907 replies to this topic

[keefr22]

Below is a photo from the latest rally we've done......Keith, you'll like this one.

You're right Dave, I do - that's a fantastic shot!! How did you do on the event - & that's a rally that's been going some years, I remember it from my time! Good to see the green meanie being used properly!
 

- take note: if you ever get into rallying and you're the driver, always blame the navigator if something goes wrong!!!!

A lesson I learnt very early on - 500 yards into the first selective on our very first proper road rally - dumba55 in the drivers seat stuffs his Mk1 Mexico into a telegraph pole on a 75 right - turns to nav & asks 'why on earth (or words to that effect!) didn't you tell me the bend was tightening...??!!'

Keith

Edit to add - talking of cracking pictures, love the snowy one on the page header!

Edited by keefr22, 07 December 2014 - 09:41 PM.

[rally1380]

Resent results in the Ibiza -

 

Y Rali Gogledd Cymru  - 5th Semi Expert, 14th OA (and that was with a 5 minute penalty!!!)

 

Preston Regardless (yes it is a proper oldschool event) - 3rd Semi Expert, 14th OA (should have been 1st in class and 5th OA...but i'm not bitter!!! ha ha)

[keefr22]

More good results Dave - & goes to show rallying is a true team sport!

K

[rally1380]

Too right - can't rally without a nav, and the nav can't rally without the brainless premadona behind the round wheely thing!!!

[rally1380]

After the disaster that was 2014's Tour of Cheshire, I have unfinished business with my local daytime historic road rally!!!

 

2015 entry in and paid for....bring it on!!!!!!!

 

No messing around this year, no last minute prep (yer right!!!) like changing cylinder heads the night before, we are going for it this time....famous last words!!!

[Richard19]

Is the Mini all ready and raring to go for Tour of Cheshire?   

[keefr22]

Is the Mini all ready and raring to go for Tour of Cheshire?   

 

Funny thing, I was just thinking exactly the same yesterday! Threads gone very quiet Dave...

[rally1380]

Hi Guys....you know how I said there would be no last minute prep....errrmm....Ooops!!!

 

In answer to Richards question - Not really....but fingers crossed it should be.

 

To be honest i've been busy competing in my other rally car and up until last weekend prep was focused on that pile of Spanish junk....Sorry Keith  .  Anyway, Rali Bryniau Clwyd is now out of the way so Tour of Cheshire prep can begin.

 

 

 

 

 

After the Vale of Clwyd Classic in september, I decided to change the inner CV joints. Reason being that when the tie bar popped off, it pulled the CV apart and span round. Now this might not have caused any damaged, but i thought best not risk it so 2 new genuine CV joints were ordered from Minispares.

 

Of course things never go to plan do they!!!!  First shaft out easy enough but could I shift the inner bit of the joint off the shaft....could I b*****x!!!!  Tried heating it with a blow lamp, then on the cooker hob (don't tell the wife!) and it didn't matter how much of a hammering i gave it, it would not budge. Broke 2 chisels trying to shift it.  Ended up with a bit of careful surgery with the angle grinder to take the joint off bit by bit....it worked and didn't touch the splines....honest!!!

 

 

 

 

Next for my attention was what caused this issue - the tie bars.

 

So seeing as the nut fell off my old one (possible stripped thread?) I decided to cut my losses and buy new. Minisport Grp A bars seemed to tickle my rally fancy. Old ones top, new ready for fitting below.

 

 

 

 

 

Whilst the suspension was going through a bit of a tart up, I decided to fit new lower arm bushes as i was concerned that the old ones might have got stressed/damaged when the tie bar popped off and the wheel got forced back. Not expensive so seemed sensible anyway. They're the uprated offset ones from minispares.

 

 

 

 

Of course not all was easy (when is it ever!!!???) and the old bush sleeves clearly didn't want to leave the party!!! Angle grinder surgery again on the lower pin.

 

 

 

 

 

So oil changed, tappets adjusted, everything back together.....just need to do a final spanner check and spend some time driving the car before friday's scutineering.  Because of our decent Nat B road rally results last year we've moved up classes on these historic events (even though they are very different styles of rallying....gutted!) which means any chances of a class win are slim to none as we don't do enough of these style of rallies to get the hang of it.

 

Anyway...enough of the racing drivers excuses. We're gonna give it a bash either way....seeded car 46 so give us a wave if you're out

 

http://www.tourofche...o.uk/index.html

Edited by rally1380, 02 March 2015 - 10:33 PM.

[keefr22]

To be honest i've been busy competing in my other rally car and up until last weekend prep was focused on that pile of Spanish junk....Sorry Keith  .

No worries Dave. I told you when you get fed up of it I'll give it a good home again...!!!  

 

Good luck on the weekend, have fun!

 

K

[rally1380]

 

To be honest i've been busy competing in my other rally car and up until last weekend prep was focused on that pile of Spanish junk....Sorry Keith  .

No worries Dave. I told you when you get fed up of it I'll give it a good home again...!!!  

 

Good luck on the weekend, have fun!

 

K

 

 

Considering the amount of work and money I've put into the car...i'm afraid the price might make you wince a little!!!  Got more plans for the money pit yet anyhow....LSD for starters...just don't tell the wife!

[Richard19]

I'm sure everything will be 100% on the day.... Just had a look on the ToC website at the spectator details and you are coming to Shrewsbury Cattle Market....Hope to come and watch and take a few pics too.. might even bring the Mini!!  Good luck!

[rally1380]

Cheers Richard.  Yes we go to Shewsbury Cattle Market twice for 2 sets of 2 tests....and i think our lunch break is there inbetween the 2 sets.  I've got gravel tyres fitted so won't be that great round the tarmac of the market....Beeston cattle market is gravel though so will be flying round there!!!

 

If you see me say hi....if you see me busy throwing spanners around with my head under the bonnet still say hi, but please don't take offense if the odd swear word comes out to.

 

Car is all set and i'm about to head off to scutineering and the measured mile to set the trip meter. Fingers crossed all goes to plan.

[Richard19]

I'll bring my tin hat just in case !!!  Should be a great day though. Hopefully see you tomorrow..

[rally1380]

Tour of Cheshire 2015
 
 
So........better let you all know what went on over the weekend. 
 
Friday was smooth running (at first!!) and after a lengthy test drive local to my home I deemed all well with the car (Barry) and with the usual tools packed away in the boot I set off with nav en route to Beeston cattle market and scutineering.  Enjoyed the run over, but as I neared Sandiway (not far from Oulton Park) i dipped the clutch for some traffic lights and the rev's didn't drop!!!!  Seemed to be sat at 3 - 4k and no amount of blipping the throttle would make them drop.
 
The car still drove ok, so passed noise test and scrutineering no problem and then hurried off to my over night stay to investigate the issue.  I did notice the bolt that holds the right hand carb float bowl was loose, but why this would effect the rev's is anyones guess.  Either way, to get at this loose bolt i had to take off the air filter back plate - this isn't the hardest thing in the world to achieve but is a pain in the ass to get back on insitu as the bolts point down, and in cramped conditions is hard to get washers and nuts all in place and started....been there done that before.  But back plate removal was easier and quicker than taking the carb/manifold/backplate assemby off in one, so fueled with coffee i set about taking the backplate off whilst dropping nuts and washers down into the engine bay!!!!  Luckily all made there way out after clattering over the sump guard.
 
Float bowl bolt tightened thanks to an ancient stubby flat spanner borrowed off the father in law....really is tight in that area and that bolt is well hidden behind the choke mechanism.  I think this loose bolt 'might' have caught the choke mechanism and trapped that side somehow, causing the rest of the linkage to twist resulting in the rev's issue.
 
I only touched the choke linkage, float bowl bolt and reset the throttle linkage (which hadn't moved) so think this is the culprit....bolt must has shook loose on the rough sections on the Vale of Clwyd Classic back in september.  Anyway, car ticks over fine now and the whole rally saw zero mechanical issues....a miracle in itself!!!
 
So up early on saturday morning after a dubious nights sleep worrying about the car (as you do!).  Signing on complete and 09.15 was our away time from the start - straight over to the cattle market again for test 1.  It really is a great venue for throwing a car round.....gravel, slippy concrete, dust!!!!

 

Here are some photo's from test 1....more ramblings and pic's to follow over the next few days.....

 

 



 

 

 

 

Edited by rally1380, 09 March 2015 - 09:18 PM.

[keefr22]

Good job you're handy with the spanners Dave! 

 

More good pics, love that last one...!!

 

Keith