907 replies to this topic

[keefr22]

Brilliant stuff Dave! Fun, grassroots motorsport at it's best!!

 

One question, you mentioned the stage prepped Mini - was that 'properly' prepped, as in fully stripped out interior? Only thing that's been stopping Phil & I looking at these sort of events was thinking we'd have to put an interior back into the Clubby? I'm thinking if you don't need an interior & if its closed to club you probably won't need HANS devices like we're going to have to get for hillclimbs next year. And an £80 entry fee is about £20 less than a hillclimb now...

 

Keith

[rally1380]

Brilliant stuff Dave! Fun, grassroots motorsport at it's best!!

 

One question, you mentioned the stage prepped Mini - was that 'properly' prepped, as in fully stripped out interior? Only thing that's been stopping Phil & I looking at these sort of events was thinking we'd have to put an interior back into the Clubby? I'm thinking if you don't need an interior & if its closed to club you probably won't need HANS devices like we're going to have to get for hillclimbs next year. And an £80 entry fee is about £20 less than a hillclimb now...

 

Keith

 

It was a proper stage prepped mini yes.....I think Targa rallies are similar to road rallies in what they expect you to have fitted.....but to be honest I never checked as I knew we'd be doing it in the Microbe.

 

As for fitting an interior back in your mini.....what's the problem?  Door cards - easy to fit. Rear door cards - bit of a P.I.T.A, but easy and don't weigh anything.  Carpet - easy to butcher one to fit round seat mounts and the cage.  Roof lining - just stick something up there like I've done on my mini - light weight, and stops the panel resonating so better to have than not.

 

Other than that you don't really need anything else that you don't already have.  Took me a day of refitting interior stuff to the Ibiza to get that road rally scrute proof.

 

 

We got 30 minutes of actual competitive time on the Targa (can't tell you how many miles that was but will check the road book)....how many minutes do you get for a Hillclimb over an event? And how much does one cost? Just so I can work out a minute/£ ratio?

[rally1380]

Excellent write up Dave. Sounds like you had a good time. Just goes to show you don't have to spend a fortune and at the end of the day results, mostly comes down to the 2 people inside the car and not the car itself ;0)  ... £80 I wonder if anyone has competed for less????

 

Yeh I doubt it......the Pirelli's were swapped for 4 packets of biscuits too!!!!!!

 

Think the car is getting scraped this week so will get money back for that too!!!!

 

Budget rallying at its finest!!!!

[keefr22]

Thanks Dave. Money to buy interior stuff is the problem at the mo., but getting it MOTable & taxed/insured are the biggest hassles currently, but all that would almost certainly be less than new helmets & HANS devices! Can you use plastic windows & rear screens on road events now?

 

As to hillclimb costs, Epynt last year was £85 each for our entries, two practice runs in the morning, two timed runs in the PM & an untimed 'fun run' at the end if you wanted it, but Phil broke the car on his last timed run, so that was a no go. Course is just about a mile long (they claim it's now the longest on mainland UK!), so there's really no comparison in value for money terms!

[rally1380]

Can you use plastic windows & rear screens on road events now?

 

 

Yes...and coming soon to a certain Ibiza!!!!!  Plastics are allowed, composite bonnets/tailgates are ok too.....or at least for the time being until the MSA change their mind. You can even run 4 wheel drive or turbo's up to 1400 now too on night events.  Targa rallies differ slightly as this event didn't allow 4 wheel drive, but that's probably more on a event by event basis.

 

Road rallying (be it night, daytime Historic or these new ish targa's) are clearly bloomin good value for money then.  They're much better £££ wise than stage events ever will be too.  The smiles on everyone's faces at the end of the day sold it to me and I think this is one way the organisers can stick 2 fingers up to the MSA and give us clubman rally folks more bang for our buck. 

[keefr22]

Certainly about time the MSA were told by us clubmen (& clubladies!) where to get off, I'm sure they've got an agenda to kill off club motorsport! Looks like events like these could well be the future, & we'll certainly be looking at the regularity & targa type events when we get the Mini roadworthy again. May even buy a Micra until we do...!! Unfortunately I'm not fit enough for night road events any more, or I'd be back doing them for sure...

[DEPS]

Sounds great and a brilliant result. Were there regularities/navigation between the tests or just a case of having to get yourself to the next test? 

 

My son and I were originally buliding the Mini for road rallying, but having done a couple of 12 cars we really do not enjoy the navigation bit- so that has put paid to HRCR events and the like, plus they are all along way from us.

 

Have also looked at sprinting but when you look at the cost per mile, a single venue stage event works out cheaper. So targas could be the way forward.......although our Clubman looks far too smart now. So could end up being a show and shine tart

[rally1380]

Sounds great and a brilliant result. Were there regularities/navigation between the tests or just a case of having to get yourself to the next test? 

 

My son and I were originally buliding the Mini for road rallying, but having done a couple of 12 cars we really do not enjoy the navigation bit- so that has put paid to HRCR events and the like, plus they are all along way from us.

 

Have also looked at sprinting but when you look at the cost per mile, a single venue stage event works out cheaper. So targas could be the way forward.......although our Clubman looks far too smart now. So could end up being a show and shine tart

 

No time for 'show and shine' on this thread mate....Doesn't matter how shiny your car is, get out and rally it.  The enjoyment of competing on rallies far outweighs sitting in a field all day polishing chrome....don't see the buzz in all honesty.

 

As for Targa's....they are the future of clubman level motorsport.  No regularity between tests, just follow a pre marked map (although I would have liked some plotting to do) and then when at the start of the test, open the test diagram book and follow the line.  Really was a good days motorsport and not in any way a car wrecker.....yes it might remove some paint from the inner arches, but hey ho.....get the brush out and paint them.  Cost per competitive mile on Targas must be the best value motorsport you can have....plus you get fed at lunch and in the evening!!!!!

 

As for the HRCR events - they do take a heap of practice....and I mean a heap!!!!  Me and my wife have done 4 now (don't count the 5th one we failed to start on!) and we are still not in any way experts (event though we have to run as experts thanks to doing well on night road rallies).  But to be honest, winning pots and doing well is only a bonus in my eyes....we had an amazing day doing the Tour of Cheshire this year, superb weather, met some really nice people (one of whom took some pics that I posted on here) and just had a great day out in the lanes bathed in sunshine.  Sometimes, as long as you go the right route, get to all the test locations at roughly the right time, then that in my eyes is a good days sport.  Practice, Practice, Practice (or cheat and get a top nav!) and you'll have a blast - Don't give up on the HRCR events (Tour of Cheshire even has a beginners class and the plotting isn't hard either so a good event to do as a first one) as there isn't many ways to go historic rallying at a clubman level without spending £££££.

[rally1380]

Vale of Clwyd Classic is in 2 weeks......so usual pre rally position in the garage!!!!

 

 

 

 

Had a little issue last weekend when I went out in the mini to pick an MED cylinder head up that I won on ebay.  Whilst passing through the local uber posh footballer infested village that is near home, the bottom pin nut decided to fall off so when I hit the huge speed bumps that are there, it decided to pull the arm out, and with it the driveshaft, leaving the N/S wheel at a very funny angle!!!!!  Struggled to get the car off the road as I pretty much had zero control of the steering and no drive!!!!  Nipped back home, jacked up the 68 mk2 I've got stashed at the side of my garage, and nicked a nut and washer to go and cobble together a repair. 

 

Even when home, I still couldn't work out why the N/S camber was more than the other...even with fixed length bottom arms??  Found the culprit and when compared with new the issue is obvious..... 

 

 

 

 

So, both bottom arm pins are getting replaced, along with the bushes (again) and new nyloc nuts.   The shaft/inner cv pulling out unfortunately made a bit of a mess of the cv boot (shame as it was new last year!) and minspares didn't have any in stock (genuine one) last week, so I've used an old one from an old cv joint I've got in stock (never throw anything away!). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also on the shopping list for this next rally was some new boots.....

 

 

 

 

Whilst driveshaft was out of the way, thought now was a good time to have a look at the top and bottom ball joints - bottom one had too many shims in it so removed a couple, cleaned and greased everything up.  I know they look tatty, and the lock washers really needed replacing, but they still do the job and form definitely follows function in this case.

 

 

 

 

Whilst doing all this, I managed to break my favourite mug!!!!!!!!  Had a whole load of classic British car on it......i'm gutted!!!!!  Can't even find one on ebay!  So, that one has been replaced by this one.....

 

 

 

 

Very apt considering my next event is back home in the true spiritual home of 'rally'.  "You can take the boy out of wales, but not wales out of the boy".....Cymru am byth.

[DEPS]

Hi, Don't worry our Clubbie will never be show and shine. Paint job is quite good, but can't be doing with all that detailing and the underneath is covered in Dinitrol. I'd rather it not rust away after a drive in the rain rather than not driving it!

 

Must say the Targas sound great. My son who has just turned 16 and I just need to get out in the car (booked in for MOT next weekend- Scary) after 3 years or so of stripping and rebuilding. So whether it be a Sunday drive a Scenic Tour or what ever we just need to enjoy it. As I said we have done a couple of 12 cars. First one we were completely hopeless, second one we managed the first section and messed up on the second, but rushing from work and doing in the dark not an easy start. So think the HRCR events would be better and really not worried about winning, but would like to be able to complete. Biggest drawback is that we are in South Leicestershire so a god way from all events. So looking at overnight stays etc., but we will have to see....

 

Interesting angles on the arm! Not unlike my tie bars when I removed them! No wonder the suspension geometry was a little awry

 

Good luck with the next event. i will be awaiting another of your entertaining reports!

[keefr22]

Nice mug Dave...!!

Good luck on the rally!

Keith

[DEPS]

Nice mug Dave...!!

Good luck on the rally!

Keith

The mug is ok as long as St. George is on the other side!!

[rally1380]

Hi, Don't worry our Clubbie will never be show and shine. Paint job is quite good, but can't be doing with all that detailing and the underneath is covered in Dinitrol. I'd rather it not rust away after a drive in the rain rather than not driving it!

 

Must say the Targas sound great. My son who has just turned 16 and I just need to get out in the car (booked in for MOT next weekend- Scary) after 3 years or so of stripping and rebuilding. So whether it be a Sunday drive a Scenic Tour or what ever we just need to enjoy it. As I said we have done a couple of 12 cars. First one we were completely hopeless, second one we managed the first section and messed up on the second, but rushing from work and doing in the dark not an easy start. So think the HRCR events would be better and really not worried about winning, but would like to be able to complete. Biggest drawback is that we are in South Leicestershire so a god way from all events. So looking at overnight stays etc., but we will have to see....

 

Interesting angles on the arm! Not unlike my tie bars when I removed them! No wonder the suspension geometry was a little awry

 

Good luck with the next event. i will be awaiting another of your entertaining reports!

 

Ahhhhh.....12 cars!!!  Yeh, they can be tricky.  We did our first a few years ago and were hopeless!!!!  Just couldn't get to grips with it.....we then did the Tour of Cheshire for the first time as the next event and won our class.  So please don't let a 12 car put you off.  Funnily enough i'm in the throws of organising one for my motorclub (obviously did too good a job last year  ) and you have to be super sneaky in order to keep the average speeds to a sensible level - a far cry from pukka road rallies.

 

HRCR one's I find far easier to nav on....even though they can be a brain ache sometimes.  Best bet is to get out there and enjoy them, the results will come with practice and the mini is a superb car to compete in.  Shame you are so far away, but so are we really compared to other events - we have 2 local ish, the rest are miles away....that's why I've not done them.....yet.  You will also get to 'know' the plotting style and the little tricks each event employs the more you do.

 

Targa's - I urge everyone to have a go.  They're not cheap, but they are a bloody good laugh.  Maybe some will not be as mini friendly (as in rough!) as others, but if the car is built right and doesn't fall apart like mine does then you'll do fine.

 

 

Not too sure having St. George on a mug with a dragon is such a good idea.

[keefr22]

Not too sure having St. George on a mug with a dragon is such a good idea.

Not when it's a Welsh one, George would be toast...!!

And Targa's are a darn sight cheaper than sprints & hillclimbs - at least in value for money terms!

K

[rally1380]

Makes me so angry when i uncover little nasties like the below photo's show seeing as the car had supposedly been restored by 'experts'.  Whatever guys, this is why i do everything myself, if you rely on other folks, you get this......

 

 

 

 

 

Dreaded over sills!!!!!!  Not even welded in right, so have been letting in moisture for years, and with nowhere for that moisture to go, we have this lovely mess!!!!  Can't do a proper job and replace the sills just yet as i have an autotest on monday, the MOT on thursday and a rally in 2 weeks, so for now i'm going to have to make good and weld in a patch.....bloody bodge follows bodge!!!!!

 

 

Edited by rally1380, 23 August 2015 - 08:22 PM.