need help setting up my rally car

[spenc93]

hey my names jayden spencer and i need a hand on wot i need to compete in an event say like the tomerong micro rally ect my car has most of the good bits cage cams log book good engine will my old race seats be all right and old harneses or will i have to buy new ones and do u need a terratrip ect

[Miss]

Hi Jayden

Here are a few things you need to do. These are in order.

-2. Use the best English you can when posting. Most people on here aren't with txt spk and you'll get ignored.
-1. Search these forums on "beginner", "set up help", "starting rallying" and so on before you post any questions.
0. Don't assume you can drive on dirt if you have been paddock bashing for years. You might have a good dose of natural ability but that won't counteract the red mist (competitive spirit) once you are strapped in.
1. Join a car club. The one based in Nowra is SKDAC. Google it.
2. Go to a few smaller rallies and check out what other people have done to their cars. Everyone is really friendly. You can help out as an official or hang onto someone as their service crew (by posting here), or just come and spectate but you won't learn as much. The next rally is at Shallow Crossing (near Termeil) on 21st February. Check out skdac.org.au closer to the date or hang out here - people will be chatting about it for weeks
3. Go to smaller events to get your skills up and meet people. There are khanacrosses (just like mini-rallies) held in Nowra regularly during the year (not summer - too hot) and you can use your car there. Not only will you get some practice on dirt but people will help you with car set-up tips and so on.
4. Once you have got some skills and met some people and taken as much as you can on set up tips and so on, enter as many events as you can and drive it to its limit.
5. Spend money on brakes and suspension. Drive it to its limit.
6. Spend money or a better engine or buy a better car.
7. Repeat steps 3-6.

Your specific questions are best answered in context, like what car is it, who built it, what fruit does it have (suspension, brakes, induction etc), how old is your seat, when did the car last see an event, what is your budget, how much time have you got, and so on.

But more generally:
To find out what you need for an event you need to go to an event first. See what other people have done, ask them questions, learn from other's mistakes.

If your old race seat has seen any accidents it's not okay. If it's warped, brittle, cracked etc it's not okay. When in doubt throw it out.

Old harnesses are okay just as long as they are in good condition. An experienced rally person (who you can meet at small events) will tell you if it's okay.

Terratrips are always optional but they do keep navigators entertained while you're doing your thing

[DamienS]

Jayden,

If you are setting up the 1200 coupe, like the one you have in your avatar, I would be happy to help out with a list of easy mods.

I started off knowing nothing, but asking lot's of questions. Many modification that I have made to the car have come from someone who "been there and done that" and offered advice (you will find most of the details using search in the "Rally Technical"forum). The rest are from hours of tinkering.

The Datsun specific knowledge out there is awesome.

Listen to Miss, she speaks the truth. Get down to shallow crossing (Termeil) for a look and go to a Khana (even if only for a chat). Don't underestimate the Khana,they are seriously good fun. Definately consider joining SKDAC, they are a friendly bunch.

If you put in a Terratrip probe, I could possibly lend you a terratrip for an event.

Cheers
Damien

[spenc93]

hey thanks for the info iv been to the last 2 kanas and they were both called off but met a few guys that tought me a bit
yer i already new aboust skdac joinging on the 12th at the meeting see iv seen heaps of rally car set ups and they all have teeratrips i was just wondering do u have to have them
hey damien do u have any 1200 bonnets hers a run down on the specs of my car
#body
-1200 coupe shell
-240k struts
-adjustable cambers
-8 point bolt in cage
-some old race seats
-old 4 point harnesses
-logbooked in 1987
-single roof scoop
-2 sets of rally tyres with rims
-welded h145 diff
#engine
-a12 gx
-40 thou over flat top pistons
-gx head ported and polished
-rs2000 double valve springs
-l series valves
-twin 45 webbers on gx manifold
-big cam unsure of specs but its reground revs to 8500rpm prity easy

im gonno get rally rego soon as the body work is done and painted

(damiens wrote) If you put in a Terratrip probe, I could possibly lend you a terratrip for an event.
thanks damien that would be great im gonna have ago at the tomerong micro rally so woudnt need it for ages iv u want to sell it pm me

hers some pics
http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbu....php?lid=18190
i also have an a14 im doing up for as my dad is a motor machenic he owns his own business

[spenc93]

more pics
http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbu....php?lid=18189

[triplecaution]

Just another question...

Do you have your rally license yet? You'll need to be a member of a club, do the online test and the two observed license tests (Khanacross or motorkhana) to get that before you enter any events....

Your friendly SKDAC members should also be able to help you out in this regard...

[BlueRex]

Originally Posted by spenc93

hey thanks for the info iv been to the last 2 kanas and they were both called off but met a few guys that tought me a bit
yer i already new aboust skdac joinging on the 12th at the meeting see iv seen heaps of rally car set ups and they all have teeratrips i was just wondering do u have to have them
hey damien do u have any 1200 bonnets hers a run down on the specs of my car

Jayden, please re-read Miss' first point. Many of the most experienced and helpful resources on these forums just wont take you seriously otherwise.

Charles.

[afifield]

Originally Posted by spenc93

im gonno get rally rego soon as the body work is done and painted

One small piece of advice... Hold off on the rally rego as long as you can, especially if you've got other things to spend money on. We keep getting told that the new system will be in place soon, and will be a lot cheaper than the current one. If you need to drive it around before the new system comes up, just get UVPs (search here for Unregistered Vehicle Permit).

[Kaptainballistik]

Im seconding UVP, $21 bucks for 28 days.

[Michael Ryan]

[QUOTE=spenc93;195742]hey thanks for the info iv been to the last 2 kanas and they were both called off but met a few guys that tought me a bit
yer i already new aboust skdac joinging on the 12th at the meeting see iv seen heaps of rally car set ups and they all have teeratrips i was just wondering do u have to have them
hey damien do u have any 1200 bonnets hers a run down on the specs of my


I have been in trouble before saying this so someone who had dyslexia or dyspraxia or something, but here goes.

I have 3 words of advice for you J.

CAPITALS, punctuation and spellcheck!

This is the third mention of this. We are talking to you about yours!
Three strikes and...........
Try.....................
Hey. Thanks for the info. I've been to the last two Khanas and they were both called off! I have met a few guys who.............

[Kaptainballistik]

Originally Posted by spenc93

hey my names jayden spencer and i need a hand on wot i need to compete in an event say like the tomerong micro rally ect my car has most of the good bits cage cams log book good engine will my old race seats be all right and old harneses or will i have to buy new ones and do u need a terratrip ect

Best thing to start with is do some Khanacrosses before you start getting too far, Just so you know whats happening! You want to so you are going in the right direction.

Anyway, 2 Events are needed. Try a Westlakes event (AWABA) as their roads are more "Rallyish", Bit of a drive but worth it . ( Blaxland to Newy is a tad annoying in a RX2 but hey, Its AWABA!) HDCC at Hampton isnt for the faint hearted, But teaches you self control. Good guys too.

OK, Lets start off.... Yes, Get a Terratrip, Especially if you are inexperienced.Get an intercom, Make sure it works. Even more important than a Terratrip sometimes.

Secondly, If you know someone who is an experienced driver, They are the perfect person to be your navigator for the first event .

Why you ask???

Well, they can give you pointers, Cretique your driving and tell you to get off the brakes when you lock it up with a swift hit on the back of the helmet!

And Thirdly, The human brain can only take so much in at one go, So a Khanacross is a perfect place to absorb all thats going on as you have a break between runs, So the State Khanacross series is perfect!

Back to your Question.... Grab some new harnesses if they have expired and A terratrip, an intercom ( You have a sumpguard) and it looks like you will be OK.

And get someone who can drive to Nav.

If you need a hand just PM.

Pete

[DamienS]

Jayden,

Allot of the bits below are not essential, just things to keep in mind while you are improving things.

Originally Posted by spenc93

hey damien do u have any 1200 bonnets

I only have a smashed up one that I leave on my wall as a memento . I got my new one as an import from Asia. Check out the datsun1200 forum for info.

Originally Posted by spenc93

-240k struts

I have the same setup, check out what inserts you have. My Koni's self destructed. The KYB's were definitely better (but the Canberra roads eventually killed them).

Depending on what you can afford, this is an area to look into in the future (as Miss suggested). Putting in Bilsteins in commadore tubes would make it fairly indestructible and probably the suspension of choice. Again, these are more suggestion for the future, don't let them hold you back from getting out there.

Originally Posted by spenc93

-adjustable cambers

Adjustable camber is good. Keep mind that with a locked diff, you will also want to increase your caster to about 4 degrees if you can get it. It will help significantly with turn in.

Originally Posted by spenc93

-single roof scoop

Plenty, that's all I have.

Originally Posted by spenc93

-welded h145 diff

Longer term, think about getting hold of a H165, Ute diff (also in some bluebirds I think). Your new A14 (and even a modified A12) can snap axles in the H145.

Having said that, there is a SKDAC guy who Khana's on H145 and only snaps an axle occasionally and he gives it an absolute beating. Hi Al.

Originally Posted by spenc93

im gonno get rally rego soon as the body work is done and painted

As said elsewhere, hold off on this one, use the UVP first.

Originally Posted by spenc93

thanks damien that would be great im gonna have ago at the tomerong micro rally so woudnt need it for ages iv u want to sell it pm me

Not really interested in selling it Jayden as I keep it is as a spare. I think you can pick one up for about $250.

You can get away with not having a Terratrip for the micro rally at Tomerong and rally sprints, but that's about it in my opinion. Allot of the fun of rallying is your navigator calling down the corners and the navigator being as actively involved as the driver.

Hope this helps
Cheers
Damien
Ps. In regard to the gramma issue that has been raised. Just write it like a school essay, it is worth the effort.

[Mike Cherry]

Might be handy if we know where you are located, advice can then be directed more appropriately.

[spenc93]

im from south coast nowra near damiens

i just remembered that i have a bluebird trx diff with disk brakes its only 8 bolt so i think its h165 i also have a spear h145 and a h150 hmmm wat else ow 200b and 720 ute lsd bob b said u have to plate the 720 diff to be any good
sorry about the speeling whright very fast also cant speel very good so how do i spell check it

im gonna have a go at the kanas first i have a little rally/kana track at my grandperents place

[spenc93]

[QUOTE=Miss;195731]Hi Jayden
5. Spend money on brakes and suspension. Drive it to its limit.
6. Spend money or a better engine or buy a better car.
- yep done that just rebuilt engine
-im gonna purchase a 1600 when i save up enuf money
when i added up all thinhs things needed for ralling and to get my car good enuf it would be about the same to buy a 1600 with all that already plus i can start driving it straight away and it would be a lot more competitive