Any good websites/threads to read through about car prep?

[chinaonnitrous1]

I've scoured all of 2008 to read up on the CB's, Radios, etc... etc... Tuning, peak yadda yadda.

Anything else thats good reading?

[diablesse]

you mean in terms of getting ready for the rally?

Is there something specific you have in mind?

You might consider doing things like clear bra-ing your car, or mundane things like making sure your AC works. It sucks having your AC die on the rally. Ask the vets.

[chinaonnitrous1]

Yeah, just general equipment prep.

My car's always ready for a long trip.

However there was so much electronics to digest that it was pretty overwhelming with all the CB antenna stuff...tuning this... the lists of frequencys etc... etc.... Or I could just follow all the veterans.

Oh you bet your panties my A/C will work. I ran Buttonwillow raceway last year with the A/C on it was so hot.

[diablesse]

There are TONS of threads in here and in the AKA Rally section discussing electronics and how to avoid getting speeding tickets.

The CB radio (also heavily discussed) are great fun. The truckers can be very helpful, but most ralliers rely on the two-way radios to communicate with each other.

There's also a lot of information on laser/radar detectors/jammers. Some people also use other tricks to avoid getting hit.

You're right, there's so much to read, but all the info is right in here. just search or ask again i guess...I'm positive the post whores wouldn't mind an opportunity to flew their fingers again.

[chinaonnitrous1]

Originally Posted by diablesse

I'm positive the post whores wouldn't mind an opportunity to flew their fingers again.

Yeap, and I'm passing time while trying to beat SOM at something in the arcade.

[Ukodus]

Rally prep is quite easy.

1. Go to Porsche Dealership
2. Pick out Porsche
3. Buy a Porsche
4. Enjoy a worry free rally.

That is about the extent of what I want to do.

[chinaonnitrous1]

Originally Posted by Ukodus

Rally prep is quite easy.

1. Go to Porsche Dealership
2. Pick out Porsche
3. Buy a Porsche
4. Enjoy a worry free rally.

That is about the extent of what I want to do.

Last edited by Az Coupe Jason; Today at 06:13 AM.

HAHHAHAHAH

Jooooo got pwnt by the m0d edIt.

[bgod]

Most important factor to prep for is reliability.

Make sure the car can take endless amounts of abuse/punishment and make it through with no issues.

Enjoying every single second of the rally is key.

All the other stuff is secondary.

[Ukodus]

And then I too, can worry about losing a tail light driving across country. Damn Nazi State....

[chinaonnitrous1]

^ Okay, i'll be renting a Toyota Corolla!

Sweet, jk jk.

[kmfdmk]

Originally Posted by chinaonnitrous1

^ Okay, i'll be renting a Toyota Corolla!

Sweet, jk jk.

Oh so now we're making fun of Toyota's... At least they're reliable.

Nothing like buying a 23 yro car with 130,000 mi on the ODO sight unseen, replacing a bad alternator and driving it 3000+ miles on the AKA Rally.

So yeah. You want to have no problems?? Buy a MKII Supra and rally it.

PS.

Do we get points for having the highest mileage on the ODO @ the start of the AKA? I should break 200,000 mi here in a month or less.

[chinaonnitrous1]

Originally Posted by kmfdmk

Oh so now we're making fun of Toyota's... At least they're reliable.

Nothing like buying a 23 yro car with 130,000 mi on the ODO sight unseen, replacing a bad alternator and driving it 3000+ miles on the AKA Rally.

So yeah. You want to have no problems?? Buy a MKII Supra and rally it.

PS.

Do we get points for having the highest mileage on the ODO @ the start of the AKA? I should break 200,000 mi here in a month or less.

You don't have to tell me twice. I work at a Toyota dealer. Dad went through 3 camry and is on his 4th, his first car was a 1979 Corolla here in the US. Mom has gone through 2 corollas and is now driving dads old camry. We also have a 1987 Pickup

I have a 1991 Mr2 beater with 285k on the body & engine.

[crazyvolvo]

With CB Radio's antenna is key to get maximum range in transmitting and reception. Wilson makes the best CB antenna's in my opinion I use a Wilson 500 which has stays on my car not moving up to 125. One issue people have with that antenna is it is 5ft in height. Wilson Lil Wil is a lot shorter at 3ft but still a great antenna. Wilson antenna's off eBay are the best deal

As for CB Radios themselves I have never had any good luck with radios that I bought which weren't tuned or peaked. The CB radio shop that I have dealt with and had great service is "Sparky's CB Shack" (google search them). All their radios are tuned and peaked free of charge and they also can build some very strong custom radio's....But really all you need is a simple Uniden 510/520 xl or Cobra DX19. If you are serious about adding a CB as a permanent fixture you can spend a bit more money

As for radio scanners, they can be a pain(The programing involved takes time) and offer little police protection in my experience but then again I don't drive in a group stickered up vehicles. But if you do want a place with all known radio frequencies, I use this database to program all my scanners Radio Reference

As for radar detectors and laser jammers question I would suggest RadarDetector.net/forums I use to be an administrator there and still post there as there is a wealth of knowledge that can be gathered.

As for test results of radar detectors / laser jammers I would go to http://guysoflidar.com/ They are a testing group that I have worked with in the past and can assure you that they are the only independent testing group of radar detector and laser jammers

[chinaonnitrous1]

Originally Posted by crazyvolvo

With CB Radio's antenna is key to get maximum range in transmitting and reception. Wilson makes the best CB antenna's in my opinion I use a Wilson 500 which has stays on my car not moving up to 125. One issue people have with that antenna is it is 5ft in height. Wilson Lil Wil is a lot shorter at 3ft but still a great antenna. Wilson antenna's off eBay are the best deal

As for CB Radios themselves I have never had any good luck with radios that I bought which weren't tuned or peaked. The CB radio shop that I have dealt with and had great service is "Sparky's CB Shack" (google search them). All their radios are tuned and peaked free of charge and they also can build some very strong custom radio's....But really all you need is a simple Uniden 510/520 xl or Cobra DX19. If you are serious about adding a CB as a permanent fixture you can spend a bit more money

As for radio scanners, they can be a pain(The programing involved takes time) and offer little police protection in my experience but then again I don't drive in a group stickered up vehicles. But if you do want a place with all known radio frequencies, I use this database to program all my scanners Radio Reference

As for radar detectors and laser jammers question I would suggest RadarDetector.net/forums I use to be an administrator there and still post there as there is a wealth of knowledge that can be gathered.

As for test results of radar detectors / laser jammers I would go to http://guysoflidar.com/ They are a testing group that I have worked with in the past and can assure you that they are the only independent testing group of radar detector and laser jammers

This guy I like.

[kmfdmk]

Originally Posted by chinaonnitrous1

This guy I like.

He's one of the handful of peopler nerdier than me (and that's a good thing!) He knows what he's talking about.

[aka_deno]

Originally Posted by crazyvolvo

As for radio scanners, they can be a pain(The programing involved takes time) and offer little police protection in my experience but then again I don't drive in a group stickered up vehicles. But if you do want a place with all known radio frequencies, I use this database to program all my scanners Radio Reference

Anand and myself both use RadioReference for our scanners. and while the programming does take time some programs makes programming them MUCH easier. I own software for my PSR500 and PRO96 digital trunking scanners, but Anand favors the oldschool punch in method for his scanners. lol

and while scanners do not really tell you where the police are... it was very helpful to hear calls about reports of " a 4-door bmw with a large black dildo; waving it outside of the car at the callers." lol and its good to hear possible accidents and fire calls on the highways your traveling.

but i still feel by far the most useful for us in the 2008 Rally was the CB. learn to respect the truckers, and be nice. (helps to talk in a southern accent. lol)

anywho... this was my mobile office for the 2008 Rally..

[crazyvolvo]

Originally Posted by aka_deno

but i still feel by far the most useful for us in the 2008 Rally was the CB. learn to respect the truckers, and be nice. (helps to talk in a southern accent. lol)

Southern accent is key for getting a response. Honestly I wonder why all the truckers I mainly talk to running NJ to Canada have a huge southern accent, kinda weird but that is the best way to get a response...

CB's are great counter measure, and cheap too I paid $90 total for my initial CB set-up and had amazing luck with it.

One thing I would think might be helpful to add to your scanner if you got a good UHF specific antenna would be to plug the frequencies of the FRS/GMRS channels as they might have a better recieving range than the gmrs radio you got in the car. That way you possibly could hear the pack ahead of the one you are in, but that is clear speculation

[bgod]

Originally Posted by chinaonnitrous1

^ Okay, i'll be renting a Toyota Corolla!

Sweet, jk jk.

No reason why you can't have something reliable and fast. Absolutely no reason.

Just from personal experience.

I was running a 20g turbo on my sti in 2006 at about 320whp. No issues.

Upgraded to an FPRed on the same sti in 2007 at about 435whp. No issues.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Ukodus

Rally prep is quite easy.

1. Go to Porsche Dealership
2. Pick out Porsche
3. Buy a Porsche
4. Enjoy a worry free rally.

That is about the extent of what I want to do.

well played

Originally Posted by aka_deno

but i still feel by far the most useful for us in the 2008 Rally was the CB. learn to respect the truckers, and be nice. (helps to talk in a southern accent. lol)

Agreed....CB was priceless. Won't forget the one time the trucker lady rattled off all the cops for the next 30 miles. Awesome.

[Ukodus]

Yeah Dan, except I got screwed by a MOD...

[kmfdmk]

Originally Posted by aka_deno

Anand and myself both use RadioReference for our scanners. and while the programming does take time some programs makes programming them MUCH easier. I own software for my PSR500 and PRO96 digital trunking scanners, but Anand favors the oldschool punch in method for his scanners. lol

and while scanners do not really tell you where the police are... it was very helpful to hear calls about reports of " a 4-door bmw with a large black dildo; waving it outside of the car at the callers." lol and its good to hear possible accidents and fire calls on the highways your traveling.

but i still feel by far the most useful for us in the 2008 Rally was the CB. learn to respect the truckers, and be nice. (helps to talk in a southern accent. lol)

anywho... this was my mobile office for the 2008 Rally..

Ryan, What Garmin Nuvi model are you running? Is it the Nuvi 680? I'm giving the wife the TomTom and I'm wanting to get a Garmin because the TomTom doesn't give me stuff like this screen summary:

[aka_deno]

The one i have is a Garmin Nuvi 660. I got it 2 years ago on black friday from bestbuy for like $250 or 300 something like that. I absolutly love the thing... so much so that i bought my brother and my father both NUVI 780's... and my only suggestion about nuvi's is try and get one with MSN Direct. My 660 only has like "FM traffic" as they call it... and it works sometimes but usually your sitting in traffic before it tells you about it. MSN Direct is alot better at that, plus it gives you local gas prices and shows you where cheapest gas in the area is.

only other problem i wish my NUVI's had was the ability to talk to google maps or atleast some kind of GPS tracking software. but they dont support that. (a little thing but other than that a great GPS unit.)

[MPD47]

Then there is always the don't spend a million dollars on a bunch of equipment so you can spend it on booze and just rock out in a basically stock car that you cut the mufflers off of approach.

In terms of electronics in car, I roll with an FRS, my V1, and Sirius. That's it.

[crazyvolvo]

Originally Posted by kmfdmk

I'm wanting to get a Garmin because the TomTom doesn't give me stuff like this screen summary:

Generally all Garmins have that display option At least I have is on my c330 and c550

[diablesse]

I strongly disagree.

Time and time again, people under estimate the power of a simple $30 two-way radio. Cars show up with all sorts of fancy equipment and then have to stop to buy/borrow a crappy two-way radio.

you can leave your CB, your scanner and even your radar detector at home.

DO NOT come on a rally without a simple two-way radio. It's going to be your foremost means of communicating with the other cars.

Here's the thing, you can get CB updates etc via two-way. And in convoy, I turned off my radar detector and relied on the car up front anyway. This is especially importatn when flanked by people like Robbie and Brent whose passports run intereference!!! sorry, I digress.

Anyway, THE most important, underrated piece of equipment is a two-way radio and I'm tired of losing them because someone packed a silly CB and not a simple two-way.


I'm with Durka. I use a two-way, a V1, and a nav - nesecities.

In later years I've brought laptop, converter and this year the Slingshot - but those are luxuries.