907 replies to this topic

[keefr22]

@keefr22 " it'll take a fair bit of work to get it prepared for road events - no door cards, carpet or rear seat for starters"
You have to leave all the interior in for road events with the current regs..

Yes, I know - that's why I pointed out it doesn't have any interior trim...!!

Keef

[rally1380]

@keefr22 " it'll take a fair bit of work to get it prepared for road events - no door cards, carpet or rear seat for starters"
You have to leave all the interior in for road events with the current regs..

I think keefr22 means he would need to buy them, in order for the car to pass scutineering

Edit : Too late....already answered...hope my mini is faster than my typing!

Edited by rally1380, 23 December 2012 - 03:21 PM.

[rally1380]

Gonna echo what Rob Jones says above really. The events that i intend to have a go at are all ANWCC events and are North West based but all seem to be pre plot.

Keith - I'm sure you could get your clubby prepped for a road rally or two??? There was another one on the rally we just did and was very well prepped....felt a bit guilty beating it to be honest!!! especially as they had experience and we had none!

Really sorry, for some reason I stopped receiving notiifcations of your thread updates, & have only just caught up! Thanks for both you & Rob's replies on pre-plotting, I'd so lost track with road rallying after I stopped back in the dark ages, that I thought they only allowed plot & bash now, it's great to hear that events are still pre-plot!

As to getting our Clubby done for road events, at the moment we just need to get it back on the road! The exhaust has gone somewhere & it sounds ridiculous! We haven't had chance to look at it yet, were going to do so over the Christmas break, but my son managed to bend his jeep last week, so we have to fix that first. And that will dent the competition budget a bit, so it'll just be a couple of hillclimbs next year - hopefully! And to be honest it'll take a fair bit of work to get it prepared for road events - no door cards, carpet or rear seat for starters, & even when the exhaust isn't broken I very much doubt it would pass noise! Still, you never know in a couple of years, but I think he'd prefer single venue stages if he could afford them...

Your car is looking superb! I really like that harness bar that you fabricated, very neat work! And it's a great colour! I enjoyed your photo of your dad rallying. I've got some of myself from that era hidden away somewhere - but only driving escorts or an Avenger Tiger - I wasn't bright enough then to get a Mini...!!

Happy Christmas!!

Keith

I think the main reason for me suggesting doing some road rallies is the sheer value for money you get compared to something like Hillclimbs or Sprints...or even stage events for that matter.

My plan at the moment is to do some Historic Road Rally events in 2013 and then finish the year with some night events....depends on budget and how my motorsport itch develops.

Oh and my motorclub seems keen on running autosolo's so i'm sure they will be on the cards as they are cheap.

Cheers for the positive comments...was wandering why no one has commented on the harness bar...was quite proud of that.

[bikerjohn]

Motorsport is about the most addictive thing you will ever do, the hard part is if you ever have to stop doing it for a period of time..

Once you start you'll be hooked for life....

[rally1380]

Motorsport is about the most addictive thing you will ever do, the hard part is if you ever have to stop doing it for a period of time..

Once you start you'll be hooked for life....

Well, unofficially i started when i was still a baby as my dad did a PCT with me in a baby seat in the back. He did really well and then after that they banned me as they said it was extra ballast...i was a baby!

But it is really good fun, and if you get in a good club with like minded people then its even more enjoyable.

[keefr22]

I started road rallying in 1974, about 3 months after I passed my driving test. Stopped in the mid '80's when my son came along. Now 30 years later I'm hoping to re-start doing hillclimbs & sprints with him in our Clubby next summer. So, yes, you do get get hooked for life...!!

[Archived4]

I love the harness bar!! Brilliant idea! What size are the steelies? 12inch? This is the inspiration for my rally clubman!

[rally1380]

Been a while and sorry for the late reply.....yes 12" steels....just standard rover ones (made by dunlop) and they do look really good painted white. And thankyou for the kind comment about my harness bar....going for evolution 2 on that soon.


So....now the christmas and new year chaos is well and truely over i think its time to crack on. Next event is the Tour of Cheshire so need to sort a few things.

Firstly the fuel and brake lines are still not inside the car and that is the next job. Engine out for a tidy up and also allows better access to bulkhead for doing the fuel and brake plumbing!



Currently the car is running a HIF44 carb which ain't allowed for classic rallies so in the process of building some twin HS4's and deciding to splash out on a maniflow inlet manifold! Also need to get a wriggle on and buy a tripmeter for the regularity sections on the classic rallies....more expense!!!

[keefr22]

....more expense!!!

Yep, never ends does it...?!

Did you take your engine out from above or below?

[rally1380]

....more expense!!!

Yep, never ends does it...?!

Did you take your engine out from above or below?

Above.....subframe still in so taking out from below would be a squeeze. I was given an engine crane (and all his tools!) by a very kind elderly gentleman many years ago as he was too ill to work on cars anymore. Everytime i use it i think of him and thank him....and curse him as its bloody heavy!!!!

[keefr22]

Ah, didn't notice the subframe, the angle of the photo makes the front of the car look high off the ground which is why I wondered!

[rally1380]

Ok, so entry for 'Tour of Cheshire' is in and all completed and paid for, so i think its time to pull my finger out and get those jobs done that never got done for the last event.

As per last post...engine was taken out to make way for getting at the bulkhead for running lines inside the car. Changed my mind for the location of the fuel line. You can see my previous route marked by a rubber grommet but decided (stole the idea from another member...cheers Si) to bring it up higher through the LHD pedal box section.



Brake line (as can be seen from above pic) was taken behind the heater and exited just below the engine steady...gives nice access should the need arise and also its well away from the hot exhaust manifold. The heater also protects the brake line a bit from passengers squashing it flat!



All lines are Copper/Nickel as its stronger than pure copper. Lines are held in with rubber lined P-clips and rivnuts/button head stainless bolts to keep things neat.

Picked up some handy AeroQuip 90 degree bulkhead unions for the brake lines. Made life a bit easier passing through bulkheads and also passing through 90.



Rear bulkhead - Lines taken above the subframe on either side where the seat panel raises up a bit and is perfect gap for the lines. Wanted them above the subframe as it makes removing the subframe easier and they are safer tucked up out of the way.



Engine back in time....in hindsight, probably didn't need to take it out as when i removed the servo there was heaps of room where the brake union is. But, in removing the engine i noticed that the company who built the car for the previous owner hadn't seated the subframe correctly (the spacers on the turret tops had fallen behind the subframe!!!) so allowed a bit of tweeking and also some plates and captive nuts welding in for the sumpguard



Whilst cleaning the engine up a bit i noticed some letters and numbers stamped into the block near the water pump....any idea who's marks these are....i can only think Minisport? It's M S and also A 351 on its side.



Next up.....rear subframe modification and skid plates to protect battery and fuel pump. And sort out wiring loom and fit a new toy!

[minisi35]

looking good Dave

[rally1380]

looking good Dave

Cheers.

Just seems to always take 3 times longer when you do things properly....wish in some ways i could just bodge it and get it done quicker but my heart and head won't allow that.

[minisi35]

Well its better to have peace of mind for when you are on the limit!