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

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....)

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