Are you certain you wouldn't upgrade front and rear sways, springs and some new tires first? Not to mention some mudflaps, to protect that fragile paint? I found my stock WRX to have nasty bump steer problems and serious understeer before the mods I listed above (mudflaps excepted). I used to rally a Dodge Omni and a 944 turbo (asphalt rally) and both my Subarus ('97 Legacy GT wagon, 02 WRX) do handle quite a bit better than the vast majority of cars, but they come from the factory set up for roads, not dirt.

 

I'm not suggesting that a bone-stock Subaru would kick *** at rallycross (although an STi is definitely not bad at it) but there's nothing about a Subaru as it comes from the factory that would prevent me from taking it out to have fun in the dirt at an event if I had one. The paint just needs racer's tape to protect it and you're good to go.

 

I agree with BAN SUVS. I don't see any reason not to rally a Subaru in it's stock form, you have the perfect platform to build from.

 

Rallycross, not rally.

 

90% driver, 10% car. Learn how to race before you invest alot of money. Like i said if your going to spend money, spend it on safety. Actually buy a dodge omni, but get the GLH model...i hear those go like hell lol. There cheap, somewhat quick, and you will own the FWD class with one.

 

Stock JICs won't cut it. They're not made for rally. The Gushis learned that at Rim by demolishing two sets. JIC has since made some custom rally struts for them, and they seemed to hold up well enough at Laughlin, so JIC may be learning, but I doubt those struts are commercially available.

Next, are you talking full rally, or rallycross? If you're talking full rally, there're benefits to building your own car, but I'd strongly recommend you find a mentor to help you. Talk to someone who's got experience in building them. Very few of the people here on I-Club have actual rally experience. Since you're in OC, you're lucky - there's a thriving rally community there. Talk to Dave Turner or Ron Wood or come to one of next year's rallies and talk to the people there.

I wouldn't rally your car, at least not right off the bat. First of all, you won't be able to run it in Rally-America events until you have quite a bit of seat time, and second, it's too nice of a car to start banging up as your learner car. A cheaper beginner car is definitely something to look into.

As for rallycrossing Subarus, they're pretty bulletproof. The plain WRX's have sort of sucky gearing for tighter courses, but they won't break. If you've got a really stiff and/or lowered street suspension you'll probably want to reconsider though.

 

plenty of people to rally-x stock. the coilovers might be too stiff though.

if you want to do full on rally, or are just interested in what it takes, get ahold of the publisher of Grassroots Motorsports magazine and order all the back issues of their 2.5rs rally build. its very informative and describes each step pretty well

 

honestly, if you'd really like to start rallying buy somebody else's already built rally car. There's so much more to it than simply bolting on some coilovers and skid plates. There's almost always reasonably priced cars available at www.rallyclassified.com or the classifieds on Specialstage.com.

 

I brought a brand new Impreza RS with 7 miles in 2000. I've been racing it since the day I bought it. It's been off the road more times than I can count, has had more engines than passengers, and has cought on fire more than once. I've been the only owner and it's still my number 1 race car.


I say build it up, do with it what it was meant to do. Just be ready to lose it at any time. Mine has lasted me 7 years now.


My list of parts for you:

40mm DMS (for rally X and daily driver)
Skids front and rear

Spot weld the frame.

Thats all you need.



Mitch




P.S. Loaner cars are expensive when you roll them.