I watched a nearly 5min. video of the 2013 SCCA Rallycross championships today and the clips they used were of 1 pickup, 4 FWD cars, and the rest were Subarus. The FWD cars were well driven and got around the turns quickly but I don't much like the idea of using a FWDer. Other than 4WD what would be your first choice of drivetrain, specific make and model, and what class would you prefer to run in?
I've never been to an event and know nothing about the subject other than it looks like fun.
A final question: where would you look for the best tips on how to set up a car?
That's a big question.
What I'd say is look at rallycross in your area, find that class is attracting good numbers, and set up a car to run in that class. Once you know what class you want to run in, ask here how to set it up, we probably have you covered no matter what class it is. 
If I was to build a Rallycross car, I would like 4wd, but I think there is more fun to be had in a rear wheel drive car. So that being said here is what I would look for.
RWD Small car -- Chevy Chevette would be good. Small, low power, but rear wheel drive fun.
No worries if I run into something because it is cheap.
I wouldn't worry about class I would do it for fun.
I am sure if you looked at any local car club associated with SCCA or NASA they would give you lots of information about car setup and tips and tricks
It does look like a lot of fun though.
Mike Kirby
Miata or e30. Cheap rwd fun.
I thought trucks were not legal for scca rallycross.
If 4WD was out, my first choice (given all the time in the world to do the build) would be:
MF - 2g/3g Civic hatch, 1g CRX, original Mini or something else short and narrow with a radical engine swap. I used to run a 1g CRX with a 1g Integra swap. It was awesome.
Other backup choices:
PF - 2004-2005 Neon SRT-4. Factory turbo cars come into their own in the prepared classes, since you can piggyback the stock ECU and crank up the boost, do a lot of supsension work, and run rally tires. Honorable mention: Mazdaspeed3
SR - FB RX-7 or NA Miata. Just because of what I've seen locally. Or anything older and smaller. Honorable mention: 240SX
PR: FC Turbo 2. Back to the whole piggybacked ECU thing
I've had thoughts of attempting something Rallycross-ish with a little 4WD SX4 Hatch, in many of my day dreams.
As a youth I took a '90 Grand Prix sedan places friends in trucks wouldn't go, I would have made the Hazzard boys proud the way I could "straighten" those dirt roads. It's a wonder I'm still alive.
sanman
Reader
2/13/14 3:49 p.m.
My votes go to something Swedish. A classic saab or rwd volvo. Perhaps an A2 VW. On a completely different note, a beaten up third gen camaro dressed up mad max style would be awesome!
EDIT: I just had a thought. A Chevy monza could be dressed up to look a lot like an xb falcon.
RWD. Miata, e30, RX7, e36, MR2. All are competitive, and we've had all of them run in our region (though our RWD classes are mostly e30s and 2nd gen RX7s). All are pretty cheap to find in running condition on CL, and RWD rallycross is far more fun than FWD/AWD (though usually a bit slower, depending on the surface). I've driven GC Impreza 2.5s at a couple and though I do love Subarus (I DD a WRX), I found it to be comparatively boring. All of them will be fun, don't get me wrong.....but RWD is the way to go IMO.
Look in the build section and almost all the rally-x builds on here are RWD (mostly because we're all cheap bastards who like to have fun).
Also depends on if "fun" alone is your goal, or if you want to win. For fun, your options are wide open. If you want to win, your options are narrowed a little bit (e.g. a Chevette is not gonna win a competitive RWD class), but you could go for anything from a CRX to a Crown Vic and still be competitive...
And yes, I would also add in Volvo 240-series as sanman noted. Very stout, stiff chassis, engine swap options, rally heritage, and can be found cheap on CL (though you'll have to search harder to find one with a manual transmission). I was looking for a 242 to rallycross but couldn't find a good one so got the e30. I think they are both pretty comparable for the purpose, and both are competitive.
Have I got the deal for you...
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/200x-classifieds/1983-mazda-rx-7-gsl/76647/page1/
At the end of the day, it depends on where/what/why you are competing.
If rwd and fwd have seperate classes, go rwd. Much more fun! If they are combined, fwd will be faster at the end of the day, all things considered (I am talking stock or slightly modified. Major modifications may see rwd faster than fwd).
AWD is fun depending on the kind of course. I'd rally-x anything, preferably whatever is cheapest, but I have had a blast in my multiple 2.5RSs
Graefin10 wrote:
I watched a nearly 5min. video of the 2013 SCCA Rallycross championships today and the clips they used were of 1 pickup, 4 FWD cars, and the rest were Subarus.
Link? I couldn't find any footage aside from a few peoples' in-cars.
To answer your question, if you were to BUILD a car, I'd... hm. Well, if I were to build a car, and I have, a couple times, it'd be an early RX-7. Miata appears to be the answer but you need a trailer if you swap tires and that isn't an option for me, so I stick with hatchback. I couldn't really recommend it to anyone else since most of the "build" is merely modifying to the point where it's about as good as a Miata. Plus it is probably cheaper to just buy a ratty E36 M3 (that's not a filter) and drive the thing.
Neons and Golfs are excellent FWD cars. Neons break (a lot) less than Golfs and Neons feel like they handle better, but Golfs are more giggletastic. I am speaking here of VWs made before 1991.
If you want AWD, the answer is always GC Impreza unless you can find an Evo VIII/IX that hasn't been hacked up. Full stop.
After having driven just about everything, AWD covers up a lot of sins driving-wise but you really have to be on your game if you want to place well since the classes tend to be huge. FWD also covers a lot of sins but it breaks more often. RWD covers no sins.
find out what classes your local group runs.
Decide which class you would like to run.
Narrows the choices.
Ian F
UltimaDork
2/13/14 6:34 p.m.
Depends on budget and intent. For pure fun & cost no object, I'd build a '69 Charger General Lee replica. The idea of tearing around a dirt course in the General Lee is just too cool for words if you grew up in the early 80's. I wouldn't give a crap about being competitive.
If I wanted something more realistic, I'd probably build a MINI or a VW MkIV - mainly because those are cars I know. I might consider an E36 as well. My hatred of E30's is already known..
Mid engine would be good. I think MR2 or X 1/9, possibly even the Fiero. This gives you rear wheel drive -and- all the engine/trans weight over the driven wheels for maximum traction
911 seems to be the RWD answer. :)
The problem with RWD is that there are so few cars small enough, new enough, to be effective cars. I feel that a wheelbase under 100 inches is critical. Engine should be about 200-250hp with even to less ft-lb, for flexibility. Low-end monsters aren't very drivable if you have to worry about maintaining traction, meaning 2WD. Less so for FWD because when the tires spin, you can rudder your drive thrust with the steering, whereas with RWD you have to juggle acceleration and car attitude with setting up for the next corner, which is where my comment of RWD covering for no sins comes from. If you're constantly pedaling the car then you aren't able to effectively drive the course, and someone who can drive the course effectively is going to be faster and cleaner than you.
So, no turbos (turbos suck), nothing over 2.5-3 liters, nothing stupid light because light cars bounce around a lot. Miata seems to be a happy medium for RWD if you can get around the lack of cargo space.
I really, REALLY want to try an S2000 with a hardtop someday. Or a 944, for that matter.
I loved my rear-drive Corolla for RWD rallycross!
It was light, short-wheelbase, short gearing, fairly narrow, very balanced and flickable, and good availability of limited-slip differentials. If I had it to do over again, I would include both AE86 cars like mine, and the possibility of buying a shell from the previous TE72/AE71 generation and retrofitting all the newer running gear for the EFI 16-valve, vented brakes, etc.
I wouldn't. I'd buy an old 1st gen RX7 race car and have at it. 
Like so:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-hMT3iIMQY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9sP4lRkCBY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nBCFa-6_1U
Knurled wrote:
Graefin10 wrote:
I watched a nearly 5min. video of the 2013 SCCA Rallycross championships today and the clips they used were of 1 pickup, 4 FWD cars, and the rest were Subarus.
Link? I couldn't find any footage aside from a few peoples' in-cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMn4A-vYuAc
Graefin10 wrote:
Knurled wrote:
Graefin10 wrote:
I watched a nearly 5min. video of the 2013 SCCA Rallycross championships today and the clips they used were of 1 pickup, 4 FWD cars, and the rest were Subarus.
Link? I couldn't find any footage aside from a few peoples' in-cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMn4A-vYuAc
That makes more sense, I didn't think there were any pickups at the last one.
