GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

[Paul C]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

Excellent Gavin, What was the out come with the insurance pay out/ claim?

Not long till mine has a trip to WSM!

[GavinR]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

Progress report from Oddy

Paint ground back to show where the previous arch was welded on


All cut away


New arch welded on


Inner arch tubbed for clearance


Welds ground back and lip folded up


Skim of filler to blend it in


Looking good

[trig]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

Was gona say the same thing bud lol.

Make shore the insurance pay out for what you want done bud just if you have half repaired it they may say its repairable now.

[oddy]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

Gavin,
would you like a job? Apologies again!
Cheers,
James

[GavinR]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

I don't have time to wait for insurance companies, and needed to use Fly as Course Car on the Exmoor Endurance Rally which ran on 6th October, so the weekend after the accident, I set to work with the Portapower

Using the tank mounts and the internal panhard rod brace as solid parts to push against, it took me an hour to get to this stage, didn't use the hammer once and the paint is still good

Outside looking good




Inside needs a bit of welding, but it will do for the moment


Spare bumper fitted but the same rear light, melted the cracks together with a soldering iron


Good as new, almost


Course Car duties went well, despite the starter motor disintegrating early on, luckily there are plenty of hills around Exmoor so I bump started her all day as needed

[GavinR]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

After Neath Valley, the rear arches were looking very bad, they'd split away from the inner arches and were rusting out from the inside. Although I do as much maintenance as possible myself on Fly, I didn't fancy tackling the arches, so I phoned Oddy from South West Resto's and arranged to take Fly down one evening so he could have a look at the work required

So 3 weeks ago I drove Fly to work and then on to Oddy's afterwards, we had a good look round and agreed what needed doing. On the way home, a few minutes from his workshop, I pulled up at a junction but unfortunately an elderly gentlemen following me didn't realise I'd stopped and drove into the back of Fly
First on the scene was Oddy, so I asked him to do a quote for a new rear panel, and swapped details with the other chap

It seemed a gentle tap, but went in at least 6 inches. Luckily it was near the middle, so the chassis rails are fine


Pulled the boot lid in slightly


I'm glad I've got a stick on number plate


Inside, back panel rather bent


Floor slightly kinked


Shiny marks on the tank are where the spare tyres got pushed into it. No dents or leaks though


Cracked the rear light housing


Split from one corner as well


So not a good trip, but the gentleman was very apologetic

[mexicotait]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

It was on face book like that
Hope the author doesnt mind
They were all great photos

[Arwel]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

[ATTACH]58927[/ATTACH]

Found this gav
Dust is a bit extreme !!

Wooo Claire wont be happy that her pic has been cropped like that... Thats from Classic Tracks on the first test. Good effor that day Gavin.

[mario r h santos]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

Congratulations Gav.

Nice work!

Keep it up.

Cheers,

Mário Santos.

[mexicotait]

Found this gav
Dust is a bit extreme !!

[Trev2971]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

just read back through this thread ....superb fair play

good skills on the class win

[exboyracer]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

Great write-up, and congrats on the class win!

[Graham]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

great write up and result as usual

[GavinR]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

Neath Valley Stages – Saturday 11th August 2012

After competing on this event last year when it was based in Walters Arena, the roads cut up quite badly so I wasn’t sure about entering this year, but when it was announced that they were using Rhondda and Resolven Forests, I decided to have another go with George on the notes again

There were nearly 60 cars entered in the modern field and 20 historics including Juha Kankkunen / Nicky Grist in a Historic Rallysport Mk2 Escort, and Dai Llewellin / Phil Short in a Brace’s Bread Mk2 Escort. I had made a few improvements to Fly by re-fitting a Quaife Clubman box and had bought some new Forest tyres off eBay at a bargain price. We had a surprisingly high seeding at 41, and George’s brother Ed was also out in their Endurance Rally spec Rover 200 for his first ever forest event, with Tavern member Bob Rutherford on the notes

The event was based at an old factory near Resolven which meant under cover servicing and the route was 3 stages run twice giving a total of 45 stage miles and 75 road miles. The weather was lovely and sunny as we headed out to Stage 1. It was nice and smooth except for a few sections which had been regraded with large rocks providing very little grip – this caused some interesting moments as I tried to remember how to drive on gravel!

A short link section within the forest and we were on to Stage 2. This time there were large rocks for the first half and then smooth gravel for the second half, the only problem we had was when I made a comment on seeing the car in front pulled over and George forgot to turn to the page of notes! Luckily the next junction was not far away so the right place was found and we finished without further problems. After a 20 mile road section arrived at Stage 3. This one was nice and smooth throughout and we had a good run through, getting quicker as we went on.

Leaving the forest led us straight into Resolven village and back to service. There wasn’t much that needed doing to Fly although some filler / rust had fallen out of the rear arches as the tyres were a bit big Guy fitted the other 2 new tyres just because I had them but we left the fronts (which I’d used last year) as she was turning in well. Meanwhile we waited for Ed and Bob to arrive. Finally they made it, having been held up before the start of stage 2 when a car got wedged on a cattle grid. They were enjoying the event, although finding it very slippery in places.

When we left service, we were given some results for the morning stages and were surprised to be 24th Overall and 3rd in Class, and Ed and Bob were 32nd Overall and 6th in Class. On the way to stage 4 we chatted about how the morning had gone and decided there was some time to be gained on the rocky sections. We started the stage well, everything was flowing better, George was reading the notes perfectly and I was a lot more committed over the crests and through the more open corners. Even the rocky sections had got smooth lines where everyone had been through before, and we were pleased to set a time 26s quicker than Stage 1

Onto Stage 5 but this time the rocky sections had got worse, apparently they’d only been regraded a few days before so the loose rocks turned into ruts, quite deep in places and there were 6 or 7 cars parked up with mechanical problems. I was happy that Fly would survive the conditions so kept pushing on and we had a very good stage, 21s quicker than Stage 2. The final stage 6 was still smooth and we went 13s quicker. So on the afternoon loop we’d gone a whole minute quicker than in the morning! Back in service we waited for the Ed and Bob and they arrived without problems

George checked the results and was amazed to find we’d won the Road Rally Class and were 16th Overall, and even better Ed & Bob were 3rd in the Road Rally Class and 25th Overall. Many thanks to Hugh, Martin, Carrie & Guy for looking after all the cars, and George for another excellent job on the notes



We enjoyed the event sop much I might have to try a few more forests next year

[Paul C]

Re: GavinR's Mk2 Rally Car - FLY

Good luck Gavin. I will be watching the results as someone i know is out in his new car and i will be interested to see how he gets on. I see The Clarkes are out in the MG as well.

Have fun.