Latest rally update
Moderator: Bootsy
Latest rally update
Hi All
Just thought I'd update you all on our latest adventures
We completed the Severn Valley Stages last weekend, and all in all it went well. We were chopming at the bit after our 2 stage failure on the previous rally, where we ended up down a ditch on stage 2. At least we had some nearly new tyres to start this rally on.
We started stage 1 like a bat out of hell as I was determined NOT to do my usual of starting slow then building the speed up as the rally went on. If we are going to fight for the top places I will have to get used to starting hot. So we kept up the speed for the next 3 stages. The only exception was stage 3 where we caught one of the Tuthill 911 RS's, and because of the dust we couldn't get past neither could the driver see us. I'm not sure what the HELL that driver was doing seeded above us, she was clearly the slowest car in our class by some way and about a minute slower than us on each 6 mile stage (which is a LOT!!). We spoke to the driver at the start of stage 4 and she let us in front of her from stage 4 onwards. She (from California - nice lady) said she specifically asked to be put at the back as it was her first rally.... her first rally!!! and she got seeded 6th up from the bottom (3 places above us). It was all very weird and frustrating as she delayed everyone behind her. I'm hoping she wasn't bumped up the rankings as she was in one of the Tuthill Challenge cars .
The car was handling the best it ever has, I've really got this setup sweet now for gravel. It was turning in beautifully, powering round the corners nice, no squirrelling under braking - all very predictable on the limit After stage 4 it was half way through the rally and time to head for service.
Only thing that was worrying me was the engine temp was high, but I put it down to the HOT day. I also knew that the dusty conditions would mean the air filters would need a clean - I hate the way the 914 sucks dusty air into the engine bay but I guess if it didn't have air flow in that way the engine would fry as no cool/clean air would find it's way in their. As we checked into service we got the times so far - we found ourselves in 2nd place in class, only 1 1/2 seconds of first I knew we were going well but wow All the Escort's in my class were behind me and only a BMW 2002Ti infront. To say I was happy with that was an understatement. If it wasn't for the fact that we lost those 15 seconds stuck behind the 911 RS in stage 3 we would have been well in front in first place.
After much thinking on tactics for the final 4 stages we decided to just try to maintain the same pace. Unfortunately on stage 5, have way in I started to loose the back a little too much for comfort. Initially I thought I had a slow puncture, but at the end of the stage I checked it only to find no problem. So I continued on with the last 3 stages but couldn't keep up the pace of the morning with the back feeling like a Beetle in the rain. We were chuffed to bits to finish but a quick check on the text's as the stages unfolded confirmed we were loosing time to the car in front and the Escort behind us. Although we matched the time of the BMW on stage 6 and beat him by a few seconds on the last stage we lost too much on stage 5 and 7 and finished the day 3rd in class and 6th in category. We were happy with that despite the issues Best finish ever and with the car feeling so good it looks like there's better to come.
So...... as we were putting the car on the trailer we couldn't get the strap round the rear left wheel. The left rear had so much neg camber it was rubbing up against the inner wing. So this weekend on suspicion of a bent rear arm I took the whole rear suspension off both sides. The arms jigged up fine, not bent at all, a testament to their strength (strengthened ones from PMB Performance), especially when I descovered what actually was the problem. Turns out I snapped the pivot rod:
Must have taken quite a hit to do that not that I can remember anything that would specifically cause it, but we were flying . But I did seem to be hitting opposite lock on the steering on a regular basis
Oh..... and the overheating.... that classic - the spring that holds the flaps open was not attached properly (either worked loose or not installed correctly - probably the latter )
Anyway.... sorry for the long saga......long time to get prepared and ready for the next rally now - Ulster Rally - a tarmac one
Just thought I'd update you all on our latest adventures
We completed the Severn Valley Stages last weekend, and all in all it went well. We were chopming at the bit after our 2 stage failure on the previous rally, where we ended up down a ditch on stage 2. At least we had some nearly new tyres to start this rally on.
We started stage 1 like a bat out of hell as I was determined NOT to do my usual of starting slow then building the speed up as the rally went on. If we are going to fight for the top places I will have to get used to starting hot. So we kept up the speed for the next 3 stages. The only exception was stage 3 where we caught one of the Tuthill 911 RS's, and because of the dust we couldn't get past neither could the driver see us. I'm not sure what the HELL that driver was doing seeded above us, she was clearly the slowest car in our class by some way and about a minute slower than us on each 6 mile stage (which is a LOT!!). We spoke to the driver at the start of stage 4 and she let us in front of her from stage 4 onwards. She (from California - nice lady) said she specifically asked to be put at the back as it was her first rally.... her first rally!!! and she got seeded 6th up from the bottom (3 places above us). It was all very weird and frustrating as she delayed everyone behind her. I'm hoping she wasn't bumped up the rankings as she was in one of the Tuthill Challenge cars .
The car was handling the best it ever has, I've really got this setup sweet now for gravel. It was turning in beautifully, powering round the corners nice, no squirrelling under braking - all very predictable on the limit After stage 4 it was half way through the rally and time to head for service.
Only thing that was worrying me was the engine temp was high, but I put it down to the HOT day. I also knew that the dusty conditions would mean the air filters would need a clean - I hate the way the 914 sucks dusty air into the engine bay but I guess if it didn't have air flow in that way the engine would fry as no cool/clean air would find it's way in their. As we checked into service we got the times so far - we found ourselves in 2nd place in class, only 1 1/2 seconds of first I knew we were going well but wow All the Escort's in my class were behind me and only a BMW 2002Ti infront. To say I was happy with that was an understatement. If it wasn't for the fact that we lost those 15 seconds stuck behind the 911 RS in stage 3 we would have been well in front in first place.
After much thinking on tactics for the final 4 stages we decided to just try to maintain the same pace. Unfortunately on stage 5, have way in I started to loose the back a little too much for comfort. Initially I thought I had a slow puncture, but at the end of the stage I checked it only to find no problem. So I continued on with the last 3 stages but couldn't keep up the pace of the morning with the back feeling like a Beetle in the rain. We were chuffed to bits to finish but a quick check on the text's as the stages unfolded confirmed we were loosing time to the car in front and the Escort behind us. Although we matched the time of the BMW on stage 6 and beat him by a few seconds on the last stage we lost too much on stage 5 and 7 and finished the day 3rd in class and 6th in category. We were happy with that despite the issues Best finish ever and with the car feeling so good it looks like there's better to come.
So...... as we were putting the car on the trailer we couldn't get the strap round the rear left wheel. The left rear had so much neg camber it was rubbing up against the inner wing. So this weekend on suspicion of a bent rear arm I took the whole rear suspension off both sides. The arms jigged up fine, not bent at all, a testament to their strength (strengthened ones from PMB Performance), especially when I descovered what actually was the problem. Turns out I snapped the pivot rod:
Must have taken quite a hit to do that not that I can remember anything that would specifically cause it, but we were flying . But I did seem to be hitting opposite lock on the steering on a regular basis
Oh..... and the overheating.... that classic - the spring that holds the flaps open was not attached properly (either worked loose or not installed correctly - probably the latter )
Anyway.... sorry for the long saga......long time to get prepared and ready for the next rally now - Ulster Rally - a tarmac one
Well done ... I had spotted the photies somewhere on web ... nice ones !.
............ I have two more days reprep left , then it's off to Portsmouth to send shark off somewhere very hot !! ... Not long now !
............ I have two more days reprep left , then it's off to Portsmouth to send shark off somewhere very hot !! ... Not long now !
Royal Enfield .. still in India
GL 1800 Tour DCT, for pleasure / Fantic 240 Professional - play
Rally 911 (1966) build parked for a while
Rally 928 (work started again - inc serious weight loss programe !)
.... and now another VW Up GTI owner.
GL 1800 Tour DCT, for pleasure / Fantic 240 Professional - play
Rally 911 (1966) build parked for a while
Rally 928 (work started again - inc serious weight loss programe !)
.... and now another VW Up GTI owner.
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- DDK Seasoned Poster
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:50 pm
Yeah!!!
Hey Richard,
Thanks for the note and VERY happy the arms are working out for you.
Best!
Eric
Thanks for the note and VERY happy the arms are working out for you.
Best!
Eric
Thanks guys.
>Cortina - mmmmm Barbados very jealous mate. Will be seeing how you get on intently as am seriously thinking of doing this next year.
>Eric - your arms as solid as a rock. Managed to break the pivot rod, oval the inner ear, muller the outer mount and your arms are still straight as a die - good product fella
>Cortina - mmmmm Barbados very jealous mate. Will be seeing how you get on intently as am seriously thinking of doing this next year.
>Eric - your arms as solid as a rock. Managed to break the pivot rod, oval the inner ear, muller the outer mount and your arms are still straight as a die - good product fella
You betcha My favourite rally.... wouldn't miss it for the world. This time I'm coming prepared with more lights... I'm not doing the Torr again at night with them candles I had last year - SCARY See you in a few months Mike.MikeB wrote:Moggy
Hope you're doing the Ulster again, if so, I'll be at the end of the Torr again
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- DDK above all
- Posts: 161
- Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:40 am
- Location: CARDIFF, GOD'S COUNTRY.
- Contact:
I'll be there as well.moggy wrote:You betcha My favourite rally.... wouldn't miss it for the world. This time I'm coming prepared with more lights... I'm not doing the Torr again at night with them candles I had last year - SCARY See you in a few months Mike.MikeB wrote:Moggy
Hope you're doing the Ulster again, if so, I'll be at the end of the Torr again
Hu.
Carrera Sport Targa 3.2
HAPPINESS IS KNOWING YOU'RE WELSH.
Carrera Sport Targa 3.2
HAPPINESS IS KNOWING YOU'RE WELSH.
-
- DDK above all
- Posts: 161
- Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:40 am
- Location: CARDIFF, GOD'S COUNTRY.
- Contact:
You probably saw my car, it was parked next to the 'Out' controlmoggy wrote:With air like that I think you mean 'co-pilot' Look forward to meeting you face to face in Ulster.hukent wrote:This is me, I co-drive for Guy Woodcock in his RS2000.moggy wrote:Hey Hu
Come say hello. What you going over for? driver, on the spanners or just speccy?
at the Builth service area on the Severn Valley.
I meant to come for a chat, but you left about 2 mins. after we arrived at service.
If you ever need a co-driver, let me know.
Hu.
Carrera Sport Targa 3.2
HAPPINESS IS KNOWING YOU'RE WELSH.
Carrera Sport Targa 3.2
HAPPINESS IS KNOWING YOU'RE WELSH.
-
- DDK above all
- Posts: 161
- Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:40 am
- Location: CARDIFF, GOD'S COUNTRY.
- Contact:
You probably saw my car, it was parked next to the 'Out' controlmoggy wrote:With air like that I think you mean 'co-pilot' Look forward to meeting you face to face in Ulster.hukent wrote:This is me, I co-drive for Guy Woodcock in his RS2000.moggy wrote:Hey Hu
Come say hello. What you going over for? driver, on the spanners or just speccy?
at the Builth service area on the Severn Valley.
I meant to come for a chat, but you left about 2 mins. after we arrived at service.
If you ever need a co-driver, let me know.
Hu.
Carrera Sport Targa 3.2
HAPPINESS IS KNOWING YOU'RE WELSH.
Carrera Sport Targa 3.2
HAPPINESS IS KNOWING YOU'RE WELSH.
Finished repairing the ovaled inner ears wth some weld.
Before:
this doesn't do it justice actually. It was well ovalled, with a load of slop.
After:
All welded up and grinded back. Fit = tight.... sorted.
Should have everything buttoned up for this weekend ready for some testing before the Ulster rally in a few weeks
Before:
this doesn't do it justice actually. It was well ovalled, with a load of slop.
After:
All welded up and grinded back. Fit = tight.... sorted.
Should have everything buttoned up for this weekend ready for some testing before the Ulster rally in a few weeks