2002 Season ...

 

Killarney Historics 2002

We started the historics and unfortunately on stage 1 we went out after blowing the engine. This was an unfortunate end to our year but hopefully we can get this fixed in the next few months and next year we will have a more reliable car. Thanks to all who have helped us in 2002, without their help we would not be able to compete at all...

 

Fasnet Rally 2002

Started no. 159 on the road and after the last day out the plan was to take it easy for the first few stages and build up comfidance. Unfortunately there was a few accidents on the stage which really held us up (had to actually stop) and we ended up catching a convoy of about five cars at the end of the stage This stage took us over 20 mins. The next stage we ran into trouble because the bearing went on the rear left and it was making alot of noise and also dripping oil onto the rear disk. We were very close to calling it a day because of a fear of what happened in the stonethrowers rally two months earlier. We decided to continue on and see how long it would last. To our, and the lads surprise it lasted the whole day and we managed to actually finish eventhough it was 90th out of 115 that finished out of 151 that started, we were very happy to make it to the finish but only for the first stage could have done alot better.

Stage 8

The Crew..................................................The problem..................................................The culprits

 

Stonethrowers 2002

Report

We started No. 125 on the road and the first stage was canceled so we made our way to stage two but before we got to start there was an accident about five cars ahead of us so unfortunately that stage was also called off for us. At this stage we were very anxious to get going and when we eventually got off the line on stage three I (Kieran) was maybe a little too eager. About half way into the stage disaster struck when I went through a junction with a slight jump and that led into a 2 left with grass on the road and I couldn't keep it straight after the jump and with a narrow road there was no room for mistake and I hit the ditch and rolled it. The car ended up actually on the ditch on the right hand side so we didn't block the stage and all the rest of the cars passed without a problem. The damage was not too significant and we are currently trying to get it straightened for the next outing in a months time for the fasnet.

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Click on photos for larger picture.

 

Limerick Hillclimb

We competed in the sunday run of the limerick Hillclimb. I came 22nd overall out of 65, and dominic came 30th after bringing some of the ditch with him (photo below). It was a very wet day but enjoyable. There is a movie clip of Dominic off the start line, just click on the movies link below.

 

 

Rally of the Lakes 2002

Click here for Movie clips (With Sound)

Report

We started the rally as car 118 and had an eventful first stage which was the famous Molls Gap. We had two small moments, one at ladys view and for anyone that knows the place it is not the place you want to be getting a little sideways and the second was in an effort to do some crowd pleasing we got it a little too sideways going through Molls Gap itself but that was worth it due to the great pictures we got from Anthony Hunter and we actuall made it onto RPM motorsport TV program on our first day out.. Not too bad..

Thanks to Anthony Hunter http://www.motorsport-photography.co.uk/ for a series of six photos of us going through the gap Click on the photo to see the six shots......

We ran into trouble on stage 5 when we found the the rear axel was leaking oil and making a terrible grinding noise. We eventually had to pull out of the rally on stage 6 and we were in deep depression. But there was always the chance of a Sunday run so our service crew took on the task of trying to fix the axel. They found that the bearing on the half shaft was fecked and we had to try and get a new one but the old one was welded on (that is not good!!!)

Here is Alan cutting the bearing off the half shaft in the Kitchen of the house we were staying in. We managed to fix the half shaft by getting a replacement bearing, from a Mitsubishi Space Wagon.. YES it actually fits... and we were ready for a run on Sunday.

We had a great run on Sunday our times were excellent and eventhough they were not recorded we could compare them against other competitors that were still in the rally and we were very pleased.

 

 

 

8/1/2002 Mondello Rally Sprint

On the 30th of December I took the car to Mondello park for a rally sprint. This consisted of three timed runs of the course, each run took approx. 5 mins. The overall time of the three runs is what counted at the end of the day. This was my first outing driving the car and my first time driving a rear wheel drive. I had a few problems on the day, I had an encounter with a ditch, on my second run and the ditch came out the better. I had a few spins, missed the odd gear here and there and dented a rear quarter panel, But overall it was a great day and the car ran perfectly. I can put it all down to a learning experience.. Results: out of 160 I came 105th overall ... I came 32nd out of 52 in my class. I forgot a camera on the day but photos of the car back in the garage will be up shortly..

 

 

 

3/12/2001 Cork Single Stage Rally

Our first rally start...We were on the reserves list for the Cork Single Stage rally which took place on the 2nd of December. The car was put through scrutiny on Saturday and on Sunday morning Dominic got the call-up to start as someone had dropped out... Dominic was driving this time and I was going as the co-driver. Unfortunately I had to travel to Germany with work, and could not make it back for the Rally. Dominic made it in and had a great day out, he got Daniel Lucy to fill in as co-driver. The day nearly started in disaster when the car was slow to start in the morning. This rally was the first real test of the car, and it passed with flying colours, there was no serious problems with the car on the day. The first stage was canceled due to a crash on the stage. He had a clear run on stage 2 and 3 and recorded the 18th fastest time out of about 28 in the class. This was a great achievement for his first time behind the wheel of a rally car. It will be my turn to drive next, and success will be if I too, can come home without crashing and not last....

Full results and stage times can be found on the "Irish-Rallying.com" web site and the link to this is on the links page.

 

 

29/11/2001 Banna Beach Single Stage Rally

The car is fully complete now with the singwriting done. We were 19th on the reserves for the Banna Beach single stage rally which was on the 18th of November but we never got a run. We made it to the next car in reserves if someone dropped out. We took the car to Tralee on the Saturday to get it through scrutiny which it passed. Then we had to drive back to Banna Sunday morning again and wait to see if we would get a drive. That was very disheartening after all the work we have put in and then to not get an entry and had to pack up everything and head home again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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