Azbinghur Stages - July 2004

Leighrallying made a comback this weekend near Bath with their rebuilt Mini 1275. New brakes, suspension, coolng and weight saving diet were topped off by a new white roof. However, despite being ahead of more powerful cars, our journey ended on penultimate stage when the driveshaft cried enough.

Rob had rebuilt the Mini during the past year in order to make the car more competitve on a minimal budget. This included replacing the glass with perspex, loosing any 'surplus' metal, new brakes, suspension and tuned engine. Externlly, the car now sported a white roof and additional cooling through the new bonnet vent and grille.

Preperations for this rally was a little unusal as Andy only arrived from Canada the night before. However a good night sleep meant the jet-lag didn't kick in until Stage 2!

Weather for the rally was generally was good, although a little rain at lunchtime didnt really effect things. The team had a problem with sctutineering which needed a fix (oil breather- which was allowed on two other Mini's and an Astra!), which put the team against the clock.

First stage was going well, but Rob carried a little too much speed into a fast left hander and slid into some long grass loosing precious time (about 20 secs), right in front of the video guy for the rally, so overage was gauranteed!

Next stage, identical was much quicker, learning the corners and also the car again as it had more power, grip and hadn't been used in anger for 18months.The team steadly climbed our way up the leader board and got quicker, despite a Sunbeam who literally tried to push us off the track at one point.

Rob and Andy were flying on Stage five six and seven, geting ahead of a fellow Mini with Split Diff and larger (1340) engine.

...alas on the last part of Stage 7, the penultimate stage, Rob suddenly had the car snap and then wouldnt really turn, Rob slowed down, in an attempt to get to the end of stage, but on the next straight. the Mini lost all gears which confirmed a broken driveshaf and a tow back t the paddock. Prior to that Leighrallying moved up to the low 40's with around 52 cars running, not bad for he least powerful car there

It was a good day thought, frustrating we got so close to our best finish,,,, just 8 miles.