looneytunes

Disaster strikes

2008-07-07T02:14:00.000-07:00

Two miles into the first stage ( Abbey St Bathans ) the car starts to lose power, we struggle on, fiddling with fuel pump switches etc as it felt like fuel starvation, the it lapses onto 3 intermittantley. We reach the end of the stage and find a little oil on the plugs leads from oil pressure pipe connection, we clean this off and start stage 2. Straight away it is apparent things are not right and within a mile the engine loses all power.We whip the blogs out and find 3 are burnt out.After the stage is over the service crew arrive to recover us, but we try some new plugs and it starts. Within a few hundred yards it conks out again. Back home I find there is no compression at all on No1 or No2.

Jim Clark Rally

2008-05-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

Been working on the car for weeks now getting it ready for the Jim Clark,although no historic class it can't be missed as it must be one of the top three rallies in the country. Closed public roads with the ferry to Isle of Man ,Mull or Ireland.Engine has been out,new exhaust,rack,front discs and converted rear to discs ( not allowed in historics).

Pirelli rally

2008-05-20T13:42:00.000-07:00

Watched the Pirelli rally recently and thoroughly enjoyed the BHRC historic entry.Jeff Stokes retired right in front of us in Kielder, sad to hear later that Jimmy McRae was injured in an accident. Went to Kershope also and had a good vantage point there, only the freezing wind spoilt the day.

Which side is the petrol cap?

2007-12-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

Nothing to do with Historic Rallying but I thought I would share this gem with you.If like me you have a pet hate of pulling up to the petrol pump in a hire car and finding the filler is on the other side, here is a tip you are gonna love. Look at the petrol gauge on the dashboard before you get to the petrol station, you will notice a logo of a petrol pump. Now look at the nozzle on the logo, is it on the right or left? If the nozzle is on the left your filler cap is on the left and vice-versa, simple but effective !

The Roger Albert Clark

2007-11-24T01:59:00.000-08:00

Well what an RAC that was! Entries seemed down on last year but less retirements meant there were still plenty of lovely cars and committed drivers to enjoy.Epic battle between Bannister who had been lent a complying post historic Mk2 by Steve Perez and Jimmy Mcrae with both drivers on the limit ( and sometimes over it ).What about that Irishman McCormack , after taking a maximum in Yorkshire he fought back to finish fourth with some of the wildest driving I have seen for a long time.Would he have won if he had not gone on day 1? Hope he enters and gets a clean run next year.Pity the Stratos went out so early , was looking forward to the sound and spectacle of that classic.

2007-07-26T03:15:00.000-07:00

Came across this video on pistonheads showing loads of mint Group 4 Rally cars. Have a look :-
http://www.pistonheads.tv/clip1308

Great to see these old rally cars again.

2007-07-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

Technorati Profile

More on Jim Clark

2007-06-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

Video of Barry's long jump

Still no sign or RPM's coverage on Motors tv , it has been on Ulster tv but can't get that channel

Jim Clark Rally 2007

2007-05-28T02:50:00.000-07:00

Not historic I know but probably the best rally on mainland Britain. 3 Days of top competition with every type of car you can imagine , from WRC cars worth hundreds of thousands two 206 Peugeots and even some Mk1 Escorts ! Friday this year was a short affair with just 2 runs around Langton with the curious decision to keep the top 15 International cars and, later on the top 15 Nationals and run them last , as the second run was dovetailed to those starting their first run this meant the very slowest cars had the very fastest cars set off 30 seconds behind them! Saturday was all action with the Internationals and Nationals great fun to watch and Sunday had the Internationals again but this time with the Reivers rally running after with 100 entries.Looking forward to watching footage on Motors tv

Robin Hood Stages

2007-03-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

I have just read that the entry for The Robin Hood Forest Stages has topped 100 cars! The 100th entry was from Dom Buckley in a Porsche 911. The event takes place Saturday 10th March and Sunday 11th March .Saturday will consist of 3 stages in the dark and 7 stages on Sunday.There is also a modern event which consists of 10 stages on the Sunday

Historic Rally events

2007-02-13T10:01:00.000-08:00

Just realised that the Pirelli International Rally this year includes the HRCR cars.I'll be able to watch all the British Championship Competitors and all The HRCR Historic and Post Historics.
It's the nearest the HRCR gets to us up here in the frozen north.First event I hope to spectate on will be the Robin Hood Stages which we have been to the last couple of years and both times it was excellent.

2007-02-01T14:54:00.000-08:00

Events included in the HRCR Historic Championship have been announced as ;-
Events for 2007 are :-Robin Hood ( forest ),Astra Stages ( forest ),Pirelli Rally ( forest ),Severn Valley ( forest ),Mid Wales Stages ( forest ),Isle of Man ( tarmac ),Harry Flatters ( tarmac ),Tour of Flanders ( tarmac ),Rally Yorkshire ( forest ).

2006-12-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

I have started another blog here :- http://mexico2.wordpress.com/ detailing prearation etc of my Mk1 Mexico which I use for Historic Rallying.

2006-12-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

The Roger Albert Clark is over now and only the DVD to look forward now. 3 Days of heaven watching Mk1 and Mk2 escorts, Opels and even a Lancia Stratos! I was surpried how many cars had registration numbers that looked like "Works Numbers" , while others had suitable Cherished Numbers such as BDA 144 .Christmas Stages at Croft is next event on 30th Dec, may well go for a look if the weather is o.k.

2006-11-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

The excellent Roger Albert Clark happens again weekend 18th Nov 2006.
Mostly Historic and Post Historic Cars this event is the one to watch.Friday they visit the N Yorkshire forests,Croft circuit,Grizedale before and overnight halt at Carlisle.Saturday is spent mostly in Scotlan AE,Twiglees , Castle O'er then Kershope before back to Carlisle, Monday is all Keilder then back to Croft before finishing at Harrogate.
This is one not to miss.
You can find out more here http://www.rogeralbertclarkrally.co.uk/

Jim Clark Rally

2006-06-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

Well the big one is almost here.....The Jim Clark Rally, the only closed public road stage rally on the mainland. We usually compete on this one but alas the engine isn't fixed yet. I think this is the best rally in the country with WRC cars from Ireland GPN from the BRC and local/clubman cars on the Sunday.
Website is here :-
http://www.jimclarkrally.com/
get yourself along for a look!

2006-03-12T13:26:00.000-08:00

Underneath the pile of pushers is David Stokes Mk1 Escort.
This off probably cost him the rally as he finished 18 secs behind the winner and he was stuck here longer than that.

2006-03-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

Hi
New at this so please be patient.
Spent sunday watching the robin hood stages rally.
Mint event with an excellent entry of historic,post historic,classic and modern cars.
My mate noticed a competing car that had registration number 2 ANR on it and said that it was Roger Clark's old number.( I should have known that)
I thought nothing more of it until I was on a rally forum and saw a post from someone who had also noticed it.
It seems there is some dispute over whether the number should still be on the car.
If you like registration numbers you can check out some here :-
Private Number Plates
I think Mark Solloway won the event in the Mk1 that Mark Higgins used to win the RAC ( Roger Albert Clark) rally last autumn.
Might get over to the Malcolm Wilson Rally this weekend.
I believe that Mat is car 0 and Malcolm is competing!!