My Echo rally car - pics just for Garm!

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by rob323

Corner weighted prior to rally suspension and sump guard going on at 935kg (61%/39% weight distribution), wet, with half a tank of fuel including spare tyre. Truthfully, it's probably just under 1000kg in "Ready to rally" mode including the rally suspension (which was substantially heavier than the stock stuff), fire extinguishers, sump guard, fuel tank guard, brake line shields, mudflaps, tools etc.

I could easily strip 10kg out of it if I put the manual steering rack back in and removed the power steering pump. Could probably also save another 10 kg if I remove the air con and heater core. The race seats including mounts are 5kg each heavier than the stock seats due to keeping the sliding rails and the steel I welded to them to adapt them to the race seats. And I have made no effort what so ever to lighten anything in the car. We are still running with carpet and roof lining and some of the internal trims (not that that stuff weighs very much at all anyway). I could easilylose 5kg and My 6 foot tall navvie could be traded in for a 5' skinny 50kg female one if I could find one that would put up with me.

i like that you didn't throw away creature comforts for "bleeding edge" performance! especially considering that Rally racing requires so much more skill than "power"

[2006fronty]

Bad-a$$, can't wait to see the race vids

[rob323]

Originally Posted by Tamago

i like that you didn't throw away creature comforts for "bleeding edge" performance! especially considering that Rally racing requires so much more skill than "power"

Certain decisions and compromises were made on this build. My previous rally car was built solely for rallying at the pointy end of the field. It had no creature comforts at all and sacrificed everything including drivability to do so. It was perfectly suited for one purpose and one purpose only, going fast in the forest. It was an absolute prick for anything else though.

This car on the other hand was built to be a reliable, understressed, fun, jack of all trades type car. Whether it be on dirt, at a circuit, doing hill climbs, autocross or simply driving on the street. The seats are on rails to allow different drivers to use the car at motorkhanas. The air con was kept because there is nothing better than finishing a 20km long stage in 40 degree (C) heat with 90% humidity and then rolling down the top half of your race suit and turning the air con on max to help lower your body temp. There are also full day long combined navigation/ speed events over here where you drive for about 10 hours, cover around 500kms while deciphering maps, answering questions and doing little speed tests (closed road, race tracks, motorkhanas etc). Some comfort is required if you don't want to spend the next three days with a sore body and ringing ears.

I didn't start competing til I was in my 30's, far too late to be really good at it as I'm not as young and dumb as I used to be. I care far too much for the car to throw it at the trees which is what you have to be prepared to do to be really quick. And I don't have the huge budget needed to run at the front of the field.
Besides all that, I simply don't have the talent to be super quick, those that are, are just freaks of nature .

And I agree whole heartedly that it's the driver, not the car, that makes the difference. Put a quick driver in anything and he will be quick. Put a slow driver in a quick car and they just have bigger and more spectacular crashes.

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