Thought I'd post on a dedicated thread rather than Hijack other threads..

I'm signed up for the Cheshire CC Curborough sprint on the 14th - only £69 - still plenty of spaces if anybody else fancies a go.

Had a top day at Curborough - thanks Ken for the support.

What did I learn.........

Austin 7's are very quick and their drivers appear to a have a complete disregard for their own safety and........
I need more grip!

My best time for a two lapper was 83.5s which beat a few of the slower Westfields so that's pleasing.

Ed Todd & myself are out on the Cheviot stages over Otterburn ranges in GTM coupe.

Anybody notice the "rat look" Coupe in the November edition of Practical Performance Car - It did OK!

33rd in the drag run and 6th in the handling event!

Bad day, blew the short drive shaft on the 3rd stage

Was wondering how you latest exploits were going

hope you get it sorted soon,

The question is though, how was it going up till then

Below is my rally report:

With a fully repaired GTM, or what we thought was a fully repaired GTM, Ed and I arrived at the airstrips on the Otterburn ranges for the usual recce, scrutineering and documentation sessions. Although I was very nervous about scrutineering the GTM passed with flying colours.

On the morning of the rally the weather was not to our liking, a steady drizzle and low mist.
We were seeded as car 35, so headed off to stage 1, a 9 mile stage.
Upon leaving the service area our troubles started straight away. My monitors started to flicker and flash and the ignition light went very bright before going out. When we arrived at stage 1 arrival we booked in and joined the queue. Ed switched off the engine but when the queue moved we could not restart the car. So I had to jump out of the car and arrange a gap in the queue so we could turn the car around and bump start the car. We rejoined the queue but 3 cars further back. We switched off everything that wasn’t needed and set off into stage 1. Near the end of the stage we almost caught our 30 second car, but he went off at a square right in front of us showing how slippery the stages were. When we reached the stage finish Ed discovered we had no clutch but managed to select neutral while we received our stage time. The kind marshals pushed us out of the stage finish area and we managed to select a gear and head down to stage 2 arrival.

Stage 2 start was situated at the bottom of a step hill. So we switched off the engine, coasted into the stage arrival and then set about making some emergency repairs. We found the gearbox was loose on its mounting and the hydraulic clutch cylinder was pushing the gearbox backwards instead of operating the clutch. I borrowed some tools from the recovery crew and we quickly secured the gearbox as best we could. As we were now running last on the road, the Marshals told us to get in the car and get all set.
They pushed us back and then bumped the car to get it started. We set off into stage 2 and very quickly I realised my glasses had steamed up and also the windscreen was steaming up. So imagine reading pace notes at arms length with no glasses and also cleaning the screen for Ed at the same time.
After a steady run through stage 2 the clutch had gone again so Ed had to switch the engine off again as we arrived into service.

In service, the gearbox mounting was secured correctly and the battery charged. The alternator wasn’t fully charging and we had also blown a 20 amp fuse. With no spare alternator, a plan was agreed to run each loop of stages then swap batteries between our chef’s car & the GTM. Before we headed out of service we were pleasantly pleased to hear we were lying 24th overall & 2nd in class.

As we were now running last on the road we set off into stage 3 behind car 60 a Suzuki Swift. After only 2 miles we caught the Suzuki. They were making no attempts to let us pass and I was furious, but using the horn or lights was out of the question because it used too much battery voltage and caused the car to slow. Finally we out braked the Suzuki into a chicane and set about pulling back the time we had lost. We were on a mission and were flying but after turning square right down to Yardhope ford the short drive shaft let go again and we coasted into a layby and into retirement.

After a short wait we were recovered & towed behind a Mini Cooper all the way back to service through stage 3 & 4. The drive shaft was repaired in no time but as we were OTL no further involvement in the rally was allowed.

Both Ed and I were gutted to have another DNF but you must look at the positives, no damage to the GTM bodywork (hooooraaayy) and some inspired driving by Ed in some difficult situations especially with me swearing at car 60. Also I must mention the assistance provided by the marshals out there in the cold and wet conditions. They want to help you in anyway they can to keep you in the rally and I salute them for that. If you can ever spare some time to become a marshal, do so, because without marshals, rallies would not run.

When you say the shaft broke do you mean the shaft or the cv joint and if cv is it the inner or outer. Do you have the correct lenght of shafts and corresponding plunge at outer cv. Derek

sounds like an eventfull event, did the gearbox coming loose possibly cause the shaft issue?

Neil

It was the inner cv joint, balls had impacted with the outside casing!

No the amount of play on the gearbox wasn't excessive. We had new suspension fitted before the event and we think the travel is causing the issue.

One thing we need is a head lamp surround. The metal surround flew off into the undergrowth just after we overtook the slow suzuki. Do you know where we can get one?

Andy

I believe they're MGB, certainly not Mini ones as they're too wide.

Bugger a little investigation then into the issue.

I can confirm the headlight rims are MGB, I have some nice chromed copper ones so they do not corrode, th echep steel ones are terrible they would only last a year before piting would start to show.

Neil

Thanks guys, we secured some headlamp trims on ebay for £12.

For info our next event in the GTM is at Croft race circuit on 2nd January 2012 - the specsacers christmas stage rally.
If you live near-ish & fancy a visit look out for us!

Not a good day at Croft on 2 Jan 2012, Christmas stages.
Stage 1 i commited the Navigators cardinal sin - sent Ed the wrong way at a split & we did an extra lap than we needed to.

Stage 2 flying as we were on the previous stage but on a haipin at the end of the main straight the short drive shaft cv joint went bang again. Towed out & given a stage max. Repaired drive shaft & added an extra shim to the drive shaft.

Stage 3 Baulked by a slower car for half the stage but drive shaft held well. Set 11th fastest stage time.

Stage 4 the red beasty was flying & we posted 7th fastest .

Stage 5 going well but the rear felt abit loose like we had a flat tyre. Ed stopped & found the rear wheel loose as if the rear wheel bearing was failing. Limped back to service & found the bearing had failed.

Stage 6 with the drive shaft & wheel bearing problem fixed we were running well & posted 12 th fastest time . We were running near the back of the field now so we were catching lots & lots of cars.

Stage 7 now in the dark we again were passing lots of cars & struggling ourselves as it was pitch dark & all the chicanes & stage furniture is black. Slid straight on at a 90' left & clipped a tyre. Didnt stop us but damaged the front a bit.

Finally we finished 46 overall which is good after getting 2 stage maximums and a very poor time on stage 1.
Next event is again at Croft in 3 weeks time for the Jack Frost stages.
New tyres, wheel bearings, drive shafts, brake discs & pads being fitted to improve reliability.

Andy ( Scratman Brown )

Update of this years rally exploits in the coupe.

Xmas stages at croft - 2 Jan 2012 => broke cv joint on stage 2, repaired & continued to finish 42 overall.
Jack Frost stages at Croft - 23 Jan 2012 => finished 9th overall 3rd in class.
DCC stages at Ingliston - 12 May 2012 => finished 7th overall 1st in class
Turnbull trophy stages at Albemarle airfield - 24 June 2012 => broke/sheared drive shaft on stage 2