[MINI Cuda]

Anybody try Rally-X in their MINI yet.
It seems to be the cheapest alternative for people interested in Rallying. It's getting really big with owners of Subarus and other AWD cars. I'm sure you can have a lot of fun with only 2WD as well.
I'd like to hear if anyone has done it to see if it is worth trying, and how much work it takes to get involved.

[HarryHBMCC]

Up here they've made the safety requirements same as full performance rally so it doesn't make much sense and was cancelled last year. This year is in doubt as well. If you need full prep you might as well do the full thing...

Harry

[MINI Cuda]

Thanks for the info Harry,

And you're right. If you need to go all out with a roll cage and everything you may as well just compete in the real thing. Plus you could do Targa Newfoundland and other races. I wonder though if sticking to Rally-X would still be less painful for the car and cost you less money in the long run.

I had to laugh buddy when you said "up here". Not sure if you remember but we met on one of the first get togethers of MINIs in the Toronto area over a year ago. I was riding with Andrew who was the x rally driver in the red cooper s.

What do we have going on in the way of Rally-X up in Canada these days. (havn't been there for a while. Stuck down here where it's warm.)

Sorry I missed out on Targa this year.

[HarryHBMCC]

I remember meeting you. I just knew you mentioned being in Panama right now so wasn't sure if you'd kept up with the CARS/RSO happenings.

No Rally-X right now. Cancelled last year and no venue yet this year so it isn't looking good. Just three performance rallies in Ontario also. 14 TSDs though! Subaru Snowy Safari Rally this weekend and I'll be there.

Targa would be fun. Touring class needs you don't need to do much to the car either.

Harry

[MINI Cuda]

Harry,

Please try to get some pics from this up-comming weekend's rally. I'd love to see some shots from back home, especially if there are MINIs. I know you usually compete and Andrew has competed in the past. I'd like to see some actual pictures of this. I could use a new wallpaper for my computer down here.

When are you going to get yourself an "S"?

[HarryHBMCC]

Andrew is competing at Snowy Safari this weekend as is one of the fellows that competed in Targa last year. Andrew already has his rally lights on (he works around the corner from where I work and I saw him last night and this morning). My MINI won't be there as I'm navigating instead of driving this year (couldn't find a regular nav for myself so decided to switch back to the other seat). I'd need new winter tires if I was competing this year anyways -- one season of snow and gravel does them in for competition grip level.

I'll take a camera but last year I did too and didn't have time to take any pictures so I can't promise anything. I will try though... I should at least be able to take some before pictures. We're car #53...

As for when I might get an S, I don't know. A friend traded his trouble-free Launch Edition Cooper in for a horrible S that's been in the shop for about 60 days (yes, sixty days) since he got it last year; I bet he wishes he'd kept his Cooper. My Cooper isn't perfect but it runs well and I like it. If I ever wanted to performance rally it, the Cooper actually makes more sense than an S. The Cooper competes in P2 unmodified against old VWs (actually not much in P2 at the moment) or Group 2 modified against modified Focuses, NA Saabs, VW while the S competes in P4 class unmodified or Open class modified which pits it against WRXs, STIs, EVOs, etc. They need to split the AWD classes out for it to be fair as the Cooper S, Dodge SRT-4, etc. end up competing against turbo AWD cars right now. Right now no one in Canada is competing in an S or SRT-4 so CARS/RSO haven't done anything about it.

Harry