I remember seeing pictures, incl. the archives of Fieros used as rally cars. Is that still the case? Are there any members who actively participate in rally driving (Fiero, or otherwise)? How did you get started?
I would like to learn more about the sport in general, and how a Fiero holds up driving rally style.
If I could think of anyone off the top of my head that would know 'Fiero' and 'rally' in the same sentence it is Doug Chase.
I think it's been some time Doug has posted here though. He sold the car not too long ago. It was promptly totaled the first time out by the new owner. He also was autocrossing an '88 GT for a while as well, so he knows how to get down both on and off the road.
Thank you for posting the Doug Chase pics. That's really cool. I've always known that rally racing is serious (ab)use to a car, seeing the Fiero mended like that tells me he is a hard core rally driver.
I've run a Fiero in rallycross for a couple seasons.
In rallycross events run in grass or in a field, the first few cars strip off the sod/root structure and it gets somewhat muddy (even when it hasn't rained for quite a while). Once this happens, your tires will accumulate slime.
Front wheel drive cars can sling the mud out of the tread blocks and keep making traction, whereas rear wheel drive cars' front tires just turn into mudballs and slide. With a car with little weight on the front, there's not even very much "scrubbing" action across the tread when the tires slide to get them cleaned off.
Consequently, every place where there's a tight turn, you have to slow down to a crawl while the fronts slide on their skim-coat of mud; meanwhile the front wheel drive cars spin their wheels like mad and keep their tires clean and round the same corner at WOT that you had to slow down for.
Also, the Fiero is not a narrow car. Cars like the EG Civic that have a narrower width excel in the slaloms, since they run a straighter path through the slalom. I regularly got spanked in rallycross by a 4 door, 5 speed, 1.3 liter 4 cylinder Geo Metro sedan.
^^^ The above is correct. Notice that in the WRC there has never been any sort of RWD vehicle in competition (other than I guess the Lancia Stratos). WRC competition spec have primarily always been 4WD/AWD or FWD, and in most SCCA-ran rallies the cars of choice are actually FWD cars because of not only the above but also how cheap one can find such a vehicle.
I'd imagine trying to accelerate in a Fiero during a rally event must be atrocious.
[This message has been edited by Fiero84Freak (edited 09-06-2011).]
There is a reason you did not see many Fiero's in rallys and even less in victory lane.
I love my Fiero but it would never be my first choice to race or rally. You can make one run but there are other choices that do not need the major changes to make them competitive.
The only type of racing the Fiero in stock form ever did very well was autocrossing as several did win national championships with them. Most were 88's. I am not sure if there is a good class for them now or not but back then you could win with one and not have many major changes. to it.
I'd rally a Fiero without hesitation on dry gravel/tarmac/sand stages, but like I said before, there's just nothing to be done when it gets muddy/sloppy/slimy; I was about to fit 3-rib tractor tires to the front of my car at the end of the last season I rallycrossed it, but elected not to since it would bump me out of my classes (the tractor fronts are not D.O.T. approved)
^^^ The above is correct. Notice that in the WRC there has never been any sort of RWD vehicle in competition (other than I guess the Lancia Stratos). WRC competition spec have primarily always been 4WD/AWD or FWD, and in most SCCA-ran rallies the cars of choice are actually FWD cars because of not only the above but also how cheap one can find such a vehicle.
I'd imagine trying to accelerate in a Fiero during a rally event must be atrocious.
actually, before the quattro hit us back in the day, a lot of rally cars were RWD (with the SAAB's and Mini's being an obvious exception). Last time I checked, and yes, that was a couple of years ago, RWD cars dominated the amateur rally and rallycross (actually, several FWD cars have been changed to RWD for rallycross) scene here in sweden. A lot of people were running FWD cars in rallies, but I would say that's mainly because there aren't many viable RWD options (if you want a compact, relatively new and relatively inexpensive car. If you want an expensive car you might as well go 4WD).
edit to add: I think a Fiero could do well in this type of event (in a 2WD class of course, not against the 4WD monsters in the video), but it would definitely require a different driving style than the front-engined RWD competition
[This message has been edited by PerKr (edited 12-22-2011).]
Well at least on the hobby level it could be fun. I understand that Fiero's aren't competitive anymore. Once you modify the Fiero, it gets bumped into classes it can't compete in. I'm not sure if the latter applies to rally, but it seems true for SCCA road racing, or Autocross.
I've run a Fiero in rallycross for a couple seasons.
In rallycross events run in grass or in a field, the first few cars strip off the sod/root structure and it gets somewhat muddy (even when it hasn't rained for quite a while). Once this happens, your tires will accumulate slime.
Front wheel drive cars can sling the mud out of the tread blocks and keep making traction, whereas rear wheel drive cars' front tires just turn into mudballs and slide. With a car with little weight on the front, there's not even very much "scrubbing" action across the tread when the tires slide to get them cleaned off.
Consequently, every place where there's a tight turn, you have to slow down to a crawl while the fronts slide on their skim-coat of mud; meanwhile the front wheel drive cars spin their wheels like mad and keep their tires clean and round the same corner at WOT that you had to slow down for.
Also, the Fiero is not a narrow car. Cars like the EG Civic that have a narrower width excel in the slaloms, since they run a straighter path through the slalom. I regularly got spanked in rallycross by a 4 door, 5 speed, 1.3 liter 4 cylinder Geo Metro sedan.
I for one have never drivin a fiero on a rally course but, I drive it in Michigan winter as my DD with low tread all seasons. There comes a time when you have to steer with the throttle, my front tires never gripped so to make a turn I just had to jab the throttle and point the car where I want to go. So I don't see why you have to slow way down, when you can steer with the throttle and rotate the car around the corner.
True, but there is so much more to that. Just the throttle will get you into big trouble on dirt roads. - I learned that very quick on day 1, or two of Rally Racing school. - Quite hairy actually.
Hey gang! First time poster. Has anyone recently put together a rally/off roady Fiero?
My daily driver and "track" car is a '90 Vette. I love it maybe a bit too much, and as such I don't want to do in it all the mad things I want to do. I'm thinking of getting a cheap ($3k?) Fiero and turning it into a poorman's Lancia Stratos. I don't have any racing aspirations beyond amateur rallycross, as such I don't plan on sinking tons of money into besides suspension, tires, and maybe a turbo. Has anyone done such a thing recently? I've seen the Jalapeno kit but other than that my searches haven't turned up much.
