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Here's What It Takes To Win A Road Rally

Here's What It Takes To Win A Road Rally

The Truth About Cars Oct 17, 2025 67 min
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About this episode

Winning a road rally requires endurance, teamwork, and a reliable vehicle, as discussed by Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal, who recently completed the L-CAN 5000 rally. They share insights on navigating the challenges of long-distance driving, including unexpected obstacles like wildlife and weather conditions. The episode also covers their experience with the Honda Passport Trail Sport, which performed well in the rugged terrain. Additionally, NASCAR's latest race in Las Vegas is analyzed, highlighting key incidents, including a significant crash involving William Byron and Ty Dillon, which impacted Byron's championship hopes.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

rallying

"...discuss the Alcant 5000 rally, as well as how you can do a rallying yourself..."

Rallying is a type of car racing that happens on different types of roads, including dirt and gravel. Drivers race against the clock and often have to deal with tricky conditions.

Concept

NASCAR playoffs

"...NASCAR's playoffs continue to roll on as well..."

NASCAR playoffs are special races that happen at the end of the NASCAR season to find out who the best driver is. Only the top drivers get to compete in these important races.

Brand

eBay

"...that's why you should buy your next ride on eBay. See, eBay has got everything, from classics to trucks and imports..."

eBay is a website where you can buy and sell many things, including cars. They make sure sellers are trustworthy and help with payments and delivery.

Term

body shop

"...you've worked in dealership environments before, so you've probably seen some of the larger facilities for repairing cars and fixing cars and stuff like that, right? Yeah, I've seen some body shop facilities and some paint base."

A body shop is a place where cars are fixed after accidents. They repair dents, scratches, and paint the car to make it look new again.

Term

paint gun

"...I brought the gun down to one of the body shop stores that I know, and just got them to have a look at it."

A paint gun is a tool that sprays paint onto cars or other surfaces. It helps to cover large areas quickly and evenly when painting.

Term

fisheye killer

"...give me some fisheye killer, which is not something that I had done before. So it's pretty good. You know, a product like this is a pretty, it's not a cheap investment..."

Fisheye killer is a special product that helps fix paint problems on cars. Fisheye defects look like little bumps or holes in the paint, and this product helps prevent them from happening, making the paint job look better.

Term

DMV

"Or maybe worst of all, wait for hours at the DMV just to transfer the title."

The DMV is a place where you go to get your driver's license and register your car. It's known for being slow and having a lot of paperwork.

Term

registration

"...Plus, you can finance insure and register your vehicle all in one place..."

Registration means officially signing up your car with the government so you can legally drive it. You usually get a license plate and have to pay a fee to do this.

Term

financing

"...Plus, you can finance insure and register your vehicle all in one place..."

Financing is when you borrow money to buy a car and then pay it back over time, usually with interest. It helps you afford a car without paying the full price upfront.

Term

purchase protection

"...vehicles purchased on eBay are backed up by up to $100,000 in purchase protection. Thinking about selling your ride, secure purchase is being said simple too..."

Purchase protection is like a safety net for buyers. It helps ensure that if something goes wrong with the car you bought, you have some protection against losing your money.

Car

Honda Passport

"...st completed the L-CAN 5000 rally in a 2026 Honda Passport Trail Sport. Andy or Mercedes, can you go ahead a..."

The Honda Passport is a big car that can carry a lot of people and stuff, making it great for families. It's also built to handle rough roads, so you can take it on adventures.

Term

TSD rally

"...every vehicle based competition is different. So some actually do have maps. Typically TSD or time speed distance rallies, as this is known, the LKN 5000 rally are precision based..."

A TSD rally is a car competition where drivers have to follow a set route while keeping to certain speeds and times. It's not just about racing fast; it's about being accurate with your timing and navigation.

Concept

LKN 5000 rally

"...TSD or time speed distance rallies, as this is known, the LKN 5000 rally are precision based..."

The LKN 5000 rally is a car event where drivers compete by following a route and trying to be as precise as possible with their timing. It's a fun challenge that tests both driving and navigation skills.

Car

Mitsubishi Pajero

"...when we did this the first time in 2020, we took our own vehicle, which is a JDM 1991 Mitsubishi Pajero turbo diesel. And as we were getting passed by everybody, because it makes about 99 horsepower at the crank..."

The Mitsubishi Pajero is a type of SUV that was built for driving off-road. The 1991 version has a diesel engine, which is good for fuel efficiency but has less power than many newer cars.

Term

all-wheel drive

"...the all wheel drive system worked very well. It had plenty of space, lots of cubby holes, which was great."

All-wheel drive means that all four wheels of a car can get power from the engine at the same time. This helps the car grip the road better, especially in bad weather or on rough terrain.

Car

Ineos Grenadier

"...driving it in Ineos Grenadier. And this year,..."

The Ineos Grenadier is a new type of off-road vehicle that looks like older models but is built with modern technology for tough driving conditions.

Term

body-on-frame vehicle

"...it's a body on frame vehicle with solid axles and all that stuff. Well, we had some challenging road conditions..."

A body-on-frame vehicle is built with a strong frame that supports the body on top. This makes it tough and good for off-roading, like trucks and SUVs.

Term

solid axles

"...it's a body on frame vehicle with solid axles and all that stuff..."

Solid axles are strong parts of a vehicle that help the wheels move together. They are good for off-roading because they provide better grip and stability.

Term

four-wheel drive

"...that ground clearance and a four-wheel drive were extremely beneficial and they do an ice slalom..."

Four-wheel drive means that all four wheels of a vehicle get power from the engine at the same time. This helps the vehicle grip the road better, especially in bad weather or off-road.

Term

ground clearance

"...that ground clearance and a four-wheel drive were extremely beneficial..."

Ground clearance is how high a vehicle sits off the ground. More ground clearance means the vehicle can go over bumps and rough areas without getting stuck.

Term

ice slalom

"...they do an ice slalom on Great Slave Lake outside of Yellow Knife..."

An ice slalom is a race where cars drive on ice and try to go around cones. It shows how well the driver can control the car on slippery surfaces.

Concept

Alkan 5000

"...Alkan 5000 is the longest road rally in North America. But it's by far not the only one. In fact, a lot of..."

The Alkan 5000 is a long car race in North America where drivers go on a tough journey. It's known for being very challenging and fun for people who love driving.

Concept

time-speed distance rally

"...clubs for a time-speed distance rally. We have the Cascade Sports Car Club Geargrinders, which is the TSD club. So instead of doing 10 days and 5000 miles worth of time-speed distance rally..."

In a time-speed distance rally, drivers try to reach certain points on a route at specific times. It's like a timed race, but instead of speed, it's about being precise with your timing.

Term

reliable car

"...have a reliable car, have those three things I mentioned, power, ground clearance and comfort because it is a long, grueling rally..."

A reliable car is one that you can trust to work well without breaking down. This is important for events like rallies where you need your car to perform well.

Car

Ford Maverick

"...this year in a Ford Maverick. And they had never done TSD rally before. And they were a force..."

The Ford Maverick is a small pickup truck that can also come with a hybrid engine, which means it uses both gas and electricity to run. It's known for being budget-friendly and good on gas.

Term

OE highway tires

"...But one thing that they didn't consider was they brought this... It was a front-wheel drive Maverick hybrid... But they were on the OE highway tires."

OE highway tires are the tires that come with a new car when you buy it. They're made for driving on regular roads and might not be the best for rough or off-road driving.

Car

Mini Coupers

"...e vehicle, and we've seen everything from vintage Mini Coupers, and that's crazy to us, a seven-inch tire and ha..."

The Mini Cooper is a tiny, cute car that's really fun to drive. It's popular because it's easy to park and has a unique style that many people love.

Car

Porsche 911

"... year we had a competitor in a very road oriented 911, Porsche 911. They were very nice people with a v..."

The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that looks really cool and drives fast. It's known for being fun to drive and has been around for a long time, so many people love it.

Term

checker flag

"...between that point of the race and the checker flag. What happened was Byron had a good run..."

The checker flag is a special flag that tells drivers the race has finished. When they see it, they know to stop racing and slow down.

Concept

Talladega Speedway

"I mean at Talladega Speedway he's won there I want to say three times"

Talladega Speedway is a big racetrack in Alabama where cars go really fast in NASCAR races. It's known for exciting races because of how the track is built.

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