MLRC Forum - important question, please reply.

jesse j

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important question, please reply.
10/30/11 at 22:23:26

what does everybody do job wise? just trying to get an idea how and what kind of people rally and where theyre experience comes from.

also, where does your mechanical experience come from? are you just an average guy that knows a little of this and that? or are you a mechanic working at some garage?

really encouraging people to answer these questions, im not here to judge im just trying to figuring some things out with what i would like to do with my life.

thanks.

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RyanHuber God Member Offline Posts: 709 Ontario	Re: important question, please reply. Reply #1 - 10/30/11 at 22:37:58 I'm a CNC machinist, so mechanically inclined but largely self taught as far as automotive stuff goes. You'll find there's a lot of spread on people's day jobs, from accountants and business people to mechanics etc. Sadly, performance rally anyway requires a pretty healthy income (and credit rating, and so on...)
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Yopofun Full Member Offline Posts: 150 Owen Sound	Re: important question, please reply. Reply #2 - 10/31/11 at 07:29:23 I'm a Network Professional, where I setup computers/networks for businesses...so essentially a geek Mechanical experience comes from damaging things at rally-x events and teaching myself how to fix it! I never had any training, so its just knowledge that's come from personal experience, and searching forums.
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NMathew

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Re: important question, please reply.
Reply #3 - 10/31/11 at 11:53:46

Jobwise i'm a General Manager for a third party logistics company with sites across Canada.

As for mechanical knowledge, i don't have much, which is where the extra money comes from in having to pay a crew to do the work for us. Just becuase I know how to drive the car doesn't mean I know how to fix it! I'm the exception to the rule for most drivers in Ontario (and Canada as a whole) who know a lot about their cars and do all their own work.

As mentioned though, there's a VERY diverse group of people in rallying in Canada. Dentists, doctors, mechanics, network/systems specialists, etc.. As with any 'hobby' or sport, it's not generally where we make a living, but its a great way to blow off a little steam and a lot of money!!

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Dave Cotie

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Re: important question, please reply.
Reply #4 - 10/31/11 at 12:32:30

I am an engineer and I work in the Facilities Dept. at one of the Ontario Community Colleges.

I don't rally because the costs are difficult to bear with the other lifestyle choices we have made as a family. However I do rally-X. nav rallies and I volunteer at Performance rallies.

Mechanical knowledge - my dad was a machinist and loved playing with cars. I can remember helping to change plugs on dad's 74 GMC. He also had a 38 Chev Coupe that I helped with. I have helped change engines in trucks, cars, snowmobiles you name it. Get in and get your hands dirty.

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2000 Impreza

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Re: important question, please reply.
Reply #5 - 11/01/11 at 09:41:33

Tall pines will be my first event later this month so at this point Im not 100% sure just how much rally is going to cost me. However I am definitely not rich... I own a small town skateboard/snowboard/bike shop. I have actually been looking for a way to get into a stage car for the last nine years or so. I started out with the rally-x events and a few nav rallies. (Huge fun for not a ton of $$) This year everything seems to be coming together for me. I found a decent price prepped car and a great shop to help me get it ready and service it. As well I have made lots of friends in the rally community that have really helped me. I have been keeping track of all my expenses up to date and would be happy to let you know just how much I have into everything after my first event.

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jesse j

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Re: important question, please reply.
Reply #6 - 11/01/11 at 14:19:33

2000 Impreza wrote on 11/01/11 at 09:41:33:

Tall pines will be my first event later this month so at this point Im not 100% sure just how much rally is going to cost me. However I am definitely not rich... I own a small town skateboard/snowboard/bike shop. I have actually been looking for a way to get into a stage car for the last nine years or so. I started out with the rally-x events and a few nav rallies. (Huge fun for not a ton of $$) This year everything seems to be coming together for me. I found a decent price prepped car and a great shop to help me get it ready and service it. As well I have made lots of friends in the rally community that have really helped me. I have been keeping track of all my expenses up to date and would be happy to let you know just how much I have into everything after my first event.

thatd be great if i could get a look at an expense sheet, im so far just trying to figure out how im going to do things, i definitley plan on doing rally-x events nav rallies not so sure about yet but probobly, need a reliable co driver though. but thats later. maybe we can keep in touch, be really great to see your car up close if thatd be possible, at the moment i dont attend any events, still in highschool and my expenses are pretty much consuming my income. perhaps i could add you on facebook?

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NMathew YaBB Newbies Offline 2 Brits Racing Posts: 26	Re: important question, please reply. Reply #7 - 11/02/11 at 09:56:43 If you're looking to see a car up close, most teams are pretty open at the service park. If you're at Tall Pines, feel free to stop by our service (2BritsRacing) and take a look.
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Jeannie VE3JNE

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Re: important question, please reply.
Reply #8 - 11/02/11 at 10:26:55

Jesse, there are some other things you could do. Tall Pines is always in need of volunteers, and that's a great way to get started. You could also volunteer to crew for a team, especially at a regional rally. They're not as intense as Tall Pines, which is both a national event and the final one of the rally season.

You could also get your feet wet doing TSD rallies, which will acquaint you with timing (*very* important) and the general rhythm of a rally. And there are the MLRC rallycrosses for fun driving on a closed course.

And last, join a club! There are lots of clubs in Ontario. New members are always welcome.

Jeannie (MCO and PMSC)

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jesse j

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Re: important question, please reply.
Reply #9 - 11/02/11 at 11:12:11

NMathew wrote on 11/02/11 at 09:56:43:

If you're looking to see a car up close, most teams are pretty open at the service park. If you're at Tall Pines, feel free to stop by our service (2BritsRacing) and take a look.

thatd be cool, if i show i just might.

Quote:

Jesse, there are some other things you could do. Tall Pines is always in need of volunteers, and that's a great way to get started. You could also volunteer to crew for a team, especially at a regional rally. They're not as intense as Tall Pines, which is both a national event and the final one of the rally season.

You could also get your feet wet doing TSD rallies, which will acquaint you with timing (*very* important) and the general rhythm of a rally. And there are the MLRC rallycrosses for fun driving on a closed course.

And last, join a club! There are lots of clubs in Ontario. New members are always welcome.

Jeannie (MCO and PMSC)

yea my biggest trouble is getting there, its a little over an hours drive and i get bus sick so i have to drive to school everyday, which sucks up all my money with insurance etc... parents dont pay it anymore. same goes for tsd rallies, from what i can tell most are 300km long, thats alot of gas. rallycross is a little different, and probobly where ill be starting out. entry fee is affordable, but most of all it doesnt take a crap ton of gas money. at the moment my biggest problem is still being in school. things will kick off more in the next few months for sure.

as for crewing for a team, im not really knowledgeable about mechanics, i mean im not an idiot i know a few things but nothing that isnt basic or common sense. im not sure i would be any help to anybody.

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Alexei S

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Re: important question, please reply.
Reply #10 - 11/02/11 at 12:31:33

Job: Software System Architect, yeah, another geek.

Mechanical experience: No formal training, it started from trying to keep my old POS 1992 Accord on the road. That turned into keeping a 2004 WRX from breaking at rally-xes, into stage rallying.

Like others have said here, if you're uncertain about rallying, start with TSDs, volunteering, and spectating at rallies. If you still like rallying but can't afford to drive, co-driving is much cheaper and still has all the thrills.

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jimmy YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 27 Michigan	Re: important question, please reply. Reply #11 - 11/02/11 at 16:58:05 Stay in school. This is not cheap. I started by crewing for some friends, then said the heck with crewing, bought our own car, and took up co-driving. Learned the mechanical side by OJT. Work/crew as many events as you can. Always be ready to pitch in. press on,
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Bruce L

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Re: important question, please reply.
Reply #12 - 11/02/11 at 18:35:57

Job: Driver Manager at a trucking company (I was a driver first).

I came relatively late to rallying, and came in sort of backwards - performance, then navigational. I started by servicing, then took the right seat, then got the Better Half interested in navigational, rallycross, autocross (another cheap diversion), which led to Targa Newfoundland (which ain't cheap!).

Hang in there at school. Take whatever rally opportunities you can.

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Dave Cotie

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Re: important question, please reply.
Reply #13 - 11/02/11 at 20:07:48

jesse j wrote on 11/02/11 at 11:12:11:

as for crewing for a team, im not really knowledgeable about mechanics, i mean im not an idiot i know a few things but nothing that isnt basic or common sense. im not sure i would be any help to anybody.

Some teams are desperate for help - even someone that can change tires and help with basic maintenance. Don't sell yourself short. You learn by doing. Not every team changes transmissions in Service. Grin

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Dave Cotie
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KDeV Junior Member Offline Posts: 63 Trenton,ON	Re: important question, please reply. Reply #14 - 11/02/11 at 21:28:43 jesse j wrote on 11/02/11 at 11:12:11: yea my biggest trouble is getting there, where abouts are you? People come from all over the place to volunteer/spectate/compete at Pines, surely there's someone in your neck of the woods making the trip to Bancroft
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