With no SG Motorsport again, it was left to Tony and I to look after the car for the coming weekend. In preparation, we spent a couple of days in the barn sorting the car, nursing aching joints, discussing war wounds and all the things you would expect of two old codgers. First up was a gearbox change (again!), though this time it was to check that our gearchange strategy was improving the life of the 'box. Old school dictates that you change the clutch at the same time so we fitted new plates having first measured the new ones so that we could compare the wear in an effort to 'life' the clutch.
Changing the gearbox is not too bad a job although not something you could do in-between stages. I'd say 2 hours or a bit less with practice and it's not made easier by trying to insert the gear oil which Scott says is like treacle. This bit, even with a syringe, takes an age.
Having suffered a few silly niggles over the past few rallies, Tony, Jack and I spent a long time cleaning, painting and generally checking and tightening everything around the car. It does pay off as we had no mechanical problems all day. We did have a problem though, just not mechanical!
The Promenade Stages (The Prom) is one of my favorite events - others must see it that way too as every year it attracts a really top class entry - far better than other rallies with the same status. We were seeded 16 - headed by 5 Metro 6R4's, several Darrians and WRC cars including one of Petter Solbergs Subarus. No pressure then.
Scrutineering at the Prom is on Friday evening on the Wirral and always seems to attract the local 'scallys' ready to pinch anything that's not nailed down! This was our first time here with the Clio and a big surprise was that the Vee was considered cool, or should I say Kewell !!
We still kept a close eye on the proceedings but the car is clearly an icon in their eyes - just a shame an old git gets to drive it.
Back to the hotel and on the way to our rooms Tony and I noticed that the room next to Mike had a notice on the door 'Official Hen Night' Obviously this needed to be moved to Mike's door thus ensuring that he would have some explaining to do....
Whether some form of payback system was in place the next day, I'm not sure, as on the first stage of the day, Mike kept quiet about a chicane and we 'had words' !
The chicanes are built from oildrums, filled with water, and in the V6, they are tight enough for 1st gear. As this particular one approached, we were flat in third and I remember shouting at Mike BEFORE we hit the first barrel that the call was WAY TOO LATE! Luckily we managed to scrub off enough speed that I could attempt some sort of a jink between the two obstacles, but we hit both barrels, one on each corner of the wing. Ouch!
So, the first time we have damaged the car and it wasn't the 'exit backwards' that we expected from the Vee. From inside the car I could imagine the effect of hitting solid objects with glassfibre and the image wasn't pretty. Back in the service area Tony and I set about assesing the damage while Mike sulked in the van
Matching blows on both sides were soon patched up with tank-tape and we all made friends again.
The rest of the day was spent trying to keep the front end tied on with tape, chewing gum and baling twine. Check out the gap under the headlights!
Also notice that Mike is keeping his head down....
I'm still convinced that the car is 'soft' on the front and some of the pictures would seem to agree. The tyres are now getting heat in them, nearly too much I'd say. But - I'm loathe to make too much of a change because all this means we have grip at the front which is the bit that makes such a difference to the car. Go stiffer and I'm worried that the front will wash out how it did before. I think for the next event we are going to experiment a bit to see where we can find a balance.
Past this early misdemeanour, the day went well, ending up 11th O/A. Hello to Evildave - the first time that someone from here has come and said hello, where are the rest of you then?
Here's a clip of the old girl in action including the chicanes but not THE one! Promenade Vid
Next up, Woodbridge Stages in October