The entry is now in for the Armstrong Massey Rally at Driffield for the Escort. This event takes place at a venue we have had previous experience of during the Thor Hammer Rally in 2006. A mainly concrete surface makes this a fast rally that can be dusty in dry conditions but we had good fun here last time out before mechanical problems but us out on the penultimate stage.
This is the first event this year in the Escort and we're hoping for a good competitive runout as a shakedown before the Kall Kwik... unless Clive gets bored and decides to enter another event before then!
We're also looking to do an event in the Metro in either July or August. There are several small changes that need doing before then but nothing major - I want to replace the key ignition with a push button ignition (I kept losing my keys during the Roskirk!), there is a small oil leak that I want to source and fix and I have a new adaptor to convert my handbrake to a flyoff to let me do flamboyant handbrake turns!
Monday, 15 June 2009
Monday, 9 March 2009
Roskirk Stages Review
What a strange sensation... we've actually completed a rally!
After a day of frantic last minute preparation on Saturday, we drove over to Wigan in readiness for the rally on the Sunday.
We pulled into 3 Sisters at about 7.45 in readiness for scrutineering that was scheduled in for an 8am start and unloaded the 'Tro from the trailer. Scrutineering was reasonably smooth but slightly worryi
ng when the car in front was failed due to the registration plate being on the bonnet... the same place as my own! Luckily my car had actually been logbooked with the registration in that position so it wasn't a problem!
After much discussion over the preceding weeks we had decided that we would run the event on road tyres, the thinking behind it being that the slicks wouldn't be able to generate enough heat. The weather forecast was also looking ominous with rain and snow forecast for Sunday so again, with a choice limited to slicks or road tyres, the roadies were looking like the wiser choice!
Pulling up to the start line for the first stage everything that had been discussed and that I had learnt over the past few years as a co-driver passed briefly through my mind. Whilst the circuit was small and the stages reasonably simple, there was a good variation of corners and I'd had a bit of a think about how I'd tackle them when we'd walked it earlier. This all went out of the window when the light turned green!
Driving a car normally, or even quickly, on the road does nothing to prepare you for a stage rally. Whether you're in a WRC or a slightly battered Metro, you're there to push the car and driver to the limit to try to be as fast as possible. My experience of this was limited to say the least and the opening series of stages would be about firstly me testing my own ability and then about seeing what the car could do.
One of the first things I had to get used to was driving and stopping a
car that was missing all the fancy gizmo's that we're got used to over the 20+ years since the Metro was built - no fancy electronic differentials... no ABS... no power steering. An immediate feature was the way the car behaved under braking and acceleration - the car got sideways very easily when I hit the brakes and started to turn into the corner but it generally felt like it was controlled when I hit the accelerator. Coming out of the corners was a different matter, the car had the power but just was not able to put it down with the wheels spinning hopelessly before gripping and slingshotting me out of the corner.
With such a tight, twisty track and only the one long straight, the stages were challenging for both myself as I threw the car into and (usually) around the corner and for Clive as a navigator, especially on the early stages that featured multiple splits.
After a couple of exciting, fast stages in the dry to get the adrenalin flowing, the weather decided to take a hand as we headed to stage 3 when the heavens opened! With standing water on the track and my demister deciding to stop working, this quickly proved to be my worst stage in the rally. Coming out of a tight right hander into a quick left/right series of turns, the car got unbalanced and, when the front end suddenly gripped the read end pivoted around throwing me off the track. This was followed a few corners later with a second spin as I tried to get the power on too soon coming out of a K left... round and round I went again onto the grass.
The wet weather and track continued on and off for the next three stages and, after losing the car twice so close together, I had decided to take a more conservative approach. This was reflected in my stage times which were the slower than anybody else's on stages 3/4/5. Looking back at this is a little disappointing in one respect as I was reasonably competitive with the tail end cars on the opening stages and, as the track dried out, my times were again there or there abouts - far from being a front runner but not the slowest either!
My final position was 39th - last of the running cars, with 10 cars that had dropped out. I feel I could have finished higher if I'd not spun on stage 3 and maybe I could have pushed a bit harder but I wasn't willing to trash my car on my first rally! The car was very slippery when conditions were wet and after going past the final flying finish the car flicked horribly and I nearly ended up in the barriers... not the ending I would have wanted!
Put into perspective, I gained experience in driving in conditions which tend to be the norm in the UK and also highlighted a couple of places where I might need to look at improving with regards to the car - an LSD would definitely help me coming out of the corners, as would some decent tyres as in the wet I couldn't get any traction at all . My times were not the fastest but neither were they the slowest on all stages and I finished the rally, which was my primary objective and also got to push myself and get the experience of driving a rally stage.
After a day of frantic last minute preparation on Saturday, we drove over to Wigan in readiness for the rally on the Sunday.
We pulled into 3 Sisters at about 7.45 in readiness for scrutineering that was scheduled in for an 8am start and unloaded the 'Tro from the trailer. Scrutineering was reasonably smooth but slightly worryi
ng when the car in front was failed due to the registration plate being on the bonnet... the same place as my own! Luckily my car had actually been logbooked with the registration in that position so it wasn't a problem!After much discussion over the preceding weeks we had decided that we would run the event on road tyres, the thinking behind it being that the slicks wouldn't be able to generate enough heat. The weather forecast was also looking ominous with rain and snow forecast for Sunday so again, with a choice limited to slicks or road tyres, the roadies were looking like the wiser choice!
Pulling up to the start line for the first stage everything that had been discussed and that I had learnt over the past few years as a co-driver passed briefly through my mind. Whilst the circuit was small and the stages reasonably simple, there was a good variation of corners and I'd had a bit of a think about how I'd tackle them when we'd walked it earlier. This all went out of the window when the light turned green!
Driving a car normally, or even quickly, on the road does nothing to prepare you for a stage rally. Whether you're in a WRC or a slightly battered Metro, you're there to push the car and driver to the limit to try to be as fast as possible. My experience of this was limited to say the least and the opening series of stages would be about firstly me testing my own ability and then about seeing what the car could do.
One of the first things I had to get used to was driving and stopping a
car that was missing all the fancy gizmo's that we're got used to over the 20+ years since the Metro was built - no fancy electronic differentials... no ABS... no power steering. An immediate feature was the way the car behaved under braking and acceleration - the car got sideways very easily when I hit the brakes and started to turn into the corner but it generally felt like it was controlled when I hit the accelerator. Coming out of the corners was a different matter, the car had the power but just was not able to put it down with the wheels spinning hopelessly before gripping and slingshotting me out of the corner.With such a tight, twisty track and only the one long straight, the stages were challenging for both myself as I threw the car into and (usually) around the corner and for Clive as a navigator, especially on the early stages that featured multiple splits.
After a couple of exciting, fast stages in the dry to get the adrenalin flowing, the weather decided to take a hand as we headed to stage 3 when the heavens opened! With standing water on the track and my demister deciding to stop working, this quickly proved to be my worst stage in the rally. Coming out of a tight right hander into a quick left/right series of turns, the car got unbalanced and, when the front end suddenly gripped the read end pivoted around throwing me off the track. This was followed a few corners later with a second spin as I tried to get the power on too soon coming out of a K left... round and round I went again onto the grass.
The wet weather and track continued on and off for the next three stages and, after losing the car twice so close together, I had decided to take a more conservative approach. This was reflected in my stage times which were the slower than anybody else's on stages 3/4/5. Looking back at this is a little disappointing in one respect as I was reasonably competitive with the tail end cars on the opening stages and, as the track dried out, my times were again there or there abouts - far from being a front runner but not the slowest either!
My final position was 39th - last of the running cars, with 10 cars that had dropped out. I feel I could have finished higher if I'd not spun on stage 3 and maybe I could have pushed a bit harder but I wasn't willing to trash my car on my first rally! The car was very slippery when conditions were wet and after going past the final flying finish the car flicked horribly and I nearly ended up in the barriers... not the ending I would have wanted!
Put into perspective, I gained experience in driving in conditions which tend to be the norm in the UK and also highlighted a couple of places where I might need to look at improving with regards to the car - an LSD would definitely help me coming out of the corners, as would some decent tyres as in the wet I couldn't get any traction at all . My times were not the fastest but neither were they the slowest on all stages and I finished the rally, which was my primary objective and also got to push myself and get the experience of driving a rally stage.
Mant thnks to Rob Lees: rob@roblees.freeserve.co.uk for use of the photographs!
Friday, 6 March 2009
Roskirk Preview
This weekend see's me finally (hopefully) get to take part in my first Special Stage rally... at the second attempt after last years disasterous outing at Manby!
The car has been taxed which allowed me to go out in it last night to try to get used to it. Being used to driving cars with such luxuries as ABS and Power Steering over the last few years, it was a bit of any eye opener... especially with regards to the braking!
The tyres have been sorted and, with the forecast for rain/snow over the weekend, I'll probably be running on roa tyres! The Harnesses are fitted with brand spanking new eye bolts for the crutch strap and the intercom was moved from the Escort last night.
The aim for the weekend is to get to the finish. The stages are short and all smooth tarmac so it will give me a good oppotunity to get used to the feel of the car and give it some welly! There are some pretty interesting events that we're looking at during the year so there's no point in wrecking it on my first outing!
The car has been taxed which allowed me to go out in it last night to try to get used to it. Being used to driving cars with such luxuries as ABS and Power Steering over the last few years, it was a bit of any eye opener... especially with regards to the braking!
The tyres have been sorted and, with the forecast for rain/snow over the weekend, I'll probably be running on roa tyres! The Harnesses are fitted with brand spanking new eye bolts for the crutch strap and the intercom was moved from the Escort last night.
The aim for the weekend is to get to the finish. The stages are short and all smooth tarmac so it will give me a good oppotunity to get used to the feel of the car and give it some welly! There are some pretty interesting events that we're looking at during the year so there's no point in wrecking it on my first outing!
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Roskirk Stages - 3 Sisters Circuit - Sunday 9th March
The entry for the Metro is in for the Roskirk Stages at 3 Sisters Circuit on Sunday 9th March 2009.
Almost a year after the car was last due out, the gearbox has been out and cleaned and a new diff fitted to replace the one that blew up at the start of the first stage on the Phoenix Stages and the suspension has been pumped up on the passenger side. The car was in for it's MOT last week and failed... the new bumper fitted was covering the fog light! This was swiftly repare by Matt @ HT Auto's via the medium of taking the bumper off!
The car is now in the process of having a final check over in preperation for the event, including the fitting of brand spanking new 6 point harnesses.
Almost a year after the car was last due out, the gearbox has been out and cleaned and a new diff fitted to replace the one that blew up at the start of the first stage on the Phoenix Stages and the suspension has been pumped up on the passenger side. The car was in for it's MOT last week and failed... the new bumper fitted was covering the fog light! This was swiftly repare by Matt @ HT Auto's via the medium of taking the bumper off!
The car is now in the process of having a final check over in preperation for the event, including the fitting of brand spanking new 6 point harnesses.
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Update - 16.09
Escort
The entry is now in for this years Kall Kwik Bradford Rally. This is a support event for the larger Roger Albert Clark Rally and runs on the 14th and 15th November 2008. The event starts at Elland Road Stadium, home of the mighty Leeds United, and the first stage is a floodlit Friday night stage at Temple Newsam near Leeds, which coincidently is the closest rally stage to my home and at a location I have pretty good knowledge of as I grew up playing and riding my bike around the ground to the park!
The following morning the event re-starts at Elland Road and has a second stage at Temple Newsam before moving onto the historical rally stages that were part of the original RAC rally at Langdale, Harwood Dale and Oliver’s Mount in Scarborough. We then make our way to Pickering for the service park before re-running the final three events of the morning.
Preparation on the car is continuing with a new drive shaft fitted this week and a few other changes and checks will take place over the coming weeks in preparation.
This is by far the largest event we have entered both in terms of the logistics involved and the cost (the credit crunch has just got a whole lot crunchier!) If you are able to offer any support (whether financial, parts or anything else!) please contact us as all help will be greatly appreciated!
Metro
The diff has exploded! HT Auto’s have taken the engine out and dismantled it and the problem we encounter at the Jane Cowling Memorial Phoenix Stages was due to the diff disintegrating in the gearbox! The box has been removed from the engine and cleaned out and I am getting the a new, stronger diff and a gasket set this weekend so it can be fitted in the coming weeks. Hopefully this will mean that I’ll finally be able to do a f**king Rally by the end of October!
The entry is now in for this years Kall Kwik Bradford Rally. This is a support event for the larger Roger Albert Clark Rally and runs on the 14th and 15th November 2008. The event starts at Elland Road Stadium, home of the mighty Leeds United, and the first stage is a floodlit Friday night stage at Temple Newsam near Leeds, which coincidently is the closest rally stage to my home and at a location I have pretty good knowledge of as I grew up playing and riding my bike around the ground to the park!
The following morning the event re-starts at Elland Road and has a second stage at Temple Newsam before moving onto the historical rally stages that were part of the original RAC rally at Langdale, Harwood Dale and Oliver’s Mount in Scarborough. We then make our way to Pickering for the service park before re-running the final three events of the morning.
Preparation on the car is continuing with a new drive shaft fitted this week and a few other changes and checks will take place over the coming weeks in preparation.
This is by far the largest event we have entered both in terms of the logistics involved and the cost (the credit crunch has just got a whole lot crunchier!) If you are able to offer any support (whether financial, parts or anything else!) please contact us as all help will be greatly appreciated!
Metro
The diff has exploded! HT Auto’s have taken the engine out and dismantled it and the problem we encounter at the Jane Cowling Memorial Phoenix Stages was due to the diff disintegrating in the gearbox! The box has been removed from the engine and cleaned out and I am getting the a new, stronger diff and a gasket set this weekend so it can be fitted in the coming weeks. Hopefully this will mean that I’ll finally be able to do a f**king Rally by the end of October!
Friday, 29 August 2008
Autumn 2008
OK.... after struggling to get the bloody clutch back on and the engine back into place, I finally admitted that I had neither the space, the time or the knowledge to fix the Metro and decided to take it down to HT Auto's in Garforth (see 'sponsors' for more info!) They've had a quick look at it and have said that a bolt has come of inside the mystical workings of the A series engine, so they're removing the engine, bolting it back on and then spot welding it into place... hopefully it is as simple as they make it sound! Fingers crossed and finances permitting, I'll finally be out again at the end of September.
The Escort is in (also to HT Auto's!) for it's MOT this Saturday. After it has (hopefully) passed we'll be putting our entry in for the Kall Kwik Rally in November. This will be our first Multi Venue Forest Rally so, not only will I need to work out how to use the Terratrip, but also how to read real proper pace notes (rather than using a route plan!) Watch this space for updates!
The Escort is in (also to HT Auto's!) for it's MOT this Saturday. After it has (hopefully) passed we'll be putting our entry in for the Kall Kwik Rally in November. This will be our first Multi Venue Forest Rally so, not only will I need to work out how to use the Terratrip, but also how to read real proper pace notes (rather than using a route plan!) Watch this space for updates!
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