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Hi all

I am currently restoring a 1965 Cooper but instead of the car being a trailer queen, once finished i would like to use the Cooper in Historic Rallying. What is the easiest route into this form of motorsport and what must i do to the car to make it eligible?

cheers. Tim

Tim one of the HRCR newcomer 'rally schools' are a great idea if you can get on one. It's a full day and they will give you the lowdown on car prep (not THAT much to do) and then go through all the navigation stuff which you can then try out on a simple road run at the end. Well worth doing even if you're just curious.

tim, petes advice is good, i would also get in touch with paul loveridge at the hrcr fotr tech spec, there are strong noises toward straight cuts being outlawed on night events, and plus 60 overbores max, so 73.5 would be not allowed, hydraulic handbrakes are already gone, start with a very simple stong car, with a good long sumpguard and good navigational equipment and go from there,

Thanks for the advice chaps

Quite a way off with the car but that is the way I would like to go.... Definitely going to use it for competition. Would also like to try circuits and hill climbing too!!!

Will be looking for bits and bobs at Beaulieu at the weekend.

Cheers. Tim

As has already been said above, all of which is good advice. Less is definitely more when it come to rallying. Strength & reliability are paramount. Remember that a bog standard 850 is probably capable of being driven faster than you will be capable of doing to begin with. Technique & experience are what you need to develop.

Good luck.

I would also recommend deciding what type of event you fancy doing as some events might exclude you from entering depending on your car spec. Historic road rallying, decent dampers, uprated pads, fly off handbrake, skids and guards for sump, brake fuel and petrol lines. Decent lights and wiring, and healthly eng/box don't worry about making it go quicker. you need 'driveability' in a rally engine so don't put a 'rorty' cam in it. Your best mechanical mod will be a centre oil pick up and a twin pin diff, and an exhaust that is tucked up out of harms way. Be prepared to spend as many hours clearing cow sh*te off the underside as driving it

Cheers Steve! I thought my days of cleaning the underside of a mini were long gone! Loved the feature on Orangebox in Mini Magazine!

Cheers. Tim.

coopertim wrote:Cheers Steve! I thought my days of cleaning the underside of a mini were long gone! Loved the feature on Orangebox in Mini Magazine!

Cheers. Tim.

No problem Tim! You can't beat the smell of cow shi*te on a hot exhaust