Two Guys Rally

Things to Check Before a RallyCross
[ May 8th, 2008 ] By: Charles Smith Posted in » Tips and Tricks

Rallycross is an event where you can drive any car you choose on the dirt in a coned off course. It is analagous to Autocross but for the dirt. However, it is a motorsport, and there are things you should check on your car before you do a Rallycross.

Check Your Oil

Make sure your oil levels are in the normal range. Do not overfill your oil as it brings bubbles into the oil system (the oil gets churned up by the engine and foams) which will cause lots of stress on the engine’s bearings. Really old abused oil is not good for your cars engine for normal use, and that makes it even worse for motorsports use. The particulate that collects in motor oil can cause damage to your engine when being run real hard, so get fresher oil for those competitions.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Make sure your tire pressure is at the factory levels or higher (not above the limits of your tires!). The lower the pressure the more grip you get, sure that is great, but since this is probably your daily driver you don’t want to ‘roll a bead’. Rolling a bead means the tire’s bead comes off of your rim and deflates. This will probably damage your rim if it happens. In order to fill your tires up, most gas stations have tire pumps. I know Hess has free tire fill stations. While you’re down there make sure your lug nuts are nicely tightened to their specified torquing.

Check Your Coolant Levels

Running your engine hard means your engine has to be cooled even more than normal, so your coolant should be in the normal range and must have anti-freeze (helps with boiling in the summer!). If it does not, remedy it by adding coolant and the correct amount of anti-freeze. Read the directions on the anti-freeze when you’re doing this.

Remove Everything from Your Car

This is a good chance to clean your car of all those Taco Bell receipts and whatever else you happen to leave in your car (I leave a lot of bike tires in my car, currently there is a large orange cone too). Make sure you remove all the heavy crap from your car, like that toolbox kicking around in the rear, or your friends BMX because if you stop too fast in a Rallycross with a BMX in the back, that bike is coming to get you. I’m not saying that you should remove your spare tire or anything important, but if its in your car, make sure its secured.

Make Sure You Will Have a Helmet

Knowing you will have a helmet to compete in is nice (especially if it is yours), as it makes you less nervous the day of. Helmets are always required, if they’re not, I dont think you’re going to a real rallycross, let alone a safe one. So get your helmet ready, or make sure you can use and fit your friend’s helmet or at least make sure the organizers will have loaner helmets. Most Rallycrosses will have loaner helmets available

Prepare (at least) The Night Before

Preparing the night before allows you to actually be ready for the Rallycross in the morning, rather than scrambling to be ready that morning. So get together your shade tent, folding chairs, refreshments (not beer, driving+beer=no), food, tools, spares and what have you and put them in the car/transport vehicle. You can transport this stuff to the Rallycross in your car, just don’t race with it in there. Make sure your camera is charged and you have tape/film/space for all the neat photos/video you will record.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep is a big part of performing well. You might as well be competitive if you chose to get up and haul your butt to the Rallycross, so sleep.

Eat a Decent Breakfast

I wouldn’t suggest McDonald’s breakfast or something that greasy as it will make you end up in the Porta-Potties. It might not normally for you but when I compete in things I get nervous before hand and that doesn’t help in that regard. So I like to eat toast and two eggs (sunny side up duh!) as that fills me up and lets me focus.

Get There Early

Showing up early only makes things easier on you. You wont be scrambling to finish registering, and you wont miss any safety meetings. You’ll get to walk the course for a longer period of time and it will keep you more relaxed.

Tape Your Cabin Intake Vent Closed

Taping your intake vents for the cabin (ONLY! Your car needs air!) shut will keep dust out of your intake filter. I know a few people over at DirtyImpreza.com do this because they’ve had many experiences where they would smell dust for weeks after the event. Only do this for the event, and only if it is really dry out. I would suggest using duct tape/ painter’s tape/ gaffer’s tape.

Check Your Brakes.

If you know how, check your brakes (bleed them if necessary) including brake pads, lines, rotors and all that jazz. You might be using your brakes a lot (depending on the course) and crappy brakes will end up in a crappy day. Most likely, your brakes will be fine.

So find your local Rallycross and go out and have a blast. It is the most fun you’ll have in your street car, I guarantee. I know Mark and I will be attending a few Rallycrosses in the Finger Lakes region (maybe even DC for me) this year. Hope to see you out there…relaxed and ready.