MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stages - 18th January 2020

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Suze

Hugh - the hairpin - when it was HPL James had plenty more space on the right hand side he could have used to help Would have perhaps just made it a little easier, i know in the Micra Matt and I have both always driven round rather than handbraked round as the bar is just not effective enough for us!

We drive around it in the Escort rather than hand brake it in that direction - it works out quicker and it's more controllable. The steering was really heavy so it was just the effort of getting it turned with any throttle applied that was the problem, if we hadn't been able to get the power steetring fixed we were going to drop the fluid out of the system to see if that made it any easier - but retirement was the most likely outcome. Thank heavens for classic Minis

Originally Posted by justracing

Crikey Bert, you had an eventful day! Thanks to all concerned.

Certainly did! If I do any more events in the Astra we'll need to do something about the seat - it was better after we moved it but it's still the least comfortable I've ever been in a rally car. Interesting to do Brands in a fwd car though - it's certainly a very different driving style to the Escort.

[justracing]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Thank heavens for classic Minis

They're entered at Goodwood, indecently quick car usually but as I commented previously those fast stages at BH don't really show their form.

[Suze]

They won the class at Abingdon which is also a quick venue (long straights with 90s), and Goodwood is fast too. I think if more chicanes etc went in at Brands we'd have some very unhappy competitors - we get comments they don't like some of the furniture in there as it is!

[justracing]

Originally Posted by Suze

They won the class at Abingdon which is also a quick venue (long straights with 90s), and Goodwood is fast too. I think if more chicanes etc went in at Brands we'd have some very unhappy competitors - we get comments they don't like some of the furniture in there as it is!

Point taken

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Suze

They won the class at Abingdon which is also a quick venue (long straights with 90s), and Goodwood is fast too. I think if more chicanes etc went in at Brands we'd have some very unhappy competitors - we get comments they don't like some of the furniture in there as it is!

A lot depends on gearing - the Escort is very short geared (we hit the limiter in 6th at Brands and Goodwood). We've seen/heard other Escorts with plenty of puff left at those venues. Starkest example we saw of this was at Longmoor - on the straight past the service area we were pulling 6th gear, one of the other Escorts was in 3rd at the same point! Some people will change their gearing depending on the venue (we don't have budget for that sort of faffing about!)

We need the chicane on the start / finish straight - without it we'd be bouncing off the limiter for ages (not so much in the Astra!). The chicanes in/behind the pit lane slow the cars on the approach to the hairpin - if they weren't there then I suspect there would be a lot more accidents at the hairpin.

[Suze]

It does indeed, and we have the same challenges in the Micra with gearing. Likewise, we don't have the budget to change it for each venue so have the best compromise we can. But then, we've only had a trailer for a year rather than having to drive the rally car to events on the road!

[justracing]

Thanks for the info Bert, it's always more interesting to get a competitor's take.

[hoffman66]

Nice to see a few people had scattered the cones at Druids and made a mess of Mr Palmer's precious grass.

Always a nice touch, hope no-one got any damage from the cones etc, these events at his tracks are really only sprints to be honest, shame they don't use more other areas. there is plenty of option to do so, but I expect that would also mean the event using long track and we can't have that can we noise police.

[dwh43scale]

Originally Posted by hoffman66

Nice to see a few people had scattered the cones at Druids and made a mess of Mr Palmer's precious grass.

Always a nice touch, hope no-one got any damage from the cones etc, these events at his tracks are really only sprints to be honest, shame they don't use more other areas. there is plenty of option to do so, but I expect that would also mean the event using long track and we can't have that can we noise police.

I’m sorry to read the rather less positive comments above, but perhaps they are somewhat tongue in cheek. Given the almost total lack of rallying in the south, I for one am glad that there are any events to attend and photograph. IIRC dealings with the the Forestry Commission up north could be challenging from time to time.

My photos will be available soon ...

[hoffman66]

My comments are not tongue in cheek I am afraid, I have attended a few of these MSV events and they are only rallies by name and the fact you have to do stages.

In every other way they are pretty much sprints, I understand why, and I also understand why there are not any events down South.

That does not mean they are necessarily decent events. They are a way for Palmer to make money at his venues off season, hence why he sumps up a prize fund and allows events at his tracks, it is a business decison nothing more.

As a spectacle they are poor to say the least, probably fun to drive in if not particularly challenging compared to a proper single venue.

They serve a need, that need is not mine.

[dwh43scale]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dwh38/albums

Bit late, but galleries from Brands now on my Flickr account.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dwh38/albums

Bit late, but galleries from Brands now on my Flickr account.

Nice You got a few of us in there

Looks like nobody caught our broadside moment at Paddock I was hoping somebody got a photo of that but I've not seen anything so far.

[dwh43scale]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Nice You got a few of us in there

Looks like nobody caught our broadside moment at Paddock I was hoping somebody got a photo of that but I've not seen anything so far.

I seem to recall seeing it in the distance but I was at Druids. Next time perhaps !

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

I seem to recall seeing it in the distance but I was at Druids.

That seems to be the common theme - people saw it, went "oooh!" but didn't catch it on camera. It was a typical "cold rear tyres on fwd car" paddock moment - certainly an interesting experience - I was expecting to end up backwards in the gravel but James gave it a bootful and got it straightened up nicely. Made an interesting contrast to how the Escort would have behaved in a similar situation.

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

Next time perhaps !

Ideally there won't be a next time!