329 replies to this topic

[RODZMINI71]

Dave…. Decisions decisions  2014 will be an eventfull year for me and my mini. Lots to learn with plenty of fun along the way !! Realistically the minI won't be roadworthy until late march early April. The engine will then need bedding in, tuning and then have her checked over by the MSA. Do you know of anything fun to do in June ??????

[rally1380]

You doing stage events then??  Just wondering about the MSA check?

 

As for June.....Ross traders is in July so gives you a months grace and tweeking time. South wales rather than north, but a cracking event....did it last year as my first bash at map reading in the silly seat and did ok.  Also tied it in with buying a car from swansea which was a bonus.  After that, and the one you'll want to do is the Vale of Clwyd classic in september.  Broughton and Bretton MC are running a historic event this year too called the Gold Leaf - new event and worth looking out for. 

 

The thing with the historic day time stuff is that a lot depends on the navigator and timing.....you can have the fastest car in the world, but if you go the wrong way or arrive at the wrong time you will never win....obvious really.  So in short....get a good nav....or if you are gonna build up experience at the same time as a nav, be patient as the historic stuff is complicated. 

 

You fancy doing a night event in it too??  If you are new to it all, then the Automark run by Clwyd Vale is a good un....we'll be doing it this year (if it runs) to try and make up for last years retirement!!!  Try and pick night events carefully....they can be rough and a mini and its lack of ground clearance will see you wincing through deep holes and ruts!!!!

 

Bound to be something on at Ty Croes over the summer too....sprints etc.

 

Loads of stuff eh?

[jpw1275]

looking nice in the sun rod....:0)

cheers james

[RODZMINI71]

Victoria and i have taken part in a Night Nav and have joined the Clwyd Vale Motor club, The HRCR and will be applying for my licence shortly. I understand the importance of a good navigator so Vic and i will be attending The HRCR Training day in Knutsford later this month. All being well i will be entering The VCC in september, won't have to travel far as i live on the Kinmel Estate and it passes our house ;) Will definitely look in to whats going on @ Ty Croes this summer. Wont be doing any Stage Rallying until 2015, the events would be carefully chosen as not to destroy all my hard work.

 

Thanks for your comments

 

Up early this morning, need to ply line and paint my shed before the mini goes in. The shed looks a very dark gloomy place at the moment so a little insulation and a coat of white paint will help a lot.

 

Ill take some pictures of outside Dave to see if you can remember passing. LOTS of cattle grids !!!

[rally1380]

Victoria and i have taken part in a Night Nav and have joined the Clwyd Vale Motor club, The HRCR and will be applying for my licence shortly. I understand the importance of a good navigator so Vic and i will be attending The HRCR Training day in Knutsford later this month. All being well i will be entering The VCC in september, won't have to travel far as i live on the Kinmel Estate and it passes our house ;) Will definitely look in to whats going on @ Ty Croes this summer. Wont be doing any Stage Rallying until 2015, the events would be carefully chosen as not to destroy all my hard work.

 

Thanks for your comments

 

Up early this morning, need to ply line and paint my shed before the mini goes in. The shed looks a very dark gloomy place at the moment so a little insulation and a coat of white paint will help a lot.

 

Ill take some pictures of outside Dave to see if you can remember passing. LOTS of cattle grids !!!

 

Certainly remember a cattle grid or two on the VoCC through Kinmel.  Loved that test...easily my favourite of the day and on our last run through caught a car up too.  Was a bit tricky knowing how much grip I had from my dubious maxsports though.

 

I assume Vic is your partner?  I also rally with my partner (now wife) and I wouldn't have it any other way.  People say its a recipe for distaster and arguments...it isn't!!!  You need to have a good relationship with a nav, and who better than the person you know best eh?  Other important things for a nav - be organised, have a strong stomach, and get loads of practice!  Another advantage Vic will have is the fact she is female......sounds daft eh?......but she will find because it is a male dominated sport, people (blokes are blokes!) will be more than willing to help out if she has any questions or queries. 

 

Come and find us at the HRCR training day and ask any questions you like....and Vic can ask my other half questions or concerns she may have too.

[RODZMINI71]

Ideal ! 

[RODZMINI71]

 

Man cave coming on well !! Hope to have it kitted out and painted ready for the weekend. Still waiting for parts to arrive to complete engine  Grrrrr

[RODZMINI71]

 

Have not done much to the Mini this week. Hard at work finishing off the garage  Now finished theres no stopping me ploughing on. Found time last night to set the preload on the Diff Bearing, all went well (in the end) the flexibility of the aluminium housing

did not make things easy at first.The housing bolts only need a light ! light nip with a spanner otherwise the aluminium warps ! giving an incorrect gap. Still awaiting flywheel housing Bearings to arrive so i think ill be cleaning and painting parts over this weekend.

 

Whoops ! Almost forgot, I stripped one of my newly acquired HS6 carbs and sent it to be Soda Blasted, Looking forward to how it turns out !

[RODZMINI71]

Finely able to unwrap my Engine !

 

up until this morning i was going to use my HS6 but thanks to ebay i found This !!

 

Whoop ! Whoop !

 

The Chap also had this for sale to   I needed one so bought it as well.

 

Sadly not a progressive weekend getting my hands dirty putting the Mini back together…….On the plus side ! sourced some great parts 

[RODZMINI71]

First event penciled in for 2014  Track day at Ty Croes, Anglesey 14th of March.

 

[RODZMINI71]

 

Finely getting my act together with regards the Re-wire……Really want to keep the Classic look so decided to have a go at refurbishing some old Smiths Gauges i had. The Bezels are beyond Elbow Grease and thanks to ebay i have sourced some nice shiny new ones for fair money. Beside the clean up iv found a clever thread on TMF on how to improve how the Gauges are illuminated by painting some of the internal components white…ill give it a go along with some led Lights to boot !!!! 

 

Collected some components today which i had sand blasted as i could not clean them up properly myself with a wire mop. Luckily he only charged me a couple of pints ;)…. Very glad i did as they now look really good painted.

Think i might be going a little too far painting the Pedals !! Ha !! If a job's worth doing do it Properly !!

[RODZMINI71]

Not sure how i should feel…………………..Happy as i have some awsome new parts to fit or sad as i'll be eating bread and water for the forseable future….I'm over the Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Already making my next list  

 

[RODZMINI71]

Tonight Vic and will mainly be doing some homework in preparation to tomorrows Rally School  ! Hope it all goes well 

[rally1380]

How many indicaters are you fitting??  Ha ha.

[RODZMINI71]

You have inspired me on how to sort out my reverse lights !! Good meeting you today ;) i might volunteer as a marshall at the TOC so should bump into each other soon.Going to make an effort tomorrow to fabricate my dashboard and sort out routing Fuel,Brake and Battery lines through the car.