That's really great advice from Norm. I also recommend you try to volunteer at some rallies, navigational or events like the Tall Pines. You will learn about a lot (and I mean a LOT) of things that will improve your knowledge of the sport, how it works, how it's scored, the pile of rules etc.
Starting off in navigational rallies will give you and your mother a chance to work on being a strong, trusting, sure-footed, team at much (very much) lower speeds, for MUCH lower cost, before you spend a wad of cash on a rally car, and strap yourself in for a wild ride.
If for some (bizarre) reason you, or others, think navigational (or "road rallying") is for sissies, think again, not only have a lot of the drivers and co-drivers YOU see at Tall Pines (and every other stage rally) started in road rallying, some world famous people started there, too:
"Spectating was my introduction to the most exciting motorsport in the world. It wasn’t even the screaming monsters in the World Rally Championship that set my pulse racing… No, it was watching local club road rallies. "
-Nicky Grist
(
http://www.nickygrist.com/)
That's good enough for me.
Craig