Here are some pictures from the Dukeries rally in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, UK today.
We were running the Escort Cosworth again. Last night we installed some proflex suspension on the car and replaced our Bilstein 50mm dampers so had no testing before the event. We were a late entry so our number was 128 but we ran 10th on the road as we are a leading team in the championship.
The plan was to fine tune the suspension during the day and see how we compared against some seriously quick cars. we had an engineer from proflex with us helping setup the 3 way adjustable settings based on driver feedback.

There were 157 entries to the rally.

After stage 1 we were lying 7th overall
After stage 2 we were lying 6th overall
After stage 3 we were lying 4th overall
After stage 4 we were lying 4th overall
After stage 5 we were lying 7th overall after a spin losing 30 seconds
The guys decided to really push as they were totally confident in the car now, the suspension was working superbly after some tweeking.
After stage 6 we had climbed 2 positions to 5th overall and were confident of at least 4th overall after the next.
Sadly halfway through stage 7 of 8, the steering rod end bolt sheered off and the guys had to retire. Damn shame as top 4 was definately on.
If we would have finished 4th that would have left us leading the National championship outright.
We are still very happy with the days rallying as we now have a much faster car and can compete head to head with the top ex works WRC cars so are looking forward to the next rally in 4 weeks time. We repared the failure in a few minutes, just a £2 bolt had failed. Thats rallying.

Heres to the next one, we are well up for it!

Hope you like the pictures. Info on the rally and results can be found at http://www.dukeries-rally.co.uk/index.asp
click on results for stage by stage times and overall results, all this was updated live during the rally.





































































































[Edited by johnfelstead - 6/23/2002 1:49:54 AM]

 

Blimey John! i bet BT Loathe you Thank god for my 1Mb link!

Great Pictures once again!!

 

Superb pics, looked like an awesome event, can't wait to go to the Network Q, first time at a rally and I can't wait!!

Pfht, look at the dust on your car, after all marks work, you should be ashamed

[Edited by AndiThompson - 6/23/2002 5:21:53 AM]

 

John
Brilliant pictures
I feel sorry for anyone with a modem. It will take them ages to get that lot. Thank god for DSL...

Looks like the rally was good fun and brilliant weather

All the best
Pete

 

i power washed it on the way home, it looks mint again. LOL

 

DSL! lol

Some amazing pics, you were not far from where i was at clipstone i could have come and said hello. I will post my pics of the mutiny and dukeries on tuesday.

 

He He

Only took 12 hours to download them

Worth the wait though.

Nigel

 

Looking at your pics we must have been at the same corners
It was a great rally and im glad you were doing so well up to you dnf.
Ive taken loads of photos but all on 35mm and I havnt got round to getting them developed yet but as soon as i do (well the GF takes them on ) Ill get them posted.

Andy

 

cheers guys.

I did 2 services and 5 stages spectating. Shame about the bolt failing, but hopefully next event we are as on the pace as the this one and can challenge for a top 3 in the championship by year end.

I did a lot of running to get to stage and then back to service.