Best choice on a starter budget is to buy someone elses car... all the problems have usually been sorted out, and all the unforseen costs in car prep have been taken care of.

All levels of performance rallying require basically the same stuff... i'm no expert on the rules, but your best bet is to pick up a CARS rule book.

Your intentions are good.... learning to drive fast is much more important than winning.   Driving fast means your driving your own rally.... taking it at your own pace, where as winning means your constantly racing someone elses race... pushing to beat someone who may just be driving fast.

Don't forget that you and your co-driver both need a performance license... not too hard to get, but you need first aid, medical exam, and some $

Hi Sorin,

Welcome to the sport!

All the major safety items are required for regional and national performance rallies.  It's expensive to start out with your own car, but there are ways to get involved without breaking the bank.  You might also want to consider Volkswagens.  There are a bunch of them competing in Ontario, so there are parts and experienced VW competitors out there.

One option you might want to consider is our club's rallycross series.  You don't need any special safety equipment other than a helmet and you can run any car you like as long as it's in decent mechanical condition.  We haven't finalized our 2005 rallycross plans yet, and the locations might be a bit of a long haul from Windsor, but even attending one would be very good experience.  You can get a taste of rally driving and meet some other rally people.

Please do not hesitate to ask questions.

Alan

While a different kettle of fish in many ways, it bears repeating (and i do): road rally!!  Do a load of them, of varying difficulty.  You will learn a lot of general knowledge, and meet a lot of the people that go to or compete in performance rallies (or have competed).  It is the CHEAPest way into the sport, and a lot of CHEAP seat time.  Do the winter events, and see how you do.  Get the trust and communication sorted out in road rally with your navigator/co-driver before you need to committ to a stage event.  The winter road rallies, they're, ummm, 'not easy' drives in the snow. . . .  it may change some of your perceptions about road rallying.
Craig