Land Rover Series III Rally Car. (Yes really)
Discussion
Engine still sounds odd but will be giving it a go on The Devils Own Rally this Sunday
Here we go again!
Car No Driver Navigator Car Class Car Class
1 Paul Wignall Jayne Wignall Porsche 911 Expert Historic
2 Ross Butterworth TBC Ford Escort Expert Historic
3 David Marsden Mike Garstang Ford Cortina GT Expert Historic
4 Tot Dixon Maureen Dixon Morris Mini Expert Historic
5 Ian Curwen Gareth Williams Ford Escort Expert Historic
6 Tony Harrison Ayrton Harrison Proton Satria Expert Modern
7 Tom Wilcox Pete Johnson Toyota Starlet Expert Modern
8 Steve Entwistle Bob Hargreaves Austin Mini Cooper Expert Historic
9 David Agnew Graeme Mactavish Porsche 911 Expert Historic
10 Tony Tomlinson Andrew Makinson Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Expert Classic
11 Steve Mitchell Ian Mitchell Peugeot 205 Expert Modern
12 Peter Birtles Richard Goodacre Volvo Amazon Expert Historic
14 Paul Brereton Maurice Ellison Ford Escort Semi Historic
15 Graeme Cornthwaite Steve Aspin Morris Mini Semi Historic
16 David Alexander Stephen Perry Vauxhall Viva HB Semi Classic
17 Dave Whitaker TBC Nissan Sunny GTI Semi Modern
18 Mark Burton John Burton MG Midget Semi Historic
19 Chas Stansfield Martin Harwood Triumph TR3A Semi Historic
20 Stephen Byrne David Byrne Lancia Fulvia Semi Historic
21 Phil Griffiths James Clewer Landrover Semi Historic
22 Jon Hill Michael Pears Vauxhall Corsa Semi Modern
23 David Winter Sally Winter Ford Fiesta Semi Modern
24 Simon Farrar Dean Philips Ford Puma Semi Modern
25 Scott Wragg John Coulson Proton Satria GTI Semi Modern
26 George Eland Ian Eland Alfa Romeo GTV Semi Historic
27 Tom Vipond Chris Woods Peugeot 206 GTI Novice Modern
28 Brian Bradley Paul Makinson Mini Novice Classic
29 Geoff Fletcher Keith Fletcher Vauxhall Corsa Novice Modern
30 Robert Iveson Les Golding Peugeot 205 Novice Modern
31 John Howarth Joe Jazmik Jaguar XK150 Novice Historic
32 Steve Wright Jonathan Riseborough Ford Escort Novice Classic
33 Chris Wright TBC Mazda MX5 Novice Modern
34 Jon Stynes Kieron Stynes Rover Mini Novice Modern
35 Sean Bramhall Phill Gough Austin Healey 100-6mm Novice Historic
38 Nathan Darbyshire Jonathon Ashworth Mazda MX5 Novice Modern
36 Danny Cowell TBC Ford Escort Modern
37 Steve Palmer Jack Palmer Ford Fiesta Tourer Modern
Navigational Permit (one more ticked off the list above!) so a somewhat varied entry!
Here we go again!
Car No Driver Navigator Car Class Car Class
1 Paul Wignall Jayne Wignall Porsche 911 Expert Historic
2 Ross Butterworth TBC Ford Escort Expert Historic
3 David Marsden Mike Garstang Ford Cortina GT Expert Historic
4 Tot Dixon Maureen Dixon Morris Mini Expert Historic
5 Ian Curwen Gareth Williams Ford Escort Expert Historic
6 Tony Harrison Ayrton Harrison Proton Satria Expert Modern
7 Tom Wilcox Pete Johnson Toyota Starlet Expert Modern
8 Steve Entwistle Bob Hargreaves Austin Mini Cooper Expert Historic
9 David Agnew Graeme Mactavish Porsche 911 Expert Historic
10 Tony Tomlinson Andrew Makinson Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Expert Classic
11 Steve Mitchell Ian Mitchell Peugeot 205 Expert Modern
12 Peter Birtles Richard Goodacre Volvo Amazon Expert Historic
14 Paul Brereton Maurice Ellison Ford Escort Semi Historic
15 Graeme Cornthwaite Steve Aspin Morris Mini Semi Historic
16 David Alexander Stephen Perry Vauxhall Viva HB Semi Classic
17 Dave Whitaker TBC Nissan Sunny GTI Semi Modern
18 Mark Burton John Burton MG Midget Semi Historic
19 Chas Stansfield Martin Harwood Triumph TR3A Semi Historic
20 Stephen Byrne David Byrne Lancia Fulvia Semi Historic
21 Phil Griffiths James Clewer Landrover Semi Historic
22 Jon Hill Michael Pears Vauxhall Corsa Semi Modern
23 David Winter Sally Winter Ford Fiesta Semi Modern
24 Simon Farrar Dean Philips Ford Puma Semi Modern
25 Scott Wragg John Coulson Proton Satria GTI Semi Modern
26 George Eland Ian Eland Alfa Romeo GTV Semi Historic
27 Tom Vipond Chris Woods Peugeot 206 GTI Novice Modern
28 Brian Bradley Paul Makinson Mini Novice Classic
29 Geoff Fletcher Keith Fletcher Vauxhall Corsa Novice Modern
30 Robert Iveson Les Golding Peugeot 205 Novice Modern
31 John Howarth Joe Jazmik Jaguar XK150 Novice Historic
32 Steve Wright Jonathan Riseborough Ford Escort Novice Classic
33 Chris Wright TBC Mazda MX5 Novice Modern
34 Jon Stynes Kieron Stynes Rover Mini Novice Modern
35 Sean Bramhall Phill Gough Austin Healey 100-6mm Novice Historic
38 Nathan Darbyshire Jonathon Ashworth Mazda MX5 Novice Modern
36 Danny Cowell TBC Ford Escort Modern
37 Steve Palmer Jack Palmer Ford Fiesta Tourer Modern
Navigational Permit (one more ticked off the list above!) so a somewhat varied entry!
The Devils…..
The Devils Own Rally is one of those rallies that’s evolved in it’s many decades from early days as a Road Rally being won by Tony Mason up to the days of the Motoring News and Mexico Championship.
Now run as a Historic I’ve never got round to actually driving on it! Sat in the silly seat but not the one with the steering wheel!
With life in general being a bit busy I wasn’t planning to enter it to be honest but then it came out on a Navigational Permit and that’s one on the list of permits to be done….. so entry in!
Main difference would be that the shouting from the passenger seat wouldn’t be my dear wife but an old friend who used to do 12 cars with us. Never sat in the landy and not been on the maps in 10 years. Could be fun!
Week leading up to the rally I managed to get some new side mounts for the passenger seat that bolted to the existing rails. Seat was always “a bit Douglas Bader” in it’s mounting position.
Revalved head and reset fueling meant an average tootling round before the event at over 20mpg!!! Ironic as there were over 4 chances on route to fill up with LPG.
Sunday morning started cold…and white! With some excitement I set off for the Heaves Hotel near Kendal in the snow wondering if it would play a part in the day’s proceedings.
The line up at the Heaves was excellent with everything from Healey 100/6’s 2x911’s as well as the usual mini’s and escorts.
A mix up with the paperwork meant we were shuffled to later down the order. At least that means lots of tyre marks to follow!
First test was at a farm near Burton. Tight and muddy was the best way of describing it. Test was called out just right. Still needing a handbrake for those tight turns though! Second one was the only true tarmac test of the day! The finish was on a long 90 right and for some reason the marshal’s seemed to back away as the landy ducked and dived under braking towards the line.
After that it was regularity time. We lined up north of Kirkby Lonsdale on a quiet road and we let a few cars go in front (mistake!). I knew this section contained forestry but thinking it’s just a 30mph regularity job should be fine.
Made it to the first control pretty much spot only dropping 4 seconds. But shortly after that caught our minute man…and then another…and then another…and then another!!! God knows what had happened to the guy 4 minutes ahead of us but if I was minutes down I’d have had it absolutely lit.
Once we got into the forest the presence of a Land Rover grill in the rear view mirror seemed to work and we started getting past giving us time to start putting a bit of pace on but still arrived at the end stuck in traffic. About 39 seconds lost!
Second run through the woods was a very different affair. The little group were were in pulled over and let the landy line up first. Yellow knob down. Roll it forward and wait for the minute to come up. Lifted the clutch and buried the throttle. 30mph through the woods might seem easy but with controls to stop and get signatures for as well as the fact the snow had melted leaving the gravel very loose meant keeping it a quick as poss.
Poor old landy isn’t exactly quick up the hills but as soon as it flattens out or downhill then flat out! In 4wd turn in on gravel at speed can be very 50/50. With no centre diff it’s either understeer or oversteer, The former being the axis of evil which could end in the scenery the latter being the way.
I erred on the side of caution and either dropped a gear or gave a bit of a dab to get the weight forward and get it turned in with a touch of oversteer. Must have worked as we only dropped 17seconds. 10th quickest overall!
Slid up the final control all 4 wheels locked to be commended by the marshal, apparently some crews that were dropping time like us were just tootling up the final control. Weird.
The trip north meant sleet and snow began to fall but sadly not stick. Two tests runs twice up at Hardendale Quarry was great but oh so tight for the landy. And oh so cold parked up waiting!
Did it second time in rear wheel drive and had to slow things down into the tight stuff and get it booted round on the “power”. Still wasn’t enough at times but some of the gravel piles proved surprisingly handy for widening the route……
A long cold drive down the A6 back to Kendal meant another twice run test through a farm. Mix of tarmac and mud on concrete was short but sweet!
Back at the hotel over a nice Roast Beef dinner it turned out the first regularity had been annulled which was a great shame as it was have punted us up the results a bit.
Either way seeded 21st. Came 21st! Had the first regularity stood maybe 17th or something like that.
A cracking set of tests read superbly by the chap in the passenger seat and a great atmosphere despite the cold weather.
Next event should be much warmer if things go to plan.
And I’ll be needing this:
The Devils Own Rally is one of those rallies that’s evolved in it’s many decades from early days as a Road Rally being won by Tony Mason up to the days of the Motoring News and Mexico Championship.
Now run as a Historic I’ve never got round to actually driving on it! Sat in the silly seat but not the one with the steering wheel!
With life in general being a bit busy I wasn’t planning to enter it to be honest but then it came out on a Navigational Permit and that’s one on the list of permits to be done….. so entry in!
Main difference would be that the shouting from the passenger seat wouldn’t be my dear wife but an old friend who used to do 12 cars with us. Never sat in the landy and not been on the maps in 10 years. Could be fun!
Week leading up to the rally I managed to get some new side mounts for the passenger seat that bolted to the existing rails. Seat was always “a bit Douglas Bader” in it’s mounting position.
Revalved head and reset fueling meant an average tootling round before the event at over 20mpg!!! Ironic as there were over 4 chances on route to fill up with LPG.
Sunday morning started cold…and white! With some excitement I set off for the Heaves Hotel near Kendal in the snow wondering if it would play a part in the day’s proceedings.
The line up at the Heaves was excellent with everything from Healey 100/6’s 2x911’s as well as the usual mini’s and escorts.
A mix up with the paperwork meant we were shuffled to later down the order. At least that means lots of tyre marks to follow!
First test was at a farm near Burton. Tight and muddy was the best way of describing it. Test was called out just right. Still needing a handbrake for those tight turns though! Second one was the only true tarmac test of the day! The finish was on a long 90 right and for some reason the marshal’s seemed to back away as the landy ducked and dived under braking towards the line.
After that it was regularity time. We lined up north of Kirkby Lonsdale on a quiet road and we let a few cars go in front (mistake!). I knew this section contained forestry but thinking it’s just a 30mph regularity job should be fine.
Made it to the first control pretty much spot only dropping 4 seconds. But shortly after that caught our minute man…and then another…and then another…and then another!!! God knows what had happened to the guy 4 minutes ahead of us but if I was minutes down I’d have had it absolutely lit.
Once we got into the forest the presence of a Land Rover grill in the rear view mirror seemed to work and we started getting past giving us time to start putting a bit of pace on but still arrived at the end stuck in traffic. About 39 seconds lost!
Second run through the woods was a very different affair. The little group were were in pulled over and let the landy line up first. Yellow knob down. Roll it forward and wait for the minute to come up. Lifted the clutch and buried the throttle. 30mph through the woods might seem easy but with controls to stop and get signatures for as well as the fact the snow had melted leaving the gravel very loose meant keeping it a quick as poss.
Poor old landy isn’t exactly quick up the hills but as soon as it flattens out or downhill then flat out! In 4wd turn in on gravel at speed can be very 50/50. With no centre diff it’s either understeer or oversteer, The former being the axis of evil which could end in the scenery the latter being the way.
I erred on the side of caution and either dropped a gear or gave a bit of a dab to get the weight forward and get it turned in with a touch of oversteer. Must have worked as we only dropped 17seconds. 10th quickest overall!
Slid up the final control all 4 wheels locked to be commended by the marshal, apparently some crews that were dropping time like us were just tootling up the final control. Weird.
The trip north meant sleet and snow began to fall but sadly not stick. Two tests runs twice up at Hardendale Quarry was great but oh so tight for the landy. And oh so cold parked up waiting!
Did it second time in rear wheel drive and had to slow things down into the tight stuff and get it booted round on the “power”. Still wasn’t enough at times but some of the gravel piles proved surprisingly handy for widening the route……
A long cold drive down the A6 back to Kendal meant another twice run test through a farm. Mix of tarmac and mud on concrete was short but sweet!
Back at the hotel over a nice Roast Beef dinner it turned out the first regularity had been annulled which was a great shame as it was have punted us up the results a bit.
Either way seeded 21st. Came 21st! Had the first regularity stood maybe 17th or something like that.
A cracking set of tests read superbly by the chap in the passenger seat and a great atmosphere despite the cold weather.
Next event should be much warmer if things go to plan.
And I’ll be needing this:
Edited by Landyphil on Friday 22 March 21:07
I enjoyed the Devils, but have to say it wasn't the best organised event I've ever done, bit of a shambles really.
Can't understand how people were dropping so much on the regularities, only think I can think of is they didn't realise you have to catch up the time lost at controls, it's a common mistake. Also a common error is to think you need to catch time lost in the previous section, but that would involve people running early not late.
I was somewhat dischuffed with the regularities to be honest, as there was a clear error in the plotting. The first regularity if plotted correctly involved two loops around the forest, with second reg forming a third loop. That's how were were doing it and stayed pretty much on time (0 penalties to the first IRTC), but on our second loop of the forest we realised we were actualy on the second regularity, but hadn't taken a minute at the self start. (Of course as far as I was concerned we were on our second loop of the first one!!!)). Have to say I took advantage of the extra line in the rules stating no early penalties on the second one, so I put the previous minute down and it looked like we did that section on about 30 seconds .;) Dropped 18 seconds in the last section, mainly because we were farting about at the control trying to figure out what had happened.
What really got my goat was the fact they cancelled that first regularity, partly because of the plotting error, but that error screwed up the second one not the first. Truth was it was cancelled because Tot and Maureen Dixon were given an entry list, not the plotting instructions in Kirkby, so didn't do the first regularity. Funnily enough once their penalties were cancelled they went on to win!.
Think we ended up 14th in the end, might have been a bit higher if they had left the regularities in, but we wouldn't have won the class or anything, so it makes no odds really.
Can't understand how people were dropping so much on the regularities, only think I can think of is they didn't realise you have to catch up the time lost at controls, it's a common mistake. Also a common error is to think you need to catch time lost in the previous section, but that would involve people running early not late.
I was somewhat dischuffed with the regularities to be honest, as there was a clear error in the plotting. The first regularity if plotted correctly involved two loops around the forest, with second reg forming a third loop. That's how were were doing it and stayed pretty much on time (0 penalties to the first IRTC), but on our second loop of the forest we realised we were actualy on the second regularity, but hadn't taken a minute at the self start. (Of course as far as I was concerned we were on our second loop of the first one!!!)). Have to say I took advantage of the extra line in the rules stating no early penalties on the second one, so I put the previous minute down and it looked like we did that section on about 30 seconds .;) Dropped 18 seconds in the last section, mainly because we were farting about at the control trying to figure out what had happened.
What really got my goat was the fact they cancelled that first regularity, partly because of the plotting error, but that error screwed up the second one not the first. Truth was it was cancelled because Tot and Maureen Dixon were given an entry list, not the plotting instructions in Kirkby, so didn't do the first regularity. Funnily enough once their penalties were cancelled they went on to win!.
Think we ended up 14th in the end, might have been a bit higher if they had left the regularities in, but we wouldn't have won the class or anything, so it makes no odds really.
wonderful madness there 
A “paperwork exercise” update today!
My “bucket list” of motorsport events was gleaned really from me going through The Blue Book and making a list from there.
While this was all well and good there were a few questions regarding some permits. I knew that single venue rallies had a specific permit to normal stage rallies but there were a few unknowns so decided to ring up Colnbrook house and the MSA themselves.
While I will admit to anyone that I don’t agree with some of regs that have been implemented by the MSA (Hydraulic handbrakes….. WHY GOD!?! WHY!?!)
I’ve always found the guys and gals who actually run the show in terms of administration etc to be absolutely fantastic and extremely helpful both whether dealing with them as a competitor or organiser.
I did feel a little sorry for the chap on the phone who probably thought I was a nut case but he hid it well! A quick chat revealed that the best course of action would be to go off the insurance lists.
The MSA have an online price list for insurance (which I’ve always found to be cheap but maybe that’s just me) based on the different permits available.
This is where it could go wrong as there isn’t just a permit for each type of event but each “level” of event be it Clubman, National B, National A etc. so there are 100’s of permutations!
I’d already decided that this was about completing an event in as many different “disciplines” as possible in the same vehicle with minimal or no changes to the current spec, not what I do as the driver. So whether it’s a Clubman event or National A it will count as the same.
So going off the MSA list this is as it stands with an example of an event (although there may be many!) for each one where complete.
Autotest Production Car
Autotest
Autocross
Rallycross
Hillrally - Chandlers Tour of Lincs 2002
Orienteering
Point to Point
Comp Safari - ARC Nationals 2000
Team Recovery
Timed Trial
Cross Country Vehicle Trial - CROC Seatle 1997
Tyro Trial
Gymkhana - War of the Roses 2005
Circuit Race
Training Race Event?
12 Car Rally
Navigational Scatter
Targa Rally
Road Rally
Road Rally Navigational - Devils Own Rally 2013-04-03
Road Rally Historic - Solway Historic 2011
Road Timed to less than 1 minute
Special Stage Rally - Malcolm Wilson Rally 2005
Multi Use Special Stage Rally
Rally Time Trial
Speed (Hillclimb or Sprint)
Drag Race
I can’t find Targa Rallies listed but have added it anyway!
This could take some time…….
My “bucket list” of motorsport events was gleaned really from me going through The Blue Book and making a list from there.
While this was all well and good there were a few questions regarding some permits. I knew that single venue rallies had a specific permit to normal stage rallies but there were a few unknowns so decided to ring up Colnbrook house and the MSA themselves.
While I will admit to anyone that I don’t agree with some of regs that have been implemented by the MSA (Hydraulic handbrakes….. WHY GOD!?! WHY!?!)
I’ve always found the guys and gals who actually run the show in terms of administration etc to be absolutely fantastic and extremely helpful both whether dealing with them as a competitor or organiser.
I did feel a little sorry for the chap on the phone who probably thought I was a nut case but he hid it well! A quick chat revealed that the best course of action would be to go off the insurance lists.
The MSA have an online price list for insurance (which I’ve always found to be cheap but maybe that’s just me) based on the different permits available.
This is where it could go wrong as there isn’t just a permit for each type of event but each “level” of event be it Clubman, National B, National A etc. so there are 100’s of permutations!
I’d already decided that this was about completing an event in as many different “disciplines” as possible in the same vehicle with minimal or no changes to the current spec, not what I do as the driver. So whether it’s a Clubman event or National A it will count as the same.
So going off the MSA list this is as it stands with an example of an event (although there may be many!) for each one where complete.
Autotest Production Car
Autotest
Autocross
Rallycross
Hillrally - Chandlers Tour of Lincs 2002
Orienteering
Point to Point
Comp Safari - ARC Nationals 2000
Team Recovery
Timed Trial
Cross Country Vehicle Trial - CROC Seatle 1997
Tyro Trial
Gymkhana - War of the Roses 2005
Circuit Race
Training Race Event?
12 Car Rally
Navigational Scatter
Targa Rally
Road Rally
Road Rally Navigational - Devils Own Rally 2013-04-03
Road Rally Historic - Solway Historic 2011
Road Timed to less than 1 minute
Special Stage Rally - Malcolm Wilson Rally 2005
Multi Use Special Stage Rally
Rally Time Trial
Speed (Hillclimb or Sprint)
Drag Race
I can’t find Targa Rallies listed but have added it anyway!
This could take some time…….
In terms of motorsport this will be the last update for a while I guess. For reasons that will become obvious we decided that the plan to do Barbon Hillclimb on the 14th of June wasn’t really viable.
BUT two more events have been ticked of what some folk have called my motorsport “bucket list”:
Tyro trials are a fairly new permit designed “… for shiny vehicle and newbies to the sport. It involves negotiating through 12 sets of gates without hitting any or stopping forward motion. The terain the course is set out on is non dangerous and non damaging.”
These are the words of the a local 4x4 club that run Tyro’s. So the other weekend I let a little air out of my icle BFG AT’s and tootled down the road to be met with this sort of entrant…
Only 3 of the 20 or so drivers were running AT’s the rest being on Special Tracks or similar….and for good reason. It was like trialing 10 years ago. Not mental but quite some terrain for a Tyro!
Despite having to go everywhere with 4 totally clogged tyres the old girl didn’t do so bad. With so little grip and an engine that’s not really suited to trials meants lots of Clarkson style “Powerrrr” wheelspin. Embarrassing but it worked quite well. Clipped a 7 gate with my wing mirror as it’s bounced on one section putting me well away from the sharp end but as this was only meant to be a “finish” event to tick off another permit it didn’t matter so much.
Trouble is by the end I was well into the swing of things and ended up on a section through trees, downhill and about 18” of pure slape mud. The choice at the bottom was simple. Go over a rock that was about metre across pulled out by the previous competitor or try to for the fallen tree stump on the left hand side…….well the passenger door was tired anyway!
Nice gouge right down the door end to end. Combined with an increasing flappy door top I’ve ordered a new door!
Anyway event done..and Tyro my arse! No results to be found as yet but doesn’t matter.
Fast forward a couple of days and it’s event number 2.
Unsurprisingly the landy has never done an Autotest certainly I have to evidence of it. So with a local grass autotest just up the road run by Wigton MC it was too good an opportunity to miss.
I even took the drivers door top off to allow a bit of elbow room!
A little rain during the day and sunshine in the evening made the long grassed field robust enough not to really cut up….but as for grip. There wasn’t any. None. There was more grip on those trial sections.
Running in rwd to compete with the rwd entries meant lots and LOTS of revs and very little movement. Rarely in a straight line as well.
I strapped a camera to the front which vibrated a bit too much but here’s a little clip to show what it was like. Despite almost no apparent motion still managed 10th o/a out of 22 and fastest rwd!
ZERO TRACTION!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhemwPoSCio
It was an absolute hoot and with the cones not being set stupidly close apart meant you didn’t HAVE to have a handbrake unlike a few rally tests to say the least.
This was meant to be another event just to “tick off” so say it’s done but to be honest if they’re set up like that one was I’d like to think I’ll be doing some grass autotesting again!
So the list now looks like this:
[i]Autotest Production Car
Autotest – Black Beck Grass 2013 WigtonMC
Autocross
Rallycross
Hillrally - Chandlers Tour of Lincs 2002
Orienteering
Point to Point
Comp Safari - ARC Nationals 2000
Team Recovery
Timed Trial
Cross Country Vehicle Trial - CROC Seatle 1997
Tyro Trial – Park Gate Santon Bridge 2013 NL4x4
Gymkhana - War of the Roses 2005
Circuit Race
Training Race Event?
12 Car Rally
Navigational Scatter
Targa Rally
Road Rally
Road Rally Navigational - Devils Own Rally 2013-04-03
Road Rally Historic - Solway Historic 2011
Road Timed to less than 1 minute
Special Stage Rally - Malcolm Wilson Rally 2005
Multi Use Special Stage Rally
Rally Time Trial
Speed (Hillclimb or Sprint)
Drag Race[/i]
Other than a bit of titivation I’ll be taking a break from motorsport and the racer to try something new and much more noisy and expensive, with long hours, sleepless nights etc.
The racer will return. In the meantime the bottom end of the engine is clearly need of a rebore so I’m on the lookout for a 5 bearing petrol bottom end as I’d like to build up a new “race spec” bottom end prior to swapping them so condition isn’t too important.
BUT two more events have been ticked of what some folk have called my motorsport “bucket list”:
Tyro trials are a fairly new permit designed “… for shiny vehicle and newbies to the sport. It involves negotiating through 12 sets of gates without hitting any or stopping forward motion. The terain the course is set out on is non dangerous and non damaging.”
These are the words of the a local 4x4 club that run Tyro’s. So the other weekend I let a little air out of my icle BFG AT’s and tootled down the road to be met with this sort of entrant…
Only 3 of the 20 or so drivers were running AT’s the rest being on Special Tracks or similar….and for good reason. It was like trialing 10 years ago. Not mental but quite some terrain for a Tyro!
Despite having to go everywhere with 4 totally clogged tyres the old girl didn’t do so bad. With so little grip and an engine that’s not really suited to trials meants lots of Clarkson style “Powerrrr” wheelspin. Embarrassing but it worked quite well. Clipped a 7 gate with my wing mirror as it’s bounced on one section putting me well away from the sharp end but as this was only meant to be a “finish” event to tick off another permit it didn’t matter so much.
Trouble is by the end I was well into the swing of things and ended up on a section through trees, downhill and about 18” of pure slape mud. The choice at the bottom was simple. Go over a rock that was about metre across pulled out by the previous competitor or try to for the fallen tree stump on the left hand side…….well the passenger door was tired anyway!
Nice gouge right down the door end to end. Combined with an increasing flappy door top I’ve ordered a new door!
Anyway event done..and Tyro my arse! No results to be found as yet but doesn’t matter.
Fast forward a couple of days and it’s event number 2.
Unsurprisingly the landy has never done an Autotest certainly I have to evidence of it. So with a local grass autotest just up the road run by Wigton MC it was too good an opportunity to miss.
I even took the drivers door top off to allow a bit of elbow room!
A little rain during the day and sunshine in the evening made the long grassed field robust enough not to really cut up….but as for grip. There wasn’t any. None. There was more grip on those trial sections.
Running in rwd to compete with the rwd entries meant lots and LOTS of revs and very little movement. Rarely in a straight line as well.
I strapped a camera to the front which vibrated a bit too much but here’s a little clip to show what it was like. Despite almost no apparent motion still managed 10th o/a out of 22 and fastest rwd!
ZERO TRACTION!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhemwPoSCio
It was an absolute hoot and with the cones not being set stupidly close apart meant you didn’t HAVE to have a handbrake unlike a few rally tests to say the least.
This was meant to be another event just to “tick off” so say it’s done but to be honest if they’re set up like that one was I’d like to think I’ll be doing some grass autotesting again!
So the list now looks like this:
[i]Autotest Production Car
Autotest – Black Beck Grass 2013 WigtonMC
Autocross
Rallycross
Hillrally - Chandlers Tour of Lincs 2002
Orienteering
Point to Point
Comp Safari - ARC Nationals 2000
Team Recovery
Timed Trial
Cross Country Vehicle Trial - CROC Seatle 1997
Tyro Trial – Park Gate Santon Bridge 2013 NL4x4
Gymkhana - War of the Roses 2005
Circuit Race
Training Race Event?
12 Car Rally
Navigational Scatter
Targa Rally
Road Rally
Road Rally Navigational - Devils Own Rally 2013-04-03
Road Rally Historic - Solway Historic 2011
Road Timed to less than 1 minute
Special Stage Rally - Malcolm Wilson Rally 2005
Multi Use Special Stage Rally
Rally Time Trial
Speed (Hillclimb or Sprint)
Drag Race[/i]
Other than a bit of titivation I’ll be taking a break from motorsport and the racer to try something new and much more noisy and expensive, with long hours, sleepless nights etc.
The racer will return. In the meantime the bottom end of the engine is clearly need of a rebore so I’m on the lookout for a 5 bearing petrol bottom end as I’d like to build up a new “race spec” bottom end prior to swapping them so condition isn’t too important.
Was so busy at the time that I forgot to put up this bit of titivation. (Nothing exciting I should add)
For reasons that will become apparent I fancied finally tidying up the left hand side of the racer at it was looking a bit tired.
The left hand side of has taken more damage than the right over the years and you can tell! The tub didn't take the roll 10 years ago on the Grizedale too kindly and some day I'll have to re skin it but for the mo it'll do with yet another coat of DBG.
You can see all the stones threw up and the general detritus that's get's thrown up on the outside of a stage corner where a lot had gone wrong was all pushed up ready for the landy to roll on it.
The door and wing weren't replaced so remained crinkle cut for some years.
When I first got I reskinned the door and gave it a coat of paint just to tidy it a touch and that was that but the front panel and the wing were far from straight:
Two years and a few rallies later and the passenger door was beginning to go out of alignment and the door top was clearly on the way. During the sideways snow/sleet/hail that fell during the Devils Own this year it was clear that James was having to deal with the weather as well as the maps and notes! Bit unfair really.
Final straw was on that alledged "Tyro" trial where I was given the choice between riving over a boulder approx a metre in diameter or leaning against a fallen tree. Knowing that the door and wing were already tired I chose the tree. (Yeah cos that's the sort of thing you should be encountering on a Tyro...)
Either way this was the result:
To aid servicing/access the bulkhead has tabs welded to it to allow the front wing bolts to fitted somewhere accessible so as the weather was good I brought the racer out the lair and home to do some tidying.
Not only was wing bolt access vastly superior but Adrian or part of "Team Smut" as was had clearly copper slipped all the door bolts. Copper Slip being a banned substance in The Republic of Solihull.
Door came off in minutes with bolts easily undoing.
Incidently that's not some giant plaster or sanitary product sat in the dashboard although if you've seen how I drive I could maybe see.....anyway.
I work with a spot on chap who's played League for Scotland and recommended this as an flexible elbow pad and it's saved me countless times from chipped elbow bones when it's all getting exciting.
I worked out the stickers on the door would have cost about £1300 in total to obtain and there's no way they're getting binned so I carefully pulled them off and with a bit of glue they are now up on the cab roof. Theory being doors being more likely to be changed than the cab roof which internally was looking a bit rough anyway!
Bit of Craftmaster DBG brushed on:
Even the handles and lock had been copper slipped so I kept with tradition and used plenty on the new door and fixings.
Wing off and found that there had clearly been some repairs....light box was 3 skins deep!
New light panel on and bit of rub down on the more exposed bits and some POR-15 back on.
I was buying some lettering for my business motor so thought I'd add a bit of rally slagness with a set of name tags.
End result:
Hopefully some better quality photos will appear soon. Either way a lovely job to do on this motor.
For reasons that will become apparent I fancied finally tidying up the left hand side of the racer at it was looking a bit tired.
The left hand side of has taken more damage than the right over the years and you can tell! The tub didn't take the roll 10 years ago on the Grizedale too kindly and some day I'll have to re skin it but for the mo it'll do with yet another coat of DBG.
You can see all the stones threw up and the general detritus that's get's thrown up on the outside of a stage corner where a lot had gone wrong was all pushed up ready for the landy to roll on it.The door and wing weren't replaced so remained crinkle cut for some years.
When I first got I reskinned the door and gave it a coat of paint just to tidy it a touch and that was that but the front panel and the wing were far from straight:
Two years and a few rallies later and the passenger door was beginning to go out of alignment and the door top was clearly on the way. During the sideways snow/sleet/hail that fell during the Devils Own this year it was clear that James was having to deal with the weather as well as the maps and notes! Bit unfair really.
Final straw was on that alledged "Tyro" trial where I was given the choice between riving over a boulder approx a metre in diameter or leaning against a fallen tree. Knowing that the door and wing were already tired I chose the tree. (Yeah cos that's the sort of thing you should be encountering on a Tyro...)
Either way this was the result:
To aid servicing/access the bulkhead has tabs welded to it to allow the front wing bolts to fitted somewhere accessible so as the weather was good I brought the racer out the lair and home to do some tidying.
Not only was wing bolt access vastly superior but Adrian or part of "Team Smut" as was had clearly copper slipped all the door bolts. Copper Slip being a banned substance in The Republic of Solihull.
Door came off in minutes with bolts easily undoing.
Incidently that's not some giant plaster or sanitary product sat in the dashboard although if you've seen how I drive I could maybe see.....anyway.
I work with a spot on chap who's played League for Scotland and recommended this as an flexible elbow pad and it's saved me countless times from chipped elbow bones when it's all getting exciting.
I worked out the stickers on the door would have cost about £1300 in total to obtain and there's no way they're getting binned so I carefully pulled them off and with a bit of glue they are now up on the cab roof. Theory being doors being more likely to be changed than the cab roof which internally was looking a bit rough anyway!
Bit of Craftmaster DBG brushed on:
Even the handles and lock had been copper slipped so I kept with tradition and used plenty on the new door and fixings.
Wing off and found that there had clearly been some repairs....light box was 3 skins deep!
New light panel on and bit of rub down on the more exposed bits and some POR-15 back on.
I was buying some lettering for my business motor so thought I'd add a bit of rally slagness with a set of name tags.
End result:
Hopefully some better quality photos will appear soon. Either way a lovely job to do on this motor.
With this summer being all about a little person rather than motorsport it's be a bit of last minute "gwaan" and I've got a run on the Solway Historic Rally. Except as part of my ongoing challenge to do as many permits as possible I've entered as a "Targa" rally car which at least means I can keep the stickers on from the last photoshoot.
It does mean it'll be a last in class (against all those hot hatches!) without a doubt but that's not a problem. Just get to the finish with a grin is the aim. Quite some entry list full stop!
2013 Solway Rally/Saunter Entry List
Car No. Driver Navigator Car Year Class
1 Pat De Redder Alan Smith MGB Roadster 1970 Saunter
2 Keith Thomas Carol Thomas Buckler MK5 1953 F1
3 Chris Spencer Barb Spencer Karmann Ghia 1968 Saunter
4 Peter Houghton Sheila Houghton Austin A35 1956 F1
5 John Taylor John Pullan Inferior Japanese Vehicle Celica RA22 1974 Saunter
6 Chas Stansfield Martin Harwood Triumph TR3A 1959 F2
7 Fiona Martin David Martin MGB Roadster 1977 Saunter
8 Robin Murray Stephen Murray Austin Mini Cooper S 1965 H1
9 Alex Clacher Julie Clacher Rover 2000TC 1978 Saunter
10 Chris Hunter J Hunter Imp 1967 H1
11 Neil Williams Susan Williams MK2 Escort RS2000 1979 Saunter
12 David Alexander Stephen Perry Vauxhall Viva HB 1967 H1
13 John Sloan Marian Sloan Mercedes 350SL 1980 Saunter
14 Tom Hall Bob Hargreaves Riley Elf 1967 H1
15 John Holliday Anne Holliday Mercedes SLK 230 2004 Saunter
16 Stuart Turnbull Ian Whittaker Austin Healey 100/4 1950 H2
17 Michael Hill Peter Sands Porsche 997 Turbo 2007 Saunter
18 Mark Vollers Chris Harris Healey 3000 1960 H2
19 John Midgley Geoff Maybank Inferior Japanese Vehicle GT86 2013 Saunter
20 Peter Birtles Richard Goodacre Volvo Amazon 1962 H2
22 Graham Couser Jim Hendry Triumph TR4 1963 H2
24 David Marsden Mike Garstang Mk1 Cortina GT 1965 H2
26 Charles Graves Ron Palmer Sunbeam Tiger 1965 H2
28 Paul Slingsby Michael Fox MGB 1967 H2
30 David Agnew Nicky Agnew Porsche 911 1967 H2
32 Phil Wright Ian Keywood Austin Mini 1970 P1
34 Terry Dixon Maureen Dixon Mini 1300 1970 P1
36 Archie Simmonds TBC MG TBC 1974? P1?
38 Colin Rose Bob Shearer MG Midget 1972 P1
40 Stephen Byrne David Byrne Lancia Fulvia 1972 P1
42 Tom Leeming Clive Escreet Wartburg 353 1972 P1
44 Brian Hodgson Neil Rudd Hillman Imp 1972 P1
46 David Miller Marion Miller Ford Escort Twin Cam 1969 P2
48 Samantha Ritson John Hudson Escort Twin Cam 1970 P2
50 Nigel Griffiths Craig Griffiths MGB GT 1970 P2
52 John Bertram Andrew Fish Escort Mexico MK1 1972 P2
54 Adam Barker David Barker MG BGT 1974 P2
56 Keith McCurrach Ian Smith Vauxhall Magnum 1974 P2
58 Brian Bradley Paul Makinson Mini 1976 C1
60 Nicholas Grasse Judith Grasse Lancia Fulvia 1975 C2
62 Stuart Bankier Siobhan Bankier MG Midget 1976 C2
64 Brian Carter Barrie Hodkinson Inferior Japanese Vehicle Celica 1976 C2
66 David Short Roy Heath Ford Escort 1978 C2
68 George Noon Shereen Aitchison MG BGT 1981 C2
70 Rob Iveson Les Golding Mini 1975 T1
72 Anthony Currie Paul White Rover 25 2001 T1
74 Phil Griffiths James Clewer Land Rover 1972 T2
76 Frank Mattocks Alex Benn Mk2 Escort RS2000 1976 T2
78 Mike Thornton Emma Thornton Lotus Excel 1985 T2
80 Jon Hill Mick Pears Vauxhall Corsa 1993 T2
82 Angela Jones Eileen Horsfall Peugeot 205 1993 T2
84 Chris Walker Joe Walker Vauxhall Astra 1996 T2
86 Thomas Smith David Smith Peugeot 106GTi 1999 T2
88 David Winter Sally Winter Ford Fiesta 2001 T2
90 Andrew Graham Liam Todd Ford Puma 2001 T2
92 Simon Farrar Dean Phillips Ford Puma 2001 T2
94 Scott Wragg John Coulson Proton Satria Gti 2001 T2
96 Steven Holmes Isaac Moore MG ZS 2001 T2
98 Bill Kirkpatrick Michelle Kirkpatrick Subaru Impreza 2002 T2
It does mean it'll be a last in class (against all those hot hatches!) without a doubt but that's not a problem. Just get to the finish with a grin is the aim. Quite some entry list full stop!
2013 Solway Rally/Saunter Entry List
Car No. Driver Navigator Car Year Class
1 Pat De Redder Alan Smith MGB Roadster 1970 Saunter
2 Keith Thomas Carol Thomas Buckler MK5 1953 F1
3 Chris Spencer Barb Spencer Karmann Ghia 1968 Saunter
4 Peter Houghton Sheila Houghton Austin A35 1956 F1
5 John Taylor John Pullan Inferior Japanese Vehicle Celica RA22 1974 Saunter
6 Chas Stansfield Martin Harwood Triumph TR3A 1959 F2
7 Fiona Martin David Martin MGB Roadster 1977 Saunter
8 Robin Murray Stephen Murray Austin Mini Cooper S 1965 H1
9 Alex Clacher Julie Clacher Rover 2000TC 1978 Saunter
10 Chris Hunter J Hunter Imp 1967 H1
11 Neil Williams Susan Williams MK2 Escort RS2000 1979 Saunter
12 David Alexander Stephen Perry Vauxhall Viva HB 1967 H1
13 John Sloan Marian Sloan Mercedes 350SL 1980 Saunter
14 Tom Hall Bob Hargreaves Riley Elf 1967 H1
15 John Holliday Anne Holliday Mercedes SLK 230 2004 Saunter
16 Stuart Turnbull Ian Whittaker Austin Healey 100/4 1950 H2
17 Michael Hill Peter Sands Porsche 997 Turbo 2007 Saunter
18 Mark Vollers Chris Harris Healey 3000 1960 H2
19 John Midgley Geoff Maybank Inferior Japanese Vehicle GT86 2013 Saunter
20 Peter Birtles Richard Goodacre Volvo Amazon 1962 H2
22 Graham Couser Jim Hendry Triumph TR4 1963 H2
24 David Marsden Mike Garstang Mk1 Cortina GT 1965 H2
26 Charles Graves Ron Palmer Sunbeam Tiger 1965 H2
28 Paul Slingsby Michael Fox MGB 1967 H2
30 David Agnew Nicky Agnew Porsche 911 1967 H2
32 Phil Wright Ian Keywood Austin Mini 1970 P1
34 Terry Dixon Maureen Dixon Mini 1300 1970 P1
36 Archie Simmonds TBC MG TBC 1974? P1?
38 Colin Rose Bob Shearer MG Midget 1972 P1
40 Stephen Byrne David Byrne Lancia Fulvia 1972 P1
42 Tom Leeming Clive Escreet Wartburg 353 1972 P1
44 Brian Hodgson Neil Rudd Hillman Imp 1972 P1
46 David Miller Marion Miller Ford Escort Twin Cam 1969 P2
48 Samantha Ritson John Hudson Escort Twin Cam 1970 P2
50 Nigel Griffiths Craig Griffiths MGB GT 1970 P2
52 John Bertram Andrew Fish Escort Mexico MK1 1972 P2
54 Adam Barker David Barker MG BGT 1974 P2
56 Keith McCurrach Ian Smith Vauxhall Magnum 1974 P2
58 Brian Bradley Paul Makinson Mini 1976 C1
60 Nicholas Grasse Judith Grasse Lancia Fulvia 1975 C2
62 Stuart Bankier Siobhan Bankier MG Midget 1976 C2
64 Brian Carter Barrie Hodkinson Inferior Japanese Vehicle Celica 1976 C2
66 David Short Roy Heath Ford Escort 1978 C2
68 George Noon Shereen Aitchison MG BGT 1981 C2
70 Rob Iveson Les Golding Mini 1975 T1
72 Anthony Currie Paul White Rover 25 2001 T1
74 Phil Griffiths James Clewer Land Rover 1972 T2
76 Frank Mattocks Alex Benn Mk2 Escort RS2000 1976 T2
78 Mike Thornton Emma Thornton Lotus Excel 1985 T2
80 Jon Hill Mick Pears Vauxhall Corsa 1993 T2
82 Angela Jones Eileen Horsfall Peugeot 205 1993 T2
84 Chris Walker Joe Walker Vauxhall Astra 1996 T2
86 Thomas Smith David Smith Peugeot 106GTi 1999 T2
88 David Winter Sally Winter Ford Fiesta 2001 T2
90 Andrew Graham Liam Todd Ford Puma 2001 T2
92 Simon Farrar Dean Phillips Ford Puma 2001 T2
94 Scott Wragg John Coulson Proton Satria Gti 2001 T2
96 Steven Holmes Isaac Moore MG ZS 2001 T2
98 Bill Kirkpatrick Michelle Kirkpatrick Subaru Impreza 2002 T2
It's one hell of an entry really!
Will be good to watch Archie Simmonds in action again. I saw the list of the T2 class and thought wow and then saw what would be in the usual P2 class and thought blinkin flip!
A pair of twinks!
Add all the usual flyers like Dave and Mike in the Cortina that Elf as well as Tot in the Mini and there's going to be some quick times at the sharp end!
Will be good to watch Archie Simmonds in action again. I saw the list of the T2 class and thought wow and then saw what would be in the usual P2 class and thought blinkin flip!
A pair of twinks!
Add all the usual flyers like Dave and Mike in the Cortina that Elf as well as Tot in the Mini and there's going to be some quick times at the sharp end!
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