Hero Road Rallies
Discussion
I tried this in the motor sport forum with out success, maybe more luck here?
A pal and I have entered our first historic rally with Hero this weekend. Coming from a sprinting background we are having a few last minute doubts about car preparation. We have entered my lightly modified TR6, which is essentially a road car with a few tweeks but it is quite loud. Hero have not been very forthcoming about noise limits or idneed if this is tested at all. Does anyone have any experience of these events and any advice they can pass on?
A pal and I have entered our first historic rally with Hero this weekend. Coming from a sprinting background we are having a few last minute doubts about car preparation. We have entered my lightly modified TR6, which is essentially a road car with a few tweeks but it is quite loud. Hero have not been very forthcoming about noise limits or idneed if this is tested at all. Does anyone have any experience of these events and any advice they can pass on?
I can't help on the info you require, but hope you enjoy the event. I've marshalled for Hero many times.
Have you checked out Classic Rally Tours? They run regularities in France at very competitive prices. Their week long rally is about to start and the next one is their weekend Champagne Rally around Reims end October.
Www.classicrallytours.com.
Have you checked out Classic Rally Tours? They run regularities in France at very competitive prices. Their week long rally is about to start and the next one is their weekend Champagne Rally around Reims end October.
Www.classicrallytours.com.
Grumbly said:
I tried this in the motor sport forum with out success, maybe more luck here?
A pal and I have entered our first historic rally with Hero this weekend. Coming from a sprinting background we are having a few last minute doubts about car preparation. We have entered my lightly modified TR6, which is essentially a road car with a few tweeks but it is quite loud. Hero have not been very forthcoming about noise limits or idneed if this is tested at all. Does anyone have any experience of these events and any advice they can pass on?
My old man is big into HERO rallies and I think will be competing at the same rally as you this weekend (driving a red Morris 1800 "land crab"). I'll ask him what he knows and get back to you. A pal and I have entered our first historic rally with Hero this weekend. Coming from a sprinting background we are having a few last minute doubts about car preparation. We have entered my lightly modified TR6, which is essentially a road car with a few tweeks but it is quite loud. Hero have not been very forthcoming about noise limits or idneed if this is tested at all. Does anyone have any experience of these events and any advice they can pass on?
Grumbly said:
Thank's gents. any advice welcome.
We've done non competitive rallies before, including the Laon Historic a few times, but this is a bit of a toe in the water into something a little more serious.
So the response has come back that he has never seen a specific noise test take place on a HERO rally, but that cars are expected to adhere to UK noise regs (they are road cars, after all) and that if something was very obviously too loud it might well be excluded. I guess you should think about whether you would be pulled by the plod while driving on the road, more than the scrutineers?We've done non competitive rallies before, including the Laon Historic a few times, but this is a bit of a toe in the water into something a little more serious.
Honestly if I were in your shoes I wouldn't sweat it.
Thank's for taking the time to look into it. My car uses an off the shelf TR6 exhaust and three DCOEs and is quite loud but we've never had any problem with the law either here or abroad (Apart from a small speeding faux pas) so hopefully all will be well. until we get hopelessly lost at least.
Noise level is 98db measured at 500mm 45 degrees from the exhaust.
As long as your exhaust isn't too loud you shoul be ok, the induction from the Webers will I have no doubt increase the sound, but as this is at the front, not near the exhaust you should ok.
Have you entered the club event or the Nat B?.
Also did you make HERO aware of the triple carb set up?. They will have to apply to the MSA for a waiver to allow it to run, though being 6 cylinder they would have to even on injection.
Bit short of time this minute, but I can answer most questions.
I'm navigating in the Nat B Rally.
As long as your exhaust isn't too loud you shoul be ok, the induction from the Webers will I have no doubt increase the sound, but as this is at the front, not near the exhaust you should ok.
Have you entered the club event or the Nat B?.
Also did you make HERO aware of the triple carb set up?. They will have to apply to the MSA for a waiver to allow it to run, though being 6 cylinder they would have to even on injection.
Bit short of time this minute, but I can answer most questions.
I'm navigating in the Nat B Rally.
Clubman, this is our first go at this sort of thing. Should be OK at 98 db, my sprint Westfiield usually measures at 97 db and is louder than the TR. The TR6 would have six throttles as standard, so not really altered in that respect, just Webers are much easier to get to work correctly than the original Lucas mechanical injection.
Who did you contact?, I'm surprised they didn't get back to you, in my experience everybody at HERO are excellent at that type of thing.
Checking the regs now I'm home, it does state waivers may be needed but to be fair its not clear why and what for. It suggest sending photos of the outside and engine etc, which is a bit unusual.
The reason for the waivers is a long standing rule which does not permit the use of engines with more than 4 cylinders, more than two cam shafts per bank and more than two chokes per bank, on Road Rallies. This is really targeted at Night Rallies and goes right back to the mid eighties when the RAC/MSA decided that using Group 4 Escorts and 911 RSR's etc wasn't really a good idea on flat out open road events.
That rule still stands and you couldn't use the TR6 on a night event, (the fact you CAN use a Mk 2 Escort with a 280bhp Honda Engine in it because it doesn't have any carburetors is a bit irrelevant in their minds!). However MSA do have a get out clause which allows carbs/cams/6 pots to be used during daylight hours providing they agree to a waiver (which they almost always do) but the organisers have to apply for that waiver, if they don't you and they could get in to trouble.
Anyway apart from all this, I'm sure you will enjoy yourselves and if you want any help I'm happy to give you any advise you want.
Checking the regs now I'm home, it does state waivers may be needed but to be fair its not clear why and what for. It suggest sending photos of the outside and engine etc, which is a bit unusual.
The reason for the waivers is a long standing rule which does not permit the use of engines with more than 4 cylinders, more than two cam shafts per bank and more than two chokes per bank, on Road Rallies. This is really targeted at Night Rallies and goes right back to the mid eighties when the RAC/MSA decided that using Group 4 Escorts and 911 RSR's etc wasn't really a good idea on flat out open road events.
That rule still stands and you couldn't use the TR6 on a night event, (the fact you CAN use a Mk 2 Escort with a 280bhp Honda Engine in it because it doesn't have any carburetors is a bit irrelevant in their minds!). However MSA do have a get out clause which allows carbs/cams/6 pots to be used during daylight hours providing they agree to a waiver (which they almost always do) but the organisers have to apply for that waiver, if they don't you and they could get in to trouble.
Anyway apart from all this, I'm sure you will enjoy yourselves and if you want any help I'm happy to give you any advise you want.
To update the thread as requested, we had a great day, and many thanks to those who offered advice. There was noise testing to the MSA 98 db limit, we initially tested at 104 but Hero were excellent and their on event technical assistance were able to resolve the issue to allow us to compete.
Although the event was far more challenging than we expected it was hugely enjoyable and very well organised. We ended up 4th in class, which for first time out, we were delighted with. Thank goodness we took advantage of the training day or we would have been lost.
Richard, did you have a problem with the Jag, we did not see you at the finish?
Although the event was far more challenging than we expected it was hugely enjoyable and very well organised. We ended up 4th in class, which for first time out, we were delighted with. Thank goodness we took advantage of the training day or we would have been lost.
Richard, did you have a problem with the Jag, we did not see you at the finish?
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