The car went through scrutineering with no problem, and we enjoyed a glorious firework display over Chesterfield while this was happening. We then did all the pre-plot work and were happily ready for the start.
The first section was a private land 'selectif' which we started with gusto and finished with, well, a lot less gusto and a very noisy engine. We couldn't see anything particularly wrong, but it was certainly not right so that was the end of the rally. We contemplated calling the RAC, but in the end opted to risk driving it home, which we did.
Having now investigated, the cam belt had slipped and all the noise was valves and pistons saying hello to one another. We were very lucky to have made it back, and needless to say the engine is now in pieces all over the garage.
Thanks to Andy Manston for the on event photo.
Ross Eco-Rally - 13th October 2011
Eddie and I thought we'd have a go at this 12-car Eco-Rally just for fun. With the rally car actually being the most likely candidate vehicle, I put the standard ECU back on and pumped the tyres up hard! We had about 30 mins to pre-plot the route, then to the fuel garage to fill up.
To make things interesting the Rover throttle started to stick open on the way to the fuel, so while the organiser was putting fuel in, I had the bonnet open trying to sort it out... Fortunately a missing nut was the problem and we had one with us.
The rally took in a lot of really tiny country lanes around Monmouth, many with potholes and mud, and a lot of long steep hills. The timing was at 30mph, so driving economically had to be matched to staying on schedule to avoid fuel penalties as lateness. We managed to clean all the sections and get back to the end without any real problems, although it was slippery in places.
We were very pleased at the end to take the best Petrol award, having consumed the least fuel and not picked up any time penalties. The Rover actually managed 38mpg, which wan't at all bad considering the roads and timing!
The Rover is Running - 21st Jan 2012
After a tense ten minutes, the Rover decided it would run on 4 cylinders after all (hydraulic tappets getting started I think), so we're well on track for the 1st Endurance event of 2012 on 18th Feb. Its actually running quieter than ever before, after we have to replace a load of valves following the Dansport.
Ross Night Nav - 20th Jan 2012
This was a practise event for new starters - just a case of plotting a route, and finding the way collecting codes from roadside boards. Alicia did well at one of these in 2011, so it was Beatrice's turn. She did fantastics, plotted most of the points without help and did a great job getting us round. We collected all the codes, so finished joint 1st with another crew (out of 6). Not bad for a 9 year old!
Ross Navex 12 Car - 2nd December 2011
Although competing in the Endurance rounds had been our main focus for 2011, we had participated in all of the Ross Motor Club 12 Car Rallies, and amazingly were leading their championship. I say amazingly as Eddie had not coped very well with plotting navigation on the move and had suffered car-sickness to some extent or another on every round.
Despite not having a rally car to enter in, we thought we'd better enter anyway to try and consolidate our lead, to at least try and finish at the top of one championship! Of all our vehicles, the only one that was remotely suitable (and it wasn't very) was Olivia's Fiat Coupe Turbo, which although very fast is far too low, fragile, and not so great on bumpy little lanes for rallying purposes. But then again, needs must!
So the Coupe Turbo made it' rallying debut. The rally went about the same as most this year. Eddie felt sick (although not too bad - certainly not as bad as Vicky Butler-Henderson), we made a simple mistake, had to do an extra loop to recover and ended up midfield....
We did have a good time though and only dropped 3 minutes, despite being the only 'Expert' crew and therefore the only ones plotting on the move, so not so bad after all.
I've no idea whether we did win the championship, but suspect we might have been pipped at the post, but we'll wait and see!
Dansport Road Rally - 5th/6th November 2011
As the Exmoor Endurance rally had been cancelled, Eddie and I thought we'd treat ourselves to a good Derbyshire Road Rally. The Dansport promised to be that with a good reputation, pre-plot navigation, and using the popular local 'white' roads. The car was all ready to go as we'd got it ready for the cancelled Exmoor Endurance, save for some fiddling about with tyres that leaked...
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Email: richmcl@mcrally.co.uk
Since 24th April 2007