Guide to preping for rallyx, rally, or other dirt driving

[thechickencow]

I've gotten tired of all of the threads where people are asking how to prepare for rallyx/mud/gravel/dirt/etc. driving. Here's my guide. Feel free to add if I'm forgetting things, or comment if you'd like, but hopefully this will save on some of the repetitive questions.

Tires
If you're going to do the occasional rallyx, stock tires/wheels work very well. If you're going to get more serious, upgrading to rally wheels and rally tires is helpful. You can find used 15" rally wheels fairly easily, and rally tires can be found pretty easily used from rally teams that don't use them after a couple stages. I'd suggest running 40psi on the stock wheels/tires to prevent rolling the tire off the bead.

Flaps?
I picked up some urethane flap material from www.rallylights.com and cut them to shape. I anchored them with drywall anchors using existing holes, and they are very sturdy. Other people have used truck flaps from auto parts stores in place of the urethane.

Skid plate/rear diff protector
I picked up a rear diff protector from www.duffguards.com shortly after I got the car, and I recently got a primitive front skid plate. This protection isn't absolutely necessary, but it'll help if you're on an exceptionally rough/rocky rallyx. I've got a few scratches on my rear diff protector, and not too many on the skid plate so far, but they help with piece of mind.

Suspension
The stock suspension seems pretty capable for rallyx duty. As you get more serious you may want upgrades, but stuff like DMS suspension isn't cheap.

Another great resource is www.rallycabal.com. Join the forums and ask questions. If you're in the midwest you can probably meet up for a rallyx in the area. They have a FAQ that is very good at http://www.rallycabal.com/resources/faq.php .

OK...I'm done for now. Feel free to add if anybody has suggestions, or PM me with questions.

tcc

[thechickencow]

Finally...flap pictures for you guys.


Here's the rear:


Here's the front:


I cut the flaps out of urethane material I got from www.rallylights.com and mounted them using drywall anchors in the factory holes. They've been sturdily mounted for probably a year now.

[thechickencow]

Here's a thread that deals with moving up to more serious rally stuff past rallycross:
http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/showth...threadid=38631

Here's a thread dealing with suspension:
http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/showth...threadid=43940

Here's a thread with some links to places to get tires:
http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/showth...threadid=43890

(also try TAD Motorsports in Chicago if you're close to there for used rally tires. They charge about $50/ea)

[Lt. Boom Stick]

For those of us in the New England Area, here is a Rally School to go and take lessons from. Thank you KC1 for providing me w/ the info!

Tim O'Neil Rally School

Looks like a great place too...so wish I had money to blow!

[thechickencow]

Jamie Thomas (Subie Gal) put up a good FAQ on her website, its at:
http://www.subiegal.com/sgracing/rally_faq_page.htm

[Lt. Boom Stick]

Heres another good article on the classes in rally.

Click Me

[thechickencow]

I stumbled across this from ACP over at specialstage, great talk about car control in rallying:

http://www.rallysport.on.ca/articles/Driving.html

[jaqattack02]

guess I'm a few years late for this thread but here's my $.02...

Great link to an STi mudflap template....(used it for my 04' sedan and love em!!!)
http://www.ravensblade-impreza.com/m.../stiflaps.html


ENJOY!!

His site moved, here's the new link...

http://www.northursalia.com/modifica.../stiflaps.html