Baja Truck vs Rally Vehicle?

[Rickw]

Please settle a not so friendly argument. How would a class 8 or a Sportsman Truck stack up against a Rally Car or Truck? This is a USA vs Europe argument. How mush faster is a Class 8 than a Sportsman Truck?
How much difference in $ ? Is it possible to build a Sleeper/Cheater?
The Rally Vehicle would not be the Proto Class of one offs that are like Trophy Trucks.
I'm talking about something in the driveway that is legal, sort of.
I need info on chassis and suspension. I have some experience w/SB Chevy.
This is about pride and honor. Not to mention bragging rights and a possible side bet! TIA

R

 

[Avery4jc]

That's a tall order for a first post.
Maybe go look on www.race-dezert.com

 

[K85 Octane]

how can you bet on something like this? lol

a rally car can't do the baja 1000, not enough height I think, well I guess the VW Bugs do it though
a baja truck of any class could do a rally course, but get completely blown out of the water by even the slowest rally car.

and you could spend much less building a rally car to be competitive than you would a baja truck and be competitive.

it's like betting on asholes, I mean opinions

 

[JDNobodi]

how can you bet on something like this? lol

a rally car can't do the baja 1000, not enough height I think, well I guess the VW Bugs do it though
a baja truck of any class could do a rally course, but get completely blown out of the water by even the slowest rally car.

and you could spend much less building a rally car to be competitive than you would a baja truck and be competitive.

it's like betting on asholes, I mean opinions

I think the the rally cars do really well on a graded road. For the really rough stuff, the trophy would rule.
It sucks that Dakar have the V-8 put on resister plates. The rules are not friendly to American muscle.

 

[ktmoutfront]

That's like comparing a top fuel car to an Indy car. Designed for 2 different worlds. Niether would work well in the others environment. Except the toureg does real well in baja with 8 inches of travel.

 

[badmix]

The CLOSEST comparison would be the vehicles that run the Dakar rally, IMO, its the best of both worlds.

 

[K85 Octane]

either way
I think WRC and Score are the two BEST racing series' to watch, hands down

 

[63chevyll]

both vehicles are awesome, and those ralley cars are bad to the bone,

but i would take a TT or a V8 race rig anyday.

 

[imiceman44]

The CLOSEST comparison would be the vehicles that run the Dakar rally, IMO, its the best of both worlds.

The Paris Dakkar RALLY makes all the vehicles that participate in it including the trucks eligible for his question and comparison.
Having watched some of these rallies and seen the specs, and knowing the technology available like gettig 2000hp out of a 2 litre 4 banger, they could be pretty competitive with the SCORE class 8 trucks.
Remember those rallie trucks and cars are official car company pet projects, they have a lot of R&D involved.
One example comes to mind a hybrid car / truck the Citroen contraption that dominated the Paris Dakkar when it came out.
That car could very well put a thorn in any class 8 trophy truck's side.
Displacement is not every thing and hydraulic suspension and active suspension does work as good as if not better than extremely long travel suspension.
Also those class 8 trucks are a bit top heavy and could tip over, unlike the citroen.
Now I wouldn't bet on either side but again I wouln't bet on either side as in don't sell either side short.
There is no clear cut winner and the only way to tell is to put them to the test, which I know will not happen.

I would chose to drive the citroen if I got the choice though.
I used to have an 81 citroen, loved that car, smooth as silk and powerfull to boot with a very small displacement. More than the power of other 2 litre engines in a 1.3 litre engine, how do they do that I don't know, guess the boxer engine gets more power than a straight 4.
Enough rambling...