My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

[BDA_IT]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

The Edwards escort got thrown out for ilegal servicing after they has checked into time control by their service crew, would have been ok if they had done it He would have got 6th OA i think.

I even got a mention in motoring news this week!!

[MR tee]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

I've posted more pictures of the Longcross event in Motorsport Chat

[BDA_IT]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

Dukeries Rally Saturday 13th June- First Forest Experience

Both Dad and i were really looking forward to my first taste of proper rallying in the forest! Car flew through Scrutineering and we headed to MTC1 and off on our 15 mile road section to SS1 all going fine!

Dramas ! Got all the way to the SSS1 and just as we put our helmets on the car cut out! We tried our hardest to get her going but could not source the problem and went OTL, changed the crank sensor and a piece of loom and reset everything and she kicked into life and we thought happy days at least we could get some stages in but we knew we were out of the rally but we could still have some fun! So headed to SS2 then the car cut out again!! Then i had noticed that the crank sensor bracket had moved and the trigger wheel was damaging the sensor. Luckily i had one more spare in the car but was slightly different so manged to space it out with washers for under the bonnet and cable tied it on (proper roadside repair) We headed to the service halt and thought lets do the 2nd half of the day 5 stages!

We then tagged onto the back of the field and went to SS5 with everything crossed and hoped the sensor wouldn't move! Off the start all good couple of 90s then into a open flowing right hander the car went very sideways we were motoring in 3rd gear the camber of the road was dragging us towards the trees i kept my foot in and we were ok Dad said, hmmm? what was it? something ##* hell i think!.
The next stage was the longest for us 7.5 miles i got a relly good flow on and really enjoyed it and looking at the times wasnt much off the pace. SS7 another long one about 6 miles i think we caught and overtook the previous car and it was a very hairy stage with alot of blind crest and big jumps got plenty of air in some places!! SS8 was good were going really well and was flat in 5th coming up to a crest and some spectators were in the road slowing us down in the distance so we backed off and there was our mates Matt and Crooky in their Pug 205 rolled they were both out of the car and ok so we carried on! (Rumour has it, Crooky was reading Bens 'Nuts mag instead of the notes?)
SS9 had some tarmac and was quite dense forest and we were motoring and dad says its only half an mile left take it easy so i backed it off and got to the finish! Matt and Crooky carried on after pulling the smashed screen out and gaffer tapping the boot and doors closed -they finished the rally with no screen great Effort!!!

For what amount of rallying everyone got done we all enjoyed it and i'm sure we will all be back next year!

I hope now to get out on the Neath Stages in July!

[cossie matt]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

Excellent write up Ashley, it's so frustrating doing all you can, to have a relatively simple problem give you so much grief, good job getting it going again

Sounds like you still got some good time in the car and valuble experience.

Keep it up mate and good luck next weekend on epynt I'll be looking forward to hearing how you get on, you've got a 61.41 to beat

Ps, how did the steering feel on proper gravel?

[Roadsport]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

Is that cold air box made out of Pinto rocker cover?

[BDA_IT]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

We never had a problem with the steering on the loose cause you tend to use the throttle to steer the car it was only on tarmac that we struggled and had to fight the wheel! But the driving postion is much much better!! Looking forward to Epynt as long as we get there got the head off at the mo the head Gasket had started to go and was letting in a bit of water into No1, but saved everything before any Damage was done hopefully just was puffing abit of white smoke as we pulled into the final service halt!! Was very hot and dusty day with some stages back to back!!

Im sure we will be out!! Late nights working on the car is what i live for lol

No its not a Pinto Rocker Cover its a Reviere (think thats how you spell it) Carbon Fibre Air Box.

[BDA_IT]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

Epynt HillClimb June 21st 2009

Weather was a bit overcast but dry so we were all wanting to get on with the day before the Welsh weather let loose!! The first time up the Hill for dad was in a convoy run with the whole field but when it was my turn i had a free run because there were only a few cars being double driven so i gave it a boot full up the hill using it has an extra practise!!

The first practise was untimed due to problems with the timing! Dads run was trouble free and looked like he really enjoyed it! So me up was flying up to the 2nd chicane when the throttle stuck open Full throttle so i locked up killed the engine dipped the clutch and F**k knows how got round it and pulled up on the left, the plug leads had got caught up under the linkage and keep it full throttle (forgot to cable tie them to the throttle body when we had changed the head gasket on Thursday). They had Red Flagged that run anyway due to a TR8 breaking a Cam and putting it through the block and spilling some oil on the road! So sorted the leads and headed slowly back to paddock!

Cable Tied them out the way so maxium attack again! Dad went up the hill again no problems by the time he had returned the rain had started so i was waiting in the Q with the rain coming down! So plenty of tyre warming to try and help me out! I still gave it the beans plenty of sideways action on every corner got throught the run happy!

The best bit of the day is the return 5 mile run to the paddock! After the first couple of runs you know where the spotters are so you then know when you can give the car some stick!! Even was getting airborne over a bridge near the paddock Ye Ha!!

In the Moring Brain Dennis had rolled his Mini so it delayed the event so we were only going to get two timed runs! He was ok and the car will survive with a new roof and few panels!!

Dad had a good first time Run at 71.59 from his practise of 77.7 so improving, my first Run was 68.03 from a 72 something in the damp practise.

So onto the final timed run Dad once again went well no dramas 71.05 and i was going to give it all all nothing to catch 2nd in class who was just over a second ahead i think, off the line i was flat changing into the first corner a nice power slide in 2nd gear then the car got abit of fuel Starvation up the hill which cost me abit of time but had a good run neat a tidy and went slower 68.58 i think the fuel prob cost me a couple of seconds but dont know!! The car was Low on Fuel because of giving it the beans on the return road lol well worth it tho!!

I got 3rd in Class behind the local boys in a Lightweight Nova and 205 nd about 20th O/A so i was well pleased with that being our first time there Dad got 6th in class and about 25th overall and he was very pleased to!

We both had a fantastic days motorsport and are defo going back to do the Mini Epynt Stages and Both Hillclimbs next year!!

[Retromotorsport]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

Good write up Ash... and good result ..stop playing about next time though

[cossie matt]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

Great write up Ashley, It's a great event and I will be there next year too so it sounds like it could be an even better event, I recon Windy, Paul Alex, Graham B, You , Your Dad and I should have a good laugh

Next year I'll have my decent gearbox too

[PaulAlex]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

Well done Ashley, and a top write up

I wish I could have been there - fingers crossed that we're all there for a laugh together next year...

Cheers,

Paul.

[BDA_IT]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

Will be a real good hoot and planty of Banter if we all go!!

Matt good luck with the Wedding with im sure is coming up soon, im sure you will be more nervous that day than you are sitting on the line waiting for the green light!!

When you have the box in and wanna go for a play i really want to do a track day at Cadwell Park, go up the night before and make a Jolly Boys outting out of it!

They do a rally there in Febuary i think that will be a real good event!!

[BDA_IT]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

Essex Charity Stages 5th July.

Fantastic days motorsport dad kept me on the correct route all day no mistakes or spins which made a big difference last year had a few half spins which cost me a few places in the class!!

Stage1 was along the bump sea wall as we headed down there we were really motoring on a concrete road and got the car in a big big slide but kept my foot in as usual lol as we approached the sea wall a marshall had stopped the stage because Nigel Booley had broken a half shaft and lost his wheel into the dyke and blocked the road! Two Subarus had also left the road and ended up in the sea water, Dad always slows me down on the Sea Wall because he has seen to many cars in the water!! So Stage1 was cancelled!!

The morning stages were out on the marshs using the sea wall and tracks between fields and farm buildings which were really good and i could get a real good flow going and scare my dad lol i kept hearing him saying F**%ing hell or ohhhhh be carefull and dont go off here There were parts were we were into 5th and the car was going sideways i loved it!!

By the lunch break we were in the top 10 and 2nd in class so i was rather happy with that! Durning service i was busy helping my mate get his exhauset back onto his Mk2 and sold a steering wheel to another mate so paid for the entry fee lol

In the afternoon we had the airfield stages whcih are good fun but tricky you can loose alot of time just by having a half spin so i tried to keep it nieat and tidy!! The first one through i clipped a kerb near the powerstation but luckly it was near the end of the stage and id put a hole in the tyre wall!! So changed the tyre after the time control!!

There was a 5 and half mile stage which was my fav and we had run it 2 times already so on the 3rd time i really went for it and took 11 seconds out of my previous time and 30 seconds out of the car behind me in the class!!

Kept out of trouble to the finish of the rally and Dad and i were really pleased to get a good result big hand shake and a pat on the helmet!!

We got 8th Overall and 2nd in class i was 22 seconds of 1st in class and 1minute 13 of the winner of the event!!

Ill get the incar vids up asap

[Graham]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

well done ash, great stuff, so how does tudor like the left hand seat after so many years in the right one?

i cant believe im reading about you rallying, i rememeber you as being about 2 foot tall running around at opposite lock when you dad popped in to see george as he often did

[BDA_IT]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

Yeah he say just as much as used to when he was driving! We still share the car on sprints, hill climbs and Autocross'.

He says he wouldnt be as brave or mad as i am on some of the bits!!

I remember the days of Opposite lock and the Lotus Centre in Ilford where Steve Grenald had his workshops!!

[Graham]

Re: My MK6 Escort RWD Rally Car

He says he wouldnt be as brave or mad as i am on some of the bits!!

its an age thing!