If you tell your friends you’re a racing driver, the glamourous world of Formula One racing is likely what springs to their minds: the fast, streamlined machines, the exotic locations around the world, and the teams of highly trained professionals, resplendent in their colour-coded overalls, fine-tuning the high tech racing cars which enthral millions on TV screens around the world. But for most motorsports competitors, the reality is very different. Most motor racing goes on on gravel tracks through forests, on old runways, and in muddy fields up and down the country. It may not have the same heady appeal as the professional sport, but the very fact that so many grassroots motorsports – and rallying in particular – are cheap and cheerful is what makes them accessible to ordinary people like you and I, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s quite possible to get into rallying with little more than a helmet, a set of overalls and the car you drive to work every day. Once you have registered with the Motor Sports Association (MSA) and taken a basic driving test to obtain your B class rally driver’s licence, you can start to take part in events. Little matches the thrill and sense of accomplishment of taking part in your first organised rally, an pretty soon you’ll likely want to start upping your game by purchasing various accessories for your car. After all, raw talent can only take you so far!
It is at this point that harsh reality hits home for many aspiring rally stars. This is not the glamourous world of Formula One, with its corporate sponsorship and budgets measured in millions. This is your hobby, and will largely be financed out of your pocket, at least at this stage. How can you get the rally car accessories you need without breaking the bank?
Just as is the case with running your car day-to-day, taking advantage of high quality used spare parts can save you a lot of money when it comes to equipping your race car. As mentioned, rallying is a grassroots sport and even some quite established teams are not above stocking used rally car accessories in order to keep costs down. Whether the used parts are stock items like headlights and body panels, or used aftermarket accessories which have already seen service on someone else’s competition car, any part which is not so worn as to impact its effectiveness can be useful.
So, which used rally car accessories should you go for first? If you are racing the vehicle you still use for every day transportation, some protection measures might be a good idea. After all, no one wants a racing incident to leave them stranded miles from home.
A good strategy is to find a used rally car accessories supplier specializing in your model of car. For example, Mitsubishi Evo drivers can contact Arnside Motorsport. The used rally car accessories they supply include everything from engine, transmission, and suspension parts to brakes and bodywork.
