The RallyX was on saturday in Orange,VA: "next to Fredricksburg" I was told. Yeah right. I allowed what I thought was plenty of time to get there, but ended up being about 30 minutes late. So I showed up, and despite the fact that it was my first RallyX and I had no idea what the course was like or how the system worked, I was advised to jump in line and run with group A, instead of waiting to run with group B like I had wanted to. So I sprint off to get in my car, put on my helmet, and squeeze in the line of waiting cars. My turn comes up and next thing I know Im drifting around a dirt track having the time of my life. I come around a bend into a straight and I see a timing table at the end of the straight, thinking that this was the finish line I floor it and fly past the table. Immediately after the table there is a big hump then a rut that I didnt see. WHAM! I go over the hump then slam into the rut. I get out and my spoiler kit is broken and the front right side of my bumper is hanging off. Damn. Getting that sick sinking sensation.
So I come to find out that the "finish line" was 30 or 40 feet in front of the table and marked with double cones (how obvious), and I was supposed to stop at the table to give them my timecard. This of course could have been avoided if I had been allowed to run with group B and had a proper drive through of the course
That being said, it was definately my mistake for being late and for not seeing the finish line, Im not trying to blame anybody. It is all just part of the game.
Anyway, I fixed what I could on the bumper and actually finished out the day, although it was difficult to drive hard or even have fun after damaging my 2 month old car.
To add insult to injury I was given a DNF for not stopping at the time table, whithout which I would have finished in the points for my class (top 6). (not bad for a first timer!)
I havent pulled the bumper off yet, but as far as I can tell the damage wont require a new bumper. I hope to be able to fix it with plastic welder, some JB Weld, and some heavy duty double sided tape. This is assuming there isnt any additional damage that I am missing.
I may even be able to salvage the body kit too.
It really sucks to have to fix a brand new car "ghetto style" with JB weld!
I dont want to scare anyone away from Rallycrossing, the mistake was my own and had I known the course layout, it never would have happened. Rallycrossing is slightly more risky than autocrossing but not much.
So my plans for my car have changed a bit, first priority is of course to fix the car. After that I have put tuning and upgrading my WRX on hold so that I can save up for another car to rally. Most likely I will get a 1G AWD DSM,or possibly an AE86 that I can drift too
Evan
wannabe Tommi Makkinen
(but crashing like Colin Mcrae)
Linear Mode
