RSRing a 944

[andy97]

Benjj, that's very useful thanks.

Andy

[gothatway]

benjj said:

For the rallying in your link above a cage is not optional and neither are harnesses.

That should read "not required", i.e. they ARE optional.

I have done lots of those events over the years, as well as longer ones such as Rally of the Tests, Le Jog and various events on the continent. Usually as a navigator, and in Minis, Mexicos, Volvos, Healeys, ... . When the rules relaxed to allow pre-85 cars, I started looking for a 944, eventually finding an '84 car earlier this year which was in pretty good nick. It's totally standard and I've been using it as my daily driver all summer, shaking it down and aiming for Le Jog in December. We did the Ross Traders in July, and are aiming to do the Devon Classic in September prior to Le Jog. My preparation for rallying is far more limited than benjj's, consisting of fitting a Brantz RallyTimer and a Roamertime+ tripmeter, together with some yellow tape around the battery earth lead and turning exhaust mounts round. That's apart from full servicing, of course. Oh, for lightening the car I have removed the overmats from the rear ;-) You are also limited to minimum 65 profile tyres. The thoroughness of scrutineering does vary; in my view it's not worth taking chances of being rejected at that stage. I shall be taking advice on the rule limiting the car to four forward-facing beams (unlikely to be an issue on the HRCR events as they are nowadays all daylight only, I think).

For HRCR events you usually need a Non-race National B licence, though some events do have Clubman's classes for which you only need to be a member of an invited club.

Some of the events do include rough sections, but if you don't have full underbody protection then you just drive to the conditions. The only damage we suffered on the Ross Traders was a bit of scraping to the cheese-grater.

Reliability is obviously critically important, but the most important piece of equipment for these rallies is the guy in the left hand seat (well I would say that, wouldn't I !). It is far far easier to lose time by wrong-slotting or dithering on the road, or screwing up a regularity, than by taking a test a little bit more gently. If you wanted to do longer events, then you might want to put some emphasis on comfort - doing an event like Le Jog or the Monte Historique in a car without sound-proofing is extremely tiring and therefore detrimental to the crew's performance. Helmets and headphones are not allowed on UK events other than for medical reasons.

If you enter one of the UK events in a 944, be prepared for a certain amount of muttering from other competitors about homologation. The 944 was apparently never homologated, which in my mind means that a car cannot fail to meet its homologation, can it !

[andy97]

Also good info, thanks.

I think that the only '44 to be homologated was the 220 pre 86 Turbo. They'd probably mutter even more if you turned up with one of those - excellentl performance and turning up the boost has not been unknown with those cars, lol!

[andy97]

Benjj, have you seen that the Roger Albert Clark Rally Club are going to organise the MSA Historic Tarmac Rally Championship in 2016? Time for you to fully prep the 944 for full on Tarmac rallying, I think?

[benjj]

Well, change is afoot.

I've decided that next year I'm going to do something that's been bugging me for ages - euro hillclimbing.

I seem to spend the majority of my time watching this kind of stuff on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_8B0mkrc_8

So for the last few months I've been accumulating bits and bobs and now the time has come to wheel it into Michael's workshop and pop on the A Team music.

The short of it is: the LSD will go in with a new competition clutch and possibly a lightened flywheel if I can afford it. In addition it'll have to have a bit of a drop so new springs on the front and reindex the rear.

I've not driven the car since about August, it's just been sitting quietly under a cover in the garage. I had a bit of a poke around and started it up for the first time in nearly 6 months last night and all is tickety boo.





Michael at the workshop suggested seriously upgrading the ARBs if the diff is going in so I've sourced a 26.8mm M030 front one and am still to source the rear.

The preening dandy in me has also commissioned a local upholsterer to refit my seats with original Porsche hounds tooth fabric. If I'm going to go off an Alp in a fireball I at least want to do it looking a bit gucci. This is the stuff she's using, I love it.



Also of course comes the engine. I've now got everything I need to create the new one. Still trying to decide whether to raid my existing engine for auxiliaries (water pump etc.) or buy more. It'll come down to budget but suspect I'll use a fair amount of what I already have.

Lastly brakes - will need to look into the regs as it's currently on std discs and calipers as per the MSA rallying rules. If I can go bigger/better for hillclimbing then I think I will do.

That's about it. Heading to the workshop now for a chat about getting the work done. Also want to investigate the chance of getting the new bloke in the back with the English Wheel to create some kind of removable mental Mad Max front & rear splitters a bit like on the 924 GTP Le Mans car



LASTLY:

A few things I still need to buy. If anyone has anything they're selling can you drop me a line? Budget is as tight as a midge's tt so I'm well on the hunt for deals!

1) Front springs - ideally a c.30mm drop from stock
2) Rear ARB - ideally a 19mm or 20mm adjustable

[GC8]

Is the fabric for the centres of the competition seats Ben? I have three metres of Pasha rolled up with a similar plan for my out of date Sparcos.

[benjj]

Yes indeed. They're the carbon Cobra Imola Pro seats and each has 3 padded inserts. Those are the bits getting hounds toothed. Also having lower part of doorcards done to match.

[fire3500]

Strong work Benji.

• cough* Pikes Peak *cough*

[benjj]

fire3500 said:

Strong work Benji.

• cough* Pikes Peak *cough*

PP and La Carrera are my two bucket list events. One day.

[benjj]

Not updated this for quite a while. Due to a lack of time, daylight and money it's just been sitting doing naff all for the last few months.

However my wife has a friend who is an upholsterer looking to diversify so I put her on the task of sorting me some swank houndstooth inserts for the seats.

Am really, really chuffed with how well they've worked out.

Now the days are starting to get a bit longer and work is looking up the rest of the work will be starting up too. Will take it down to Goodwood at the end of the month for the Mission Motorsport 4th anniversary - am sure it'll love some flat out track fun after ages doing nothing!









Sorry for cack photos, taken in a dark garage with finger smears all over the phone lens!

[GC8]

What sort of price for the inserts? I have realised that my Sparcos arent suitable for covering, as they don't have separate cushions - duh!

I do have a set of early sports seats which Id like to Pasha-up but theyre not particularly easy and most attempts that I have seen cost far too much and delivered far too little.

Id want the centre removable cushions in Pasha and the back and bolsters in black leather. I wrote leather or vinyl initially, and that's part of the problem: the material cost difference is slight but the quoted price difference high...

Edited by GC8 on Monday 8th February 20:31

[benjj]

I got the stonking mates rates deal so not really representative. It's her first foray into this but her work is amazing.

It's fabrics only though, not leather.

If you want a quote you can send me details and I'll get her to put a price together. Surprising how expensive the fabric is, this Pepita 100% wool houndstooth was gnarly cash.