HRCR Rally North Wales report

 

Photos copyright KPB PHOTOGRAPHY (www.kpbpotography.com)

We have just finished the Rally North Wales, the first round of the HRCR/Mini Sport Mini Cup. Just to re-cap; I had fitted my 8-port engine and had a new co-driver with Anton Bird sitting with me for the first time.
 
Six Minis had entered the event, we had expected eight cars but as with every year, not everyone's car was ready in time.
 
RULE CHANGE
The MSA had also issued a rule change just prior to the event starting, telling the organising team that they had to seed the Minis at the back of the field instead of running first on the road as normal, this meant that I would be running at car 92, following all the modern cars around.
 
Scrutinering was on Friday evening and passed without any dramas and the organisers had re-seeded me at car 73 on the road, which meant we would at least start further up the field and have better roads to drive on. I had arranged for all of the Minis to be left at a fellow competitor's farm overnight, which meant that they would be safe out of harm's way.
 
Craig my long suffering son and service crew had the added task of looking after four of the Minis, so would have his work cut-out to keep on top of all of the cars. Mini Sport did have a service van full of spares should we need it and Rob Eastwood was on hand to help.
 
We started the day with a full breakfast, as we were starting later than normal, then headed to pick the car and straight to the start ramp.
 
Anton seemed switched-on and had us at the start with plenty of time to spare. He was amazed that the heavy rain overnight hadn't filled the car with water, and that we had headlining and carpets fitted.
 
STAGE 1
We drove to the first stage which was the longest stage of the rally, and were soon on the start ready to drive through. The starting lights went to green and we were off. The roads were very slippy but we drove through at a safe pace and crossed the finish line to set a time that was fastest of the Minis and quickest in our Class that included the up to 1600cc Class.
 
Anton was good on the pace notes, the only problem had been the car kept jumping out of 4th gear on lift off.
 
The second stage was soon tackled and about a mile in the car went onto three cylinders. My first thought was that the engine had let go yet again, but looking at the gauges all seemed OK and I pressed on, trying to keep the momentum up. The stage had a lot of mist but I tried to keep the speed high.
 

Photos copyright KPB PHOTOGRAPHY (www.kpbpotography.com)

At the finish we had set equal-fastest time out of the Minis but had dropped time against a 1600 Avenger to move 2nd in Class. We drove to the start of the next stage still with the engine running on three cylinders. At the stage-start I had a chance to look to see what the problem was and found that a lead had come off the dizzy cap - this was quickly replaced.
 
We attacked the last stage, prior to service, and managed to set quickest time in Class and out of the Minis.
 
Back at service we found that we were leading the Minis and our Class. Craig checked the car over and everything seemed OK with no oil needed or water. The car was still jumping out of 4th gear but there was nothing we could do about it and would have to put up with it.
 
The last three stages were repeats of the morning stages and I was concerned how they would cut up.
 
The first stage in the afternoon went without a problem with another fastest stage time, but the second stage, at the same place as the first run, through, the plug lead came off again. This stage had cut up on the bends and we were on the sump guard a fair bit. All of the good work went out of the window with the Avenger taking time out of us.
 
On to the last stage and with the plug lead put back on we attacked but I could not hear Anton through the intercom, after searching to find the problem I discovered that in getting out of the car to put the plug lead back on, I had not pluged my intercom in.
 
THROWN IT AWAY?
Anton held the steering wheel while I plugged myself in, once sound was resummed we set off as fast as we could, had I thrown the Class lead away?
 
We finished the stage and did the road section back to the finish to be told that we had indead won our Class and the Mini Cup. Four Minis finished the rally which was good news, but the two that failed to finish will need engine re-builds.
 
This is the first time the 8-port engine has finished a rally and not need a re-build, lets hope it continues.
 

As we were travelling back home I recieved a call to say that we had won a free entry to Rally GB, our World Rally Championship round at the end of the year, so it looks like I will be competing with the big boys - they may have quicker cars but I know which car will attract the most attention!

Photos copyright KPB PHOTOGRAPHY (www.kpbpotography.com)