x_Sammie_x

Hey,
Right Iv never been Rallying before but iv kinda got abit obsessed with it all now... i want to do one of them day course things and see how i get on??
Have any of you been rallying? Everyone i know that has is hooked on it the bloke im seeing loves it and has two rally car's and builds them, but always too busy to talk about it or whatever my impreza is being stripped down re-sprayed and completely converted into a rally car so i can hire it out to the more experianced rally drivers.. as theres alot of money being spent on it i wouldnt want to jump into it and completely wright it off...

Anyone got any opinions or anything on this? Im getting abit too excited and want to do it NOW!! lol, iv been thinking if i do get hooked to just buy a cheapy heap to use at first so it doesnt matter if i roll it or blow it up...

Please no spam this is a genuine thread and genuine replys only please
thank you

Splitpin

Your bloke works for a rally team and you're asking about it on here?

Don't you and him ever speak?


(This might be funny but it is also a genuine reply btw. You'll likely get far better info from your chap than asking here)

x_Sammie_x

lol yeah... well i dont think he takes me seriously when i say i want to actully have ago at it, He wont let me drive his rally cars lol.... im not THAT bad lol...
He's alway's too busy so would never get time to teach me or anything bit **** really to be honest

Sorry.. just thought there might be some people on here that i could talk to

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

I went to one a few years ago up near Oxford that my ex bought me for a birthday present.
I think it was Vision Motorsport.
Basically it was a half day on a small rally (I say rally but basically dirt and gravel track) in a bugeye STI.
Was great fun, although the instructor wasn't really up for letting you attempt handbrake turns unless you'd had much experience!
Despite the fact that I actually had quite a bad bout of flu I went anyway and had an awesome time - the passenger ride at the end really made me realise quite how slowly I'd been driving in comparison though.

The guys who'd been there all day were marginally quicker.
I've also done a drift day...think I enjoyed the rally day a bit more though.

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

Also been to Spain to watch the WRC in summer 2008 - totally different yet again, and much nicer weather than watching WRC GB

x_Sammie_x

cool... that's what i want to do half day/full day just to see how i get on and if im as hooked as i "really am" as at the moment im on websites looking for rally cars to buy lol...

Bit mad that they wouldnt let you do handbrake turns and stuff... isnt that what your there for.. to learn how to do it??

I might try talking to him about it again and see if he knows of a good rally school or whatever.. im all excited but i get all nervous and shakey when im racing or something like santapod strip so excited i think i get this rush thru me sounds odd dont it lol

i want to do dirt and gravel tracks the tarmac ones dont intest me to be honest not sure why...

superstar1

Emmerdales on now, i can't stand that Sally.

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

To be fair, I didn't think the instructor was really a very good instructor - it was basically a bloke to stop you going mad and wrecking their car

...and let's face it - some people turn up to these things and try and drive a Scooby like it's a Mondeo hire car - and there were a few of them there totally overcooking it and driving like nutters.

You've done a run what u brung day at Santa Pod then have ya?
Never done that myself.
FYI I know Silverstone used to have several companies operating courses like this.
I did my drift day there and it was excellent - much better instruction - I learned to drift with a bloke who looked like the traditional Santa Claus

I also noticed that there was a rally school there as well with a much better looking track. I think you'll find you'll be looking at at least £250 though, but the difference at Silverstone was, certainly with the drift guys, you could take your own cars.
HTH

MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

BTW - if you find any info and prices can you post em up as I'd really like another go at some point

green scooby sport

if your serious about it try bill gwynne rally school http://www.billgwynne.com/res_websit...W100&page=home

x_Sammie_x

Thank's for the web addy.. i was also given this one from a pm...
Rally School Driving Experience Days | Rally Experience | Rally Driving Day | Forest Rally Driving Experience

Im pretty nervous about doing it infront of aload of other people though for my first go?

Yeah santa pod a good few years ago now..
Do alot of girls go to these rally day things?

scud8

iTrader: (1)

If you want to rally competitively I suggest you look at one of the one-make championships. It's less money (but it's not a cheap sport, especially if you want to do forest rallys - the forestry commission see to that), the competition is stiff but friendly, and you'll end up a better driver if you learn in a relatively low powered car. The 205 challenge was a good series when I did it a few years ago, but I don't know if it is still running.

If you want to go to a rally school I think you will find a big difference between an "experience day" and attending a school as a precursor to competing.

Join your local motorsport club and you will find lots of people willing to give you advice.

Dasco

iTrader: (3)

I have been to bill gwynne rally school several times and can recommend it, i did it in the subarus and you are allowed to handbrake it and they will teach how to control the car its not cheap but i would do the full day its so much better you will get more out of it then the half day

GroupNGC8

iTrader: (1)

Sammie
The best I can recommend is go get your licence for rally national B, go find a 1400cc car or similar with loads of spares and a trailer then get into the forest and have a go at it. best experience you can have - but get a seasoned or experienced co-driver cos the paperwork side and maps are a not for you to worry about.
Don't bother ***** footing around on made up tracks flanked with tyres or tree branches... just use one of those for your practical test to get your licence.

You could also speak to the likes of Shelly Taunt who could give you good advice if your chap isn't interested to help. Man alive I'd be made up if my lass wanted to go rallying.

oh and make sure you've got some cash!!!! lots of it!!!

one idea - Get to Autosport show this weekend at the NEC, there's always lots of advice around starting on the MSA stand.

By the way my local motorsport club was rubbish, and didn't help my progress one jot I knew more than most of them the first night I went and that club had been recomended for rallying as well!! I ended up doing the BTRDA championship and thoroughly enjoyed it.

You sound very keen to get into the sport and enthusiasm counts. good luck whatever you choose to do. PM if you want more advice or direction, I'm quite happy to help.


Cheers
Rob

x_Sammie_x

Wow, cool thank's guys, Where's the NEC? I'm not sure i will make it though as my car is looking rather snowed-in once again snowed again lastnight pretty badly getting REALLY fedup with this weather!!

Anyway i was looking for a 1.4 1.6 to start off with just incase i have a few "accidents" lol.. I dont want to go spending all my money having my car done and then rewening it, however i will be using it once iv got the hang of things..

I do want to start at a Rally school so iv learnt the basics as i said i have no idea what im doing and its all in a different legue to me lol

I just have a problem with doing it in groups... Im very nervous and HATE people watching me when im learning things and tend to get it wrong for trying too hard.. can they see you round a whole course??

The bloke im "seeing" he would help me but hes just so busy all the time and like i said he just dont seem to take it seriously.. Im expecting a payout from a bad accident soon hence my having my car converted and depending on the amount i get depends on what other car i can buy etc.. As i was looking at clothing and that all came to just over a grand... (yes the suit thingy i want was over £765 as it was pretty and i didnt like the others lol) IF your going to do it you might aswell do it properly right???

urban

iTrader: (1)

I'd say most of the above is good advice - especially GroupNGC8's post.

Personally I'd say do use a rally school for a few goes - at least learn the basics from them and then get a National B rally license.
You'll be restricted to 1.6 anyway
Get your starter pack & application from here http://www.msauk.org

I'd also suggest you hire something to begin with rather than buying

£765 for a fire proof suit - thats the wrong thing to do straight away.

Every heard the saying "All the gear and no idea"

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

HI
I would recommend these for a rally school Rally School Driving Experience Days | Rally Experience | Rally Driving Day | Forest Rally Driving Experience as well , a lot of the ' rally schools ' are just set up for your average joe to have a skid , you need to go somewhere that will let you have a proper go.
Phil Price rally school is another one.

My advise to start out is get a cheap small car , nova , corsa or 205 , and do some single venue rallies to have a go , its a good easy way to get into it , and see if its for you , forrest rallying is the mutts nuts , but is more difficult , and you need some experience to do them I would say .

On single venue airfield type events , you get a stage diagram for the route , they will have splits on the route , the track is made up of tyres or cones , at a certain point on the track they will have a split so you can do 2 or 3 loops of the same track , which will mean you will meet other cars , every 2 stages they will change the track slightly , and you will get between 6 and 10 stages throughout the day , the stages will be between 4 and 15 miles long depending on the venue , you will get a sevice from half hour to an hour between each stage to work on the cars, all in all fairly easy to pick up for a begginer.

Forest rallying is much better , but more involved , there's a lot of road sections to get you to the stages , so maps come into it , a lot into it , and the pace notes for the stages are notes for every bend not just a stage diagram as in single venue rallies , most rallies you buy the pace notes , and you can also buy a DVD off the people making the notes of them driving though the stages slowly , so you can watch the dvd and go though the notes and change / alter them to suit you , you dont get any splits , and unless your fast , or slow , you won't see another car on the track , you usually do a couple of stages before you will get to work on the car , on forrest rallying they will have a central service area , but also allow chase cars , which are cars driven by someone in your team , with tools , and some spares on board for emergency repairs , been in a few ditches myself and broken bottom arms , or bent steering arms which needed changing by my chase crew.
Forest rallies are shorter than tarmac ones , most are about 45 miles long , thats competetive mileage , you might end up doing 200 miles of road driving , most are quite compact though so road mileage would normally be between 50-100 miles.

Forest rallying for me is the best thing I can do with my clothes on its so much fun and such a rush , I have tried retiring a few times and always end up carrying on lol.

Me on a single venue rally in nov which I won




Me on the jump in Margam , the jump they use on rally GB



Oh and make sure you have money in the bank lol

I'd say go for it ,

Cheers Ian

x_Sammie_x

WOW wicked!!! ..... can i ask how much damage you done to the car after that jump?? lol...

Thank you all for the info its great and keep it flooding in every little helps and im still very intrested.. That rally school looks good and most prob the one id go for.. far away but prob the most worth it..

It looks Awesome i want to have ago now!!!!!
i want to do gravel and dirt tracks as for some odd strange reason the tarmac worries me sounds really odd.... im not sure why please dont laugh..

Do you still get nervous when you go out?

x_Sammie_x

i just rang him and his friends old 205 rally car 1.4 hes got outside his house been sat there for a a good year and a bit... £800 plus LOADS of parts but needs quite alot of work doing to it though but apparently its quite a good car once running..
Think i might have it, Not going anywhere in a hurry so have a while to think about it,
He also mentioned a rally school in wales said there REALLY good cant remember what its called now lol

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

The rally school in wales will probably be one of the two I mentioned.

I would go for that car , its a good starter car , and plenty of bit available for them , if its been standing a while it would probably need new seats , harnesses and extinguishers , so factor in around £500-600 to sort them out , but its a good starting point , although you had to spend out on it , it would still be worth the money you put into it come time to sell it for something better.

and yes my car survived the jump with no damage , my pants needed a good clean though lol

x_Sammie_x

LOL haha... Colin has a good one of him jumping aswell, he love's it but cant afford it anymore he also told me i need alot of money but im not planning to go out as much as he did just a couple of times a year will do to start me off...

Yes Deffo new seats and harnesses etc and the engine will need a hell of a good sort out.. He would do all that though having building rally cars and running it in its "rally days"

My Impreza i have now im having it converted etc into a rally car for hire and once im more into it and able to use a 2.0 turbo i will be using that but untill then i will just use the 205... if i buy it.. its the cheapest i seen so far and its always at his house and knows of all history so i might aswell save any messing around hey!

Iv just spoken to a friend and she's abit of a "petrol head" too and wants to come to the day rallying with me so atleast i wont be on my own lol

Im so excited i want to go NOW lol are there any weight/hight restrictions? My friend is
6ft1 believe it or not lol

x_Sammie_x

sorry to bore you all again...... but quick question....

I would of had enough money to go by next weekend so i can do a full day rallying...
but my mate wont for about another 4weeks-ish.. would you rather go alone or with a friend??
I am nervous about it and i know im going to get it wrong for "trying too hard"
so im not sure if for taking a friend would be a good or bad idea??

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

sam if you are not comfortable going with a mate then i would suggest going by yourself if you think you are going to add pressure to yourself. maybe go first of all then go again when your mate has the money.

i was nervous going on my first couple of track days so i went along with a mate (who is an weekend instructor for palmer sport) to help me along for confidence but now i have my first day at the end of feb (being run on here) on my own, where i will meet some new faces of members on here, so if you have doubts go by yourself

x_Sammie_x

Well i told her about it and im getting annoyed with her now as she isnt taking me seriously now.. I dont know if i want to go alone as i dont want to look a "loaner" there as there be people in groups and i will be the only one on my own kind of thing.. im stuck in a rutt at the moment in two minds..

Also what would you rather go to the forst one in wales or the phil price one in wales?
I want to learn the most i can and get as much info as poss so what one is best for all that? As for taking it up as a sport and not just as a "fun day" if you know what i mean?

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

I think the one in the Forrest will feal more like taking part in a rally where the other might be better for the first time as it spears to be more open and less to hit if you get it wrong If you know what I mean. As for being a loner I would try not to worry about it as i am sure after half hour of being there the nerves would of gone, and you probably won't be the only one there on your own,

how many people take part in the full day course? And how much

x_Sammie_x

i think theres two groups of 4 in each car and its £295 for a full day
at both places..
i really want a 1-1 where i wouldnt need to worry about others and get max info as poss as i said im not there just for a "fun day" im there to learn and get into the sport as after that im applying for my NAT B licence..
i might call them when i go to book it next week and ask if i could have a 1-1 day i dont mind paying more (as obviously i would have too)

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

Well if you wanted one to one I would guess they would Charge you the £295 * 4 to cover the money the could charge so I you think it is worth £1200 for a full day one to one then go for it

what ever you end up doing I hope you enjoy it I al sure you will and could you let us know how you got on and what you did as I would be interested in knowing how it all went as it's something I would like to give a go

x_Sammie_x

oh god im not paying that lol... the £300 plus petrol and room is enough lol taking my scoobaru so will prob brakedown on the way lol haha... poor princess lol

behave you have ago?? dont you rally for real??

will deffo let everyone know how i get on im trying to head for feb so fingers crossed i get in then yay

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

Sammie I am guessing at the cost for the full day, I would assume if they charge 295 quid for one person and have 4 in on a day if someone wanted a one to one full day they would be loosing 900 on not having he other 3 people there so I al guessing they would want that covered, hey you never know I might be way wrong.

No I don't rally, I did a few track days last year in my old p1 which was fantastic and I caught the bug. Sold the p1 now but bought a sti 5 with the intention of doing as many track days as possible this year hence the 16th and 23rd of this month at Bedford and 22nd feb at brandshatch.

As for the rally day I would like to give t a go on one of these day course just to see how much fun it is and how much grip the Subaru has etc as I al sure it will be completely different from track use, so i hope to get out on a rally day sometime this year.

Best of luck with it all and I hope you enjoy the day I am sure you will