Blue Shark going well !!

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Sun May 01, 2011 4:23 pm

Congrats Alan on your class win in the Historic section of the Circuit of Ireland last weekend

Currently 2nd overall in the Historic section of the Killarney Rally of the Lake, as I type mid Sunday afternoon

Hope it all hangs together for the Manx National next weekend !!!

Now that's what I call dedication

moggy · Post by **moggy** » Sun May 01, 2011 9:56 pm

Nice one Alan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVE5HgM7Bjo

Cracking weather, looked like a beauty of an event, shame there weren't more historics in it though. Bet the tyres and brakes took a beating

You're gonna be knackered at the end of these marathon events. Keep it on the black stuff

Cortina · Post by **Cortina** » Mon May 02, 2011 10:24 pm

Ta Mike - we actually got 1st overall on Circuit ... only taken me 18 yrs to win it !

Just back after 315 mile tow up from Killarney - managed 2nd overall there.

Did first wee bit of damage there - clipped a bale on a chicane .... but alloy wing not too resistant ...

Will book boats for Manx National in morning !!!!

Time for ZZZ's now

bjmullan · Post by **bjmullan** » Tue May 03, 2011 12:33 pm

Well done Alan

Cortina · Post by **Cortina** » Wed May 04, 2011 3:39 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTtsaCichiM

In car from Molls Gap attached - one of the most famous stages in Irish Rallying .... Stage length 10.98 miles , covered in 10mins - 20.7 secs , which is my best ever time up it (but stage has been widened and smoothed over the years).

still working on having live pace notes at acceptable quality ... maybe on the Isle on Man this weekend ??

bjmullan · Post by **bjmullan** » Wed May 04, 2011 7:58 pm

Excellent in-car footage as good as you get from the professional for the WRC! The roads looks very rough in places and I see you caught and overtook someone!!!

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Wed May 04, 2011 9:05 pm

Fantastic stuff Alan!

Tremendous bit of road that, and cracking driving.

The car looks really stable and well damped. Is the camera telling the truth

moggy · Post by **moggy** » Wed May 04, 2011 9:59 pm

WOW!! Great driving on some great roads. Looks like you got that car setup spot on. That road looks absolutley awsome, got me sweating with the adrenelin pumping just watching it. Good job Alan. Keep it going.

keith fellowes · Post by **keith fellowes** » Wed May 04, 2011 10:04 pm

Bet you worked up a bit of a sweat in there!! Cracking stage. All the best on the Manx, you can really use the power there.

Cortina · Post by **Cortina** » Thu May 05, 2011 12:12 am

Sweat ... hmm ... yes . For South of Ireland Events , we must use fire proof underware - balaclava +++ AND three layer overalls. I was wet through three layers !! (ugh)
Another stage from this event is now up according to the team (Navigator) - Cod's Head. I know I can depend on Gary to post a link !! - I need sleep

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Thu May 05, 2011 7:03 pm

Here's Cod's Head

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf98518G ... re=related

also Ballaghbeama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMlFpWGg ... re=related

Enjoy

Keep her lit, Alan !! :D

210bhp · Post by **210bhp** » Thu May 05, 2011 7:33 pm

A very tidy line throughout Alan. Congrats on the result. Car looks to be very stable. Has the 928 surprised you?
What tyres did you run these stages with?

Regards
Mike

Cortina · Post by **Cortina** » Sun May 08, 2011 12:13 pm

Just back in from Isle of Man boat ..... now officially "rallied out"

Mike - yes , in general the 928 has surprised me. Starting to find it "slow" in places now , so must be driving it a bit harder !!
In general it's well behaved , apart from trying to get power down on less than perfect road conditions ... which is hardly surprising. Car is too soft for Irish tarmac stages - which is really affecting ground clearance rather than handling as such. (Stability all round is first class - even under very heavy braking ... front discs now need replacing again after only about 6 or 7 events !)
The first half of Killarney was run with Avon CR6ZZ 's - 215's on the rear , and 185's on the front. all fine - but at circa £450 for a pair of rears (lasting one event !) ... it's not affordable.
Tried Kumho's on car for 2nd day (V70's) - as usual in 185/70 size. , found them very good , but wear rate a bit high (can't have both !!) , and they were only about £100 each.
Continued with worn Kumho's in Isle of Man , but things went pear shaped in the wet and dark of Friday night (only about 36 cars finished event out of 75ish starters !!) - car was close to undrivable (at speed) , so we decided to keep it in one piece for Barbados , and backed right off.
Time for rest and re-prep now.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Sun May 08, 2011 12:37 pm

Well done on finishing you rally-bonanza, Alan.

Yes, finding suitable tyres for anything that uses wheels bigger than 13 inch is an expensive problem, when you have to use 70 Series profiles.

There was a trend in the Retro stuff towards using full forest competition tyres, but fortunately the organisers now seem to be banning them and it's back to road based snow tyres like the Michelin Alpins, which are circa 50 quid a tyre.

Look forward to seeing you on the Barbados Rally reports when they hit the TV screens, is Plum covering it, or will we have to rely on one of Mr Winstanley's efforts? If so do some crawling or you won't be even heard of !!

Cortina · Post by **Cortina** » Sun May 08, 2011 1:04 pm

It's on the "Plum list" to be covered (rpm-motorsport for those of you outside Ireland

)

But like all things , subject to change (never heard of your man ... will just keep my head down - going for fun , not prizes !)