User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 LastLast
Results 1 to 40 of 153

Thread: my road rally mk2

  1. #1
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    hi folks

    i started a thread on my car a few years ago but never really updated it after a while and forgot about it but here it is

    http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthre...highlight=mexs


    didnt do that many events so so didnt really see the point in keeping it up to date but thought i should start making a bit of an effort even if its only for my own records.


    so where that thread finished off the car was in the similar state to when it was originally put on the road.


    basic spec:

    bog standard 1300 gt xflow
    standard type 2 four speed box
    worldcup bilsteins made into coilovers 220 pound springs
    twincam anti roll bar double width kit
    2.4 quick rack
    rear has single leaf springs
    rear bilsteins
    anti tramp bars

    full bolt in cage
    bucket seats
    6 point harness
    map light

    2013


    car had had a bump when i first had it on the road and the back panel was starting to go rusty so that was cut off along the bumper line then a replacement welded in my first go at welding on the car and was a steep learning curve. the welding i was fine with as i do a fair bit at work. but making panels and the like took a while to get the hang of mind you id get plenty of practice in the years to come. apart from that the car was just sitting there as i was saving for a decent road car.

    spent most of 2013 sat in the garage feeling sorry for itself until then end of the year when i finally got it mot and taxed in the november.

    i was also buying bits to build a decent xflow. money was tight so the car sat not doing much.

    2014


    spent most of the early part of 2014 sat in the garage until a local event at nissan car factory the wearside classic in september.

    id entered with my girlfriend on the maps. it was classed as an autotest but was more like what you would call a targa rally now, various tests throughout the day all on tarmac. i was praying for rain all week but when the day dawned bright and sunny i new id be in for a struggle the little 1300 would be struggling all day plus id never done an event like this sliding around cones etc so thought it would be a slow start. my girlfriend jess had never really done anthing on the maps before hand either but she was very good once she got her confindence up.

    all week i had been having a an intermittent missfire but couldnt find what was causing it and it returned through scrutineering even though the car passed without a hitch i wasnt happy it woudnt pull cleanly so the first loop of tests werent very good but no mistakes and we carried on. after the first loop the car wouldn't start by now i had worked out the alternator wasnt charging no light on the dash but a quick check found it running on 11 volts. bugger. into the next set of test i managed the first on but waiting in the que then engine cut out and wouldnt restart and as we were last in the que there wasnt even anyone to swap batteries with.

    so that was that but a friendly marshal towed us home and wouldnt even accept any money off us.

    but sitting in waiting to be recovered was nice







    sick of breaking alternators (running spotlights etc and revving the engine to death on road rallies meant the lucas ones never lasted long) i looked into replacing it with a more modern one.
    eventually settling on using bosch ones from a ford ka 70 amp output and i got three off ebay for ten pound each. still on the first one now
    you have to change the standard escort plug to ring terminals but worthwhile upgrade


    that was it for 2014 apart from using it on the road
    think i did one 12 car road rally that didnt go well when my dad started to fee ill after only the 2nd time control so we called it a night but were first to the after rally buffet which felt like a win



    more to follow
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  2. #2
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    [U]2015[U]

    car went back into the garage for some upgrades. GavinR on here modded me a handbrake to make it flyoff and i fitted a hydraulic cylinder to it plus some 3litre capri drums plus got some uprated brake shoes and fitted them.

    this was finished just in time for a local event a tranwell woods very local to me being about 2 miles up the road. using the works van and trailer saved me having to mot and tax it and plus would be good if it broke again


    id entered along with my dad who was also driving in his mk2 and we were navigating for each other.

    was a brilliant day finished somewhere in the mid teens after a few penalties. the new handbrake setup was working really well and i couldnt stop myself from using it n every corner. managed to turn a set of newish knobblies into slicks as well.


    brilliant day.


    did a few more 12 cars that were held on a wednesday night normally one a week. did ok but they are made tricky for the nav and my nav david was a little bit rusty having not done anything for a few years so took a bit of time to knock the rust off.

    then returned to tranwell for the event being ran again in october.

    this time id entered with my mate michael who had always wanted to have a go out in the mk2 and as you were allowed to to walk the tests first i was sure we could go the right way even if he wasnt


    in the end we had a good skid around was hurting from laughing so much. michael didnt really give me much direction as he was either laughing or squealing but we finished in the mid teens again. low power and being against some properly good people who do a lot of auto testing were my main excuses......got some good pictures though









    then returned to nissan again to try and see if we could have a better result. my dad was sitting in with me and was worrying about being sick. i was more worried about breaking down again so once again took the car on the trailer.


    once again my rain dance didnt work so it was a nice clear day.

    started off well, dad directing me well and the car felt good. the good handling making up for a lack of power. but the last test before lunch we started having trouble with the diff not locking and spinning the inside wheel. still we finished the day and made good use of the handbrake to wreck some more tyres.

    that was it apart from driving up to scotland to buy a new engine for it off here.


    more to follow.....
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  3. #3
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Did one more 12 car that year after my mate josh volunteered his girlfriend hannah to nav for me
    She had only ever done one road rally before me with josh so was a bit nervous
    She had done a fair bit of stage rallying though and coming from northern ireland she had sat with some quick boys including a very quick modified mk2 running over 300bhp

    Her dad used to to take her out testing in the cars he prepared so she was used to going a lot quicker than i would ever be going


    On the night she was spot on called everything well,struggled a bit on some bits of the plotting but got the hang quickly to finish 5th

    Very good on a first event where most navs fail to make it to.the finish


    That was the last event of the year

    So it was back in to the garage for some upgrades
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  4. #4
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    So had a drive up to scotland to meet a rab off here to buy a 1600 xflow

    It was very cheap so i didnt even bother looking to carefully at it thinking i could sell it in bits if anything was wrong with it.

    I got it home swapped the sump over to a baffled one i had already and put it in the cornr of the garage all wrapped up.

    Pulled the old engine out and started stripping the bay



    Stripped and in primer

    This took days to get to this stage
    Seam welded everything and added the grp4 strengthening kit



    And finally in topcoat

    On boxing day hence the wrapping paper masking


    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  5. #5
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Then few more jobs
    New radiator,Distributor, starter, type 9 box amongst other things
    Setup on a single 40 on a lynx manifold to fit with road rally regs


    Then out to marshal on the flying scotsman
    Brilliant event where only pre wars cars allowed to enter
    Brilliant seeing pricless bentlys etc being hurled around

    This is just outside rothbury near paperhaugh just after the rothbury road fell into the river
    Shame i used to use that road a lot for testing



    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to mexicotait For This Useful Post:


  7. #6
    Pit Crew Decade Plus User GavinR's Avatar
    My Race Car
    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Bristol
    Age
    52
    Posts
    1,494
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 118 Times in 103 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Great to see some details of what you've been up to the last few years
    GavinR

    http://www.turbosport.co.uk/signaturepics/sigpic2999_8.gif

  8. #7
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Thanks gavin been meaning to start one for a while
    Even though ive messed up the years somehow


    2015

    Lost track of what was done when but a quick look at sone old regs put me right

    Picture above was in 2015 got tye nee engine in over christmas and im the new year it was running.

    Was hoping for the first 12 car of the year but the starter packed up the day before so didnt want to risk being stuck in the middle of nowhere.

    Starter replaced with a high torque one made life much easier for starting and it could be fitted much more easily than the standard one.

    Took it to bogg brothers in malton to be setup after spending a few hours changing jets etc he did a power run and the meter went up to 125bhp

    Bit optimistic on this spec but the car was running and pulling well.

    Only other change was a set of princess four pots which made a big difference to the braking andi the car was ready.

    First 12 car i managed with hannah was in april.
    Goood blast round making use of the new engine. We could stoo abd plot knowing we could make the time up which makes life much easier for her. Think we finished 5th and first novice.


    The next event was the berwick classic.
    A two day regularity rally with tests in between. Id spectated on this event many times so was very excited.

    Unfortunately hannah couldnt make it as it was the same day as a stage rally she wws booked to do so instead my goid mate phil was sitting in. He does the northern tarmac championship in a ford puma and i service for him.


    Drove up on the sat evening after phil had spent hours cleaning the car. Didnt tell hime most of it was on muddy tracks 😂

    Didnt start well literally when we needed to be push started however once going we got through scrutineering fine and chatted to other competitors about what lat ahead, set the trip up to the measured mile and were nervous but ready.

    Set off car 36 behind a lancia fulvia and straight into the first reg. Phil had never done these before so i was teaching him as we went. It worked quite well but we were slightly early at the first control.
    Doing 28mph is easy on tight roads but on the big wider roads you lose sense of your speed and its easy to get caught out.

    First reg done was onto the first three tests
    First one went well this was the forst corner of the first test

    This went well until i spun on one ofnthe hairpins but was quickly back on track.

    Two more tests followed fine but leaving the last test the finish marshal told us there was a lot of oily smoke coming out of the back.

    Not much we could do and the engine was still pulling well so we chose to ignore it and headed home for the night.


    The next day started with breakfast and the traditial start in berwick town centre

    Followed by a short drive up.the coast to torness power station and the first test of the day.

    This went well 6 th quickest but still smoking had a quick look and it was burning oil but not much we could di about it so just carried on


    Few more tests followed
    One around a mucky truck yard was great fun


    Then on to one of the numerous farm yards


    And then onto a field test which was hopless as it was so wet and slippy we couldnt get off the start line

    Everyone got a maximum as it was taking so long to get round
    Great fun though



    Then onto a regularity on a private road which was good fun
    Got boaked at the end though as it was rough in places and one guy in another mk2 was taking his time

    My mk2 is fine over the rough so i sat on his bumper with the air horns going till eventually we got by over taking on the grass 😂

    Then the sun came out at the finish



    Phil wasnt best pleased after all the effort he put into polishing it 😁

    Oil problem turned put to be a breather hose had collapsed internally
    So wasnt letting the engine breath.

    Results were ok think we came in the mid 30s

    Doing well on the tests but being let dowb by the regs

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  9. #8
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Next event was the shaw trophy
    Similar type of event but no regs just nice drive in the country side and blast round some tests. Started locally in the town of morpeth.

    Jess my partner was also doing this navigating for my mate josh in his proton whilst hannah his girlfriend was sitting in with me as usual. As you could enter as a team we entered under the name of team wife swap 😂😂

    Started out well enough although miserable scrutineer didnt do much to calm people we set off car 16 behind my dad who was car 14 and josh at 6.

    Off onto the road and the first two tests were cancelled because the land owner wasnt happy with the speed of the cars😔

    So straight into the third test ran twice around a big farmers yard.

    Didnt go well when we went round a cone the wrong way and got a maximum hannah didnt tell me or i would have reversed
    Still second time round and we were fastest that was more like it.

    Next nice road section to belsay where a few tests were laid out on a clubmembers farm
    First one i was revved up so got off the line well flat in third to a stop astride reverse back and tried to j turn round
    Messed it up but still got round quick
    Slot left in to a big compound round a few cones
    Had the mk2 drifting nicely then came back out onto the main track too sideway with the rear end in the hedge
    Unfortunately for me there was a big concrete post hiding in the hedge which i hit


    The car still drove ok and after the miserable scrutineer had a good nose around we carried on

    Full of red mist now i set some fastest times and werent out of the top ten all day

    The last loop of test were brilliant farm tracks about a mile long i went off on a ninety left then ninety right but just kept my foot in and rejoined the track and set another fastest time.

    Josh had a great day to be 3rd overall and 1st modern
    We would have won had it not been for the wrong test
    Dad had a steady day to finish 19 or thereabouts

    So not the best day

    I new the car needed some tidying but now it needed a lot!

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  10. #9
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    So the rest of 2015 was spent reparing the damage


    The quarter pulled out quite well
    But both rear arches were well rotten including the tubs









    This took ages
    But shell was solid and straight again
    Few more repairs to the inner sill and the splash panels on the front but apart from that the shell is mint



    More to follow

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  11. #10
    Pit Crew Decade Plus User onecamohv's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    ireland
    Age
    38
    Posts
    1,155
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 88 Times in 78 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    great work luke, great to see all the details in one place, keep the updates coming!!

  12. #11
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    2016

    Car went away to have the repairs repainted and cameback bettter than new

    Id never been happy with the cage in the car
    It never fitted too well and it meant i couldnt get the seats where i wanted them
    So sourced a safety devices cage from west wales rally spares




    Seat bars in



    Car was the fully rewired as stuff had just been added and changed so many times




    Tank and tank base

    Got a sender from america to work with the original gauge




    And rebuilt the axle and added a brace bar
    Lsd was rebuilt with new plates


    That took me to end of 2016



    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  13. #12
    Mechanic

    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    glasgow
    Age
    34
    Posts
    500
    Thanks
    17
    Thanked 25 Times in 24 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Looks good mate, I hope you keep updating this.

    I would also like to get into it but have had major setbacks...maybe next year lol
    Keep her lit

  14. #13
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    So over the xmas had a bit of spare time finished all the jobs off and took it for an mot




    Passed no problem and alan the mot wad impressed when we took it up the road
    Despite the icy roads meaning the brake test was pointless😂


    The to the first event of the year the january jaunt

    Ran by hexam motorclub they do one once a month on wed night
    Except in the summer with the light nights

    55 mile route of challenging navigation and had chris dodds on the maps who normally drives a very fast 205

    He is also a very good nav competing on lots of events on both sides of the car

    Went out for a bit of practice the night before finding none of my tyres would work in the greasy conditions and more worryingly the engine was breathing very heavy filling the catch tank after only a few miles 🤔



    Too late to back out now i refilled it with oil and just made a plan to keep the revs lowish and see what happened

    To the event itself the roads were still horrific so cold and greasy everyone was having problems but at least we stayed on the road

    First section went well until we missed a slot and dropped two minutes

    Carried mostly sideways and doing well only problem was when one of the marshals tried to take doddsys paper work off him 😤
    And stopping at a junction to see a taxi on a late night run pulled out after him and doddsy made a comment about hoping we dont get stuck behind him
    Wasnt a worry as he must have been a local i couldnt keep up he was flat over all the crests and blind bends
    Needless to say i dont think he had a fair onboard😂


    Got to the finish without problem to see we had dropped four minutes which was impossible as mick who started 3 minutes behind was on the next minute to us and they cleaned it
    In the end we were second behind mick so didnt bother chasing it.
    I was more worried about the engine
    No oil was showing on the dipstick and the pressure had dropped right down
    Put some more oil in and drove slowly home

    So engine out for a rebuild

    Was a great night and after a year long rebiuld the car was superb
    Even made the local paper

    Although it says escort mexico which im sure will ryle a few purists up.

    Only because my name on the rally forum is the same as on here

    Might have a mk1 mex one day 😂

    More to come....

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  15. #14
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Pulled the engine out at the endi of jan
    It was minging the whole bay was covered in oil and other things found in the country side




    And out




    Stripped it down to find the bores were well worn and oval the ring gaps were massive

    And both main and big end bearings were showing signs of wear
    So everything was cleaned whilst the block and crank were sent to be sorted

    I had some 1300 40+ pistons as spares so they went in along with new mahle bearings the cam and followers looked mint so they went back as they were

    Part way though assembly


    And finally back together


    Abd in place




    Doesnt look any different but what a difference.

    Must say a big thanks to mark ( onecamohv) who i pestered with endless engine questions

    So that brings us up to date
    Just running the engine in now done about 150 miles and its on its second oil change

    Its pulling much better starts better and not using any oil or smoking

    Its starting too loosen up now as i increase the revs


    Next event is the berwick classic in april

    Might be a hexam event before then but hasnt been announced yet

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  16. #15
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Quote Originally Posted by cosworth4door View Post
    Looks good mate, I hope you keep updating this.

    I would also like to get into it but have had major setbacks...maybe next year lol
    Aye thats the way it goes normally
    When i couldnt compete i always used to marshal or sit in with other people just to keep the fire lit
    Just off to collect my wheels which ive had painted
    Then should be ready for the next event

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  17. #16
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts
    Anyone know where you can get some decent looking symbol sheets for fuse boxes?

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  18. #17
    Bodger

    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    stonehouse, glos
    Posts
    168
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Quote Originally Posted by mexicotait View Post
    Anyone know where you can get some decent looking symbol sheets for fuse boxes?

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Jjcraceandrally.com dashboard label sticker sheet

  19. The Following User Says Thank You to jamer For This Useful Post:


  20. #18
    Pit Crew Decade Plus User onecamohv's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    ireland
    Age
    38
    Posts
    1,155
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 88 Times in 78 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    no problem luke, glad it going well!!

    sometimes the difference between a shot engine on its last legs and a fresh one is better than any mods you could make!

    post some pics of the wheels when you get them

  21. #19
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Will do when ive repainted them

    My painter did them for free but i dont like the colour and didnt have the heart to tell him so going to just give them a few more coats i think
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  22. #20
    Mechanic dodgydoughnut's Avatar

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    down south
    Posts
    666
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Top stuff. Nice write up mate
    [/SIGPIC]CHRIS
    WANTED MK1 2DOOR ESCORT COSSY OR XE MUST BE PERFECT AND FREEwell dont hurt to ask?

  23. #21
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Had a little run out this afternoon to put some fuel in.

    Have to be up at 5 in the morning to go marshal on the flying scotsman rally
    All pre war cars starting at slayley hall


    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  24. #22
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Had a good day on friday marshalling on flying scotsman rally despite the fuel pump relay playing up
    All sorted now

    The event was won by my mate ali and his driver paul crosby in there mg tb supercharged despite having suspension failure on the last day



    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  25. #23
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Berwick classic this weekend
    Just need to give the car a clean and make sure I've got everything

    Hoping for a trouble free run

    My nav has won it before so no pressure
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  26. #24
    Pit Crew Decade Plus User onecamohv's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    ireland
    Age
    38
    Posts
    1,155
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 88 Times in 78 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    good nav is 3/4 the battle done! good luck luke

  27. #25
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Berwick classic 2017


    After finally getting my trip back from brantz after an upgrade and refitting it i took the car out for a small run just to check everything was working and had a mild panic when i loud knocking noise from the back was followed by the engine cutting out. Turned out to be due to the way the tank outlets are welded into the tank (one above the other that one of the fuel pumps runs dry if you run low on fuel. Simply turned the other pump on and normal service was resumed.


    All was left to do on the friday was pack the service car (my girls mini) with all the usual stuff that i might break. not to far to go so couldnt be bothered sorting a trailer out, plus the car is normally reliable.




    made it to our digs for the night with no problems after a nice cruise up the A1 enjoying the scenery and the sunset.

    My nav for the event Josh Davison made is way up from wales on the sat morning and we went for a coffee in Berwick before heading out to do some practice regularities and set the trip.

    all went well so we headed for scrutineering which was nice and relaxed had a lot of nice comments about the car from people who have been following me rebuilding it.






    Parked next to my mate andy Beaumonts Rapier h120.


    Chatted to the usual people and got signed on and waited for the first section to start.

    Me and josh are best mates but havent sat in the car together for a long while so we were both a bit nervous to say the least.


    Out onto the lanes for the first road section was good to settle the nerves nice flowing roads to wake us both up on.

    got to the start of the first reg in plenty if time and went over our system one last time.

    off into the first reg went well through lots of challenging lanes. speed set at 26 mph with a change after 5 miles to 24 mph doesnt sound exciting but trying to drive at a steady set speed watching the trip and remembering instructions all makes it pretty challenging and satisfying to get right. we were both a little rusty but only dropped a few seconds into the first control. carried onto the next end of reg control where we were spot on.

    next road section was simple and led us to the next reg which stared on the road but then led to farm previously used as a test venue but this time for a change it as a a regularity set at 18mph. but because the test was so tight it was a flat out blast although a lot of people didn't realise this, including the start marshal, so we gained a lot of places here.


    This was then followed by a test where i was disappointingly 2 seconds off the quickest and far too ragged, but didnt mange to hit anything.


    then a steady drive back to the finish at a little village hall.




    no results for the sat night yet so we headed back to our digs for a beer and a burger a the local pub in Norham.


    resart on the sunday morning and we headed to Berwick Quadside for a bacon sandwhich at the start venue.

    had a look at the results only to find we were way down having dropped stupid amount of time on one of the regs which was impossible. quried it and found after the first ten cars the clock had crashed but it had been rectified but not added to the results.

    Also found out Andys Rapier had suffered head gasket failure on the way back to his digs so he was out of it and fellow club members the Elands had trailered their Alfa up from newcastle only to have left the keys for it at home so didnt start the sat night but would restart on sunday morning



    fuelled up with coffee and bacon we headed up into the brilliant borders countryside to the first test around a farm yard. remebered it being tight from last time i did it and we arrived just to see car one blow its diff up on the start line.


    so our turn gently of the line onto gravel and fast through the first set of cones got the hairpin spot on and get old red sliding round the barns nearly not stopping for the stopline. 3rd fastest was a good way to start the day. then onto the first reg wide awake quite a few speed changes in this one so we dropped the odd second but joshy was on the ball and our system was working well.


    few more tests followed one went well until came to the finish on a sloping grass field and just couldn't get the car stopped for the finish (you have to stop astride the line) so got a ten second penatly.


    few more tests which i couldnt get on with too tight and too much grip then onto one test that my dad was marshalling on which was good.

    flat out down a long drag slot 90 right onto gravel drift in a big figure of 8 ( marshals said i was the only one to get it right ll day)
    then back out the same slot onto the concrete road through some fast and flowing bends locked up trying to brake for a tight chicane sliding the wrong way but came back in time through the chicane (just) and powered to the finish. brilliant test and quickest by 8 seconds .

    theres a good video on facebook of this but i cant get it on here.

    then few more tests that i cant really remember and onto a nice lunch at another village hall.


    chatted with a few competitors abut how they were doing and checked the results to find we were leading by a few seconds but no penalties had been added yet.


    next after lunch was a 12 mile reg all on gravel using the access roads to the windfarm. this was the highlight of the day for me. Josh was spot on with the route, i was managing to keep our speed on track, there were various code boards and tight not as map junctions so even thought the average was set at 28 you had to pushing on to keep to schedule. only had one moment when catching the car in front which then pulled a huge rock out and we had to take to the grass to avoid it. they took a wrong slot and we didnt see them again till the finish. we did well in here to only drop 11 seconds.

    Then onto the final part of the day all the regs were done we just had to get through the final set of tests and we knew we could be on for a good result


    headed to a big farm which was a good test flat out up the hill open slot left over a weighbridge hairpin right short straight 90l 90l round the back off the barn long fast left out of the farm yard big cut over the 90 right to the finish. another fastest time helped that i marshalled there last year

    then onto east fortune race track where we were using the gravel track around the perimiter. off the line well into a 90 right through some nice flowing bends to a fast open chicane then another fast blast down the other side and just nearly caught the car in front on the stopline.


    one last test followed another one i remembered well on dusty concrete lots of 90s that you could cut and just managed to stop for the stopline.

    then a short drive back to the lacklustre finish venue.

    after waiting for a really long time for mediocre luke-warm food and a warm beer at the finish venue which only had seating for quarter of the field

    then a long wait for results which were all wrong

    then an even longer wait for them to be rectified and then an even longer wait for these to be sorted led to most people leaving before the results.

    after much arguing about test times etc we finally came out at 3rd overall

    one of our times was still 10 seconds out but coudlnt prove it well enough to stand.


    so a bit of a downer on a really good event just let down by the organisation at the finish.


    but pleased to have gotten a good result on the first biggish event ive done since rebuilding the car which didn't put a foot wrong all day and took a hell of a lot abuse.
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  28. #26
    Pit Crew Decade Plus User GavinR's Avatar
    My Race Car
    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Bristol
    Age
    52
    Posts
    1,494
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 118 Times in 103 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Well done Luke, great result and report
    GavinR

    http://www.turbosport.co.uk/signaturepics/sigpic2999_8.gif

  29. #27
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Not much happening now cars all good

    Just needed a trackrod end replacing


    Doing course car on Shaw trophy in 2 weeks time after that it will left alone for a little while as we are in the middle.of buying a house so going to swallow every penny I'm sure
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  30. #28
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Tiny bit of damage on the rear quarter
    Should have fitted mudflaps 😭

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  31. #29
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Hi folks


    Had to rebuild the rear diff after plates had worn again in the lsd

    Apart from that nothing needed doing to the car before course car duties on the shaw trophy rally
    However during the week a member of our motorclub sadly died very suddenly.


    The event went well with no major problems except one test having to be cancelled as an angry farmer wasn't happy with the track being used even though it didn't belong to him

    However all went well no major delays and lots of good comments from the crews.

    I had a good day running as course car and safety officer and also running the time keeper around

    The car was faultless all day except the gearbox starting to go wrong
    Wouldn't change down at speed so had to be gentle with it


    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  32. #30
    Pit Crew Decade Plus User onecamohv's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    ireland
    Age
    38
    Posts
    1,155
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 88 Times in 78 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    looks great luke i was following your pics on facebook, whats wrong with the box? t9? how old is your diff? my tranx is 5 years old and i havent had to touch it yet

  33. #31
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    The diff is an original Salisbury about 20 year old
    Plates don't wear very much but in threw it together last year with second hand plates

    This time I machined the end plate so I could fit a new complete clutch pack from tran x
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  34. #32
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    The box isn't changing down must be synchro rings breaking up
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  35. #33
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Nothing to update really
    Just bought a house so waiting on that being sorted and trying to get rid of as much stuff as possible to make moving easier

    Still havent had a look at the gearbox yet but doing a charity day in September so need to sort something
    Anyone fancy rebuilding my type 9 for me
    Or selling me a good box cheap/ free
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  36. #34
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Not much progress been busy getting ready to move hopefully by the end of August we will be in and ill be busy decorating and garage building

    Have finally got my revolutions stripped and painted bought three cheap last year and eventually found another one to complete the set


    Painted and fitted with some old intermediate tyres I got given

    Doing a charity day to support guide dogs for the blind
    Blind people and there family and friends get sponsored to go out in the rally cars and we try our best to scare them
    Normally a great day so looking forward to it just hope my gearbox lasts the day

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  37. #35
    Bodger

    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    cornwall
    Posts
    103
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Would like to thank you for your posts, I find them interesting, informative and they encourage me to get on with my 4 door, Would like to do a little motor sport, probably to old but dreams cost nothing, and it keeps me away from the diy, gardening etc, Keep up with the updates.

  38. #36
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    Quote Originally Posted by garageman View Post
    Would like to thank you for your posts, I find them interesting, informative and they encourage me to get on with my 4 door, Would like to do a little motor sport, probably to old but dreams cost nothing, and it keeps me away from the diy, gardening etc, Keep up with the updates.


    Thanks for that

    I wouldn't let age put you off
    Lots of events these days can be done in a standard car cheaply and are great fun

    A lot of the guys I compete against are older and regular beat us young boys
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  39. #37
    Pit Crew Decade Plus User onecamohv's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    ireland
    Age
    38
    Posts
    1,155
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 88 Times in 78 Posts

    Re: my road rally mk2

    im constantly being beaten by two chaps well into their late 70's - age means nothing in motorsport ! in fact, its an advantage by the looks of it

  40. #38
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Finally got myself sorted with a decent box

    Its a semi helical type 9 built by spc

    Meant to be good for 200+ bhp so my little crossflow wont worry it

    Fitted it today and feels much better even just after a small drive

    Hopefully will make a big difference on events car seems to accelerate a lot better with the better gearing





    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  41. #39
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Hi folks


    First Road rally for a while was September sortie

    Started at Stannington station finished ay Alnmouth with 55 milea inbetween.


    Some pre plot instructions were given out at the start and my nav Warren who had never done an event before was struggling from the start.

    First section plotted along with the time controls we headed off to the first tc.

    First handout we went to the first junction and stopped and plotted then tried making our time up

    Car was mint last night running well and handling better than ever so only dropped a minute. Onto tge next tge handout was simple and I was able to read it out whilst Warren plotted clesned this section then the next section was part of the pre plot and was very fast tight section

    Only one moment was taking off over a crest and bottoming out on the sump guard then smacking into the tops of the next two crests but still cleaned it.


    Then it all went wrong.

    From the next tc was the last competitive section which we had to stop and plot.

    I turned off the engine but was in such a rush trying to plot the difficult grid lines and I couldn't make it work only to realise my mistake got it plotted then went to start the car and it was dead
    Managed to roll back and bump start it
    By this time we were close to the time limit so had to cut and run.

    Made it to the last tc having missed lots of rcs and one time control so were well out of the running.

    Car was awesome though need to rewire the map light so that I can turn all the electrics off but keep that on and not flatten the battery


    Grid line navigation works by giving you a list of numbers.

    For instance

    60 61 62 so you would keep heading East through those gridlines

    Our problem came that the gridlines on one part were 13 13 13 13

    This was hard to read as the road folowed the gridline.

    A bit of a mean trick from the organisers considering it was meant to be a novice instructions

    Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

  42. #40
    Racer Decade Plus User mexicotait's Avatar

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    whitley bay
    Age
    34
    Posts
    2,436
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 155 Times in 141 Posts

    my road rally mk2

    Hi folks

    Did an auto test on Sunday and tbh it wasn't a good day
    Just couldn't get myself or the car working properly.


    I turned up with forest tyres on as it's the only sort of event I can use them on now these geared the car up too much so i struggled to keep it on cam
    Plus I couldn't remember where to go most of the time





    Car ended up nice and mucky too


    Since rebuilding the engine it doesn't seem to pull as well as it did and has lost the low down grunt it used to have
    Hopefully it just needs setting up again and it's not something I've done when I've rebuilt it


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Hexham and District Motorclub

+ Reply to Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts