Which Motorsport to Get Into?

Hi! I'm new to this forum, and I'd like your expertise.

I'd like to get into a sport of some kind. I've come down to either local autocross or Rally America B-spec rally. Which one do you think I should get into, for a budding car person? I live in Chicago, so which one is easier to get into too?

Thanks!

RS8_TTW12

I don't know about rally stuff in the area, but between Chicago, Milwaukee, and Champaign, there is an awful lot of great autoxing you can do within a reasonable drive...Then add in the occasional HPDE/track day with the same car at Autobahn, Blackhawk Farms, Gingerman and maybe even hit up Road America.  

You're in highschool right, what do you have to spend on this?

Unless you've been full racing karting since a young kid, start with autocrossing.  It's the best way to learn basic vehicle control, and leads to any other racing you want to spend your money on.  

If you want to go rallying, autocross to rallycross to full stage rally.

Road racing- autocross to track days to full racing.  

The paths have been established.  Use them.

Ok, then. That is true, I'm a high schooler, but I have a good budget, maybe $10-15k. I could get a nice DF Goblin SS/SC to start autocrossing.

In reply to alfadriver :

I have been karting many times, and personally own a kart, but not sure if that's the level of commitment you're talking about.

Where in Chicago are you? I'm down south (homewood flossmoor) if you ever want to come wrench on a challenge car or need to put your car up in the air.

I would absolutely start with autox, but you can do that with just about any car. If your real dreams are rallying, start autoxing to learn to drive better and save your cash for the rally car build.

I don't know fully. I've always wanted to get to the WRC (it isn't restricted like F1, anyone good can score a spot), but I played a few games and found I have a knack for spinning out and tipping backwards off a cliff. Autocross gives me more road experience, but isn't as appealing. Also, getting consumables to the track is a nightmare (2-seat track monster with no trunk based off a Cobalt SS vs a stripped Mazda2).

And I'm up in the NW Suburbs (Palatine/Inverness).

In reply to RS8_TTW12 :

The old saying is true: there’s two kinds of rally drivers - those who’ve crashed, and those who will. Figure $2-$3k for a race weekend with travel, $3-$4k(at the very low end) for a beat up used car that’ll get through tech, and $800 for your own safety gear(x2 if you’re paying for your codriver). 

Compare that to ~$35 entry + $20-$40 gas + lunch/water/sunscreen for autox. 

So there aren't any nearby rallycross tracks near Chicago? I was expecting some snow tracks in north WI or something. But I guess what you people are saying makes sense. Kay then. But with a car like the DF Goblin, I'll need to either buy a beat truck or rent one every time I go to the track to haul tires, brake pads, tools, and all sorts of stuff, and maybe even the car itself if I can't get a front license on that thing.

There is stateline rallycross (runs in byron IL, a bit southwest of rockford), and I just looked at their results quick there are less than 20 entries in their last two events.

You'd probably get TONS of seat time at an event like that. And I'm sure they would be interested in finding new regulars too. I'd email the people who run it and see if you can come out and spectate and get some ride-alongs. Someone might even let you co-drive.

Buying the car is the most fun part of this (I know!) but I'd strongly suggest going to spectate a few events first, autox and rallyx. That way you can see what kinds of cars show up, and where the competition is. and get a feel for which group of folks you want to race with.

It's a bummer to buy a car and build it, only to have no competition. Regardless of how fast or slow the car is.

In reply to RS8_TTW12 :

This isn't the answer you want to hear, but for a first "play toy" vehicle, maybe get something closer to normal that a DF Goblin. Miata, Cobalt, Integra, something common, cheap, and able to be its own support vehicle. With ratchet straps, a miata can carry all its spares with it. 

I'll be the first to admit autocross isn't very fun, but it is a great place to learn car control and in vehicle awareness. Then bump up to rallycross or ice racing if you can find it locally.

I get it, being young and having a wad to blow on something fun sounds like a great idea, but it would be a lot cheaper and easier learning in a cheap beater than some custom job, and letting the money you didn't spend on a car grow a bit more. Especially when your ABS decides on a beautiful 75 degree Saturday afternoon that it wants to go into Ice mode and bury your hood in a guard rail, which I've seen happen to a very experienced driver at an autocross in his very well built S2000. Insurance won't fix that kind of problem. 

RS8_TTW12 said:

Also, getting consumables to the track is a nightmare (2-seat track monster with no trunk based off a Cobalt SS vs a stripped Mazda2).

If you think that's bad, it's going to be way worse for rally :)

Yeah, maybe that's a bit ambitious as a first autocrosser. I guess I could start with a Cobalt SS/SC (I've heard they're great), then build it as I go and eventually convert it into a Goblin. When I get to a good level, I could drop straight into  a higher rally level, like Super Production. Is that good?

In reply to WonkoTheSane :

Ah, but that's a hatchback, and it has a front license mounting plate. The DF Goblin has neither.

RS8_TTW12 said:

Yeah, maybe that's a bit ambitious as a first autocrosser. I guess I could start with a Cobalt SS/SC (I've heard they're great), then build it as I go and eventually convert it into a Goblin. When I get to a good level, I could drop straight into  a higher rally level, like Super Production. Is that good?

Wait, am I understanding you correctly? You want the Goblin, to rally with?

No, what? The Goblin is for autocross, and the Mazda2 could be taken B-spec rallying.

If you want to get into motorsport find the next event in the calendar for whatever autox, hdpe, rallyx etc sign up and show up ready to learn, ready to make mistakes and with the goal of having fun. Or sign up for all of them and see what seems fun. 

If your goal is WRC; pack your bags and move to europe and enter whatever the next hot spec series is, remember to bring lots of cash. For the US:  all you need is a reliable car with the correct safety gear and maybe a decent suspension so it doesn't need to be replaced immediately. Get one or two under your belt and learn what you need to do to get through a rally weekend and grow from there. Don't get hung up on spec b or super production.

If you have the means call Team ONeil and rent a car for an event and see what you think about that.

Why would you want to autocross that?  You will be hopelessly outclassed in whatever class that would end up in- being not a production car, I'd bet it would be AM.  

If you want to rally a 2, autocross a 2.  Then Rallycross it.  Then rally it.

Learn how to drive.

You don't need, or even want, some car that you have to sort out or that is way over your head in terms of ability.  

And learn how motorsports works.  

OK, thanks for everyone's advice!

alfadriver said:

Why would you want to autocross that?  You will be hopelessly outclassed in whatever class that would end up in- being not a production car, I'd bet it would be AM.  

If you want to rally a 2, autocross a 2.  Then Rallycross it.  Then rally it.

Learn how to drive.

You don't need, or even want, some car that you have to sort out or that is way over your head in terms of ability.  

And learn how motorsports works.  

This, all this. Especially the last sentence. 

Are you interested in driving, or competing?  If the former, pick a fun car and go have fun in whatever class it ends up in.  If the latter, pick a class and then a competitive car for the class.  As noted above, part of the fun is being in a class with both the participation and competition being good.

I'm local to you in Schaumburg. There's all the tracks previously listed that are within a 4 hour drive and a fair amount of auto x. I wanted to get into rallyx, but we're in a bit of a dead zone. Most of the good rallyx events are at least a 4 hour drive away. Same story with serious karting.

I have a buddy that heads up to WI for snow/ice racing when it's cold enough. 

Being young, don't be the young guy that shows up with a highly modified car and wonder why everyone is faster than you. Learn to drive then modify your car as your capabilities grow. Seen many youngsters get frustrated that they don't win their first time out with their highly modified car getting beat by a bone stock car or their ego severely bruised when they go off the course/track and damage their car. Know that you have a lot to learn and learn from those that have been doing it a while. They are willing to teach as they were beginners once too. You're young, you have time to step through the different types of venues. Starting with autocross is a good idea, good place to learn and doesn't cost as much as the other venues so you can do more. The more behind the wheel time you can get the better and faster you can be. Then move to other types of venues. What you learn autocrossing can be applied to rallys. 

A lot of good advice in this thread. Read and heed. And welcome to the madness. Good Luck!!!!

Keep us posted as you learn and move up the ranks.