Casablanca Challenge rally report - 914/6 in action !

amallagh · Post by **amallagh** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:55 pm

Sarah and I got back from the Casablance Challenge last week. The rally started early on 7th November near Maindstone and ran for 9 competitive days ending in Marrakesh in Morocco on 15th November.

The official action shorts can be seen on this link. We were car 30.
http://www.amazingphotostore.co.uk/gera ... 25d0f498d9

The full daily rally report can bee seen on this link for the full event run through from day 1 to day 9
http://www.endurorally.com/casablanca2009/reports.html

You will see from the official photos that we had some problems with our drive shafts. After the first days tests we had knackered several of our CVs so we fitted the spares we had with us and ordered some from Germany to replace the rest. Specifically I think it was a closed road dry tarmac stage in Belgium with about 10 standing starts that finished off the CVs. A known weak point on the 914. They survived for another couple of days but were banging like mad and eventually failed completely during day 5 on a hill climb stage. To add to the embarrassment we were running first on the road because we had been fastest car the previous day so we had to wait at the side of the road whilst everyone else sailed past before getting a very long slow tow back to Parc Ferme. Being towed at the end of a 6 ft rope for 3 hours in the dark certainly focuses the mind. We had to take out the next day to go and collect the spares personally from Casablanca because Moroccan Customs would not release them, and then fit them before catching back up with the rally at the next hotel for day 7. Day 6 (my Birthday!) was a very long day indeed !!
With missing a full day on the rally we were obviously nowhere in the overall standing, but we obviously had a point to prove when we came back and won all the special stages on the remaining days of the rally. In recognition of our efforts and the determination to get going again the organisers gave us the 'Against All the Odds' trophy which was a very nice touch and much appreciated.

Apart from the CV problem the car performed brilliantly and was a joy to drive on tarmac, gravel or dirt. The pace of the car (not normally seen in rallying) surprised everyone and it had a lot of admirers. I think there might be a lot of other drivers scanning the classifieds for a 914/6 when they got home !!

It was a great rally and a great experience and certainly the toughest rally Sarah and I have yet completed over some demanding terrain.

Andrew

middlefour1 · Post by **middlefour1** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:44 pm

Very well done Andrew and Sarah, sounds like you certainly deserved the 'Against All the Odds' trophy!!!

jb · Post by jb » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:51 pm

Great result congratulations - you two are really hard core!

Michael · Post by **Michael** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:56 pm

Great photographs and really good show- congratulations to you both- and the car!

moggy · Post by **moggy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:47 pm

Nice one Andrew, sounds like you had a great adventure. Well done indeed on the special stage wins, you must have been flying. Wish I could have been there for that

Have pm'd you my thoughts on the CVs

Cheers

Moggy

jwhillracer · Post by **jwhillracer** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:12 pm

Fabulous - well done!

I've got enough trouble getting my car to hold together for 40 secs at a time

JW

veltror · Post by **veltror** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:03 pm

Fantastic stuff, i think you might need to go the 944 CV route, have a look on 914world.com

Roman

jonat127 · Post by **jonat127** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:18 pm

Excellent photos, nice to see you rallying with the roof off

.
You didn't damage any of that lovely paintwork did you?
Jon

waltham wanderer · Post by **waltham wanderer** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:43 am

Great photo's - I remember the area well from a CRA Marathon some years ago.
Pity about problems, but outride speed on ''good'' days was very impressive.

As you say, you will have 'shaken' the established competitiors and my search for a car has just been made all the harder !

Speak soon -

58A - 71E · Post by **58A - 71E** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:01 pm

Well done guys, looks a fantastic trip, can almost taste the dust in those photos

amallagh · Post by **amallagh** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:33 pm

Thanks for all the congrats. It's great to read them. The 914 proved itself to be a fantastic car for this type of event. It is such an easy car to drive at 9/10ths. In a whole week it never bit back or got uncontrollably out of shape on tarmac or gravel. I can still hear the wail of that flat 6 above 5000rpm in my ears. Another competitive competitor on the rally asked me at the end of the rally what would be my ultimate car for this rally.
I didn't need to say anything and he agreed with a nod.
Andrew

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:07 pm

sounds like a great adventure .... makes our Coast 2 Coast route look very mild

amallagh · Post by **amallagh** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:55 am

I wouldn't knock it. The C2C was right up there on 'must do events' for me this year. It's all horses for courses. Can't wait till the next one.
If I did an event like the Casablanca Challenege every other week then not sure I would live to tell the tale, never mind the car.