2018 UK Targa/Road Rallying Thread

2018 UK Targa/Road Rallying Thread

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l354uge

Original Poster:

2,892 posts

120 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
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Hi all,

Have seen there are a few of you who are doing road/targa rallys, so I thought it would be good to have somewhere to discuss where and how we're going, and where noobs like myself can ask silly questions.

So to start, whats usually the first event of the year? Hopefully the car will be ready by then...

velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
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Depends which region you are looking to compete in.
Dan Pigeons British Road Rallying website is probably the best place to find a Calendar, though the emphasis is on actual Road Rallies on that site, he does cover Targa too, but there seems to be quite a lot of them springing up now so I expect he will miss some. The Google map link is particularly useful as it flags them up by start location.

Linky here;
http://www.britishroadrallying.com/calender/.

Event map link here

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1s9bTcwc3...

EDIT just noticed, the map is relating to 2014 so is a bit out of date.

It would be good to see an active and regularly updated thread for this, I find the forum generally a bit lacking in interest and support for Rallying and in particularly Road Rallying (Targa and Historic included) most threads seem to drift off arguing about the next WRC champion, or why WRC isn't as good as it was in Group B days.

i Iwonder how many Pistonheaders realise just how easy and cheap it is to get involved at this level.

For what its worth, having just had a couple of months of worry and stress as an organiser (Colman Tyres Rally) my next outing will be the HERO challenge in Bicester, followed by the Devils Own in Cumbria, then Rally of the Tests Chester to Harrogate.

Edited by velocemitch on Wednesday 13th September 12:55


Edited by velocemitch on Wednesday 13th September 12:57

fat80b

2,242 posts

220 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
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velocemitch said:
I wonder how many Pistonheaders realise just how easy and cheap it is to get involved at this level.
Nice forum thread idea - I agree about the cost. It really is low cost motorsport accessible to all and importantly, you can be competitive without having to spend a fortune.

I have been doing Targa rallies here in the East of Anglia for a good few years now - I competed (with many others) on the first ever Targa in Woodbridge a few years ago (in an MX5 in the ice and snow) and was hooked from the first 100 yds of the first test... Square right into hairpin left, through giant puddle etc.....

Have since been through 2 1/2 MX5s and now have a road rally spec Mk2 Escort which is also eligible for stage rallying. Stages are obviously quicker and lots of fun but I love the camaraderie found at the Targas and the fact that the whole day out costs less than a single tyre on a Stage Rally!.



I bought this car without an MOT from a fellow pistonheader for almost nothing and it managed several events before succumbing to rust where it went on with a full set of spares to another Targa rallyist capable of welding up north.

Oh and the answer for anyone asking : Go and buy a Mazda MX5 1.8iS (98 ish) (which comes with the LSD); fit a TR Lane roll over bar and a pair of Sparco sprint V seats and you will be capable of winning an event round here...

l354uge

Original Poster:

2,892 posts

120 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
quotequote all
That pic of you sliding has me sold on a mx5! was due to pick up a standard renault 19 this weekend but it was too far away and listed incorrectly.
But man maths has led me to believe i can get the mx5, sell my tf and i will still have a convertible and gain a car that I can rally!

velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Wednesday 13th September 2017
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I think an MX5 would be my choice if I was starting out from scratch on a budget too. They dominate Targa Rallying in Ireland, though many of those cars are far from standard.

Don't see many in the Lanes, but no real reason why they shouldn't be used, there was one last weekend on the Colman Tyres and they don't get much harder on the Cars than that event.

As mentioned watch out for rust, Mazda didn't really do underbody protection!.


sjabrown

1,910 posts

159 months

Sunday 17th September 2017
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Targas are brilliant. One of the cheapest forms of motorsport out there, certainly for the competitive mileage that you get. I've competed on a few using initially a Toyota Yaris (1 litre!) then a Peugeot 205 (now retired it from competition). These events are becoming more popular.

Wingo

298 posts

170 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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Did the Doonhamer at the weekend. Started up a Lockerbie, great mix of tests. Billed as an event for Historic (classic cars) but the field of just under 50 was split 50/50 Historic/modern. A great mix of cars from pretty standard shoppers to more prepped up cars.

The event was "won" by an MX5, not eligible for an overall award as the event was historic, second was a ford powered MG Midget in the Modern (targa car) class and third, was a Sunbeam rapier H120, winning the event as it was 1st Historic.

Drove my car up, TR7 V8, about 150 miles the evening before, did the event, and drove home. I was 5th in the historic category.
We are a lad and dad crew, junior started naving on these sort of events at 12 years old!! A good few other oldie and young combo crews are about.

Entry fees are around the hundred pound mark, that usually includes lunch and evening meal, great social side, on most events the crews enjoy a good natter over the finish feast!!

Your really don't need much special to get started, very few must haves, some events are all off road so not tax or road insurance required, such as the wearside a fews weeks ago, all on site at the Nissan factory sunderland. Certainly no sump guard required on the wearside.
An MX5 is a good call if you want some RWD fun.
I would really recommend you take look at an event local to you, turn up at the start to speak to competitors, maybe take a look at a test or two if permitted.
There are some great events about, East Anglia has some events with over 50 miles of tests!!
You need to hunt around a bit to find them, but a bit of searching on the interweb and you will be spoilt for choice, the RAC MSA has a search where you can see what permits have been issued for events, british road rally forum, NESCRO, https://chelmsfordmc.co.uk/TargaRally etc might be of interest.

Wingo




velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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Nice post Ray. smile

Just to keep the momentum up;

Having returned my stress levels back to normal after being responsible (Clerk of Course) for the Colman Tyres Rally (a Night Navigational event) a couple of weekends back, my next outing is on the HERO challenge this weekend.

This is a pure Historic event with no Targa class, it is split in to two separate events a 'Club event' and a 'national B event'. On the former no MSA licence is required and the navigation is entirely on a tulip road book. The National B event is part of the HRCR championship, (needs a Nat B non race licence), navigation is generally on maps with plotting instructions given out at various intervals. I'm in the Nat B section, seeded 21 with Stephen Owens in his 1965 911. There are 55 entries in the Nat B and 75 in the Club a very healthy entry.

Starting at the Bicester Heritage Centre we can look forward to 11 special tests and six regularities. I've done this one before a couple of times when it started near the Throckmorton Airfield, but I've not rallied in this particular area before so I don't know quite what expect of the Tests or the Roads. I do however know the guys who have set the route and the navigation instructions, so I'm expecting it to be pretty tough for us Navigators.

Our Target is to beat the seeding and hopefully pull of a Class Win, providing I don't cock up I reckon its within our grasp. Our main competition being a quick TR4 with a very experienced Crew.

RacingPete

8,845 posts

203 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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I'm a road rallyer too, though historic stuff and only got into it three years ago but next month doing my third rally of the tests.

Just finished the HERO Challenge as a warm up to get back in the swing as hadn't done anything since last year. Didn't go too badly but misplotted one of the plot and bash routes that cost us a minute (and probably the class win). Finished 3rd in class (they insist in sticking me in the top category!!) and 8th overall so not too bad!

Have come 3rd and 2nd in last two Rally of the Tests so proves that you can do this historic stuff in an MGB and not need a 6 figure Porsche or Alfa.

velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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Well I'm reasonably happy with the way our day went.
Test went well, no errors on my side of the Car but a few bits of over exuberance from the Driver, that an an annoying habit of the Car stalling as the Throttle was lifted from high revs.

No major dramas on the regularities all the plotting went OK, got a bit worried on one of the plot and bash sections thinking I was wrong, so didn't concentrate properly on the timing and dropping about 30 seconds, that and being held up by a Marshal for 20 seconds just before a control to warn us a Farmer was getting a bit irate!. We just missed the target of a class win, by about 15 seconds, so second in class 16th overall.

Excellent day out. smile

velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2017
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Right just to keep this thread alive then;

Next outing for me is this weekend on Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club's, Devils Own Rally. This is the last round of the HRCR championship and probably the one I've been most looking forward too.

The Devils Own is a long standing Road Rally which has evolved over the years but this is its second running in its current format, basically half a day of Tests and Regularities then a full evening of tough Road sections, usually run at 30mph average around some of the tightest Lanes in the southern Lake District.

We have about 10 tests and no less than 11 regularity sections, with about 30 miles of Forest Roads to look forward too and a maximum entry of 65 with about 5 reserves.

Seeded at 33, which is the lowest we've been for a while, I think that reflects the quality of entry. I blew a top ten last year with a stupid error (missed code board in a neutral section) so I'm hoping to beat the seeding by a handsome margin this year.... we shall see!.

K50 DEL

9,227 posts

227 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2017
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Another rallyist here... been competing on tarmac and gravel, road, stage and targa events since about 2001

Next event for me (and seemingly half of Bath and Devizes MCs) is this weekend's Exmoor Endurance Targa.

Really would encourage anyone with an interest in motorsport to get involved, they're fun, relatively cheap and can be done in a car that doesn't require a second mortgage

l354uge

Original Poster:

2,892 posts

120 months

Thursday 5th October 2017
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"The Preston" Targa booked for the 2nd December!
Lets hope the car im picking up tomorrow is solid wobble

Anyone else here doing the preston?
https://chelmsfordmc.co.uk/cmc/Preston/17/Preston1...

velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Thursday 5th October 2017
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Oh blimey talk about jumping in at the deep end!.
You do realise the Preston has the reputation for being the toughest Rally in the country on the poor little car don't you... And I mean toughest Rally, that's including any stage event, it's much much rougher.

Good luck, assuming you make it round I expect you will have an enormous grin all night!.

avenger286

425 posts

102 months

Friday 6th October 2017
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Well done on your purchase and good luck on your 1st rally. I have competed in road rallys and some Taga rallys over the years. If you find someone to navigate that you get on with make sure you keep them! I gave up doing any events due to a lack of navigators where I live. In the past 3 years I have just done 2 stage events (Mull) now my son sits in with me now he is old enough lol. Old car has been retired and sold and we were hoping to debut the new car this year. But to be honest I think I prefer to build cars rather than compete but may look to tagas next year for a bit of a rallying fix.

l354uge

Original Poster:

2,892 posts

120 months

Friday 6th October 2017
quotequote all
velocemitch said:
Oh blimey talk about jumping in at the deep end!.
You do realise the Preston has the reputation for being the toughest Rally in the country on the poor little car don't you... And I mean toughest Rally, that's including any stage event, it's much much rougher.

Good luck, assuming you make it round I expect you will have an enormous grin all night!.
Well let's hope the £200 micra is up to the task! nuts
Next jobs are to get her protected, sort the brakes and fit some rally car bits!
Oh yeah, and for my friend and I need to learn how to navigate....time to consult some guides and do some 12 cars


Edited by l354uge on Monday 9th October 18:46

l354uge

Original Poster:

2,892 posts

120 months

Monday 9th October 2017
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I think the silence speaks for itself hehe

I have managed to source some Hella Rallye 2000 Spotlights for cheap, now these measure 225mm in overall diameter, but the bluebook says:


So...are they legal or not? I find the language used there confusing...

velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Monday 9th October 2017
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To be fair I think it's clear enough, unless your Micra was built before 1947 then your spot lights can be no larger than 222mm in diameter.
Lots of scrutineers have a gauge with them to measure them so you could well be asked to take them off. I'm afraid you need to have another look on eBay.

velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Monday 9th October 2017
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The 'silence' on my part was mostly cos I've been a bit busy, but I'm sure the Micra will be fine to cut your teeth in. As you say get some 12 cars done and try and read up as much as you can on the rules on timing etc. As I mentioned the Preston really is a tough Rally I've not done it myself but it has a reputation which gets it entries from all over the country. Some people even only do that one event a year as they enjoy so much.

But you need to go into it with the knowledge that you have probably less than fifty fifty chance of finishing, if you don't break something or get stuck or get lost.. you may well find you hemeriage so much time that you go OTL and have to cut sections out. Not sure what Tyres you have, but you absolutely need Knobblies, Road Tyres just won't give you enough grip.

Talking of tough events;
The Devils Own was a cracker, 170 miles of full on Rallying on some cracking roads and forest tracks. More than happy to finish with a second in class and 22nd overall, given the quality of the entry.

l354uge

Original Poster:

2,892 posts

120 months

Monday 9th October 2017
quotequote all
Guess it does make sense, bit of a dick move by the MSA to make rallye 3000 (222mm) legal but not rallye 2000 (225mm), I'll have to give them back.

We have sourced some dunlop knobblies (sp82 if I recall) for cheap so atleast we will have traction whilst we're lost and falling apart...

Gutted I missed the devils own, friend said it's the best rally he's done.