Vibe in a rally

[Voitek]

Has anybody seen a Vibe or a Matrix in a rally? The car is based on Corolla and a hatchback version of Corolla (roughly the same size as Vibe) was used by Carlos Sainz and Didier Auriol in World Rally Championship just two years ago. So when are we going to see one of "ours" in SCCA or Canadian series?

[NovaResource]

There are a couple of people on this board who have used their Matrix/Vibes in local, SCCA parking lot events but nothing so far about professional World Rally events. I think both the Matrix and Vibe would make cool rally cars.

[Frosty]

The first obvious modification they would have to do is to beef up/throw away the existing AWD system for one that would handle 400 hp. The thought of the trickle down from such a program is tantalizing... I had a great time attending the SCCA Lake Superior Pro Rally in Houghton Michigan, and plan on going to Bemidgi, Minn. next Aug. Are there any other big rally fans out there?

[slbpsi63]

I am. For next years birthday I am going to Rally school in Starke Florida. $1600 your behind the wheel for 6 hours with an instructor as your co-driver. Your also driving an Impreza. My dream will come true and pull over 1.5 G's in a U-turn in some gravel. Can't wait. WAR Petter Solberg getting the damn Fin off the Freakin Pedestal.

[Frosty]

Ok Sir, details please.... Is this a career move, or just for fun? Do you race anything or anywhere else, other than at stoplights? Do you attend SCCA Pro Rallies?I hope to get a few people to go down to Bemidji next year, including someone (female please) to keep my wife busy while I am volunteering in the corners. Race marshalling seems like big fun.

[slbpsi63]

I can only dreanm of this being a career change. It is for my personal enjoyment. I have not had a chance to attend a rally yet, but if the rumors of the WRC coming to the USA are true then I will be booking my travel plans right away. They are talking about Tennesse's rally eveny that is a FIA sanctioned event (I think it is the cherokee trails rally). I hope it is true. Ralling is gaining in popularity in the states.

[Frosty]

Cool.The only two events I can get to I have mentioned above. North Western Ontario has miles of perfect rally stages, it looks just like the Finland rally circuit. Maybe someday there will be a home event, even if it is just on the Canadian tour.

[Voitek]

As to WRC I think we will be watching it only on TV for few more years. There are some issues: homologation (how many cars in full specs are sold in Canada and USA. Approximately 0), FIA regulations (we are still running "blind" rallies and pace notes are practically not known) and sponsors. There is a push to run a WRC event in Mexico though. Nevertheless Canadian Championship and SCCA are doing great in their own rights and hopefully we will see some Vibes competing on a home turf soon. Would be cool to show up at the event in our Vibes to show some support!

[vibegirl]

Maybe I am naive...can someone describe/define "rally". Sounds like fun!

[slbpsi63]

quote: FIA regulations (we are still running "blind" rallies and pace notes are practically not known) I now that last year was the first year that pace notes were required for the Cherokee Trails Rally. Everybody was making a big deal of it because it was the first years as the evenet being sanctioned by the FIA. There were also a couple (4-5) international teams that came to run the rally to check it out. They all raved about the course and said it would be a great evenet to add in the future. We can only hope like you said another 4-5 years maybe we will get some serious consideration. Vibegirl check out http://www.wrc.com this is the official world rally site. enjoy!

[Frosty]

quote:Maybe I am naive...can someone describe/define "rally". Sounds like fun!It is big fun to watch the racers, they are suped up economy cars designed for real world roads.But there is another type of rally that anyone can participate in. You are given directions(maybe maps I am not sure) and you are timed on your ability to arrive at a destination in a predetermined amount of time. You know the distance and the team that comes the closest to the time wins. I have an invite to join in with the local group here (they ice race and run slalom courses as well) but haven't had my ducks lined up.Here is a link to a B.C. group. http://www.rallybc.com/ Enjoy!

[Voitek]

Speed Channel has a quite good coverage of WRC. From what I found on the Internet we are getting even more air time then some European countries. One small problem though is that they do not show any other groups. One may think that N class or 1600 does not even exist. Funny thing. MG threatened to withdraw in 2003 because they were not getting any TV coverage. TSN shows Canadian and SCCA series so we can be very much up to date. In fact these series are closer to life as we know it. (The cost of one top class WRC car is about US$500,000).For total beginners (as most of us) local Auto Clubs run "first step" rallies. I took part in one of them as a co-pilot to my son and we had a blast. You are given an itinerary at the start line and you are supposed to arrive at the end of each stage at a precise time. No practice prior to the rally (=“blind”). They are several conventions used for road description (the easiest ones are pictograms of each intersection) and you have a chance to try each one in one event. Everybody can put the pedal to the metal (preferably in front of all girls High School), but rallies are not about it! It’s a driver co-pilot cooperation, good judgment, orientation, bit of math and time keeping. (The pedal to the metal part comes at the pro-level. At the beginners level you are supposed to maintain an average speed of about 60-70km/h). But fun part comes at every level.And now, how about “Formula Vibe” - Canadian and US series?

[slbpsi63]

My man the co-driver. I bet that was a great experience. I can't wait to go on my driving experience in the near future.

[Kangaroooski]

Hey just found this thread, I know I am late . I am part of a Rally team-GNI Motorsports, we race a VW GTI. Although we have only raced in 2 rally's so far (LSPR & Sno-Drift), we are progressing very well. The only bummer is that I don't drive, but I get to do all the services (stationary and mobile). Its a blast and I highly recomend if you have the chance to become invloved.Frosty I believe that I seen you up in Houghton for the Parc Expose', I was driving my Neptune Vibe.

[Frosty]

I do remember seeing another Vibe, don't remember the color. Did you have your Neptune there?We plan to attend the Bemidji Rally. Do you? Can you post pics of your Rally car?

[Kangaroooski]

Yes, I had the Neptune there. The next rally that we will be racing in is called the Forest Rally in Cadilac Michigan (3rd weekend in Sept). All 5 of us got together and decided that we would race only the ones's that are in Michigan this year. But I bet that one in Minnesota will be a blast. A friend actually owns and drives the rally car, myself and a couple of other guys do all services. We race car #595. For pics go to:LSPRhttp://photos.yahoo.com/mdgerulskiSno-drifthttp://photos.yahoo.com/rallycar595http://photos.yahoo.com/car595gtihttp://photos.yahoo.com/teamgni

[Frosty]

Hmmm.None of your links work for me. As an "insider" how do you think the Vibe/Matrix would work as a rally car? Is the 2wd version limited by it's lack of independant rear suspension? Would an AWD Vibe's drivetrain have to be replaced as I speculated earlier?Don't think I would make it to every Lake Superior Rally, but it is on the list of things to do again. I was pleased that my mrs. enjoyed the trip!I just noticed that your CB650 has satelite navigation Did you get the stock OEM system? Does your Vibe as well?Thanks.

[NSimkins]

quote:None of your links work for me.Try removing the www... try photos.yahoo.com.....UPDATE: I fixed the links in the above post.

[Frosty]

You are brilliant Nick! without the www does the trick. The link was right there offered to me too Holy smokes that is quite an album. Get back to you after I review.....

[Kangaroooski]

Thanks Nick for fixing my links, what was I thinking . I actually think that the Vibe GT would do pretty well, with the right suspension. The satellite navagation on my cycle (cb650sc) is a Garmin III+, and I also have mounts for it in my Vibe, I would have got the DVD navagation in my Vibe if I already didn't have the Garmin. In fact my GPS really came in handy about 2 weeks ago when the family and I made a run for Owen Sound, Ontario. We wanted to show my daughter what Big snow is all about.

[Kangaroooski]

quote:Did she enjoy the snow, and which Garmen do ya have?She loved the snow, but probably not as much as me . I think my next set of tires for the vibe will be mud and snow tires, the vibe is good in the snow, but I think that with a more aggresive tire it will be even better.As for the Garmin, I have the Garmin III+, with the Canada & US roads and recreation software.

[Frosty]

quote:Has anybody seen a Vibe or a Matrix in a rally? .......So when are we going to see one of "ours" in SCCA or Canadian series?There was a Matrix XRS entered in the "production 3" category at the Rallye International de Québec. They finished 3th in their category, 17th overall. Finishing is a feat in itself. No word on how many times the matrix was beached in the snowbanks but many others were including SCCA champ Higgins got too stuck too long to continue. Traction is the big equalizer.1st to 3rd overall were all Quebecois drivers! I caught the race on TSN or Speedvision (I forget).see http://www.rallyscoring.com/results/Res ... Ordre2.htm Notice the other Toyota, a Hybrid Prius was only 11 minutes behind the Matrix. We will have to follow this Matrix this summer.....

[Kangaroooski]

Sweet , I hope that these guys decide to try the LSPR this year. I would love to see it run .

[Frosty]

Hey Rally fans! The FIA is considering adding Quebec and Mexico.From the Toronto Star The widely praised Mexican rally was monitored by the FIA's rally commission for possible inclusion in next year's world dust-up. It would be the first ever North American event included in the WRC, and this year's Québec rally was also monitored. You see, the FIA is looking for another winter rally. Decision to come. See the full article at http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Conten ... 9048871196

[slbpsi63]

Frosty I also heard they are looking to creat a rally just for the WRC in the States. Maybe Washington State or New York. Some organizers want it close to a large city like New York or Los Angeles. But I do have to say I am happy that Mexico hit one out of the park, their only concern is attendence at the Rally Mexico. Rally racing is not as popular in Mexico than it is in Canada or here in the USA. I am hoping we get one soon.