RALLY REPORT : SUn 13th June

[Zak33]

WE ONLY BLUMMIN FINISHED A RALLY

[Zak33]

ok results are blind...ie Im guessing from my stop watch times ...the final results take a long while to be posted at the end of a rally, and we weren't gonna win class anda get an award, so we packed up , smiling, and went home.

Let me tell you guys.....

[size 7] I KNEW WE'D MADE A GOOD CAR[/size]

We were seeded 71, and my close friend Rob in a Nava GTE with Blydenstein head, was seeded 57.

First stage.....we were on a MISSION. The car was a dream, the rear camber's been reduced so on a full power corner, a big lift off the throttle provokes a tail slide but with lots of control

And of course..it was WARM out there....

DAMN HOT as it goes.

Lets put rally tyres into persepctive. Michelin N20 compound 14" race tyres. This is there second outting, so they are roughed up and have been heated and baked several times and are perrrfect

Leave service area...front 23 psi, rears 25 psi.

These get HOT and therefore inflate so you have to start low....

First stage, is 10.8 miles on concrete and tarmac.

Flying finish, check in, get time cards signed, cruise back at 10 mph down service area....dive out.....

Tyre pressure check...

Front Left 33 psi
Front right 36 psi
Rear left 29 psi
Rear right 32psi


SO guys.....the front tyre was now WAY too high....she needs to be at about 28 to 30 to be good on this car....

we were cornering HARD.

Unlike y buddy Rob, who was out on the FIRST CORNER ...

with a drive shaft failure!

[spite mode] which is just as well, cos his car weights about 700 kg and minew weighs 1000 kg...and he's 10 bhp up[/spite mode]

He was allowed to rejoin later, and on a mission of anger cos he officially out, started posting times as good as, and twice faster than the VTECS.....if he'd been in the rally.....who knows....CLass win?

Doesnt matter.....my beast was ROARING.

But...we ...err...collected a lot of cones We damaged a tyre wall so badly that I cut mysekf on it, while pulling the hoooj flap of rubber off the tyre...

oh yeah....it got hotter....

and cars started dying...a lot

We actually hassled the followibng cars enough to pass them

306 GTi 6
Mk 1 Escort 2litre
Nova with 2litre red top engine...and that was down to DEVOTION...and us trying new lines....LOTS of new lines

2 major spins..on of which is what I shall now discuss

[Zak33]

as Rob was out of the rally officialy, but allowed ot do the stages without scoring, we came up with a plan. Cos I wanna see where the speed difference is...Robs yound, fast and aggressive....Dave (my driver) is older, calm and smooth as silk. Neither are the best set of traits....you want BOTH (McRae)

The cars were starting at 30 second intervals...the stage times were about 14 minutes....

we merged on the second lap AT THE START LINE....so...I'd be back at 7 mniutes for the next lap....

soo......30 seconds into 7 minutes meant he need to get in line 14 or 15 cars back....

he guessed.....and he got it PERFECT....

we came howling dow nthe runway to see a Red Nova oin the line...I glanced at my Clock and saw he had 3 seconds to the next start time....we enter the 90 left next to the start (unfair speed advantage) and he was off.....

the stage goes as follows.....

Long straight 300, into fast left, into fast right, caution underbraking into left 180 over loose. Immediate right 180, caution holes, to 50 metre straight, into 180 right, enter wide, into 90 left andnarrow kerbing.

Arounds building complexr ...90 left....90 left....90 right.left jink, 50 metres into 90 right exit wide.....onto straight...fast right, fast left, tightiens on cones.....400 metres straight....

90 right....exit wide, cut back to 90 right and400 metre straight....


We dont use pace notes....thats just what I call when I learn the stage...

So off we go.....we're in 2nd...then third....then grabbing 4th on straight, we move over to the right, acriss Rob, who goes inside....

so within 15 seocnds the little git has gained the speed advantage....


I shout "let him through" and Dave does....its all part of my plan..I know Dave is fuming from wondering WHERE Robs speed advantage is over us.....

Fast left...fast right....we're on him now....the Astra gear box is in 4th, Robs prob in 4th too but were up on revs.....

into 180 left, caution under braking...

blimey....that Novas all over the shop....Zaks Bilsteins are paying off....

tightens and then into 180 right....we're in 2nd...Rob drifts wide and we ride the bumps on the inside and then drift over.....

180 right again enter wide.....

we're really on him now......

into 90 left....90 left....90 left....

he's braking, we dont have too, just a lift and the monster low gears do it....and we're stable......

and through the twisty stuff, we are nearly pushing his car....with out bumper...

(we even do this with Evo's and Subarus on other stages....they CANT get away at low speeds...)

out of building complex and into right....fast right....into fast left.....

he's pulled out 7 or 8 car lengths......we go into the fast left much quicker than we've tried before......take out a copule of cones but right with him again....

so we have a weight situation.....we're drifting out but catching him...SO if we followed our normal line, lift a fraction....we'd be on track but still behind...was wortha try...

and now 400 meters and then 2 90 rights....and back 400 metres....

he;s pulled out 15 cars.....not to worry...

into 90 left.....100 metres, use wide edge and 90left to straight.....then fast 45 right.......to chicane....

Robs about 30 cars away.....but Dave's a chicane champion......dont lift....ever...loose another mirror tho into fast right drift wide.....200 metres to 90 right..

where's Rob gone...?

we've run out of revs....5th flat.....

he's gone......after another couple of corners we see him in the distance.....he's entered the far chicane and then into 180 right......this corner is evil but oh soooo wide

I tell Dave its up to him.......flat through chicane and then try to sort it the other side OR enter the corner slower and accelerate out....

well.....its kill or cure

180 wides are normally equal radius but we know this tightens....normally you lift, touch of left foot brake and round she comes and JUST as you stop sliding you're parallel to the cones and aiming up the run way...

thats an entry speed of about 80 dropping to 70....

we enter flat in 5th (91mph) and round she comes....

all the way round.....

through the cones goes the back....

and now its Zaks job to remember which way is FORWARD

We come to a stop grab first and off we go....

Robs gone.....

we get the next junction 300 metres away, a 45 right into tight 1st gear 180 left (to catch you out after 30 metres flat) and we can see him again.....

all that time we lost (5 or 6 seconds) on a spin, doesnt seem to have mattered (he never did tell me what slowed him)....

the stage continued and we smiled all the way around.....we tried....we know what we need....

I just gotta find the dough....

I need [classic motorsport whine mode] MORE POWER [/classic motorsport whine mode]

[Shad]

Well played, sounds like bloody good fun

Always thought you were the driver though?

[Zak33]

nope...never...not yet