Grant Hughes Infallible Moderator Location: Whitefish, MT Join Date: 01/11/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 6,818 Rally Car: BMW |
Patrick McVeigh Mod Moderator Location: Toronto, ON Join Date: 12/21/2005 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 358 Rally Car: Student Loans |
Ted Andkilde Elite Moderator Location: Windsor, ON, Canada Join Date: 04/30/2006 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 329 Rally Car: 1968 Mini |
Hmmn, glad I wasn't the only one to think it's a little spendy -- the way I read the rules all of the parts are mandatory -- in an all or nothing way. Be a drag if say, you had a wide a$$ like me that won't fit a Racetech seat
 .
I suppose I understand the desire to "hook" the competitors and contingency sponsors together -- but in the end it feels like the "Amway" of rally, good deal for the sellers, OK deal for the first guys through the door with diminishing returns for the folks that follow. Cheers, Ted Pure mathematics is the enemy of every truly creative man -- Sir Alec |
Mustafa Samli Ultra Moderator Location: Arizona Join Date: 01/10/2006 Age: Ancient Posts: 824 Rally Car: Gaylant VR4 |
Ted Andkilde Elite Moderator Location: Windsor, ON, Canada Join Date: 04/30/2006 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 329 Rally Car: 1968 Mini |
Grant Hughes Infallible Moderator Location: Whitefish, MT Join Date: 01/11/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 6,818 Rally Car: BMW |
Brian Driggs Senior Moderator Location: Glendale Join Date: 06/08/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 832 Rally Car: Keyboard. Deal with it. |
NoCoast Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > Racetech makes a big ass seat. Note to self: Racetech makes a big ass seat. Check. Rally is definitely a spendy hobby/sport/way of life. As a struggling college student (starving students don't have big asses), I can see where building a car, then funding entry fees and consumables can add up with a quickness. I think that's the most discouraging aspect about getting into rally. I'm sure a lot of people would agree. I guess I'm saying that, while getting American vendors involved is a good thing, getting American spectators is more imnportant. Given a greater interest in the sport, I would think vendors/manufacturers would have more of an interest in getting involved. :shrug Shit. If I had $25k in start up rally capital, my Galant would be ready in time for Ramada in Laughlin, I bet! Unless that Focus comes with AWD and 300 turbocharged horses, it's still a FWD NA car. 
Brian Driggs | KG7KCA | PHX, AZ | 89 Pajero alterius non sit qui suus esse potest |
Grant Hughes Infallible Moderator Location: Whitefish, MT Join Date: 01/11/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 6,818 Rally Car: BMW |
Mustafa Samli Ultra Moderator Location: Arizona Join Date: 01/10/2006 Age: Ancient Posts: 824 Rally Car: Gaylant VR4 |
Matt Smith Infallible Moderator Location: Wilmington NC Join Date: 03/31/2006 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 546 Rally Car: xr4ti |
Grant Hughes Infallible Moderator Location: Whitefish, MT Join Date: 01/11/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 6,818 Rally Car: BMW |
John Vanlandingham Infallible Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
Anders Green Junior Moderator Location: Raleigh, NC Join Date: 03/30/2006 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 1,478 Rally Car: Parked |
Ted Andkilde Wrote:
> the way I read the rules all of the parts are mandatory Actually, the rules say these are the mandatory parts: Gravel Brakes/knuckles/hub kit DMS 50mm Team Dynamics wheels Hankook tires Racetech seats Racetech harnesses All those other modifications are listed as "may". So, seats and harnesses you would have to buy anyway, so there's a wash. Ok, you may have wanted to use other wheels, so there's +$720 for the wheels (using Grant's numbers). Tires you would have to get anyway, so that's a wash. Whatever you have, you would use up eventually. I think the gravel hub kit is about $1000, and the DMS is about, what $3800 list? So, compared to a building a bone stock focus, it's $1720 more plus the suspension. I know, I know, JVL could build you some suspension for about something like $1400 (I'm guessing???). So, it's a $4120 premium to build to the class spec. Everyone here that is thinking "I could build a different car for less" or "I could build a faster car for less" you're absolutely right. No one is arguing that at all. If you want to have a "how cheaply can I build a fast rally car" contest, have one! I don't think the class was ever designed to be the cheapest possible. I think the "Intent" section makes that pretty clear:
"The intent of these rules is to provide ... an even platform, in which a contest of driving skill may provide the most talented drivers with great rewards." If you think that the rules are failing what they were intended for, I think _that_ could be an interesting discussion. If you think that the rules are not standing up to what they were NOT intended for, I, uh, huh? Why would anyone expect that? *boggled*
Cheers, Anders Grassroots rally. It's what I think about. |
Matt Smith Infallible Moderator Location: Wilmington NC Join Date: 03/31/2006 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 546 Rally Car: xr4ti |
Grant Hughes Infallible Moderator Location: Whitefish, MT Join Date: 01/11/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 6,818 Rally Car: BMW |
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