What is rallycross? Have you ever imagined how much fun it would be if you were turned loose in a car in a large dirt or grass field, or perhaps a gravel parking lot...and could tear around, driving as fast as you want? Welcome to rallycross. Rallycross events were designed as a way to bring some of the thrills of performance rallying to a larger group of amateur drivers, and to a larger spectating audience. Cars take the course one at a time, against the clock, and times are compared between drivers of cars of a similar size and level of preparation. The events are held on a non-paved surface, usually a grass/muddy-dirt field, and consist of an autocross-type twisty course of cones laid out as a series of gates and slaloms. I have heard people espousing autocross as the best way to teach yourself car control, and I used to buy it. Well, rallycross is a ultra low-grip, uneven-surface version of autocross. Nothing else short of skid school or ice racing even comes to close to rallycross for teaching you about understeer, oversteer, controlling skids, and driving fast on the limit of traction. Plus it is really fun, and can be done in pretty much any type of car or truck.

The European version of rallycross is much more competitive, better established, and better recognized. In the United States, the phenomenon is fairly new, and is usually strictly amateur drivers in stock to lightly-modified street cars, competing on a local scale with a local chapter of the Sports Car Club of America, or similar sports car club. European events include serious drivers in highly-prepared machinery, and very hotly contested events for modified hatchbacks. Many European courses are purpose-built circuits, still tight and twisty, but often with a combination of surfaces, dirt and paved, and sometimes even jumps! The Japanese have rallycross too, only they call it "Dirt Trial." Japanese rallycross is also usually on a purpose-built course, and frequently involves lots of everyday people in their street cars.

I really enjoy the truly friendly and supportive atmosphere of rallycross events in the Oregon region. There is a strong emphasis on participation and having fun. Everyone enjoys the car they happen to have, with the driving ability they have. Costs are minimal and newcomers are welcomed and given advice and help. Where else in motorsports can you see some of the regulars, the die hards, happily driving 1980's Subaru wagons, or better yet, Ford Festivas, Subaru Justys, Geo Metros? And getting the full support of the other people there? And often times placing or winning? :-) Where else in motorsports does the driver play such a large role, and the car play such a small a role in the result? While I enjoy trackdays, and will continue to participate in them, they don't share the same atmosphere. Can you meet friendly, helpful people at trackday? Yes. Can you drive a funky older Japanese car? Sure thing. Will there always be an undercurrent of snobbery? Definately. This is just not the case at Oregon Rally Group events; they are all about fun for everybody. Should you come do it? YES!!