EMCOS Stages - our next rally

[miss notax]

Aww, don't be a wimp

Anyway, Chris will need someone to tuck him in on the Friday night as i'm deserting team Notax for this event due to one of my friends Hen Night

[M3 Compact]

Aww, don't be a wimp

Anyway, Chris will need someone to tuck him in on the Friday night as i'm deserting team Notax for this event due to one of my friends Hen Night

Can I come on the hen night instead?

Distance no object.

[miss notax]

Only if you wear a very pretty dress....

[jonnysprinter]

Only if you wear a very pretty dress....

and make lewd remarks at the boys

[notax]

Simon - only a few places left now - proves it is a great venue, especially as another event is running there in a couple of weeks and that was fully subscribed too

You need a break from DIY - and I think a voyage to rediscover your mojo could be just what is required (and no, I'm not talking about Miss NT's hen party )

[M3 Compact]

You need a break from DIY -

Tell me about it.

CH boiler/radiators replacement this week. (And unplanned for next week. )

It's a fcuking long way with a rusty 40 MPH uphills transit towing. I'm frantically searching for a replacement tow vehicle atm......

I'll make a decision this weekend, notax - it'd be nice to meet up again.

Might consider RBMR again if the youngster 'gets the bug' at Teesside. Or if RR promises not to mention oral sex again, while we're eating noodles.

[notax]

Be great to see you at either event Of course seeing you at both would be even better

I really think you'd enjoy EMCOS - very positive feedback and an unusually good SV venue

Re RR - at least we'll be prepared this time...

[M3 Compact]

...frantically searching for a replacement tow vehicle atm......

I'll make a decision this weekend, notax - it'd be nice to meet up again.

Entry in post tomorrow, but if I haven't sorted a new tugger by the refund deadline - I can't face the journey in the yellow peril!

Re RR - at least we'll be prepared this time...

He's far better company than a 40 MPH Transit!

[notax]

Fantastic news that you've put in an entry Why not hire a van? I get really decent transit vans for about £40 a day - and loads have towbars fitted

In the overall scheme of things the van expense won't even notice - especially as it'll probably use less fuel than yours and get you there twice as fast. The ones we hire have a VERY illegal towing speed

BTW been meaning to ask - what is the towing speed limit? Is it the same on motorways as dual carrigeways?

Realy hope to see you at EMCOS

[M3 Compact]

Entry not sent yet notax, - had a re-dither. I think I'm secretly hoping that the full entry makes my mind up fort me, so that I can complain about it and feel sorry for myself.

[jonnysprinter]

Entry not sent yet notax, - had a re-dither. I think I'm secretly hoping that the full entry makes my mind up fort me, so that I can complain about it and feel sorry for myself.

You could always come and have a play at Blyton tomorrow, Pat Flynn will take cash on the day

[notax]

Entry not sent yet notax, - had a re-dither. I think I'm secretly hoping that the full entry makes my mind up fort me, so that I can complain about it and feel sorry for myself.

That's a shame still a few entries though...come on you know you want to

I'm certain you'll love this event - check out comments on BRF

Hope to see you soon (ideally 23rd May!)

[notax]

Why is it that however far in advance you plan things it always goes tits up with rallying The great news is that the car now runs (thanks again to all involved) and now it is driveable Spaceman is working hard to respray it. Car is still in Wales and I'm flat out at work, but fortunately my nav is able to catch a train on Wednesday evening to collect it - over 4 hours on a train and then a 2.5 hour drive back

Late on Wednesday night I intend to try and sort the handbrake and if poss do a nuts and bolts check. Then hopefully will just have time to design the sponsors decals and have them fitted on Friday... Also need to collect van and trailer, swap wheels/tyres etc... Agghhhh. And then a nice relaxing 5am start on Saturday to EMCOS near Cheltenham.

Very pleased Spaceman is intending to come and watch - just hope I don't make too much mess of his new bodywork

[rearwheelsteercompact]

No pressure then ?!

[notax]

The sun is shining, there's loads to do - and Miss Notax is bored so I'll make this pretty brief...

At very last minute had car ready for event - and resplendent in its new paint and arches (courtesy of Spaceman and new signwriting - pics to follow...

Very early start and on arrival really pleased to see that Spaceman had made it to help out

Day looked like being a scorcher, decided to run on X12s although various other cars were using fully treaded tyres and a few were on mud and snows...this is one slippery venue although technically not a loose surface - concrete covered in dust/shite with odd broken sections.

Full entry of 80 cars including lots of Scoobies, Evos etc and some fast Mk2s. Nine in our class (D) and for many their local event - so we knew a decent result would be hard to achieve. (particularly as the compact is now fitted with an S50 which, as Simon will tell you turns the car into a pig ) We were seeded at 26.

SS1 Nightmare! No grip, huge low speed understeer on and off brakes which resulted in hitting some tyres not looking forward to seeing Spaceman after stage Paul (new nav) also struggling and found (as Miss Notax did last year) that notes bear little resemblance to end of stage...

Result 34th OA

SS2 damage patched up - Spaceman adjusted suspension and I reduced tyre pressures. Still loads of understeer but no offs.

20th OA

SS3 Granville worked his magic adjusted suspension and tyre pressures and I knew at first chicane the car was sorted Caught two cars - both held me up but not easy to pass, second did evetually let me pass. Paul getting better by the stage

15th OA

SS4 caught and stuck to a Scooby (seeded 14) until he left at a split - and even managed to stick reasonably well to a Darrian. One scare following Scooby at about 110mph on bumpy loose section - suddenly had a 'Days of Thunder' moment - total dust cloud on narrow lane section, no idea if he'd crashed but didn't want to brake too hard on that surface -found he'd had to dive off side of road to avoid a tyre - and we had to follow suit Car must have collected it at chicane half a mile earlier and deposited it there... Also held up by a 106 which also made life interesting by throwing tyres everywhere - decided to reduce the pressure on him as another mistake by him could cost us both...

13th OA

Organisers managed to fit in 10 stages and we kept getting faster. Hoping for a decent class result - but class D held a number of high places

Paul navving becoming excellent and I was driving well on the whole (and treating myself to the odd showboat too )

Bit of a nightmare at a water splash - absolutely NO grip drove over some tyres (whereas many other caused major bodywork damage here) only option to drive at about 10 mph and then struggle like mad to get power down on next straight...

In a later stage marshalls were waving furiously as we approached a hairpin - eventually realised they were suggesting we handbrake it - put me off and I slid too wide and lost some time. Annoyed, I wasn't focused for the next chicane and went through much too fast Pauld didn't think we'd make it - we did, but only at the expense of one of Spaceman's rear arches I saw something fly off behind us and was sure the whole arch had gone Fortunately the arch was still there (bloody strong) and it must have been a lump of wood or hay I saw... Still, a little more damage to be repaired...

On the last couple of stages we were giving it the full beans and on the last stage on Spaceman's advice I avoided heroics to try and secure a decent place.

The result...


















1st in class

6th overall

Mega chuffed and a massive thank you to Spaceman for his help on the day and for transforming both the look and handling of the car.

Maybe this result will change Simon's mind.....?