10 Road Rally Essentials

The Obvious & The Not So Obvious

Road rallying is an amazing experience, but if you aren't prepared or ready for some challenges then you might want to read our list. There are more than 10 road rally essentials, but we believe that these are the strongest ones and if problems arise we want you to be ready.

Radar Detector

We are not sponsored by Escort, Uniden or Valentine, but we believe it's in your best interest to invest in a solid radar detector if you decide to rally. You are encouraged to follow the law, but if you decide to speed this could keep you out of jail.

PPF (Paint Protection Film)

Hoctane Rally will do the best we can to curate amazing rallies with winding roads that are fun, fast and safe; Exotic cars, wide tires and high speeds can create some havoc even on the cleanest roads if you don't give the driver in front of you some space. Be smart and protect your sports car! You'll thank us later!

1. Two Way Radios

Two way radios make road rallying much safer, more fun, and keeps everyone entertained and informed when they need to be. Generally on a road rally you will find your friend group of drivers based on your driving style. Some people like to go all out and some people are there just to have fun. Connecting your radios to people you drive with will be crucial for identifying objects in the road, when you're safe to pass that slow 18-wheeler or if there are cops ahead. Keep in mind that whoever your radios are paired with have a limited range, the nicer the radio and the better the environment the more you can space out.

2. Co-Pilot

Having someone with you at the rally can be a lot of fun. If your wife loves to drive fast or you want to bring a friend I always recommend it. Co-pilots can be a lifesaver when it comes to blind corners, holding all of the electronics, helping you focus on the road or looking at maps. If you are the driver your sole focus should be on the road. Co-pilots can also be the crutch that keeps that police officer from arresting you or giving you a ticket if they are the funny one. Say you got caught speeding real bad? Now someone can drive your car to the next spot.

3. Extra Money

Having a few thousand dollars extra in cash can be crucial, no this isn’t for paying off cops or trying to bribe anybody. Having the cash is just a safety net in case you have to bail out yourself or a friend out of jail. If you want to go double or triple the speed then that's up to you, but be ready to pay the penalty if you decide to do so.

4. Non-Drowsy Dramamine

Most of the time when you drive your car you don’t ever feel the side-effects of driving your car this hard, however if you’ve ever been on a racetrack or gone fast on the twisty roads you can upset your stomach. The non-drowsy dramamine keeps you awake but lessens the pain you feel from the motion sickness. If you don’t get motion sickness or drive that fast then don’t worry, but remember to think about your passenger.

5. Scissor Lift & Lug Wrench

We all know unfortunate events happen and things can go wrong. Someone having a scissor lift in the trunk can be a lifesaver if you have a flat on the side of the road or need ro make a repair. Having one of these can save yourself a step and maybe you will have time to find a replacement tire and get back on the road.

6. Cigarette Lighter Air Compressor

Having a cigarette lighter air compressor is huge because it can give you the ability to stretch out your problem to a big city or out of the mountains if your car is leaking air in a tire. The cigarette lighter gives you the ability to use your car as the power source and skip having to swipe the card or use coins at the gas station.

7. OBD II Scanner (or comparable)

We know not everyone’s car can use or be read by an OBD2 scanner but this can be really important if your car starts having problems or goes into limp mode, this gives you the opportunity to clear the message and hopefully get back up and running.

8. License Plate Folder

Not all states are the same when it comes to license plate laws and it gives officers the ability to pull you over for probable cause. I know nobody is going to drill holes or use a bracket if they have a Pagani or McLaren P1, but just having the front plate in a folder if the officer asks about it could change his attitude. It is also wise to remove your cover if you have a clear cover over your license plate - a cover is illegal in many states and it's just asking to be pulled over.

9. Extra Battery Packs

When it comes to running Waze, InRoute, Joinr, Spotify, Apple Music whatever apps you use, your phone is going to be drained. Most everyone has a USB port where they can charge their phone on the go, but it helps to have them in case your passenger is running it, or you forget to charge your phone the night before.

10. Police Scanners & Laser Jammers

If you plan to speed on a road rally then it would be in your best interest to carry the appropriate counter measures. A lot of rally legends have reported success when using ALP (Anti-Laser Priority) Laser Jammers. When rally attendance ramps up it also isn't a bad idea to include a Uniden Police Scanner in your arsenal; this gives you the ability to hear the police chatter and see what they are up to and if they know you are coming.