Jonny-Jimbo Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Hi all,We have been made an invited club for the Mercian Road Rally, organised by the Mercia Motor Club.The main details are shown below.- The event is overnight, on the 16th and 17th September.- The event is around 150 miles in total, on OS Maps 151 and 152. Most of the navigation is by tulips, but there are specials tests on private land.- The roads are yellows, whites and some unmade roads on the special tests.- We are welcome to enter in any car, under the CT banner. There is NOT a historic class, but both team members MUST be in CT (or other invited club)- The event is run under two categories, as a Clubman event and a National B. The actual event is identical for both classes.- The start of the event is at Southam Tyres, with adequate parking for all; trailers, extra cars if driver and navigator are coming from different places etc.- The finish is The Wharf Inn, a few miles south of the start, where breakfast is provided as well as results.- As a road rally, with a section of private land, not much special equipment is needed. All crews must carry a spill kit, and things like a tow rope, fire extinguishers, first aid kit are recommended (like our own events).- There is no need to have anything like a roll cage/harnesses etc.This is a link to the photo gallery from last year. As can be expected, most entries are old beater hatchbacks etc, but there is the odd old Escort etc scattered in there... and who wouldn't enjoy an evenings fun with an old Escort?http://www.mandhphotography.co.uk/p568917269I have provisionally accepted the invitation, as I hope to take part in the event myself (Either in the 2000 or the MX5 - sadly the 540 is out as not allowed more than 4 cylinders for a modern car. The organiser can apply for exemptions for 6 pot classics).Keep an eye on the events dedicated website - http://mercianrally.co.uk/ for when regulations and entry forms are released. For those interested there is an event specific facebook page too - just search for Mercian Road Rally.When they're available I will also post the regulations and entry form here for download. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard w Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 That sounds like a good night Jon.Have you got a co-driver yet? If not, would you consider an old codger like me?! As it's the weekend after the 10CR don't think I could promise my car, just in case something lets go in darkest Europeshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted June 28, 2017 Author Share Posted June 28, 2017 Hi Richard, all being well I'll be doing the event with AJ. I have to say, I didn't realise it's the week after 10CR, so I guess there is a good chance that we won't get many CT teams entering. You'd have to be a real glutton for punishment to spend 5 days driving round Europe, then a week later spend a night blasting round Warwickshire!However, if AJ decides not to do it with me, I'll be in touch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted June 28, 2017 Author Share Posted June 28, 2017 Regulations now available (CT not included in list of clubs as the regs were written before we were invited!), entries go live on 6th July.Regs available here; http://mercianrally.co.uk/regulations.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted June 29, 2017 Author Share Posted June 29, 2017 As a little bonus - if anyone wants to marshal on this event, you do get breakfast included, AND all marshals are entered into a prize draw to win a rally driving experience day with the Rally Rides driving school! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 Entry now submitted for me and AJ in the MX5... Just need to do a lot of prep work before hand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgetone Triumph Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 This sounds very tempting indeed and what's more I am off that weekend............(think)(think)Janet and I missed the HCR this year so could be a good excuse to practice for the next HCR 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radders Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 Quoted from Ridgetone Triumph This sounds very tempting indeed and what's more I am off that weekend............(think)(think)Janet and I missed the HCR this year so could be a good excuse to practice for the next HCR 🙂 I take it Janet will be navigating? 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgetone Triumph Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 Quoted from Radders I take it Janet will be navigating? 🙂 (think)(think)(think)(think)(think) Why, is there likely to be a special stage in Tesco car park 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 There is a special test thing, which I hear will be run on an airfield / runway, but I don't know any ore than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radders Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Quoted from Ridgetone Triumph (think)(think)(think)(think)(think) Why, is there likely to be a special stage in Tesco car park 😀 If there is, don't let her get out of the car! 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radders Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 I like the sound of this. I'm going to badger Mr Wake 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Gurty being pressed into service? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgetone Triumph Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 Quoted from Radders If there is, don't let her get out of the car! 😀 Hey, it's a shop.......How many woman would stay in the car!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radders Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 Mr Wake and myself will be entering this. Should be good fun. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radders Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Quoted from Jonny-Jimbo I didn't realise it's the week after 10CR, so I guess there is a good chance that we won't get many CT teams entering. You'd have to be a real glutton for punishment to spend 5 days driving round Europe, then a week later spend a night blasting round Warwickshire! Erm.....team glutton for punishment entering in the form of Radley/Wake. 😲 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 I'll get the stickers made up for you Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 AJ and I have now changed our entry - the MX5 needed too much work to prepare for the event, so I decided I could only do one thing... and buy another car!!Nothing fancy in the slightest, but a nice(? little Citroen AX GT that's been used for road rallying, and is only one step away from being a stage rally car (just needs log booking really). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radders Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Oh, come on Jon. Get into the spirit of things and do it in your Mk1 saloon. Fly the flag for CT. 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted September 18, 2017 Author Share Posted September 18, 2017 My report of the event, if anyone's interested;We finally finished getting the AX prepped for the Mercian Road Rally a few days before the start of the event, rather than the usual last minute thrash.We set off to Southam at 7pm for noise test, which we passed without issue - 75dBa from memory. The limit was 98, so we were fine. Then a short queue into Scrutineering, which we also passed without issue. We then had a long wait until the drivers briefing at 10.30pm.At 00:05 we were finally away, and straight into very dense fog. After a short while we caught up with a pack of other cars, with a tidy Vauxhall Nova heading the pack - although going a little bit slower than our time cards allowed. After twisting through the lanes a bit, we arrived at the first special test, which was tight and twist but good fun. We found some of the tracks very rough for the little AX - maybe a car with bigger wheels and a longer wheel base would have fared better.We were making good time during this section, with Alex Joslin's navigating perfectly, with no wrong slots or major diversions. Unfortunately I was distracted as we approached a corner that I read as a left kink, but it was actually a 90 right. With so much mud on the road, by the time I knew I'd misread the bend we were on the mud with no chance of stopping. We hauled the speed down, but the nose of the AX still went into a ditch quite hard, although the sump plate took the brunt of the force and saved the radiator. Damage was limited to a broken light lens, and various trim clips broken. Two cars passed with us in the ditch, although both stopped to check we were okay - which we were thankfully. After assessing damage and trying to find branches to stick under the front wheels, I heard a very distinct noise - could it be that there was a powerful Triumph 2000 coming our way?? I waved it down, and there was Steve and Colin - with the tow rope already on my car the grunty straight six pulled the AX straight out of the ditch. Steve and co left us at this point. I quickly checked over the car, and the steering was fine, as were the tyres etc. Nothing more than dented pride and a bit of damaged trim. The lights even still worked!We probably dropped about half an hour in total, which put us OTL for that time card, and unfortunately, for most of the rally. But we did continue, last car on the road (we were 4th from last when we left anyway). The roads used on the rally were very rough in places, with a lot of 'whites', including one that felt like we were driving through someone's garden! Towards the end of the first half we entered special tests 2 and 3, on an airfield at Hinton - again, very rough and muddy, but we use the handbrake to good effect a few times. After this we went for the half way fuel stop at Banbury, before continuing through the lanes around Gaydon to the finish point in Fenny Compton. We came across a few unlucky people who'd have smaller 'offs' than us but with much worse consequences - smashed alloys, bent steering etc.Anyway, I had great fun on my first rally, even if it did go a bit wrong! We had issues with filling in the time cards correctly too which gave us a much worse score than we had anticipated, but it's all a learning experience. Alex did a fantastic job of navigating, with a first attempt at tulips and plot+bash style naving.I'd recommend anyone to give it a go, it's great fun, and really not expensive either!We will return! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Glad to hear you enjoyed it.... And yes, we are interested!The AX looks a handy little motor, lots of good qualities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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