Rallycross?
 

I'm going to a rallycross in a few weeks, and I would love to drive my RX-8, but having never done anything beyond autocross before, I'm wondering if the 8 will be good (acceptable) for this event. It's stock except for 225/40 Hankook snow tires on the stock wheels, which I think would be a whole lot better on dirt than they were at the last autocross I went to...

So, does anybody have any experience or advice with this kind of thing?

Thanks.

It will certainly be acceptable. If you wanted to get serious about it you'd want to get smaller wheels and rally tires which would require brake modifications (most likely major). But if you just want to go and have some fun you will be fine with what you have. Make sure you inflate your current tires to 40+ PSI.

If you're going to continue to rally I'd suggest getting a diff guard and some mudflaps, and maybe even a front skidplate (probably less important). If you find your local course is pretty smooth just some mudflaps would suffice.

As for driving... In rallyx the term "slower is faster" applys. Going sideways and drifting through turns may be fun but you're not going to be quicker around the course. Use a lot of partial throttle coming out of slower turns and drive it almost like you would with a little snow on the ground.

Have fun and good luck!

Here's a link that might help.

http://www.rallycabal.com/resources/faq.php

If anyone is interested, I competed in the Detroit SCCA Season Ender Rallycross. It took place at the Fowlerville Fairgrounds in Fowlerville, MI on their horse track. There was snow on the ground when we got there, and the modified class cars ran first to clean up the track. When I finally got out there, it was wet and soupy and the Hankooks didn't hook up too well, but the car was great in the firmer dirt. The second run group was in the opposite direction and I didn't get out on the track until after the sun went down, which was kind of an adventure on its own. The course was rerouted around the wetter stuff, so it was a lot faster and grippier. Overall, it was ridiculously fun. I ended up getting over six minutes of seat time for about the same price as an autocross entry. To anyone who is interested in racing off road or just wants to try something new, I highly recommend trying out a rallycross.

http://lh6.google.com/kenneth.tsang/...jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh3.google.com/kenneth.tsang/...jpg?imgmax=512

I liked it so much that I'm going to be entering in a TSD rally on January 5th. I actually fabbed up a quick release light bar with some Hella 500 driving lights too, which hopefully decreases my chances of driving off the road at night...

http://lh5.google.com/kenneth.tsang/...jpg?imgmax=512

Very cool, happy to hear you got out there and had fun.

sounds like a great way to ruin the rocker panel paint job ... :uhh:

Apologies for resurrecting this old thread; but I can't find a currently running one on rallycross, and I'm interested in giving it a try.

What's a good material for skidplates and differential guards? There seem to be plenty of off the shelf items for Subaru Imprezzas and Mitsubishi EVOs; but I've not found a single thing for a Mazda RX-8, so I am expecting to have to fabricate it myself. I just don't know what would be a sturdy enough material. Regrettably, in the two years since that post was made, that URL went the way of the Dodo.

I'm thinking that's the reason for the suggestion for the mudflaps; but I'm open to suggestions on other ways to protect the paint.

Thats nuts in an RX-8. Instead Buy and old impreza, Talon AWD, Eclipse AWD and go to town.

If I were going to get a car specifically for rallycross, I'd probably get an old FB rather than go the AWD route. It's just my personal preference.

longpath, I got your PM, but I figured I'd post here for the general public.

The biggest misconception (and deterrent for most people) about rallycross is that's it's going to hurt your car. I've been rallycrossing for 2 years (not seasons, because we keep going through the winter) with a pretty much stock car and not had any real damage. The worst that's happened is that I've lost some of those stupid exhaust shrouds, but I've had that problem with cones in Solo too. Stick to established organizations like SCCA because their rules won't allow a course that can really hurt your car. However, the car will get very dirty. It's a huge pain to clean up after a mucky rallycross event. You end up with crap in weird crevices between panels, in the fender liners (mine regularly bleeds mud out of the trunk gaps and taillight gaps) and stuck in and around control arms and pivots.

I made some mudflaps out of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to keep the car cleaner and the rockers safe, and the rockers are completely chip-free. I actually have a dent in my driver's side rocker panel from a really vicious cone at an autocross, but nothing from rallycross. Other than that, I don't have any protective stuff.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/...5622f26506.jpg

As far as tips for rallycrossing, you really just need to get out and do it. If you have snows or all-seasons, just bring your car as it is and go play around in the dirt. Here in the Detroit Region, most of our sites are very pretty smooth. You can see them on my Youtube channel Maybe you can ask local rallycrossers about the sites in your region and show up to one of the smoother ones for a start. Try to get rides and talk to your fellow racers. I've found that the rallycross scene is pretty laid-back and most people are out there to slide around and throw some dirt rather than to win $1 trophies.

If you are looking to win, you'll quickly discover that cars don't matter a whole lot in rallycross. Learn to be smooth and look ahead and you should do well. The RX-8 is not the best car for the sport because of its large wheels and limited tire selection, but I've had pretty good success in my region, and the car looks sweet in the dirt too!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WSiJNJb2i8E/Sq...0/DSC_2094.JPG

If you have specific questions about anything, just let me know. It's always cool to get more people into the sport.

Where did you get the polyurethane with the kick@$$ mazda logo on it for your mudflaps?

My current tires are 245/40R18 Pirelli P-Zero Nero RFT on the OEM rims. Do you think these would suffice for an initial attempt (there's an event in January that is close enough in Connecticut for me to make it)? I also have a set of Pirelli 240 Snowsports in the OE 225/45R18 but I'd have to have the swapped on as I only have the one set of rims.

Am I correct then that you do not use any additional shielding for the sump or rear differential?

What gauge/thickness did you use for your mudflaps?

Kennetht638, do you use a paper air filter like the OEM filter? I'm currently using a Green filter; but am not sure that's good for rallycross.

The plastic for my mudflaps is 1/16" LDPE and it's available at a lot of places that sell metals and plastics. If you can't find any local, you can try US Plastic. They have a bunch of other interesting materials, but I used the LDPE because it was just lying around the shop at school. It's really easy to cut with just some tin snips. I actually designed the decals myself (at least the "rally" part of it) and cut them on a vinyl router that I have access to. They take a bit of a beating, so there are bits and pieces missing from the stickers now.

The mudflaps are the only guarding that I have. I think any other guards would take me out of stock in solo anyway.

If you get snow where you are (and I imagine you do or you wouldn't even have snow tires), rallycrosses in the snow will be much more fun with the winter tires on. I've seen lots of FWD and even AWD cars really struggling in the snow with all-season tires, so I can only imagine the trouble that the RX-8 would have. If it's just dirt, all-seasons are fine. I personally use Yokohama IceGuard IG20's in the stock size and they are wildly inconsistent. They struggle in sloppy mud and really packed down snow, but they excel in loose over hardpack conditions as well as deep snow. I kind of wish I had just ponied up the cash for some Nokians.

The only mods to my car are the tires, Koni shocks, catback exhaust, mudflaps and a light bar for night events and TSD rallies. So I do use the OEM air filter.

I saw something in the rules about not allowing adjustable shocks in stock class; but I don't know if they meant adjustable in the usual sense or if they were referring to full coil overs. Are the Koni yellows allowed in stock class?

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...37&postcount=6

You're correct that the Koni shocks are not legal for stock class because of their adjustability. I leave my rears on because they're not really externally adjustable, but the fronts will bump you out of stock.

Resurrecting an old thread...I am hoping to rallycross my rx8 (04 auto) this summer and would love to do do some ice racing if I can find some locally in PA this winter. Any advice?

Buy a Subaru.

Reach out to Kenneth directly, so the naysayers have less chance to drag you down because they don't share your dream.

I can't get an Impreza for the price I got my rx8 at, otherwise I would have. Always funny sometimes on car forums post count =/= snarkiness.

I bet for the price of a Subaru you can't have an exciting rx8 rallymobile either

Base model manual trans Imprezas are cheap. A 4 port Auto RX-8 might just be the worst choice I can think of for a rally racer.

Minus the auto, the 4 port will be fine, you don't need power in rallycross so focus more on skid plates and tires, learn the car and just have fun.

Other issues you may have to address are the abs and the traction control, don't go for FTD just be consistent and you might finish higher than you think.

It was sound advice, not to mention that your maintenance costs will dramatically increase operating a vehicle in the dirt. The better advice might be that you can't afford it at all.

Ps: this has been a paid message by your Mother ...

You seem to be the only one who gives a shit ;)

Any car you hoon the crap out of will be exciting on the dirt, there's a reason lots of guys run beater neons and stuff. Obviously a 4 port auto isn't going to beat a WRX or evo, it is just a bit of fun.

Best advice of thread, I am guessing the ride height is going to be one of the bigger issues, along with the traction control. Fabbing up a skidplate probably won't be too hard (anyone done this?)

LOL if maintenance was a concern at all I wouldn't be driving an rx8 in the first place. Not like I am going to be doing WRC stage rally with this thing.