Getting Started in Rally.
When you think of Heaven, do you see trees, dirt roads, tight corners, crowds of people cheering? Do you smell exhaust, dirt, and sweat? If this image has your adrenaline coursing through your veins with excitement and joy, then rally driving may be in your future.
Rally is fun as hell. You have a tight-knit community of drivers, co-drivers, volunteers, scrutineers, and enthusiasts, all rooting for each other’s success. Who wouldn’t want to be in the rally? It’s just about as much fun as you can have on four wheels (which, in our opinion, is the most fun you can have). All without even mentioning the badass cars.
So how do you become a driver? Great question.
Get Involved
The first thing you need to do (if you haven’t already) is get involved with the community. Find an event near you and volunteer. It doesn’t matter what job they give you; you’ll be able to see what goes into the sport and talk to teams, drivers, and other enthusiasts. This is great because you can see first-hand how freaking awesome it is. It’s also great because you can network, and possibly find a team you work well with.
2. Join a Team
Next, get involved with that team. Learn the intricacies of the sport, see how they work, and the things that happen behind the scenes. If you want to drive someday, you need to know what everyone else does to support you. Soon, you’ll know what to look for, safety precautions, details about the car, and what the driver needs to know in order to navigate the stage safely and competitively.
2.5 Safety Side Note
Notice how I mentioned safety? Yeah, that’s hella important. Not only will your car take a beating, but the scrutineers have extremely strict criteria for the cars that compete at events. What makes a rally so exciting, is also what makes it dangerous if you don’t take it seriously.
3. Rally School
Between events, something to consider would be to take a course at a rally driving school, so you don’t completely suck behind the wheel. Here you will go over the basics, of how to operate the car, what kind of car works best for you, how to navigate difficult stages, safety, and more.
Driver: Amanda Skelly ; PC: Stina & David Woodruff
4. Co-Drive:
Once you’ve secured your position on the team, and you know the intricacies of the sport, the car, the driver, and safety standards, you may be able to fill a spot as a co-driver. This will allow you to learn the value of communication between the driver and their co-driver. The co-driver can be all the difference between your car doing somersaults off a bend and standing on the podium.
5. Build Your Car
While this is happening, start picking out a car to build. There is a lot to choose from, and what car works best for one driver may not work best for another. This is where seat time and experience become important. This way, you know whether you want FWD, AWD, or RWD. Most driver’s will tell you that learning on AWD will promote lazy driving habits. FWD cars will teach you how to go fast in an AWD car, while an RWD car will teach you specific driving techniques that will be useful when you upgrade to an AWD car.
6. Start Competing
As you build up your car and make safety requirements, you can start competing at events yourself. This is where you can start making a name for yourself, gain seat time, and perfect your car over time.
7. Keep Driving
Now that you’re competing, maybe even making your way onto a podium, you can start really building up your car in a big way. Maybe, even snag a few sponsors. As with all Motorsports, seat time is pivotal to your success in your career. Drive, anything, anywhere, at any time.
Finishing Notes.
While this is just a few suggestions on how to get started in a rally, the best way to get all the answers is to get out there and talk to somebody. Make friends, gain experience, and build an awesome car. Go out and have a good time, drive hard, and push your car to its limits. Before you know it, you’ll be a rally all-star.