Topic: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

Hello.  I have never done a 24 Hours of Lemons race but want to start with the 2017 August Monterey Rally.  I will be coming out from Atlanta and will need to buy a car out there.  Please let me know if you have any recommendations on where to look?  Thank you

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

If your going to do it Top Gear / Roadkill style, figure out how much you're willing to spend on a disposable car. Then start trolling Craigslist for cars near the airport your going to land at.

Personally, I would buy a local POS now and drive it out. Yeah it seems silly to drive further to start than what you'll cover in the rally. However, it gives you some time to get to know your crapbox That can be the difference between the car burning to the ground 10 miles after the start or finishing the rally.

That guy that likes the Oldsmobile Diesel for some reason.

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

I was recently just convinced to possibly attempt to make it to this rally, in Monterey. I live in Indiana, so essentially the same distance. I've been mulling over the thoughts of trailering a P.O.S. out there, then driving it for the rally, then trailering it home or scrapping it, or something along those lines, since the race starts and ends in the same place.

Ive also been thinking of driving my great MPG 2015 Passat out there, with tools, spares, and everything I may need (including co-drivers) and then picking up a car once we get to Monterey to compete in. I have some family that live in Monterey, so my DD should be easy enough to stash there.

Just some thoughts I had, let me know if you find any good sources for junkers. I contemplated just scouring craigslist, local facebook groups in Monterey, and possibly calling up some junkyards to try and find running cars they may be selling.

Just thought i'd brainstorm a bit on your post, to show my thought processes in comparison to yours.

-Jake

DD's: 2015 VW Passat TSi Wolfsburg, 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd., 1974 VW Super Beetle
Race Cars: 1996 Ford Escort Wagon

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

last year I bought a car at the end of April, and spend May getting it running and driving. and played with it over the summer. then drove it to Monterey, and did the rally, then drove it home. Worked out swell. I sold it in December. (the Edsel, got 3rd place with it)

this year...I just bought a car last week. Still working on getting it so I can drive it. At least it runs, although it probably needs some engine work to be able to drive it that far. We'll see how it goes. Corvairs are a bit challenging.

btw even though I'm only one state away from California, it's still a 900 mile drive to Monterey for me.

craigslist is a great way to find really crappy cars. Really, really crappy.

I Survived Hell on Wheels, Car Weeeak, Route Sucky Suck, etc.

5 (edited by gogmorgo 2017-06-07 08:26 PM)

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

I drove my junk 2000 miles to the first rally and 1700 to the second one. Just tossing that out there. Also trophied in the Retreat from Moscow, with my Niva.
I've recently moved, so now it's only 1500 miles for me to Monterey, but still not positive I'm going. Got three potential rides, called dibs on vacation days, but need to secure team and funding.

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

gogmorgo wrote:

funding.

What is this of which you speak?

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

Pick and pull Moss Landing.

Random Acts of Stupidity Award! 2017 Hell on Wheels Monterey Car Weak!
In the 1967 VW Bus.

8 (edited by Red0ktober 2017-06-23 03:49 PM)

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

I've owned my car for a few years, but it's been in bits. I reassembled it this winter/spring and I'm pretty much daily driving it now, trying to figure out the weak links (Opel parts aren't stocked at NAPA).

I am undecided on towing it the 800 miles to the rally start or driving it there and back.

Next Rally Car: An abandoned 1972 Opel GT (Plan-B: My late grandparent's 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic)
Previous Rally Cars: 1971 Opel Kadett, 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24, 1998 Volvo V90 (5.0L), 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 (turbocharged 351W)

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

Driving on the rally is easy. It's getting there, and back home, that offers us a real challenge. No one there with other old cars full of tools and parts to help us out.

have some sack! go for it!

I Survived Hell on Wheels, Car Weeeak, Route Sucky Suck, etc.

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/6214008853.html

Not mine...no affiliation,etc.....
Just putting it out there as a public service

45+x Loser.....You'd think I would learn......
5x I.O.E  Winner   1 Heroic Fix Winner   1 Org Choice Winner
2x  I Got Screwed Winner    2x Class C Winner
(Still a Class B driver in a Class A car)

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

Car shopping with someone else's money! Count me in!

My take on looking for Lemony Rally Rides... Jeebus, cheap cars are way expensive here in the Bay Area!

Doing a peek on CL, I think the best values are in the Land Yacht category.

Here's an example candidate.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/d/ … 16273.html

93 Sedan Deville

Pros:

Runs (they say)
All that Caddy swank
Located close to SF airport
San Carlos is a nice town so you probably won't get jacked

Cons:

Insufficient patina (you can patinaize it)

25X Loser - Delinquent Racing - '86 Rust-Tite Merkur - 9 years (when do I get to stop?).

Re: New Guy for Monterey Rally- Advice on were to buy a car out there?

keep in mind that  Rally sign-up folk WILL make you produce a valid registration and insurance for whatever your'e driving, so don't cut it too close. it's one thing they won't be kidding about.  to register it you will need proof of insurance. CA DMV doesn't cut any slack. they're not as eeevil as people like them to be but it's a big state bureaucracy, CA has more cars that many states put together.