My $0.02,

IMO, I personally would not be interested in running Golton as a performance rally-x car series because the track is too tight and the seat time is too low for me to justify getting a log booked car on a trailer and out there. A low entry fee would be appealing, but the track just doesn't let a car stretch its legs.

If there was another venue that was more open, it may be worth it but I don't know of any other one.

Donnie wrote on 02/16/11 at 10:03:23:


Donnie, maybe I am being obtuse, but I don't understand from your original post why it needs to be a seperate event?

I guess because you are looking for more runs per car or something?

If that is the case then why don't you organize something for a Saturday before a regular rally-X? If not why not let the prepped cars run as a seperate class (like the drivers chose to do at the Oct. Rally-X)?

I also don't understand why this would get anyone more "exposure"? Rally-X isn't exactly going to get front page of the Toronto Star Sports section. The Rally Car series in the U.S gets coverage because it is wheel-to-wheel, but that is not what you are proposing.

Golton stage is good for the first 2 runs, after that it becomes very rough. So as a Rally-x it kind of does its job, at least in the beginning of the day. The speed is not there to compare it to an actual stage, after all it is a Super Special Stage designed for spectators.  But it can be used for “full prep” rally cars, and them having their own class. It was done at the fall rally-x.

Only thing I wish the road was longer, and not a 1:40min sprint. It would be nice if we could find a course for rally-x that was 4-5 min long.

As for Rally-sprint, I do not think Golton would be good. It is too short and too slow.  As mentioned, Gallway or similar road would be much better.  However the speed would be higher.  This could be avoided by having chicanes on the straights.

I don’t know all the rules and regulations regarding rally-x and rally-sprint, but it would be nice if something like a combination of rally-sprint and rally-x course was possible, where the length of the road (an actual road not a field) would be 4-5km long, and yet you did not require a cage. Using a good setup of the road (chicanes), the speeds could be kept somewhat low also. Obviously you would need the normal safety stuff, helmet, seatbelts, and a safe and PROPER car.  (it should not matter if it is plated or not, but it should  pass a proper safety inspection !! )    

Thanks Dave, My statement was a attempt to put some humor to this thread. Your compliment promotes confidence in that we can put something  together at a reasonable cost that is a hell of a lot of fun with some "showdown" style competition, to give guys like Leo a venue to "Pull out all the stops"

A Championship would be a result to a lot of hard work. But this needs a starting point to test its viability and potential. An "Event" would be a good opportunity to shake the preverbal tree and see what falls out.

Dean, he didn't roll 2 different times, once he put it on the side only      the second time he did a McRae and continued. Kind of cool actually, he didn’t freak out, nor did he panic.
 
But i do understand you point on the safety issue, as some cars that come to the rally-x are, well, not road worthy to put it mildly.  I remember cars dropping their gas tank on a run.  Plus we had roll overs in the pit in the early 2000’s, but never any injury.    
There should be some kind of rule on the worthiness of a car doing a rally-x. But “plated or not” should not make a difference.

Having someone do the “safety” would be a good.  But it will also create many huge arguments, unless there is a very, very specific guideline to follow. Without a guideline/rule, I can already see the arguments. “well, I think this is totally fine, or, I ran like this somewhere else no problem, or I think it’s safe, or I have valid plates and insurance crap so it must be safe….etc., etc., etc.
 
That is why I said “plated or non-plated” makes no difference, but it must abide by these safety rules no matter what.  

I would gladly do the safety, but I am hated already enough, so I pity the poor soul who would volunteer for this job, as i can forsee the issues and arguments he will have.

For rally-x, I think the rules should be very simple and easy to allow / disqualify the entry.    

Something to the aspect of:

All wheel studs/lug-nuts must be on and secured.
All brakes must be functioning
No leaking fluid of any kind
No broken windshield (minor chips are ok, but no fractures)
Battery must be securely fastened to frame/subframe with proper tie-downs (not a strap or a rubber band)
No lose items in the car
Proper safety restrains (either OEM or a 5/6 point seatbelts)
Legal helmets
No rust holes or damage to A, B,C pillars on car or car roof, unless full certified cage in car (for roll over security)

There are few others, but I hope you get my point….  

Yet I have seen entries that were “rally-prepped” cars by  “shops” at the rally-x's over the last 2 years that I would NOT allow to run just based on the above.  


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^^ correct, we used to have tech inspection when we ran the pit..... ahhhh , good old pit!!