Basic Things To Do Before a Rallycross
[ August 20th, 2008 ] By: Charles Smith Posted in » Tips and Tricks
You can participate in Rallycrosses (aka RallyX) across the country if you’re a legal driver and you have a car to use. Practically every region of the United States has a competition for amateurs that includes cones and dirt/gravel. So if you want to try your hands at Rally or are thinking about getting involved check to see if there is a RallyX near by.
Either way there are a few things you should do before raceday regarding your car:
- Check Your Oil - checking your oil should be somewhat common, but if you plan on putting your car through the rigors of Rally you should definitely check the levels and the quality. If the oil is degraded/worn out change it. If there isn’t enough, add some more.
- Empty Your Car - get all the crap out of your car. This does a few things, first of all it makes your car safer and second it removes dead weight (yea sure receipts from Taco Bell aren’t that much). Things flying around in your car will only make the day less enjoyable and distract you.
- Check Your Air Filter - RallyX is dirty. Engines don’t like dirt, infact they break when dirt is introduced into them. Check your air filter and make sure to either clean/replace it. You don’t want any of the dust kicked up by other cars to get into your engine, that could cost you thousands to fix.
- Check Your Tire Pressure - your tires are going to take a beating when driving hard, so keeping them AT LEAST at the minimum pressure is required. I would suggest going a couple PSI above recommended (but below maximum) as this will keep the chances of you debeading your tire low. Debeading is when the tire comes off of the rim slightly and all the pressure is lost damaging your wheels and tires on most surfaces.
- Check Your Coolant Levels - Oil isn’t the only part that helps cool the engine, your radiator does quite a bit of work too. Make sure your coolant levels are up to where they should be, and make sure you have anti-freeze in there. Anti-freeze lowers the freezing point AND increases the boiling point of water. So even during the summer you should have it in there.
- Get Some Rest - While you might be excited the night before, try and get some sleep. Racing is mentally exhausting so you should come well rested.
So get out there and go Rally! I know Mark and I will be attending the Finger Lakes Region SCCA RallyX on September 9th. Hopefully we’ll see some of you out there. We’ll be taking pictures and video of the event.
What do you do before a Rallycross?
August 21st, 2008 at 8:07 am
Don’t arrive with a full tank of gas - fuel weight and slosh can adversely affect the handling.
Keep this in mind: 1 gallon = 8 pounds (approx).
It’s not about having a WRC class car either… most AutoX groups won’t allow high profile cars (SUVs, trucks), but some do… shy of these exclusions, just about anything goes!
Bring a mini-pit. If the facilities allow, a pop-up tent is a great respite when your not driving or working the course; camp chairs make life comfy;
some basic tools in the event something needs to be addressed could be useful, too.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Get Some Rest…. this one is so important, but difficult to do! I find myself staying up until 3am usually packing the car, watching WRC videos, or playing Richard Burns Rally on the PC! Its no wonder I’m exhausted at the end of the day…
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Good call Dustin. Gas and Tent, i’ll do that at my next rallyX (perhaps you’ll want to bring some in a can so if you run out you can make it to a station :P)
Aaaron, totally. It’s like the night before christmas/trip to disney world. No one can sleep but we oughtta :P