Learn me: Rallycross around Cincinnati

I've decided not to pursue a fast or even potentially fast car for now because I have more pressing projects and I make poor decisions when I'm alone on a back road. But I still have the bug for a project vehicle and need a utv around the house. I'm leaning toward getting a 4wd mini truck, lifting it, and adding an absurd amount of power. It would serve all sorts of real uses around the farm, but could be a blast at a rallycross.

Question 1: Does anyone rallycross in Cincinnati? If yes, when and where. If no, why not? Question 2: Am I crazy for thinking this could be awesome?

This Saturday at National Trail Raceway in the overflow lot, just east of Columbus.

Cincy region doesn't do RallyX, and while I heard rumors about one of the Kentucky regions starting a program, I don't think they've gotten it off the ground yet. WOR is taking this year off for RallyX, but will hopefully be back next year, and OVR has a good program that has been challenged by the weather this year, but has gotten two events so far with the third this weekend. Next month, they're hosting the Central Division National Challenge event which will be a two-day up at NTR.

As to lifting a pick-em-up and going rallycrossing, I think you might have some challenges. I've seen a number of 2wd trucks without lift kits and some 4wd ones that have been lowered a bit, but there are definitely concerns about flipping over vehicles with a higher center of gravity.

Hmm... I hadn't considered the possibility of rolling over. If I do track down a mini truck I'll need to lift it to get around some of the gnarlier trails in the back, but it would be tippier. As small as a mini truck is, it wouldn't surprise me if even a lifted Subaru Sambar has a lower CG than a stock WRX. I'll have to do some digging.

A good rule of thumb is that if you would be concerned to autox it, you may want (need) to reconsider the option.

Are you talking about this kind of mini truck?

My GoogleFu gets me to this:

My initial thought is that the track seems pretty narrow and with a lift it might be a bit wobbly at speed making the idea of catching a rut in a turn at speed kinda frightening.

I think at stock height it would be frightening.

I don't know the answer to your question but im in Cincinnati and will go to one if I hear about it.

wae wrote: My initial thought is that the track seems pretty narrow and with a lift it might be a bit wobbly at speed making the idea of catching a rut in a turn at speed kinda frightening.

I hadn't thought about ruts at speed. That certainly changes the game - back to the drawing board.

In reply to plance1:

Columbus isn't that far! I live in Erlanger and it's not that bad of a ride. There are a couple other folks who live in various parts of cincy that go up.

Online registration is open until about noon or so today for tomorrow's PE and the two-day National Challenge event at the end of August promises to be epic.

wae wrote: In reply to plance1: ...the two-day National Challenge event at the end of August promises to be epic.

This. It would be a good one to just come check it out, even if you're not running anything.

bluej wrote:

wae wrote: In reply to plance1: ...the two-day National Challenge event at the end of August promises to be epic.

This. It would be a good one to just come check it out, even if you're not running anything.

The only downside is that the National-level events have a supp that prohibits passengers. And it's way more fun to watch from inside the car than from outside =)

And I just saw on the OVR Rallycross Facebook page 2 minutes ago that someone is bringing an extra Subaru for rental. So if you want to see what it's all about, that might be the perfect chance. Don't know cost yet, but wouldn't expect too much.

WOR (Dayton) is actively trying to salvage a few events before the end of the year, stay tuned.

I'll have to lookup the OVR facebook page. This weekend is totally booked, but if I can track down a schedule I'll try to get out and watch an event or two.

How much space does it take to run an event? More, less, or the same as an autocross course?

Edit: Found the OVR page and trolled some of the pics. How hard is rallycross on a daily driver? My V70X/C looks like it would be in its element if it weren't for the autotragic, the caveat is that I need it for transporting the munchkins.

I forget the exact acreage that ZB said he was looking for in a site, but I'd think anywhere from 5-10 would be workable. More's always better, of course. OVR's schedule is at: http://www.ovr-scca.org/_rallycross/schedules.asp

Most of the folks there drive to-and-from instead of trailering and the course isn't really that hard on a car. If there's something loose already, the course will probably shake it loose and if your suspension is already a few miles away from being shot, rallycross will take it the rest of the way there. But if you're not in dire need of repair, everything should be fine.

EvanB wrote: I think at stock height it would be frightening.

At stock height, VW Rabbits and early Golfs are frightening.

$20 for the rental tomorrow. The Challenge next month won't work well for the idea, and I believe September is the last event of the year. Hopefully the rental goes well and it reappears in September. I have a few friends that sounded interested in testing the water.

Oh, Jerry, if YOUR Subaru is the "rental" Subaru, then I'll point out that that very car was, at one point, .5 second out of 2nd Place at the Nationals last year, with a driver that hadn't driven the car on course ever.

In reply to Knurled:

Not the Subarust. Good to know it has potential if the driver ever learns mad skilz. Yo.

All 2.5RS have potential. It's the modern day MkII Escort. No matter what stupid situation you put yourself into, you can wiggle the steering and play with the pedals and pull yourself out of it.

At the regional last year where I co-drove it, I screwed up in a BIG way. I think I somehow bumped it into Neutral or something while coming around the big sweeper in the back (running a start-right finish-left course) and the car went WAAAAAAY off line and at a horrendously wrong angle. I corrected steering with my left hand while my right hand and feet went Neutral - clutch out - REV - clutch in - 1st - clutch out - GO!! and I pulled the car out of the horrible situation without really missing a beat.

That'll learn me to drive without moving the seat to a more comfortable location

Im confused, I google "national trail raceway" and this comes up...

http://www.nationaltrailraceway.com/apcm/templates/schedule.asp?articleid=17791&zoneid=45&navsource=Track%20Schedule

click on the event for July 26 and this is what comes up...

http://www.lxandbeyondnats.com/

If you hit "Show more info", there's info about a Mopar car show that was a week ago, "July 20"?

wae wrote: In reply to plance1: Columbus isn't that far! I live in Erlanger and it's not that bad of a ride. There are a couple other folks who live in various parts of cincy that go up. Online registration is open until about noon or so today for tomorrow's PE and the two-day National Challenge event at the end of August promises to be epic.

we're neighbors

In reply to plance1:

That's the right location, except the rallycross field (Lot C) is across the street. We could hear the drag racing event from our location. The OVR SCCA link above has the info for rallycross. I see NTR lists their autocross schedule but not our rallycross. Nice.