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What Is RallyCross?
RallyCross
is the fastest growing activity in the Sports Car Club of America's
multi-program motor sport schedule. It is a great place to start for
anyone interested in getting their feet wet in PerformanceRally. It
requires no special equipment and no major cash outlay.
RallyCross
is the first rung on the Performance Rally ladder in the SCCA. The next
step-up is ClubRally. ClubRally is Divisonal level PerformanceRally. Cars
in ClubRally must be prepared to Safety specifications published by the
SCCA. For the professional rally teams, there is ProRally: Real Cars, Real
Roads, Real Fast! For more information about ClubRally, ProRally, and the
SCCA, visit the national web site at www.scca.org.
So, just what is RallyCross?
Similar in concept and execution to the SCCA Solo II autocross events, RallyCross
events feature a single car at a time on a course marked by cones. Each
entry is allowed several runs. Each run is timed from start to finish as
accurately as possible. That is where the similarity to Solo II ends.
Held on a closed
course in an open field, gravel pit, or farmer's pasture, RallyCross
gives the driver a taste of what it's like to compete against the clock in
a low traction environment. The course is designed with safety for the
competitors, workers, and spectators first and foremost. Switchbacks,
esses, 90 degree turns, and chicanes are packaged tightly together to keep
top speeds for the average road car below 45 MPH. That might not seem very
fast, but the sensation of speed is incredible.
Autocross events throw
out all but the best time of the day, but RallyCross is
timed similarly to ClubRally. At a ClubRally, or a ProRally for that
matter, each Special Stage is timed and the smallest cumulative time for
all stages wins. The same applies to RallyCross -- only our Special
Stages are considerably shorter and we run the same layout again and
again. There is no way to DNF a run once started; the worst you can do is
equal to the slowest time completed for that run group. So, it behooves
you to find the problem that prevented you from crossing the line, take
care of it, and line up for another run!
There are four groups
of four (16) car classes used in the SWDIV RallyCross
events. The four groups are Front Wheel Drive, Rear Wheel Drive, Four
Wheel Drive, and Trucks. The groups are further divided into Under 2.5
liter and Over 2.5 liter, and yet again into Street Tire or Rally Tire
classes.
As you can see, there
is something for everyone. Because there are so many classes, odds are
really good that you can win, place, or show in your class with absolutely
no previous experience at all.
You need not prepare
your car at all to compete. But, you need to make sure you can pass
technical inspection; all cars must pass tech' before they are allowed on
the course. You don't need to bring a helmet, we have loaners. If you do
bring a helmet, it must meet a minimum of Snell 1995 (SA95, M95, or K98)
or newer. This is a minimum standards for use in RallyCross,
other approved helmets are: 1.
British Standards: BS 6658-85 type A/FR, including all amendments. 2.
SFI Foundation, Inc; SFI Spec 31.1
When you arrive on
site, park in the paddock area. Empty your car of all loose items. Now,
sign-in at registration, get your wristband, and get ready to have some
good, dirty, fun! At registration, you'll get a tech' sheet to put under
the windshield wiper on the driver's side. The Technical Inspector or his
appointee will come around to check the car and your helmet if you have
one.
Once everyone is
tech'd, there is always a mandatory drivers' meeting. Safety is the main
topic of discussion. Any questions you might have you can present at the
meeting. Also, any SCCA official will be happy to answer any question at
any point during the day.
That's it! You're
ready to roll. There will be a Paddock Marshal, a Staging Marshal, and a
Start Marshal to get you onto the course. Once you've completed the run,
line up again! We will run either three, four, or even more, runs per
group, depending on time constraints and the number of entries.
Everyone who runs is
required to 'work' the course. This consists of replacing knocked down
cones, reporting off-course excursions and cones knocked down, and
providing safety for the course. It isn't difficult. If you do not work
the course, your runs will be disallowed in the final scoring. So, don't
leave after your run! If you do, none of the times for that day will count
and any points you may have accumulated that day will not count toward the
year end awards.
So, come on out and
have about the most fun you can have without getting arrested. You are
certain to make new friends, improve your driving skills, and have a dirty
car at the end of the day.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Sasha Lanz, SWDiv RallyCross Steward
(972) 235-4305
alanz1@juno.com
Others Web Sites where rally information is
available are:
Ben’s Rally Page at http://www.beusrallypage.com
There is an active discussion group devoted to rallying
at rally-l@scifi.squawk.com.
The SCCA's National Road
Rally web site.
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