Convert to Dirt . . . with the Gravel Crew

Rally, the next big automotive movement? Some people think so, and have expressed interest in learning a little about the world¹s oldest, and purest form of motor sport. We have all set aside time on Sundays throughout the year to sit in front of the tube and catch a few hours of the World Rally Championship, the most extreme driving known to man. As you are taking in the extreme driving on very dangerous paths, you can¹t help but wonder if, poised with the same equipment, you too could be a world class rally driver. Some local Southern California drivers have taken a step toward discovery, and entered into a Grassroots rally event called a Rally-X.

A Rally-X is very similar to an Auto Cross, where there is a big open area that is made into a challenging obstacle course of cones and delineators. There are two major differences between an Auto Cross and Rally-X, one, the course is based on very loose surfaces, and two, the timing system is ran differently. Auto Cross is run like a time attack, where only your best time is recorded and scored. Rally-X uses a cumulative system, where all times are added together to give you your final time. This particular system is used to mock that of Stage rallies, where you can be leading an event up until the last stage, where 1 problem can cost you the race. This causes
competitors to consider consistency as their main strategy vs. all out attack on every run. There are many of these events that take place all around the country, making it one of the least expensive forms of motor sport to participate in. If you have a beater collecting spider webs in the backyard, bring it out, dust it off, and go rally it!

What does it take to enter a Rally-X, you ask? Easy, about $35.00 (entry fees may differ), a mechanically sound vehicle, and a Snell 90 rated helmet. This is a brief list of what has to be done to enter an event:

1) Show up!
2) Sign SCCA waiver
3) Sign-up, pick class, pay $
4) Return to vehicle, and completely empty it
5) Pass Tech inspection (simple common sense stuff)
6) Attend drivers meeting
7) Line up
8) Rally!!!

We decided we were going to see what this buzz was all about and headed out to Corona, Ca. to the final round of the California Rally Series Rally-X Championship, presented by the Gravel Crew RallyTeam/Club. The venue is actually a gravel parking lot for a paintball park called Tombstone, owned and operated by Pro-Rally driver Leon Styles. When we arrived at the venue, we were surprised to see hundreds of gun slinging, camouflage clad individuals wandering amongst mud flap bearing, light pod wearing rally cars. The Paintball session ends at 4pm, and the rallying starts at 4:30. At about 4:15 the parking lot was emptied of the war gamers, and the track grooming commences. Leon Styles is driving his tractor in and out of the 100 plus cones, delineators, and banners that make up this 1/2 mile course. After the drivers meeting, the competitors are offered an opportunity to walk the course. We had flashbacks of playing Gran Turismo walking the course lined with tons of banners from sponsors for the event. A quick question to one of the organizers revealed that there were $5000.00 plus in prizes to be split between top drivers in their respective classes!!! Yes we said $5K, First place took home around $750.00 worth of goodies, not bad for a measly $35.00 entry fee! Every entrant also received a free meal from Wahoo¹s Fish Tacos, a $7.50 value, technically making the entry $27.50!

The classes break down as follows:
(These are for the California Rally Series, and may not apply across the country)
SS2, Street Stock 2WD
SM2, Street Modified 2WD
R2, Rally 2WD
SS4, Street Stock 4WD
SM4, Street Modified 4WD
R4, Rally 4WD

The 2WD classes start the event, as they do less damage to the course, and tend to produce the highest # of first time drivers. The theory is to give them an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the course before parts of it become pitch black with nightfall, and deteriorated by the lightning fast 4WD cars. The cars all line up on the street, and wait to pull into the Audiobahn Starting tent. The Starting tent is approximately 15 feet from the first set of timing lights, so the start is critical. The better the launch, the faster you are going as you begin your timed run. With a quick course check by the marshals, and a radio call to the timing station, the next competitor is given a 5 count, when the starter hits 0, the green flag is lifted, and the gravel begins to fly. The classes generally do 3-4 runs each, depending on how smoothly the event runs. At this particular event, there were so many competing drivers (54) that the Gravel Crew had to limit the runs to 3 each. After 2 rounds of 2WD action, the 4WD¹s come out to play. The 4WD cars appear so much faster, perhaps it is just because we can relate them to their WRC counterparts, as some of the R2 times were right there with them. The amount of traction the 4WD cars have is simply amazing, watching these cars slide sideways from corner to corner leaves you standing there with goose bumps itching to get out there and do it! The 4WD¹s do all 3 of their runs, and then come back out to help as the 2WD class makes their final runs on a freshly groomed course. The Rallying goes till about 10:30 at night, and then the award ceremonies begin. There is a makeshift podium set up next to the registration booth, where all the winners are called out, and come up to collect their winnings. With Winnings in hand, the competitors stand atop the podium for a Kodak moment.

Braaaaaaap . . . psh . . . Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap . . . psh, sounds that will be forever burned into our memories and will be associated with the most fun you can have (legally) on four wheels. This event has opened our eyes to a whole new world of fun, filling the gap between road racing and the asphalt ballet that is drifting. Stay tuned as we intend to further investigate the sport of Rallying, and build our own equipment to participate. The bottom line is, we are hooked, and intend to show you how to prepare your car for the next big automotive movement . . . let project GCRallyX commence!