Rally on a Budget!

There are many ways to get into rallying, all of which can be fun and satisfying. The best method for you depends on your interests, talents, time, and funding. Here are some suggestions, organized roughly by cost. You can always switch paths as opportunities present themselves - in fact most rallyists participate in a variety of ways over time. So let's take a look at some choices:

1. Working Rallies

Volunteering to work rallies is one of the most economical ways to get involved in rallying. Just pick an event, then call or email the organizer. They will place you with more experienced workers for on-the-job training.

There is no monetary compensation but often you will get a T-shirt or other memento of the weekend. Every rally has a variety of jobs, and many don't require pre-event training. Helping with tech inspection gives you the chance to see the cars up close. Working as a stage control worker allows you to interact directly with the teams, while learning how rally timing works. If you have an SUV or pickup you can drive the course after the rally as one of the sweep crews, while helping stranded rallyists along the way. If you are a ham radio operator you can work within the communications net, which can involve being located at a start, finish or a road blockage (great spectating). Larger rallies also need spectator marshals, banner teams, service area marshals etc.

Once you have gained some experience you may want to take on a broader area of responsibility. Team leader jobs like stage captain and communications captain become open to you. Being a team leader requires pre-event coordination with your team members and the organizer, but can be very rewarding. You may decide someday that you want to organize a rally yourself. You will be involved in all aspects of the event, and will be working with all of the team leads. In spite of the hard work, it is very satisfying to see your vision come to life on the day of the event.

2. Service Crew

Being a part of a service crew is also a very economical way to get involved. Service crews meet the rally teams at pre-defined service areas, and check the car or attempt to repair damage. You will learn a lot about how a rally car is built, and how to keep it running. If you like challenging mechanical work in less than optimum conditions, service crewing is for you. If you would like to build a car of your own at some point, you will learn a lot about what works and what doesn't.

So how do you get hooked up with someone? One method is to look at event results and pick a team that is running a car you are interested in. Then give them a call offering your help - most people appreciate extra crew members! You may also pick a team at an event and offer your assistance. A third option is to put the word out on one of the rally chat groups (like CRS Pacenotes).

3. RallyCross Competitor

RallyCross competition is the cheapest way to compete as a driver. RallyCross courses are generally smooth dirt or gravel lots, with the course marked by cones. The competition is usually very keen with competitors comparing times after every run. Entry fees are usually in the $20 to $25 range, for 3 to 6 runs on the course. While there are classes for full rally cars there are also several "street" classes. In addition the California Rally Series has year-end championships in two rally car classes (GT and Stock) and three "street" classes (4wd, Over 2L 2wd, Under 2L 2wd). For those on a budget (either time or money) the CRS "street" classes offer a great entry level. At some point you can then choose to move to one of the rally car classes, and then on to running full rallies. It should be noted that the GT and Stock Class rules are the same for both RallyCrosses and rallies, so one car can be used for both.

4. Co-Driver

While co-driving requires certain skills, it can offer very inexpensive competition while learning a lot about the sport. You will even learn about rally driving! Co-drivers need to read the route book and odometer to communicate the route and hazards to their driver, all in a car at speed. In addition the best co-drivers often keep track of their competition and act as a team manager, planning resources and strategy. As a co-driver you will experience what a rally car can and can't do. Many excellent rally drivers began their rally careers as co-drivers.

So how do you develop co-driving credentials? The first step is to go to a rally school. Locally, there is one in the spring and one in the fall. At a rally school you will have the opportunity to learn all of the skills you will need as a beginning co-driver and even get to do some in-car practice. The next step is to get your first ride and your equipment (driving suit and helmet). One method is to call the organizer of the next event, because he may have had enquiries from drivers who need a co-driver. Or put your name out on one of the rally oriented chat groups like CRS Pacenotes. You need to let people know that you are looking for a ride.

5. Driver

While driving a rally car is by far the most expensive path into rallying there are ways to control the cost. The first key is to pick one of the less expensive CRS classes, either Stock or GT class. Stock Class is for two wheel drive cars worth less than $4,000, with strict car preparation guidelines. GT Class is for four-wheel drive cars with the same vehicle preparation limits as Stock Class but with a turbo restrictor required instead of a price limit. Either of these classes will provide cost effective rallying since the areas where you can spend money are limited by the rules. In addition, since you won't be going quite as fast as the cars in the three open classes, chances are you won't damage the car as much when you make mistakes (which happens to everyone).

The second key to getting started on a budget is to buy a used rally car. Used rally cars go for about 50 cents for every dollar originally spent, and this doesn't include the countless hours spent building the car. You do need to be careful in picking your rally car though. As you consider a car look carefully at the underside, where much of the damage can take place. Has the car ever been rolled? Has it been well maintained? Is there a record of what has been done on the car recently?

Attending a rally school may save you money in the long run, since you will learn preparation tips and inexpensive sources of rally merchandise from experienced competitors. It is important to try to find a "mentor" who has rallied for a while. You will avoid a lot of the common mistakes by learning from their experiences! One of the most noteworthy characteristics of our sport is the generous help that newcomers always encounter when they begin to rally.

Summary

So choose your path and get started! Remember that there is always someone you can turn to for help - start with the CRS Director or the SCCA ClubRally Steward for suggestions. And make a serious effort to be realistic in your plans, in order to keep the costs controlled. Make a three-year plan and recognize that you aren't going to get your first car or win your first championship immediately. You will find you are able to rally a lot longer if you spend wisely.