Chat with Rally Legend Ed Ordynski Part 2

“Rotary” refers to a Wankel rotary engine, which uses a spinning rotor instead of the reciprocating pistons found in most engines. That design can give a very different power delivery and high-rev character—part of why the speaker frames it as “crazy powerful.”

The Toyota Corolla is a compact, high-volume passenger car known for being practical and easy to live with. It often comes up in discussions as a baseline “everyday” car, which makes it a useful contrast point when someone talks about a very different kind of performance or handling. In this episode, it’s referenced as the opposite of a much more extreme setup.

The Datsun 1600 is a classic rally-era Japanese sedan that became famous for punching above its weight in events like the East African Safari and Monte Carlo. In this segment, it’s contrasted with the Ford Escort to explain why the 1600’s motorsport success wasn’t as widely known in the UK/Europe-centric media bubble.

“Leaf sprung” refers to a suspension design that uses stacked metal strips (leaf springs) to support the vehicle and control wheel movement. In rally context, it can feel more basic or agricultural compared with more modern suspension setups that better manage wheel travel and grip.

“Independent rear” means the rear wheels can move somewhat independently of each other rather than being tied together by a single rigid axle. That typically helps the tires maintain contact over uneven surfaces—important for rally stages with changing traction.

Long travel suspension is suspension geometry tuned to allow more vertical wheel movement. For rallying, that extra travel helps the car absorb big bumps and keep tires working over rough roads without bottoming out as easily.

The Datsun 240Z is a legendary early Z-car from the 1960s/early 1970s era, known for its performance potential and classic design. It’s especially significant because it became a popular foundation for upgrades and swaps. The podcast mentions fitting a 240Z gearbox onto other setups, pointing to how modular and enthusiast-friendly these cars were.

Homologation is the process of certifying a car or component so it’s eligible under a specific racing category’s rules. In rally, “homologated parts” are typically production-based items that teams are allowed to use or modify within the regulations.

A V8 is an engine configuration with eight cylinders arranged in a “V” shape. In this segment, it’s used as an example of the kinds of engine swaps that were briefly allowed in the Datsun 1600 under rally regulations.

The East African Safari rally is a historic long-distance rally event in East Africa. The host uses it to support the claim that Nissan/Datsun achieved major success with the Datsun 1600, which then influenced later homologation decisions.

Monte Carlo is referenced as the location of the famous rally event that teams travel to for high-profile competition. In this segment, it’s part of the story of Nissan/Datsun bringing Datsun 1600s to major events, helping drive homologation.

“Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4” refers to FIA-style rally/car classification categories that determined what modifications were allowed. The host notes that Escorts were a Group 4 car and that these group rules shaped how teams could build and homologate cars.

“Group 2” refers to a FIA racing category for production-based cars, where manufacturers had to homologate (officially approve) specific parts and configurations. That’s why the host calls it “homologation” and discusses using parts from other models.

Homologation is the process of getting specific car parts, dimensions, or configurations officially approved for a racing category. In this era, teams could use existing parts from other models as long as they were homologated for the class.

“R160” is a Nissan differential (rear axle) housing designation used on certain models. The host is linking it to the crown wheel size, which matters because it affects strength and how the diff can be built for rally use.

“R180” is another Nissan differential family designation, commonly associated with stronger rear-axle setups than the smaller R160. The host contrasts it with the R160 and notes how people swap between these diff sizes for modern rally builds.

“R200” refers to a larger Nissan differential designation that’s widely used in swaps because it can handle more torque and is easier to support with aftermarket parts. The host groups it with the R180 as options people use for modern builds.

A limited-slip differential (often shortened to “limited slip”) reduces wheelspin by limiting how much the driven wheels can differ in speed. The host mentions buying a Nissan Motorsport limited slip for the diff, which is a common rally upgrade for traction.

In a limited-slip differential, “ramp angles” describe the geometry that controls how the diff locks under acceleration and deceleration. Changing ramp angles is a tuning method to adjust traction and how the car behaves when power is applied.

Hollinger Engineering is a gearbox specialist known for building racing transmissions and gearsets. In this segment, it’s referenced as the manufacturer behind the rally gearbox concept the host used.

A “close ratio” gearbox has smaller gaps between adjacent gear ratios, keeping the engine closer to its power band during acceleration. The host pairs this with a “really long first gear” and then close second/third to bring the car up toward a 1:1 fourth.

“Overdrive” means a higher gear where the engine turns slower than vehicle speed (ratio less than 1:1), improving cruising efficiency. The host notes that even with rally-focused gearing, fifth remained an overdrive gear for road use.

South Australia is referenced as the rally region where the host competed, shaping the gearing choices. Because the roads had high-speed sections, they needed ratios that could reach sufficient top speed.

“Rotaries” refers to rotary engines, most famously Mazda’s Wankel design. Instead of pistons moving up and down, a rotor spins to create combustion, which changes how the engine makes power and how it’s maintained.

“Clubman spec” is a rally-prep rule set/classing idea where the car is built to a budget-friendly specification rather than full-on top-tier works rally spec. It typically emphasizes keeping costs down while still making the car durable and competent for stages.

This refers to the business side of motorsport: securing sponsors (gaining) and keeping them over time (retaining). At higher competition levels, sponsorship can determine whether you can afford a competitive car program, testing, and engineering support.

Bridgestone is a major tire manufacturer, and in rallying tire choice and development can directly affect grip and consistency. Ed credits Bridgestone as one of the sponsors he built relationships with during this period.

Pedder’s suspension refers to a suspension supplier/brand that provides rally-specific hardware like springs, dampers, and setup support. Ed later ties Pedder’s directly to his championship win “in full Pedder’s colours,” implying a close technical and branding partnership.

A “national championship” is a top-level motorsport series run within a country, typically with multiple rounds and points. Winning one is a major career milestone because it proves you can perform consistently across different events and conditions.

The World Rally Championship (WRC) is the top-level international rally series run under FIA rules. In the segment, it frames the level of competition Ed Ordynski’s private team entered with the Galant VR-4 in Australia.

A “private team” in rallying means an entry that isn’t the main factory-backed squad. The segment contrasts that with getting support from Mitsubishi and “rally art,” while still being privately entered.

A “production category” in rallying is a class where cars must be closer to their showroom/production configuration than the most unrestricted “outright” entries. Ed Ordynski says his team was in a group and production category, which helps explain why they were competing against specific types of cars.

“WRC two” is the second tier within the modern World Rally Championship format. The speaker uses it to explain how his team’s historical category compares to today’s WRC1 vs WRC2 split.

“WRC one” refers to the top tier of the modern World Rally Championship structure. In this segment, the host explains that WRC1 is for the “big guns,” while WRC2 is the next level down.

“Group A” is a historic rally homologation class that required cars to be based on production models. Ed Ordynski places his team in Group A (the second tier in his explanation), which affects what cars are eligible and how competition is structured.

A “no motorsports policy” is an internal corporate rule that restricts or prohibits a company from funding, promoting, or participating in racing activities. Here, Mitsubishi is described as having such a policy, which initially blocked motorsport involvement despite rally success.

A “factory team” is the official works team backed directly by a car manufacturer, typically using manufacturer-supported cars, parts, and engineering. Ed describes the goal of beating the factory team in their own car and class to get recognition.

“Class below” refers to competing in a lower competition category within the same event, usually based on car specifications or rules. Ed uses it to explain how beating a higher-level factory team while racing in a lower class could still earn major attention.

Commonwealth Bank is mentioned as a finance partner in the context of corporate/fleet arrangements. This is relevant to understanding how motorsport-related activities were supported through business channels rather than purely racing funding.

“Magnawagons” appears to be a reference to a specific event or program connected to Magna 40, likely involving corporate or fleet-related participation. It’s mentioned in the context of financing and corporate logistics rather than a technical car topic.

“Evo 8” refers to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, a rally-bred performance sedan known for its all-wheel-drive traction and turbocharged engine. In enthusiast circles, the Evo 8 is often remembered as a peak-era rally car that’s still very mod-friendly today.

“Magna 40” is being referenced as an event where the guest showed up and spoke—likely tied to Australian automotive history and culture. In this segment, it’s the setting for the conversation about the guest’s background and connections.

“Ground Australia trial” is mentioned as the context for a 19-day drive across Australia. It functions as a named challenge/series rather than a technical automotive term, and it helps explain why the guest’s driving experience is so distinctive.

Mitsubishi is discussed as the manufacturer that employed Ed Ordynski to both drive rally cars and do corporate/marketing-adjacent work. The episode also contrasts how Mitsubishi handled motorsport internally versus how Subaru linked rally to marketing and product.

Suspension tuning is the process of adjusting a car’s suspension setup—things like spring/damper behavior and geometry—to improve grip, ride control, and handling balance. In rally contexts, it’s especially important because surfaces and traction change constantly.

Holden is mentioned as another Australian manufacturer brand whose drivers had to attend corporate events, even when racing. Ed uses Holden as a comparison point for how manufacturer relationships can provide longer career stability than being only on a racing team.

Subaru is used as a contrast case: Ed says Subaru linked motorsport (rally) more directly to marketing and product efforts. The point is about how manufacturers integrate racing into their broader business strategy.

Left foot braking is a driving technique where the driver uses the left foot to brake while the right foot manages the throttle. It’s commonly used in motorsport to help maintain smoother balance and reduce time between throttle and brake inputs during cornering.

Kitepo Forest is the location in South Australia where Ed Ordynski says the referenced sliding video took place. For rally fans, specific forests and stages matter because surface type and layout strongly influence how a car behaves.

Left foot braking is a driving technique where the driver uses the left foot to brake while the right foot stays on the throttle. In rally-style driving, it can help keep the car balanced and allow smoother control through corners and transitions.

“Chrysler factory” refers to an industrial site/workforce originally tied to Chrysler, before the ownership/operations shifted. The speaker is emphasizing the transition period and how the factory culture and teams changed under new ownership.

The Holden Commodore is an Australian-built model line that became a rally and touring-car staple in the 1990s. In this segment, Ed Ordynski is talking about the specific Commodores used for the Round Australia trial, built from production body shells and adapted for racing.

“Built from production body shells” describes race cars that start with the same basic outer shell as a road car, then receive racing-specific modifications. This matters because it affects how the factory prepares the shell (like pre-drilling for safety hardware) and how closely the race car resembles the production model.

A roll cage is a reinforced metal safety structure inside a race car that helps protect occupants during rollovers or severe impacts. In this segment, the production shells were pre-drilled so the roll cage could be fitted with the correct mounting points.

A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique code assigned to a vehicle for identification and registration. Ed Ordynski is asking whether the race-prepped Commodore would still have a VIN, which matters for legality, tracking, and ownership records.

Rally Art is Mitsubishi’s rally-focused brand/program associated with motorsport support, driver involvement, and team operations. In this segment, it’s central to the story because Rally Art drivers and mechanics are what enabled certain cars to compete effectively.

In motorsport, “privateers” are teams or entrants that compete without being fully backed by a manufacturer factory team. This segment says Mitsubishi decided to put more money into funding privateers properly, which is a strategy to strengthen results by supporting independent teams.

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a rally-bred performance sedan known for its turbocharged all-wheel-drive setup and strong motorsport pedigree. In this segment, it’s mentioned as one of the cars that placed highly in the event, highlighting how Rally Art support translated into results.

Ross Duncan is an Australian rally driver described here as “arguably Australia’s most decorated” rally competitor. The mention is used to emphasize how strong Holden’s rally team lineup was.

Peter Brock was a legendary Australian motorsport figure, strongly associated with Holden’s racing efforts. He’s especially famous for touring-car success and for helping build Holden’s performance reputation in Australia.

George Shepard is referenced as the team manager who “masterminded” a 79 strategy. The key point is that he’s portrayed as a rally strategist—setting expectations and planning how the driver should manage pace, positioning, and risk.

A gearbox is the transmission’s gear set that lets the engine operate in its best power/torque range while the car changes speed. In rallying, gearbox failures can end a car’s chances quickly, especially over long, rough stages.

“Evo’s” is shorthand for Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution models, which are rally-bred performance cars known for all-wheel drive and turbocharged engines. Here, the speaker compares their progress against the “Mitsubishi’s” and specifically calls out the VR-4s.

“VR4 evolution” is the later, more highly specified VR4 variant Ed Ordynski describes. He points out distinctive hardware changes like vents in the bonnet and upgrades such as stronger suspension arms, better hubs, and bigger brakes, culminating in a more race-ready package.

“On the boost” means the turbocharger is actively producing boost pressure, which is when the engine makes its strongest torque. Ed Ordynski says the cars had better gear ratios so the engine could stay on boost longer during rally stages.

Turbo restrictors are rule-mandated limits on turbocharger airflow to cap power output. Ed Ordynski contrasts rallying with circuit racing by saying rallying didn’t have the same turbo restrictors, which allowed the VR4s to make more power and run faster.

In turbocharger rules, the inlet diameter refers to the size of the opening/flow path that limits how much air the turbo can ingest. Ed Ordynski mentions inlet diameter values (like 50 or 55 mm) and later smaller restrictor sizes, explaining how regulations controlled top speed and power by limiting airflow.

“Tassie” is the Australian nickname for Tasmania, referenced here as the location of a tarmac rally stage in the championship. The guest uses it to give a real-world example of speed achieved in an Evo one.

A rev limiter is an engine control feature that prevents the engine from spinning faster than a safe maximum RPM. Ordynski mentions reaching the rev limiter in fifth gear during a top-speed run, which indicates the engine was pushing to its upper RPM limit.

A multi-link rear end is a suspension design that uses several control arms to manage wheel alignment through bumps and suspension travel. Ordynski says the Evo’s multi-link setup relied on standard joints and could bind up, limiting usable travel and contributing to handling issues like bump steer and toe change.

Bump steer is when the steering angle changes as the suspension moves over bumps, because the suspension geometry causes the wheels to toe in or out unintentionally. Ordynski ties it to “change of toe angle through the travel,” which can create instability and unpredictable handling.

Toe angle describes whether the wheels point slightly toward each other (toe-in) or away from each other (toe-out). Ordynski notes that toe angle changes through suspension travel, which is a key contributor to bump steer and instability.

In this context, “forward steering” refers to a rear-steering system behavior where the rear wheels steer in a way that helps the car track straight. Ordynski says it was “connected” and that he could also “disconnect it,” implying the system could be enabled/disabled.

“Self steers at the rear” describes a rear-wheel steering effect that automatically changes rear wheel direction based on vehicle dynamics. Ordynski credits it with keeping the car in ruts and managing how the car behaves when accelerating.

“Go sideways under power” refers to the car’s tendency to rotate and slide laterally while accelerating, driven by traction limits and vehicle balance. Ordynski contrasts the VR4’s rear-steering behavior with how it affects the ease of inducing that slide.

“Group N” is a rally class concept focused on production-based cars with limited modifications, and “WRC” is the World Rally Championship. Mentioning a Group N win frames why Ordynski cared about stability and suspension geometry in real competition conditions.

“Bull bearing gravel” refers to loose, small, hard stones that behave almost like ball bearings under the tires. On rally surfaces like this, the car can lose grip quickly and the driver often needs to manage traction and steering inputs to stay in control.

In rally terms, “marbles” are loose gravel stones that collect on the racing line as tires break up the surface. They reduce traction dramatically, so the car can suddenly go sideways unless the driver keeps the car pointed where it needs to be.

“Pace notes” are the co-driver’s written/recorded instructions that describe upcoming corners, braking points, and hazards. They’re created during reconnaissance runs so the driver can anticipate the stage and maintain speed safely.

“Recky” is rally shorthand for reconnaissance—practice runs to study the route before the event. Teams use it to build pace notes and plan how the car should be driven on each surface and corner.

“Offset grille openings” means the air-intake openings in the front fascia aren’t perfectly symmetrical. On performance cars, this often relates to directing airflow for cooling (radiators/intercooler) and packaging constraints, which can be especially important in hot-weather testing.

The Nissan GT-R is a high-performance sports car known for combining strong acceleration with advanced engineering. It’s often discussed in terms of its racing and performance heritage, including how it relates to earlier GT-R and GT2-style history. In this episode, the host references their history with GT-Rs and GT2s and ties it to horsepower talk.

“Twin turbo” means the engine uses two turbochargers to force more air into the cylinders. Using two turbos can improve boost response and power compared with a single turbo, depending on the design.

The Porsche GT2 is a high-performance 911 variant known for being turbocharged and track-focused. In this segment, it’s mentioned as one of the “six cylinder configurations” the magazine tested, highlighting different drivetrain/engine layouts Porsche offered in that comparison.

A “flat six” is an engine layout where six cylinders sit horizontally in two banks, like a boxer. This layout is common in Porsche’s 911 family and helps with balance and low center-of-gravity packaging.

“Rear drive” here refers to rear-wheel drive, where power is sent to the rear axle. That layout affects traction and handling characteristics, especially under acceleration and corner exit.

“Life after motorsport” is a career-transition concept—how a driver or team member plans for the period once racing ends. It often involves shifting identity, routines, and income away from competition.

The Toyota GR 86 is a sports coupe focused on driver feel, lightweight balance, and engaging handling rather than raw power. It’s frequently discussed because it’s designed to be an affordable entry into “real” sports-car dynamics. In the podcast, it’s brought up as part of the GR86/handling conversation.

“Magna” here refers to the Mitsubishi Magna, an Australian-built performance sedan line. In this segment, Ed Ordynski is talking about choosing a specific Magna spec/edition and how he curated parts for the Rallyart-branded version.

“Raleart” (Ralliart) is Mitsubishi’s motorsport-derived performance brand name that has been used on special road cars. Here, Ed Ordynski explains his role in getting the Ralliart Magna concept “over the line,” and how Mitsubishi’s rights to the name in Australia enabled the project.

“HSV” refers to Holden Special Vehicles, a performance brand known for high-spec Australian muscle/sport sedans. Ed Ordynski contrasts the Ralliart Magna’s direction—bright interior and spec choices—with the kind of approach that would directly compete with HSV models.

“Leftover parts” here is about manufacturing economics: ordering a minimum quantity of components to make the limited project viable, then having extra inventory. Ed Ordynski says the plan assumed there would be surplus parts after building the required number of cars.

The "VRX limited edition" refers to a special trim/edition of a Mitsubishi model that the hosts connect to a TV commercial and a small production run. In this segment, the VRX is discussed as having specific equipment differences (notably a sunroof vs non-sunroof) and a provenance trail tied to Mitsubishi Australia.

In car collecting, "provenance" means the documented history of a vehicle—who owned it, where it came from, and what it was used for. Here, the hosts emphasize that the ads and newspaper ads were included with the car purchase, tying it to the TV campaign.

"Compliant" describes suspension behavior that can move easily over bumps while still controlling the car. The host argues that a competition-capable setup should be supple and allow some give, rather than being made artificially stiff just to feel "sporty."