ORANGEBOX Rally of The Tests 2013

[acespeed72]

well done great result...

[irlmin]

Well done Steve , looked like a tough event ,
G

[steady eddie]

Well done Steve , looked like a tough event ,
G

Hi Steve

No doubt catching up on some sleep now. Great result! Know what it takes.

Best Regards

Sleep tight

Eddie

[SMOKE GREY]

Well gang, just about recovered from nearly six days in the Orangebox We had a fabulous event, been dreaming of it since , saw a lot of friendly faces about, Slowboy, Brynmoor etc. We had a near trouble free run, the amount of water that came down on the Saturday was incredible, the water splashing over the roof for a 100 yards at a time, but the old girl (thats the Mini) never missed a beat Also the 7" modified brakes did a sterling job, much better than hoped, and them tyres were ace, never once thought we were going to get stuck, and it was VERY muddy in places.

Some of the roads and whites in Wales were very narrow, how some of them bigger cars got down them, lord only knows . We was 17th after the Thursday night, 10th on Friday night, 8th after Saturday and finished the event on sunday in 9th and second in class, bloody brilliant
A couple of photos, some excellent 'action' ones to follow......

Scrutineering on Thursday morning

[SMOKE GREY]

Autotest type test near Preston Saturday, fastest in class on this one.

[SMOKE GREY]

Race circuit speed test in Wales mid day on Friday

[SMOKE GREY]

Arrival at one of the 241(!) manned controls, Saturday morning.

[InimiaD]

Excellent result chaps. Good to see the the old girl can still do the business.

I noticed that the scrutineer is none other than Alun Morgan. He gets around doesn't he.

[SMOKE GREY]

Arrival at one of the 241(!) manned controls, Saturday morning.

Note the temporary rear hub grease cap made from an aerosol can lid after we lost it of Friday night, super hot brakes, expansion etc, a 'new' dropped through the window at a test control by Slowboy

[SMOKE GREY]

Monday morning after the finish and the sun is out The Old Swan Hotel Harrogate.

[Pete]

Hope you didn't get a ticket.

Well done mate, looks like you had a blast. Just make sure you now book in for Blyton !

[cookie1071]

Monday morning after the finish and the sun is out The Old Swan Hotel Harrogate.

No better sight than a mini plastered in dirt and clart after event - top result fella, well done

[RoadNavvy]

Now that was a hard event, but enjoyable. The organisers put 'tricks' in to catch the navigators out: Had a blown up copy of an OS map to the east of Dolgellau with directions marked at certain junctions. They had also digitally deleted a road that returned to the A road, part way through. On their map it read, T-junction turn R, follow road round 90L. On the OS map it read, T-junction turn R, 100yds turn L onto side road. Guess who used organisers blown-up map and ended up on the A road . A minute lost.

Best part of the event: Swynnerton Army Camp on Friday night, only one error and realised immediately (by the barrier across the road!!!), turned round using the handbrake and went back 50 yds and turned it around again and corrected the error. Think as we only dropped 6 mins in there with fastest on 5 mins - happy with that

Thanks to Steve for his driving and Minisport for the preparation work. Only had the fanbelt come loose (squealed all the way around Swynnerton) and track rod end nut loosen off(??? - I'm only a navigator ) on Friday, then a noise at the front, about 2 miles from the finish venue. Talk about panic

If anyone has the money, it is " a must do event" . 2014's event starts from Buxton, has Friday and Saturday night at Llandrindod Wells, finishing in Bristol.

[Chris64]

Old Mini for sale. One careful owner. Never raced or rall.....oh, hang on a minute!

Great stuff, congratulations on a great result!

[SMOKE GREY]

Now that was a hard event, but enjoyable. The organisers put 'tricks' in to catch the navigators out: Had a blown up copy of an OS map to the east of Dolgellau with directions marked at certain junctions. They had also digitally deleted a road that returned to the A road, part way through. On their map it read, T-junction turn R, follow road round 90L. On the OS map it read, T-junction turn R, 100yds turn L onto side road. Guess who used organisers blown-up map and ended up on the A road . A minute lost.

Best part of the event: Swynnerton Army Camp on Friday night, only one error and realised immediately (by the barrier across the road!!!), turned round using the handbrake and went back 50 yds and turned it around again and corrected the error. Think as we only dropped 6 mins in there with fastest on 5 mins - happy with that

Thanks to Steve for his driving and Minisport for the preparation work. Only had the fanbelt come loose (squealed all the way around Swynnerton) and track rod end nut loosen off(??? - I'm only a navigator ) on Friday, then a noise at the front, about 2 miles from the finish venue. Talk about panic

If anyone has the money, it is " a must do event" . 2014's event starts from Buxton, has Friday and Saturday night at Llandrindod Wells, finishing in Bristol.

Just to echo Bob's words (Roadnavvy), if you can afford to do it, have a go! I really enjoyed it, the roads were ace, even Bob who spent most of the 750 mile route with his head down muttering what devious b*ggers the organizers where thought it twas good It also seems that over all the tests we where the fastest in our class Would love to do it again, so if anyone wants to get involved for publicity purposes with a financial input.........

[SMOKE GREY]

The clean up begins!!! Going to be a big job, looking underneath

[SMOKE GREY]

Some more pics as promised, all taken by Tony Large.net

The start

[SMOKE GREY]

Wales on Friday, Trawsfyndd ranges

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Warcop Saturday night, damp in places

[SMOKE GREY]

Sunday afternoon Catterick, on one of them slow boring regularity things