Rally Cross

[blueb3]

Went to the Rallycross yesterday, and got fried in the sun AGAIN!! (but nowhere near as bad as last time :-) ) There were 21 cars at this round, and more course changes than you could shake a stick at. It hasn't rained here in a week, and the thought was since there was dry grass and hard pack dirt they would let the guys wearing rally tires run first. By the way, Ohio dirt is mostly clay, and it retains water FOREVER. So needless to say the course was very interesting for us running all season tires. We started on dry loose dirt, and throughout the course went through grass, hard pack dirt, loose dirt, rutted clay and even a bit of muddy clay.

I was more than a little nervous actually running my car. I have to drive home in this car, and if I break anything my wife will KILL me. So my first lap was a very slow and cautious 63.something. As my confidence grew and realizing that my car handles this stuff amazingly well, I was able to shave 10 seconds off my lap times. The 6th run was a very respectable 52.9! I was STOKED, and I wasn't in last place!!

Since I was on the crew that ran second and worked for the first group, there was over 2 hours before I got to run again. That time was not spent wisely. I stayed out in the sun and heat (90+ deg.) drank some pop, and failed to take the opportunity to walk the course for my second runs. Needless to say that I only have myself to blame for my performance (or lack there of) during the second heat.

1st run - DNF did not finish. I somehow got lost out on the course (didn't I just spend the last hour standing out here watching cars do this and then have a parade lap)
2nd-5th run - Kept missing the same gate (automatic 10 second penalty) I kept over running it.
6th run - Found the gate, hell I PLOWED the gate. Took out the marker and pointer cone :lol: But still had a good run.

So, was I happy with how the day turned out? Mostly. I had a great morning, and met up with some great people and had a great time. I just didn't bring my A-Game to the second half and it really showed. Would I do it again? In a heart beat. I had an absolutely thrilling time, and would love to do it again. Unfortunately life is stepping in and putting the Kabosh on the rest of the season for me. My wife is due with our daughter in a month and as such, this was my one and only chance to be gone for a whole day for the forseeable future. But I will be back next year, and will be more competitive to boot, now that I know what myself and my car are capable of.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/06/Mix131-2.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/06/Mix130-2.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/06/Mix123-2.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/06/Mix122-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/06/Mix112-2.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/06/Mix111-2.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/06/Mix110-2.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/06/Mix100-2.jpg
and another legacy that was there being driven by a husband and wife team:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/06/Rallycross035-2.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/06/Rallycross030-2.jpg[/img]

[Plays_with_Toys]

Did you tell them about SL-i??? Car looks good out there. What place did you take? How hard was it on the car? And, did you buy the helmet, or is there a way of getting helmets for a single day use that I don't know about?

[blueb3]

We talked about SL-I, he is the founding member of Centralohiosubarus.com The course was a lot easier on the car than I was. In the morning, on my first couple of runs, I manually shifted into second (I have a 4eat) for the first few runs, and then for the last 3 I just left it in first and planted the go pedal. There was a bad spot at the end of the course for the second heat (two people popped tires off the bead) but was fixed for us in the second group. As far as overall, I am not sure. I am waiting on the results to be posted on-line (had to leave after I helped with cleanup because of time constraints.) I know I did better than a couple other people who retired, but I stunk up the place on the second heat. I was completely fried from the sun and weather, and didn't even walk the course before I ran.
The helmet was a loaner. Our chapter has 2 big sterilite containers full of helmets. They are there, free of charge, for whomever needs one. I will buy one for next year though and have some sweet vinyl made up for the car as well :-D I had an absolute blast, I must say it was the best $30 I have ever spent.

[strat81]

god i want to do that... :twisted:

[blueb3]

You should, it's a really great time, and a heck of a lot easier on your car than auto crossing.

[Plays_with_Toys]

god i want to do that... :twisted:

Your car would look so hot out there. But do you rub at all at full suspension flex? I'd be worried about going fast into a corner and having the tires rub like mad.

[blueb3]

no rubbing issues at all, I was however on the stock 14" steelies with a stock "L" suspension.

[strat81]

i get minimal rubbing at full lock (although i'd have to put the swaybars back in) :lol: