carthik wrote on 10/08/6 at 23:57:24:I have a 1990 mazda rx7 that is completely stock and am also considering purchasing a 1986 ae86 corolla. which car would be better off as a rally car? Also I have my dad's 88 corolla which im sure he wouldnt mind giving up. Im assuming the rx7 would have a major power advantage since its only 1.3 litre at 160hp.
Other than the car selection, what modifications will need be done to the car to get in the most entry level class for CARS? I thank you all in advance for your help.
Firstly, it's best not to jump straight into rallying. You should volunteer to work some events. And start out competing in some navigational events, and rallycross events. All these experiences will be invaluable when starting performance rally.
Second, there's a lot involved in building rally cars that you won't be aware of when starting out. So it's better to buy a cheap used rally car to be your first. That will soften your learning curve considerably.
Having said all that,
The AE86 would probably be the better choice to start with. Both of those cars have been run as successful rally cars in the past. But the Corolla will likely be more reliable and be cheaper to run/maintain.
However, I suggest you build whichever you are more familiar with working on. There's A LOT to learn when starting rallying, and you'd be making things worse for yourself if you're trying to learn a whole new car at the same time.
This website has all the rules you need to know regarding car prep, and mandatory equipment. You should memorise as much of that as possible.
Obvious things that you will need are: rollcage, harnesses, fire extinguisher, first aid kit. Plus driver related gear: helmet, racing suit, club membership, first aid certificate, licence, etc.
Starting out in production class, you don't need much besides the minimum required safety equipment.
Rally-worthy suspension. (Hot Bits works great).
Skid plate. Aluminum or steel to protect the oil pan. You should also have something under the brake and fuel lines, as well as the gas tank. But those ones don't need to be as strong.
Gravel tires. Not required when starting out. But they do make a big difference. If you're on a budget then used snow tires with tubes will do the job.
Hope this helps.
Most important thing is to show up to events and don't be afraid to ask questions.