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Rallycross Guide: Dirt, Grass, Gravel, and Getting Started

Car kicking up dirt and grass during a rallycross run

Rallycross is autocross's unhinged cousin. The concept is the same: a temporary course, one car at a time, timed runs. But instead of a paved parking lot, you are on dirt, grass, mud, or gravel. The car slides. You correct. Dirt flies everywhere. And when you get out, you are grinning like an idiot. It is the most fun you can have in motorsports without taking yourself too seriously.

SCCA RallyCross is the most common organized series in the United States, with regions running events in open fields, fairgrounds, and anywhere else they can set up a dirt course with cones. Entry fees are usually $30 to $50, and you can run pretty much any car that will pass a basic safety check.

How Rallycross Works

The format is similar to autocross. You show up, register, tech your car, walk the course, and run timed laps. Most events give you six to eight runs, and your best time counts. The courses are shorter and slower than paved autocross, usually 45 to 90 seconds per run, and speeds are low enough that a spin or an off just means you drove into some grass.

That low-consequence environment is what makes rallycross such a good starting point. You learn car control on a slippery surface at safe speeds, and the penalty for mistakes is measured in seconds, not bodywork. It teaches you more about weight transfer, throttle control, and reading the surface than a year of street driving ever could.

What Cars Work for Rallycross

Almost anything. Seriously. You will see Miatas, Subarus, old Civics, pickup trucks, beaters with mismatched body panels, and the occasional minivan. All-wheel-drive cars have a natural advantage on loose surfaces, but front-wheel-drive cars are competitive and arguably more fun to slide around. Rear-wheel-drive works too, especially once you figure out how to use the throttle to rotate the car.

The biggest practical consideration is ground clearance. Lowered cars can scrape on uneven terrain. If your car is slammed on coilovers, you might want to raise it back to stock height for rallycross. Other than that, the mechanical requirements are minimal. Working brakes, decent tires (all-seasons are fine, and many people run them on purpose), and a car that does not leak fluids.

Getting Dirty Without Breaking the Bank

Rallycross is gentle on cars, at least compared to track days. Speeds are low, surfaces are soft, and the worst that usually happens is a coating of mud inside your wheel wells. Some people run dedicated beater cars, but plenty of people rallycross their daily drivers and then drive them to work on Monday. Check out our budget prep guide for ways to get event-ready without spending a lot.

If you are thinking about what to do to your car before your first time out, our car prep hub covers the basics. And if you are brand new to motorsports in general, read what rallycross actually feels like for a first-person account of what to expect.

Finding Rallycross Events

SCCA regions post their rallycross schedules on their regional websites, and many list events on MotorsportReg.com. Some events also show up on Facebook through local car groups and rally communities. Our event finder guide walks through the best ways to track down events in your area.

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