Hi,
This is the old website / blog for my rallying. Please visit www.mattendean.co.uk for the new website.
Cheers
Matt
Thursday 24 December 2009
Friday 17 October 2008
Update
Well the rally car is still in the garage, it is about 1/2 way through its re-build. But a lack of enthusiasm has meant that not a lot has been done for a while.
However i have still be out competing.
I took part in the 7Oaks Sprint at North Weald at the end of August where i took 2nd in class in a standard Nissan Micra.
Then last weekend i took part in a B19MC PCT (or Car Trial as they are now called) again in the Nissan Micra where i took 3rd in class and 4th overall.
I was planning to do the next Chelmsford gymkhana, however this was cancelled :(
So my next event is with my in the hot seat navving !!!!
I could well be out on the Halloween 12 Car which Chelmsford MC are running, out again in the Micra. This will be good practice for when i am Navving on the mighty Preston at the end of the year.
However i have still be out competing.
I took part in the 7Oaks Sprint at North Weald at the end of August where i took 2nd in class in a standard Nissan Micra.
Then last weekend i took part in a B19MC PCT (or Car Trial as they are now called) again in the Nissan Micra where i took 3rd in class and 4th overall.
I was planning to do the next Chelmsford gymkhana, however this was cancelled :(
So my next event is with my in the hot seat navving !!!!
I could well be out on the Halloween 12 Car which Chelmsford MC are running, out again in the Micra. This will be good practice for when i am Navving on the mighty Preston at the end of the year.
Wednesday 23 July 2008
Summer Break
Results
Firstly the scatter, this was good fun, and evn though there a lot of very tough navigation and not that many plots visited (10) we still picked up 4th overall. Which given it was my first time on the maps in over a year was pleasing :)
On to the Autosolo...... Well after a very hot day's motorsport, I took the class win by nearly 24secs (in ~6 mins of competition). The event was good fun, and the tests were open and flowing (see video below), also the tests proved to a good leveler of cars. This enabled me to set times quicker than Civic Type R running rally slicks and full race cars running sticker tyres (i was on old standard road tyres).
All in all a great days sport :)
Below is another video from my collection on YouTube (search for Matt Endean Rallying).
End of update........
After a a bit of an enforced summer break (see below car issues), I will be back out competing this weekend on two events.
Friday 25th : I am navving with Suze Bisping (Girlfriend) in her Micra on Chelmsford Motor Club's summer scatter rally. It has been over a year since i have been 'on the maps' so it could be an interesting evening, especially due to Suze's good results we are classed as Experts!
I will post results and info about these events as i receive the information, i will also try and get some footage of the autosolo as well to put up either on here or on U-Tube.
Sunday 27th : I am using my road car (now a Rover 200) in 7Oaks MC first Autosolo. This is a cross between a tarmac autotest and a sprint. But with no tight parts or reversing it should be a fun day out with over 40 competitors entered competition should be good, especially as Suze is double driving the car with me !
As for the rally car, it is on an enforced lay-off due to the main front subframe being badly cracked. This meant the entry for the Welsh Enduro and Essex Charity Stages had be pulled, as replacing the sub-frame is a BIG job.
This will be done over the summer holidays, along with a very subtle modifications to the suspension and subframes. As well as ever growing list of 'other' maintenance jobs needing to be done.
I hope to have the work done by the end of August, when the car will be finished in 'Tarmac' spec.
This is because after a lot of thinking i will be changing direction motorsport wise this year and into next year. I will be concentrating on doing sprints and working towards getting my race licence and then going racing.
This will require a bit of work doing to the car to bring it into 'tarmac' spec.
Soon a list of job required will follow, and hopefully a few pictures to show progress of work when i start in mid-August.
Updated 23d July 2008
BlogCounter.Com Counter - Started 25th March 17.45
Firstly the scatter, this was good fun, and evn though there a lot of very tough navigation and not that many plots visited (10) we still picked up 4th overall. Which given it was my first time on the maps in over a year was pleasing :)
On to the Autosolo...... Well after a very hot day's motorsport, I took the class win by nearly 24secs (in ~6 mins of competition). The event was good fun, and the tests were open and flowing (see video below), also the tests proved to a good leveler of cars. This enabled me to set times quicker than Civic Type R running rally slicks and full race cars running sticker tyres (i was on old standard road tyres).
All in all a great days sport :)
Below is another video from my collection on YouTube (search for Matt Endean Rallying).
End of update........
After a a bit of an enforced summer break (see below car issues), I will be back out competing this weekend on two events.
Friday 25th : I am navving with Suze Bisping (Girlfriend) in her Micra on Chelmsford Motor Club's summer scatter rally. It has been over a year since i have been 'on the maps' so it could be an interesting evening, especially due to Suze's good results we are classed as Experts!
I will post results and info about these events as i receive the information, i will also try and get some footage of the autosolo as well to put up either on here or on U-Tube.
Sunday 27th : I am using my road car (now a Rover 200) in 7Oaks MC first Autosolo. This is a cross between a tarmac autotest and a sprint. But with no tight parts or reversing it should be a fun day out with over 40 competitors entered competition should be good, especially as Suze is double driving the car with me !
As for the rally car, it is on an enforced lay-off due to the main front subframe being badly cracked. This meant the entry for the Welsh Enduro and Essex Charity Stages had be pulled, as replacing the sub-frame is a BIG job.
This will be done over the summer holidays, along with a very subtle modifications to the suspension and subframes. As well as ever growing list of 'other' maintenance jobs needing to be done.
I hope to have the work done by the end of August, when the car will be finished in 'Tarmac' spec.
This is because after a lot of thinking i will be changing direction motorsport wise this year and into next year. I will be concentrating on doing sprints and working towards getting my race licence and then going racing.
This will require a bit of work doing to the car to bring it into 'tarmac' spec.
Soon a list of job required will follow, and hopefully a few pictures to show progress of work when i start in mid-August.
Updated 23d July 2008
BlogCounter.Com Counter - Started 25th March 17.45
Monday 26 May 2008
Doing it on grass
The Sevenoaks MC grass autotests have started back again this year. This is a series of evening autotests running once a fortnight. These prove to be a good chance to catch up with mates and practice car control.
There have been two rounds so far, with both being held in the sun which is untypical of the British summer !
Results :-
Round 1 : 3rd in class, 6th overall
Round 2 : 3rd in class, 6th overall
Below is one of the on-board videos from the second event. To view the others view my YouTube account Matt Endean Rallying
Updated 26th May '08
There have been two rounds so far, with both being held in the sun which is untypical of the British summer !
Results :-
Round 1 : 3rd in class, 6th overall
Round 2 : 3rd in class, 6th overall
Below is one of the on-board videos from the second event. To view the others view my YouTube account Matt Endean Rallying
Updated 26th May '08
Thursday 17 April 2008
3rd Championship Round
Update : Full event report :-
After our (Dave Leadbetter on the maps once again) solid finish on the last round of the Championship the SW Enduro, we headed off for our ‘home’ round. Even if our ‘home’ round involved a two hour drive to Norfolk !!
After the SW Enduro where we aimed for a finish, I wanted to return to the top ten/five on the EACS Enduro, so we set off from the start ‘on a mission’.
The day route was great fun with a great variety of tests from short tight tests to (much) longer and open flowing tests at Sculthorpe. With our ‘on a mission’ status we were setting many top 5 and top 3 test times, and even with a bit of a scare in the bomb dump at Sculthorpe we made it supper halt with the car in tact and still with road legal tyres at the front !!!!
Supper halt was all about a ‘filling’ meal as the organisers called it and swapping the front tyres for the spares, as they had lost the outer edge from all the running at Sculthorpe, plus a lot of rally ‘banter’.
On to the night route and the first control we get to Peter Valentine is manning and he tells us its ‘Flat to the next control lads’ the route was through a private concrete lane at the edge of a field. What Peter forgot to mention was the kink right left near the end of the section, we got to this at a fair old pace (flat in fourth) and there was no way we were going to make the corners. So I straightened the car up and aimed it at the field, amazingly there was no edge to the road, so with a slight bit of flying (and a lot of ploughing) we ended up in the field losing about 20mph. So all I needed to do was drop it to third gear and drive out of the field.
The rest of the night route was a lot less eventful (thankfully) and was a good thrash around the lanes of Norfolk, including the usual finish at Brandiston which was a very fast finish to the night route. So much so I couldn’t stop for the final control, due to the brakes fading !!!!
Sunday however could have seen our downfall, after a faultless (and perhaps best ever night route performance by Dave on the maps) run throughout the event we ended up stopping in the wrong stop box on one of the Sunday tests. At this point, we both wanted to end it all then, but on getting back to the hotel, we found out that there was no penalty listed for stopping in the wrong box. So we got away with a wrong test by the smallest of margins. However I also managed to over cook things a bit on the Sunday by hitting two cones, this cost us that top 5 finish we wanted. But 6th overall and 1st Expert was very pleasing after a tough battle with the top crews throughout the event.
See here for more detailed results.
Some better (bigger) pics are now out from M & H Photography (See Corperate Links further down for a link to their site).
(Click on any picture to see the full size version)
The hairpin in the bombdump test at MoD Sculthorpe, with the mud flying.....
This shows us on the night route at Brandiston airfield, with the car showing how hard we were trying on that section. Where we set a time 30 seconds quicker than the event winner Owen Turner !!! :)
Pre - Event :-
This weekend we (Dave Leadbetter on the maps again) are off to Norfolk for my own motor clubs Endurance Rally the EACS Endurance Rally. The rally is based in Norwich and uses the many old airfields and narrow lanes in the area to produce an event where its biggest rival is the action in the bar before and after the event !
We are seeded 16th for this event and more information about the event can be found here Chelmsford MC.
After our (Dave Leadbetter on the maps once again) solid finish on the last round of the Championship the SW Enduro, we headed off for our ‘home’ round. Even if our ‘home’ round involved a two hour drive to Norfolk !!
After the SW Enduro where we aimed for a finish, I wanted to return to the top ten/five on the EACS Enduro, so we set off from the start ‘on a mission’.
The day route was great fun with a great variety of tests from short tight tests to (much) longer and open flowing tests at Sculthorpe. With our ‘on a mission’ status we were setting many top 5 and top 3 test times, and even with a bit of a scare in the bomb dump at Sculthorpe we made it supper halt with the car in tact and still with road legal tyres at the front !!!!
Supper halt was all about a ‘filling’ meal as the organisers called it and swapping the front tyres for the spares, as they had lost the outer edge from all the running at Sculthorpe, plus a lot of rally ‘banter’.
On to the night route and the first control we get to Peter Valentine is manning and he tells us its ‘Flat to the next control lads’ the route was through a private concrete lane at the edge of a field. What Peter forgot to mention was the kink right left near the end of the section, we got to this at a fair old pace (flat in fourth) and there was no way we were going to make the corners. So I straightened the car up and aimed it at the field, amazingly there was no edge to the road, so with a slight bit of flying (and a lot of ploughing) we ended up in the field losing about 20mph. So all I needed to do was drop it to third gear and drive out of the field.
The rest of the night route was a lot less eventful (thankfully) and was a good thrash around the lanes of Norfolk, including the usual finish at Brandiston which was a very fast finish to the night route. So much so I couldn’t stop for the final control, due to the brakes fading !!!!
Sunday however could have seen our downfall, after a faultless (and perhaps best ever night route performance by Dave on the maps) run throughout the event we ended up stopping in the wrong stop box on one of the Sunday tests. At this point, we both wanted to end it all then, but on getting back to the hotel, we found out that there was no penalty listed for stopping in the wrong box. So we got away with a wrong test by the smallest of margins. However I also managed to over cook things a bit on the Sunday by hitting two cones, this cost us that top 5 finish we wanted. But 6th overall and 1st Expert was very pleasing after a tough battle with the top crews throughout the event.
See here for more detailed results.
Some better (bigger) pics are now out from M & H Photography (See Corperate Links further down for a link to their site).
(Click on any picture to see the full size version)
The hairpin in the bombdump test at MoD Sculthorpe, with the mud flying.....
This shows us on the night route at Brandiston airfield, with the car showing how hard we were trying on that section. Where we set a time 30 seconds quicker than the event winner Owen Turner !!! :)
Pre - Event :-
This weekend we (Dave Leadbetter on the maps again) are off to Norfolk for my own motor clubs Endurance Rally the EACS Endurance Rally. The rally is based in Norwich and uses the many old airfields and narrow lanes in the area to produce an event where its biggest rival is the action in the bar before and after the event !
We are seeded 16th for this event and more information about the event can be found here Chelmsford MC.
Thursday 10 April 2008
New South West Endurance Rally Pictures
After receiving an updated set of pictures, below is a selection of pictures from the recent SW Endurance Rally :-
(Click on any picture to see the full size version)
A long exposure shot from the one of the Friday night stages
This is the same corner as the one in the above shot
This picture was taken at Penhale Camp (MoD Property) on the North Cornwall coastline.
This was the final stage of the event 'Cann Wood' near Plymouth.
Thanks to Andy Manston for use of his pictures see here for more of his work.
(Click on any picture to see the full size version)
A long exposure shot from the one of the Friday night stages
This is the same corner as the one in the above shot
This picture was taken at Penhale Camp (MoD Property) on the North Cornwall coastline.
This was the final stage of the event 'Cann Wood' near Plymouth.
Thanks to Andy Manston for use of his pictures see here for more of his work.
Corporate Partnerships
During the past couple of years i have developed a number of corporate partnerships. These have enabled me work with companies to further develop their corporate image and brand awareness.
Monday 7 April 2008
U-Tube Fame & More Instructor Work
Yes, yet more fame on u-tube with a short clip in a compilation of the 2007 Lombard Rally. We feature at about 2mins 7secs - see here.
This week I will be back at Brands Hatch working as an instructor at a Corporate Day. However I had to turn down a days instructing with my rally car, working for a major national TV company......
This week I will be back at Brands Hatch working as an instructor at a Corporate Day. However I had to turn down a days instructing with my rally car, working for a major national TV company......
Wednesday 2 April 2008
VK - Road Rally - Driving Duties
Yet another weekend of motorsport lies ahead, I will be driving Car 0 (Course Opening Car) for one of my navigators and mates Dave Leadbetter (AKA Dave 'Sideways' Leadfoot). Who is the event's Assistant Clerk of the Course.
The event is based in Derbyshire and uses the best of the lanes and private land for a top nights sport.
See here for more info.
Following that i will be heading back down south to North Weald Airfield (near Stansted) to watch and support at the 7Oaks Sprint, which my girlfriend Suze Bisping is competing in. See here for more info.
After that I'll be getting some sleep !!! And then planning the work needing doing before the Chelmsford MC EACS Endurance Rally in mid April.
Update : Well a very snowy weekend was had, hopefully Andy Manston got some pics of us in the snow. The route was top fun and we had great fun on the whites, especially when they were whites covered in snow !
The event is based in Derbyshire and uses the best of the lanes and private land for a top nights sport.
See here for more info.
Following that i will be heading back down south to North Weald Airfield (near Stansted) to watch and support at the 7Oaks Sprint, which my girlfriend Suze Bisping is competing in. See here for more info.
After that I'll be getting some sleep !!! And then planning the work needing doing before the Chelmsford MC EACS Endurance Rally in mid April.
Update : Well a very snowy weekend was had, hopefully Andy Manston got some pics of us in the snow. The route was top fun and we had great fun on the whites, especially when they were whites covered in snow !
Sunday 23 March 2008
March - Gymkhana
Results Update
1st in class, 9th overall or 5th overall if you remove all the slick shod specials :)
See here for detailed results.
Great days motorsport, but the car was a real handful all day long with knobblies on the front and road tyres on the back and wet and very muddy and slippery surface meant the back of the car was all over the place. But great fun :) - However it did make it a very hard car to learn or get any confidence in......
Shame the gearbox is now jumping out of 1st and 2nd gear quite a lot of the time. Not 100% sure but I'm guessing its something internal the box, as i can't see anything wrong with the external selector rods.
I'll have to cope with it for next weekend (Car 0 on VK road rally :;): ) and hope it lasts......
Then swap it for the re-built / spare gearbox, shame it doesn't have quite the same or good ratio's but lack of funds mean I'll have to cope........
Then i think i will take the now knackered box apart and try re-building it myself... :O
Pics and possibly short video footage to follow later...
Updated 30th March '08
The seeded entry list for the March Gymkhana is out (see here) and we are seeded 7th overall. Given that all drivers seeded above me are past multiple event winners it is pleasing to be seeded so high :)
Car prep will be based on the below list of development work.
I will also be experimenting with a new camera mount and rear seat layout, so hopefully this will mean some video footage of event will be on-line soon after the event.
I will be experimenting with different driver seat positions to ensure i am working in the most optimum position.
More info / event prep details to follow.....
Updated 25th March
1st in class, 9th overall or 5th overall if you remove all the slick shod specials :)
See here for detailed results.
Great days motorsport, but the car was a real handful all day long with knobblies on the front and road tyres on the back and wet and very muddy and slippery surface meant the back of the car was all over the place. But great fun :) - However it did make it a very hard car to learn or get any confidence in......
Shame the gearbox is now jumping out of 1st and 2nd gear quite a lot of the time. Not 100% sure but I'm guessing its something internal the box, as i can't see anything wrong with the external selector rods.
I'll have to cope with it for next weekend (Car 0 on VK road rally :;): ) and hope it lasts......
Then swap it for the re-built / spare gearbox, shame it doesn't have quite the same or good ratio's but lack of funds mean I'll have to cope........
Then i think i will take the now knackered box apart and try re-building it myself... :O
Pics and possibly short video footage to follow later...
Updated 30th March '08
The seeded entry list for the March Gymkhana is out (see here) and we are seeded 7th overall. Given that all drivers seeded above me are past multiple event winners it is pleasing to be seeded so high :)
Car prep will be based on the below list of development work.
I will also be experimenting with a new camera mount and rear seat layout, so hopefully this will mean some video footage of event will be on-line soon after the event.
I will be experimenting with different driver seat positions to ensure i am working in the most optimum position.
More info / event prep details to follow.....
Updated 25th March
Wednesday 12 March 2008
South West Endurance Rally - Pictures
Thanks to Andy Manston for these pictures, these are rough proof's more detail versions will follow in time.
Us on lap one of one of the tarmac stages, followed closely (on lap 2) by Matt Fowle.
Same venue again but coming down hill at speed, look at the NSF tyre !!!
Here we are heading towards an open 45 right into 45 left between two walls, this picture showing what the whether and driving conditions were mostly like (ie wet and slippery....)
Us on lap one of one of the tarmac stages, followed closely (on lap 2) by Matt Fowle.
Same venue again but coming down hill at speed, look at the NSF tyre !!!
Here we are heading towards an open 45 right into 45 left between two walls, this picture showing what the whether and driving conditions were mostly like (ie wet and slippery....)
Sunday 9 March 2008
Development work
Post South West Endurance Rally development work :-
- Jet wash Done 15th March '08 and wash car
- Full bolt check, including sump guard which worked loose - Done 29th March '08
- Fluids check - Done 13th March '08
- Add switches and new loom to allow for manual switching for cooling fans
- Re-fit and loctite windscreen wiper motor mounts - Done 29th March '08
- Fit new camera mount and remove current bullet cam set-up - Done 29th March '08
- New name stickers.....
- Alter drivers seat position (up and forwards) before the upcoming Gymkhana - Interim testing with foam will be used on the Gymkhana - 29th March '08
- Fit 1.8 VVCi exhaust system and new back box or remove bend from current back box after a 'moment' in woods ;)
- Re-fit OSR Mud-flap after the above moment - Done 29th March '08
- Check gear linkage as it kept on jumping out of 2nd gear in the woods
- Add map switch
- Sort out issues over rear trim / seats........ New rear seats sourced, new base part is now fitted, back still be fitted - 29th March '08
- New labels for car ie tyre pressure etc...
- And anything else i find !
- Re-fit interior light
Updated : 19th March '08
- Jet wash Done 15th March '08 and wash car
- Full bolt check, including sump guard which worked loose - Done 29th March '08
- Fluids check - Done 13th March '08
- Add switches and new loom to allow for manual switching for cooling fans
- Re-fit and loctite windscreen wiper motor mounts - Done 29th March '08
- Fit new camera mount and remove current bullet cam set-up - Done 29th March '08
- New name stickers.....
- Alter drivers seat position (up and forwards) before the upcoming Gymkhana - Interim testing with foam will be used on the Gymkhana - 29th March '08
- Fit 1.8 VVCi exhaust system and new back box or remove bend from current back box after a 'moment' in woods ;)
- Re-fit OSR Mud-flap after the above moment - Done 29th March '08
- Check gear linkage as it kept on jumping out of 2nd gear in the woods
- Add map switch
- Sort out issues over rear trim / seats........ New rear seats sourced, new base part is now fitted, back still be fitted - 29th March '08
- New labels for car ie tyre pressure etc...
- And anything else i find !
- Re-fit interior light
Updated : 19th March '08
Sunday 24 February 2008
South West Endurance Rally - Round Two
Updated 12th March......... :-
Well we made it, and what an endurance it was, but BIG BIG fun :)
17th Overall isn't our (Dave Leadbetter on the maps) best result (5th o/a last year) but after many non-finishes and issues on events since June last year it was nice to get to the end of a rally !
More results and info can be found here
Detailed Report :-
So after our little ‘moment’ on the Bustard rally a month earlier and a string on non-finishes and poor results, the last time we (Dave Leadbetter on the maps) had a decent finish was the Mid-summer Endurance last June. So we set our sights a little lower, and to aim for a top 20 finish, but a solid finish.
Last years SW Enduro was one of the best rallies we have done and this years was no exception, and it proved to be a real endurance. The Friday start was followed by lots of small tests to get into the ‘grove’ and we found our pace (roughly just outside of the top ten), and then it was off to Dartmoor to get into the forests. The SW forests are seldom rallied, so they have a very smooth surface and with some clever stage design it meant that it was a test of both driver and navigator skills to set good times. This was followed by a short road rally section of regularities where we managed (along with 34 other crews) to miss a board a real beginners mistake and this cost us heavily time wise.
So onto the Saturday starting from Plymouth the route ran down through Cornwall past Newquay to some of the best airfields around (RAF Porthreath), but on the way down we stopped off at lots of forestry stages as well, and then we re-traced our steps back to Plymouth back through all the forests back to the hotel. The event covered 500 miles, over 100 stage miles and was HUGE HUGE fun.
Plus we managed that top 20 finish, with 17th overall, with the board and after looking at the results in detail if we hadn’t got lost or missed that board then we we would have finished around 7th or 8th overall, which given the pace at the top and the fact that we aimed for a finish rather than fighting at the front is pleasing :)And yes yet more proof if needed that rallying is full of ifs and buts…….
It's just days now until the South West Endurance Rally.....
And more exposure in press with photo's and names mentioned in both the international motoring press (Motorsport News) and local (to the event) press The Herald Express.
Seeding this year is much better with us seeded at 15th
Event information and spectator information is available here
(We are the fourth photo down)
Update..... 5th March
A mixed day working on the rally car to get it ready for next weekend. Good progress was made with the new spotlight mounts with radiator protection. However due to a wiring issue with the cooling fans, the car will be off to the Turner Brothers for a new Head Gasket on Monday. I will hopefully get the car back Wednesday night to finish off any last minute jobs like stickers etc.....
Thankfully due to the hard work of the Turner Brother staff the car was collected tonight and i have just the small little jobs to do before heading off tomorrow to a hopefully Sunny Devon.
Well we made it, and what an endurance it was, but BIG BIG fun :)
17th Overall isn't our (Dave Leadbetter on the maps) best result (5th o/a last year) but after many non-finishes and issues on events since June last year it was nice to get to the end of a rally !
More results and info can be found here
Detailed Report :-
So after our little ‘moment’ on the Bustard rally a month earlier and a string on non-finishes and poor results, the last time we (Dave Leadbetter on the maps) had a decent finish was the Mid-summer Endurance last June. So we set our sights a little lower, and to aim for a top 20 finish, but a solid finish.
Last years SW Enduro was one of the best rallies we have done and this years was no exception, and it proved to be a real endurance. The Friday start was followed by lots of small tests to get into the ‘grove’ and we found our pace (roughly just outside of the top ten), and then it was off to Dartmoor to get into the forests. The SW forests are seldom rallied, so they have a very smooth surface and with some clever stage design it meant that it was a test of both driver and navigator skills to set good times. This was followed by a short road rally section of regularities where we managed (along with 34 other crews) to miss a board a real beginners mistake and this cost us heavily time wise.
So onto the Saturday starting from Plymouth the route ran down through Cornwall past Newquay to some of the best airfields around (RAF Porthreath), but on the way down we stopped off at lots of forestry stages as well, and then we re-traced our steps back to Plymouth back through all the forests back to the hotel. The event covered 500 miles, over 100 stage miles and was HUGE HUGE fun.
Plus we managed that top 20 finish, with 17th overall, with the board and after looking at the results in detail if we hadn’t got lost or missed that board then we we would have finished around 7th or 8th overall, which given the pace at the top and the fact that we aimed for a finish rather than fighting at the front is pleasing :)And yes yet more proof if needed that rallying is full of ifs and buts…….
It's just days now until the South West Endurance Rally.....
And more exposure in press with photo's and names mentioned in both the international motoring press (Motorsport News) and local (to the event) press The Herald Express.
Seeding this year is much better with us seeded at 15th
Event information and spectator information is available here
(We are the fourth photo down)
Update..... 5th March
A mixed day working on the rally car to get it ready for next weekend. Good progress was made with the new spotlight mounts with radiator protection. However due to a wiring issue with the cooling fans, the car will be off to the Turner Brothers for a new Head Gasket on Monday. I will hopefully get the car back Wednesday night to finish off any last minute jobs like stickers etc.....
Thankfully due to the hard work of the Turner Brother staff the car was collected tonight and i have just the small little jobs to do before heading off tomorrow to a hopefully Sunny Devon.
Friday 22 February 2008
New 'To Do' List.......
Following testing, and the Great Bustard Enduro rally, more work and developments are needed, here is the list of major work to be done :-
- Replace NSR mud-flap - Done 1st March
- Check of all fluids - Done 23rd Feb '08
- Full bolt check - Done 1st March
- Fit 1.8VVCi manifold back exhaust system - Moved to new 'to do' list....
- Weld on new spotlight and radiator protection mounts / guards and fit spotlights - Done 6th March
- If time allows - fit new handbrake cables and test ;) - Done 1st March
- Wash & Polish car - Done 1st March
- Replace and add new name stickers to car and helmet - Done 6th March
- Ratchet strap battery into position - Done 25th Feb '08
- Zip-tie all electrical connectors to try and stop the annoying mis-fire issues.... - Done 24th Feb '08
- Change cam-belt & water pump - Done 1st March
Better get working then.....
Updated 5th March '08
- Replace NSR mud-flap - Done 1st March
- Check of all fluids - Done 23rd Feb '08
- Full bolt check - Done 1st March
- Fit 1.8VVCi manifold back exhaust system - Moved to new 'to do' list....
- Weld on new spotlight and radiator protection mounts / guards and fit spotlights - Done 6th March
- If time allows - fit new handbrake cables and test ;) - Done 1st March
- Wash & Polish car - Done 1st March
- Replace and add new name stickers to car and helmet - Done 6th March
- Ratchet strap battery into position - Done 25th Feb '08
- Zip-tie all electrical connectors to try and stop the annoying mis-fire issues.... - Done 24th Feb '08
- Change cam-belt & water pump - Done 1st March
Better get working then.....
Updated 5th March '08
Tyre Testing Reports.....
Well testing is done and dusted and my report can be seen on the below link. The car ran well until the ECU connector fell off causing a mis-fire. but then this is what testing is about finding out what does and doesn't work.
Also the driver tuition has helped me work out what area's i need to improve and the confidence that what i am doing is mostly right. Lets hope i can remember what i should be doing in the heat of moment next month on the SW Enduro......
Tyre Testing Report :-
Documents are here
A video of test venue will follow soon......
.......and here it is, clicky here
Hopefully further tyre testing will follow soon (on & off-road), as well as at the next CMC Gymkhana.
Updated 22nd Feb '08
Also the driver tuition has helped me work out what area's i need to improve and the confidence that what i am doing is mostly right. Lets hope i can remember what i should be doing in the heat of moment next month on the SW Enduro......
Tyre Testing Report :-
Documents are here
A video of test venue will follow soon......
.......and here it is, clicky here
Hopefully further tyre testing will follow soon (on & off-road), as well as at the next CMC Gymkhana.
Updated 22nd Feb '08
Wednesday 13 February 2008
Tyre Testing & Tuition
Having secured a set of Silverstone S505 & Dunlop SP82 tyres from the manufacturers, i will be testing these tyres with a view to adopting one of these for the National Endurance Championship.
Also the day will focus on my developing my driving skills as i will be receiving tuition from ex. Peugeot 205 Championship (original works version) driver Tony Clements, who has done WRC events as well as being a well re-known co-driver.
Hopefully the day will allow me to test the tyres and teach me how to drive even quicker, and given last weekend stay on the road !
Full reports for each tyre and picture and video will follow next week after the test.
Sunday 10 February 2008
Not such a great weekend.....
Very quick first ramblings, more to follow from the first round the championship Updated with pics now - thanks to Rob Aslett :) :-
Well we did a few stages, we lost a spot light on Worthy Farm 1, on one of the 'don't cut' posts......
Then the rest went really well (no idea of speed or results as we never got that far...) apart from Henstridge where every thing went downhill for many many different reasons.... :(
But then on the second run of the Kings Wood stage in the dark (in reverse, so 4th time on the stage), flat in 3rd around the left / rights, all of a sudden the back comes round before I can do anything and the front of the car digs in the ditch, spins us round (in about 4ft of movement !) and leaves us stuck in the ditch, but very annoyingly it had broken the bottom of the rad :(
Really enjoyed the woods, no punctures, and generally apart from my off, the tyres (Firestone's) held up. Judging by comments at the tea halt, plenty of others have tales to tell at the end, shame we weren't there.
A BIG BIG thank you to the newby marshals who towed us out of the ditch, the out of the woods, and then about 10 miles to a pub, where we just caught them still selling Cod n' Chips :)
More Pictures - Thanks to Andy Manston of M&H Photography :-
Updated: 12th Feb. '08
Well we did a few stages, we lost a spot light on Worthy Farm 1, on one of the 'don't cut' posts......
Then the rest went really well (no idea of speed or results as we never got that far...) apart from Henstridge where every thing went downhill for many many different reasons.... :(
But then on the second run of the Kings Wood stage in the dark (in reverse, so 4th time on the stage), flat in 3rd around the left / rights, all of a sudden the back comes round before I can do anything and the front of the car digs in the ditch, spins us round (in about 4ft of movement !) and leaves us stuck in the ditch, but very annoyingly it had broken the bottom of the rad :(
Really enjoyed the woods, no punctures, and generally apart from my off, the tyres (Firestone's) held up. Judging by comments at the tea halt, plenty of others have tales to tell at the end, shame we weren't there.
A BIG BIG thank you to the newby marshals who towed us out of the ditch, the out of the woods, and then about 10 miles to a pub, where we just caught them still selling Cod n' Chips :)
More Pictures - Thanks to Andy Manston of M&H Photography :-
Updated: 12th Feb. '08
Thursday 31 January 2008
Fame at last.... !
A chance for those who missed the Motors TV coverage of the Lombard 2007 rally to see the highlights of where we featured, or you might want to watch it for the Foo Fighters music :)
See the video here
Updated: 1st Feb '08
Sunday 27 January 2008
A working weekend
A full weekend has just been spent working at the Brands Hatch rally school, involving a mixture of both instructing and giving demo driving laps around the two rally stages.
Although Gordon Brown and his cronies get a fair share of the cut, the money earned all goes to further the rallying budget, with just a couple of weeks to go before the season opener in Somerset, and I can't wait.
Monday 14 January 2008
First event of the year......
Chelmsford Motor Club (my local club) are running a Gymkhana at Woodbridge airfield and this will be a treated very much as a test session for both car and driver.
Pics, results to follow after the event - New pic added !
Update: I have been asked to test a set of tyres for a major international tyre supplier, with a view to their use on Endurance rallies in the future. Tyre test data and feedback will also follow after the event.
Since the test never happened, i will now be evaluating the tyres when i go testing in the middle of February, more details will follow after that.
Results : Well the tyre test didn't happen for a number of reasons but, it turned out the old worn Colways worked well as we took the event win ! A top days club motorsport :)
Pictures; sorry they are not that big, but better quality ones will follow.
Just after a dip in road, showing the car at full compression
Just entering the same dip, the red circle is showing the photographers stickers, a number of us run with these to show our thanks to Andy Manston who is out on most of our events snapping us.
(See http://www.mandh-photography.co.uk for more info.)
NEW Pic :) :-
This picture was taken coming out of a double 90 Right, which was very slippery due to a covering of mud (well i think it is mud !!!). On our way to a top 5 time :)
Updated; 1st Feb '08
Pics, results to follow after the event - New pic added !
Update: I have been asked to test a set of tyres for a major international tyre supplier, with a view to their use on Endurance rallies in the future. Tyre test data and feedback will also follow after the event.
Since the test never happened, i will now be evaluating the tyres when i go testing in the middle of February, more details will follow after that.
Results : Well the tyre test didn't happen for a number of reasons but, it turned out the old worn Colways worked well as we took the event win ! A top days club motorsport :)
Pictures; sorry they are not that big, but better quality ones will follow.
Just after a dip in road, showing the car at full compression
Just entering the same dip, the red circle is showing the photographers stickers, a number of us run with these to show our thanks to Andy Manston who is out on most of our events snapping us.
(See http://www.mandh-photography.co.uk for more info.)
NEW Pic :) :-
This picture was taken coming out of a double 90 Right, which was very slippery due to a covering of mud (well i think it is mud !!!). On our way to a top 5 time :)
Updated; 1st Feb '08
Sunday 30 December 2007
2008 Winter Project Work
Below is a list of jobs to be done to the car before the first round of the championship 9th/10th Feb, i had better get working ! :-
- MOT - Done 2nd Jan '08
- Refit serviced front shocks (amazingly cheap only 23 Quid + vat each at Gaz ) - Done 31st Dec '07
- Sort fuel pump relay issues, and add 'hard-wired' loom Done 19th Jan '08
- Add stage / road 'map' switch
- Sort trip meter sender wiring issues - Done 4th Feb '08
- Change spark plugs, rotor arm & cap, and HT-leads - Done 5th Feb '08
- Fit new cam belt, tensioner and water pump - Done 1st March
- Complete bolt check (as per every event check)
- Deal with dent....... - Done 7th Feb '08
- Fit new front brake discs & pads - Done 4th Feb '08
- Sort Cut-off switch wiring fault.....
- Decide on new tyres and get them fitted, and repair one wheel Tyre decision made ! We'll be running with Firestone F580 6-Ply tyres. Fitted four, now just trying to scrub them in ! (4th Feb '08)
- Adjust h/brake..... again ! (Before CMC Gymkhana) Done 15th Jan '08 and tested :) But driver needs more h/brake practice.....(luckily the Gymkhana proved just that practice :) !)
- Check drive belts -Done 4th Feb '08
- Check rear brakes - Done 7th Feb '08
- Change driveshafts - Done 7th Feb '08
- Speak to TRS about harness recall, new harness buckles on order, after Autosport Show, new buckles have arrived just got to fit them. Now fitted and much better :) - Done 4th Feb '08*
- Check all levels and change engine oil and filter - Done 7th Feb '08(inspect old filter)*
- Change fuel filter - Done 5th Feb '08 (inspect old filter)*
- Check / add front bumper mounts - Done 4th Feb '08
- Remove air-con, its never really worked well, so it can go - Done 1st March
- Inspect g/box oil for signs of wear etc.... - Done 7th Feb '08
- Refit nav's map light - Done 4th Feb '08
- Check +ve voltage at spots when on full beam - Done 7th Feb '08
* = Essential Items to be done before the first round of the championship early in February, too much work and too little time means some jobs will have to wait till the SW Enduro.
Updated 5th March '08
- MOT - Done 2nd Jan '08
- Refit serviced front shocks (amazingly cheap only 23 Quid + vat each at Gaz ) - Done 31st Dec '07
- Sort fuel pump relay issues, and add 'hard-wired' loom Done 19th Jan '08
- Add stage / road 'map' switch
- Sort trip meter sender wiring issues - Done 4th Feb '08
- Change spark plugs, rotor arm & cap, and HT-leads - Done 5th Feb '08
- Fit new cam belt, tensioner and water pump - Done 1st March
- Complete bolt check (as per every event check)
- Deal with dent....... - Done 7th Feb '08
- Fit new front brake discs & pads - Done 4th Feb '08
- Sort Cut-off switch wiring fault.....
- Decide on new tyres and get them fitted, and repair one wheel Tyre decision made ! We'll be running with Firestone F580 6-Ply tyres. Fitted four, now just trying to scrub them in ! (4th Feb '08)
- Adjust h/brake..... again ! (Before CMC Gymkhana) Done 15th Jan '08 and tested :) But driver needs more h/brake practice.....(luckily the Gymkhana proved just that practice :) !)
- Check drive belts -Done 4th Feb '08
- Check rear brakes - Done 7th Feb '08
- Change driveshafts - Done 7th Feb '08
- Speak to TRS about harness recall, new harness buckles on order, after Autosport Show, new buckles have arrived just got to fit them. Now fitted and much better :) - Done 4th Feb '08*
- Check all levels and change engine oil and filter - Done 7th Feb '08(inspect old filter)*
- Change fuel filter - Done 5th Feb '08 (inspect old filter)*
- Check / add front bumper mounts - Done 4th Feb '08
- Remove air-con, its never really worked well, so it can go - Done 1st March
- Inspect g/box oil for signs of wear etc.... - Done 7th Feb '08
- Refit nav's map light - Done 4th Feb '08
- Check +ve voltage at spots when on full beam - Done 7th Feb '08
* = Essential Items to be done before the first round of the championship early in February, too much work and too little time means some jobs will have to wait till the SW Enduro.
Updated 5th March '08
Wednesday 26 December 2007
2007 in pictures....
5th O/A and 3rd in class on the South West Endurance Rally
(Click on any pics for a bigger version)
5th O/A and 1st in class on the CMC Mid-summer Endurance Rally
Same event but later that night in the fog
Pushing too hard on the Welsh Endurance, the clutch went later in the event so our first DNF..... :( - Camera Phone Pic, sorry for quality.
Yorkshire Endurance Rally - 21st O/A and championship positions confirmed :) - Taken in Boltby Forest one of the best forests around.
Lombard Rally 2007 - Setting 2nd Fastest Stage time at Silverstone, and taking 2nd place overall at the end of day 1.
Lombard Rally 2007 - On our way to another top ten time, this time at the three counties show ground.
Lombard Rally 2007 - Being flagged away for the start of the third day by the Mayor of Llandridnod Wells, starting in 8th place overall.
2007 Review
After a very successful 2007, plans are now afoot to make 2008 even better.
The switch to the Rover 200 proved to be a good move allowing us (Dave Leadbetter - Nav) to take many good results, and to challenge for top 5 results. This was backed up by taking 3rd Driver and 2nd Navigator in the National Endurance Road Rally Championship.
This was also backed up by this years Lombard rally (with Dave Town on the maps), although the final result didn't reflect our pace we were placed 2nd overall (out of 120 starters) at the end of day 1 and lying in ~6th place overall when we retired due to a fuel pump wiring fault.
Work and and plans are in place for an even stronger attack on this years championship, plans include :-
- Testing in January to evaluate new tyres for the championship
- Review and further development work on suspension settings
- Repairing and installing back-up wiring for the fuel pump
- Full overhaul and check of the rally car all ready for the first round of the championship early in February.
The switch to the Rover 200 proved to be a good move allowing us (Dave Leadbetter - Nav) to take many good results, and to challenge for top 5 results. This was backed up by taking 3rd Driver and 2nd Navigator in the National Endurance Road Rally Championship.
This was also backed up by this years Lombard rally (with Dave Town on the maps), although the final result didn't reflect our pace we were placed 2nd overall (out of 120 starters) at the end of day 1 and lying in ~6th place overall when we retired due to a fuel pump wiring fault.
Work and and plans are in place for an even stronger attack on this years championship, plans include :-
- Testing in January to evaluate new tyres for the championship
- Review and further development work on suspension settings
- Repairing and installing back-up wiring for the fuel pump
- Full overhaul and check of the rally car all ready for the first round of the championship early in February.
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