I just got done watching the ralley race go past my house again and got to thinking about running a Zuki as a ralley rig. They ran the road I always run when I go wheelin', once from North to South before noon and now South to North after dark. Any one else have this kind of idea and have any thoughts on it?

I will intertain ideas along the kick/track line but if I do this I plan on using the one and only real Zuki, the Samurai.

The Swift makes a great rally car.  And I know there are some local WA state runs that have a Metro/Swift class. 

I've also seen shots of a Tracker running rally.  As for the Sammy, I don't think you would have enough power or handling. 

What kind of rally racing?  WRC-style rally, or Dakar-style rally?

For WRC I'd take the Swift or maybe an Esteem. For Dakar I'd try to get an XL-7...something with a longer wheelbase for a less choppy ride

Is there any Dakar style racing in the US?

For a fast, twisty course, I would actually be afraid to try and race a sammy through. The independent suspension of the track/kicks would really outshine the solid axles of the sammy. Maybe take a sammy body and stick it on a track/kick frame and suspension... Get the right year trackick and you'd have the 16 valve with tons more power than the sammy...

Personally I always thought the X-90 would make a great rally car. I know I can get really silly with mine on dirt roads in 4 high 4th gear, 4 wheel drifting the curves and controlling traction and slide with the gas pedal... LOL!

Tim Pink on Difflock.com runs an SJ413K pickup in Comp Safaris in the UK. I should think thats pretty close to a rally. The 413k has the longer wheelbase though, thats helps stability. He has a 16V engine converted to carb and Sammy axles. The axle tubes have been the weak point, bending after high speed jumps. He now has them pretty well reinforced. He also runs a fully floating rear axle with locker.

For a fast, twisty course, I would actually be afraid to try and race a sammy through. The independent suspension of the track/kicks would really outshine the solid axles of the sammy. Maybe take a sammy body and stick it on a track/kick frame and suspension... Get the right year trackick and you'd have the 16 valve with tons more power than the sammy...

Personally I always thought the X-90 would make a great rally car. I know I can get really silly with mine on dirt roads in 4 high 4th gear, 4 wheel drifting the curves and controlling traction and slide with the gas pedal... LOL!

Ahhh, that reminds me of blasting up Windrock Mountain in her. I loved the look on the ATV riders faces when I rolled up behind them and was flashing for a pass, then let them eat dust for a while.

Drop the tires to 15 front and 12 rear and she will smooth out and get awesome 4x4 drift traction 

Zig

I guess it is WRC style. If I do something like this, it would be a one time deal during the year just to run the ralley over the road that goes by my house. Therefore I do not want a lot of $$ tied up in it.

Quote from: Digger on October 14, 2007, 02:11:16 PM

For a fast, twisty course, I would actually be afraid to try and race a sammy through. The independent suspension of the track/kicks would really outshine the solid axles of the sammy. Maybe take a sammy body and stick it on a track/kick frame and suspension... Get the right year trackick and you'd have the 16 valve with tons more power than the sammy...

Personally I always thought the X-90 would make a great rally car. I know I can get really silly with mine on dirt roads in 4 high 4th gear, 4 wheel drifting the curves and controlling traction and slide with the gas pedal... LOL!

Ahhh, that reminds me of blasting up Windrock Mountain in her. I loved the look on the ATV riders faces when I rolled up behind them and was flashing for a pass, then let them eat dust for a while.

Drop the tires to 15 front and 12 rear and she will smooth out and get awesome 4x4 drift traction 

Zig

I did the same thing at Windrock, but we were comming down the hill.  I was racing some railbuggy friends of mine in my Tracker. One of them called me nuts for doing it "IN THAT THING", but it was really a smooth ride.

Bill