Agbo 2009.

[bruvs1]

watch out for car 30, crap seed for this lad, he's top 10 material

[bruvs1]

c'mon lee how did it go? can't find any results??

[Sunbmw]

c'mon lee how did it go? can't find any results??

Not great, full report in the morning. Very fatigued due to 3.30am start!

[Sunbmw]

AGBO Stages 2009 by Lee Sawdon age 36 1/2

Right, the AGBO has an unconventional early start (8.15MTC1) so scrutineering is daft early, Car1 sctrutes at 4.45 and so on, so a very early alarm call was needed yesterday.

I arrived at the venue nice and early, my car was following on, on the back of my co-drivers beaver tail lorry, he arrived and we slope off to scrutineering, all good (another rally with no mention of the spoiler!!!).

With time to kill, we (me and Micheal Holland, car 9) had a walk to see how tight the chicane was over the bridge, and just to see how conditions were underfoot, with some overnight rain, but a clear dry start to the day, and a rapidly drying wind, we took the decision to go out on slicks. All the others seemed to be opting for cuts or wets, but we reckoned it would be dry enough so that was that.

Stage 1.

5,4,3,2,1........Blink........done. "Is that it" I says to the nav "Do we go round again?" Reality is, the stages are MEGA short, no time to get any heat into anything, a fairly uneventful afair, 3.01.

Stage 2.

Still dry, same stage, 2.53.

Stage 3.

Bit longer stage, did a bit of bale ploughing on this one after getting it wrong on a hairpin, as with the other two stages I was erring on the cautious side, super fine line between being quick, and being stuck in a tree. 3.30

Stage 4.

Rain. Lots. Slicks. Bugger. 3.50

Stage 5.

Different start point now, should mention that another trait to this event is that it has some long road sections, to get to and from stage starts/finishes. All wet now, gone to some Kumho cuts (as opposed to Michelin wets, not wet enough) and again, a fairly unexciting stage. Can't remember the time for that one.

Stage 6.

This was when the drama set in, just pull in off road section and the temp gauge goes off the scale, knock her off, diagnose the fan inop, traces it to dicky switch, swaps it onto another switch and let it have a few mins cooling as we still have time. Go to start, nothing, I have pulled the igintion wire off, get to start 8 mins late.

Then being fired up was all over the place, spun off on a hairpin, big tankslapper before the bridge, very unforgettable stage.

Stage 7.

Reverse stages now, still mega cautious, still can't get a rythmn, however, still entertaining the masses, which is what it is all about really.

Stage 8.

Same as 7, sun back out now but still slippery and muddy.

Stage 9.

Penultimate stage, this one has the water splash in it, and for the first time today, I got out of the car with a beaming smile, really on it on that one (story of my life), and it is looking like we are on for a finish, first one for 8 years.

Stage 10.

Only 3 miles to a finish, what can go wrong? Had a cracker last one, so sets off in high hopes, attack the water splash with a little too much vigour, cos there are no plug leads or owt to get wet on a BMW are there? dead. it tries to start but wont. 3 mins, it starts, set off with helmet half on, does another mile then dies again. Mees about and it goes but dies again. Bastard.

Car 71 passes, then stage closer, its all over. So close but million miles away. eventually limp the car back and load up to come home gutted.

All I can think is that water has got in the crank sensor and is messing its head up, sometimes it runs great, then it just dies, got to investigate further.

So, we went into the last stage in somewhere like 18th, not happy with that at all, only consolation being that the top boys are there every year, hence why they kick everybodies ass.

Mick was a respectable 7th, not bad for saying he had a few dramas too.

Try to find some pics later.

[bruvs1]

that reads as i see the place, short stages, mainly slippy n short, and no time to get heat in the rubber, a bit like three sisters with trees!! unlucky not to get to the end though lad. enterained the masses is also important!! fancy epynt at the end of may?

[M3 Compact]

Great write up, Lee.

Car 71 passes, then stage closer, its all over. So close but million miles away. eventually limp the car back and load up to come home gutted.

Hands up everybody else who attacks water with reckless abandon nowadays, due to the 'fcuk that stuff, I ain't got no HT leads to be scared about'.

that reads as i see the place, short stages, mainly slippy n short, and no time to get heat in the rubber, a bit like three sisters with trees!! unlucky not to get to the end though lad. enterained the masses is also important!! fancy epynt at the end of may?

I enjoyed Weston Park in a 'sociable event with pleasant stages' type way, but 'rallying' it isn't.

And....

So, we went into the last stage in somewhere like 18th, not happy with that at all, only consolation being that the top boys are there every year, hence why they kick everybodies ass.

If you could spend 1/2 an hour driving up and down the cresty 'straight' from the courtyard to the trees, before attacking SS1 - you could nab a hatfull of seconds on the stages imo. The twisty bit through the cautioned trees is a couple of seconds quicker after the first few viewings, too.

Fair play to the 1.4 Nova that finished 3rd.

[bruvs1]

watch out for car 30, crap seed for this lad, he's top 10 material

geoff roberts was going well, up to 8th till gearbox cried enough, think i'll sell my crystal ball

[bruvs1]

quote: So, we went into the last stage in somewhere like 18th, not happy with that at all, only consolation being that the top boys are there every year, hence why they kick everybodies ass.

thats the problem with every rally," the seasoned campainers" know more than us, most of us just can't do enough events a year to be on the pace, but you just have to give it your best shot and be happy with what you did

[notax]

Great write up sorry to hear it didn't go to plan

Any idea what is your next event will be?

PS I recommend EMCOS Stages near Cheltenham - my favourite event last year, I think its the 23rd May...

[Sunbmw]

Thanks boys, at least we will get some pics and a video, not as if we retired first stage.

Any idea what is your next event will be?

Realistically Chris, the RBMR again, got to focus on getting the house done now, and I have thought about one thing all day.....................sticking an S14 in my car. Hmmmmm

[Sunbmw]

Made it onto Mad's website............we fear understeer....

http://www.madvideo.co.uk/page47.htm

[bruvs1]

seriously slippy the other bimmer copped for it too!! as for s14 lee, is your car suffering in the handling dept??

[notax]

Any idea what is your next event will be?

Realistically Chris, the RBMR again, got to focus on getting the house done now, and I have thought about one thing all day.....................sticking an S14 in my car. Hmmmmm

I hadn't intended to do the RBMR again - although we enjoyed it it cost a fortune in tyres and bent rims - and the continual 90s were a nuisance - although I gather they are improving the course this year. Don't think you'll persuade Simon back there but I may be up for it...

I wouldn't rush into swapping to an S14 - you've had some bad luck but you've proved that you and the car are on the pace - and you've barely had a chance to get used to it yet. Best to save the cash (and hassle) and do a few more events rather than go S14 in my opinion:D

[avtovaz]

Nice to see you again Lee, i am still speechless from when you said the m3 motor is 330 Lbs? or Kg?

I know the xe is 140, i think the 325 motor is 190...

[M3 Compact]

Nice to see you again Lee, i am still speechless from when you said the m3 motor is 330 Lbs? or Kg?

I know the xe is 140, i think the 325 motor is 190...

AFAIK an M50 325 is 190 Kg all-in, the M52 (alloy) is 160 Kg all-in, the S50 (iron block) M3 engine is 155 Kg without ancilliaries....