitely come try!