Lydden Hill Rallycross, 29th and 30th March 2014

Well Guys, this year's British Rallycross Championship is kicking off very soon and I was wondering who from here is planning on attending over the weekend of 29th and 30th March?

I'm going to be there both days    and am trying to work up some 'Brownie Points' at home now as I'll be away for 'Mothering Sunday'!     Ooops!

Anyone else in DRM-land heading down to Lydden for some door-rubbing, tarmac and loose action? Will make a great warm-up event for the FIA World Rallycross round at Lydden in late May!!

Cheers, Steve

hi steve...............pity there isn't a section especially for rally-related events/shows.....lol!!     

(sorry m8, just being a cheeky git!    , please forgive...  )

But I thought that was one of the things to do within the Lounge area?!   

No problems being cheeky, Billy. I'd have worried if you were anything else!            

I appreciate that not all rally-lovers want to watch 'single-seater' rally cars racing against each other in a closed circuit comprising a part-tarmac, part loose surface, but for me, it's always been the pinnacle of motorsport excitement. Only wish I had the finances to do rallycross on a scale of 1:1!    Until then (if that day ever comes!), I'll make do with watching the full-size action as a spectator and dabble in rallycross myself at 1/43 scale.

As at todays' date, I have 16 rallycross MG Metro 6R4s and one rallycross Triumph TR7 V8.    I've got four projects on the go right now and two of those are rallycross 6R4s.

Anyway, guys, those who haven't yet been to a rallycross meeting, I'd encourage you to get along this season and see what the fuss is all about! Those who have experienced rallycross themselves will know why several of us here are so enthusiastic about the sport..... and it's getting bigger. The European Championship is now a World Series and goes to Canada and includes names such as Petter Solberg, Sebastian Loeb, Jacques Villeneuve who you may have heard of!!   

Cheers, Steve

That section is open to everybody Steve, I can move it there if you like.

Would love to be heading over, it always looks great craic on the TV. Rallycross is going to be huge in a few years. Ive wanted to make a 1/18 rallycross c4 or xsara model for a while now

don't mind me lads, too much time on my hands obviously!!! work away steve!!      

Hi Brian,

If you could move the thread to the events area, that would make a lot of sense... and possibly make Billy happy too - which has got to be a good thing!    I get what you were getting at now, Billy!!   

Cheers Brian, and I hope you can get across to sunny (?) Lydden some time in the future. It is the home of rallycross, to many, after all!!

I wasn't going to go into detail yet, but suffice it to say that the European event in May will be worth the extra effort. There will be static displays of Group B cars and on-track action too. At this stage, I don't know what that means, but I'll know b the end of the month!!   

I'm a-wondering about a display of small Group B cars there too!    Leave it with me!

Cheers all, Steve

I won't be able to make the March shows, but will definitely be at Lydden for the World round in May.

Steve, it'd be great to see a display of 1/43 rallycross (and rally!) cars there, as you suggest. It'd be a good opportunity to hand out some flyers and get some new members too.

Cheers,
Mark

Yes Mark, my thoughts exactly!!!   

Would be great to put a face to the name in May.    We'll come back to the May meeting, but let's sort the March one out first. Not long to go!

Cheers, Steve

Anyone from here heading into Kent to see the rallycross season opener?   

Cheers, Steve

Well friends, I'm pleased to tell you that the 2014 British Rallycross Championship kcked off in fine style this weekend.   

Lydden Hill was bathed in sunshine for both days, in marked contrast to conditions 12 months ago when there was a crust of snow around the outside of the circuit. There were 123 cars competing across the various formulae including a good number from Belgium, as there were rounds of several Belgian competitions as part of the full programme.

Whether it was due to being the first time out this season or not, I don't know, but I've never seen so many mechanical breakdowns on circuit as there were both days, but against that, the racing was fair and close but without ANY big smashes..... until the Supercar Final that is! Jos Jansen took the right-hander at Paddock a bit too close to the barriers and ripped the front right corner off his Focus. He got going again but 3/4 of a lap later retired with only three wheels on his wagon!

The Supercar final was won in fine style by Koen Pauwels in his Focus, with the joker lap playijng its part in proceedings. It was a close call to know whether Pauwels, Joochen Coox in his VW Scirocco or Julian Godfrey in his Fiesta would come out on top at the end, a real nail-biter.

There were some excellent ding-dongs (Matron!) in the finals of many of the other formulae making it a top weekend's motor racing, despite a localised power cut on Sunday preventing the any running for half an hour late morning. With the timing system not working, everything was put on pause until the generators kicked in and it was business as usual. Sadly, three of the finals couldn't be run as the 4pm curfew was reached with many cars still in the assembly area!

One of the highlights was, undoubtedly, a new trophy for the Ripla Retro Rallycross Driver of the Year. Looking like something held aloft at Wembley in the old days, the John Button Memorial Trophy is a fitting prize for the retro-rallycross boys to compete for and alos a sterling tribute to Jenson's dad, John, who died suddenly in January. John Button had rallycrossed in VW Beetles and Golfs in the 70s and early 80s before his son's karting career took off (and he's done pretty well since then!) but was a well liked and respected figure on the rallycross scene in his competition years.

I managed to have a lovely chat over the weekend with a couple of ex-rallycrossers: Graham Strugnell (Struggers) and John Smith, together with his lovely wife Jeeta. Shirley Gibson was busy hosting the Retro Rallycross family and finalising arrangements for next month's FIA event, though Rob's weekend didn't end too well, with the venerable 6R4 pulling off the circuit with smoke pouring from the right bank of the V64V engine. Hopefully he'll be back out to play with the other Group B rallycross cars on track in May.

Cheers, Steve

Sorry that I couldn't make it down to Lydden Hill, Steve. Sounds like you had a cracking time.   

The "...smoke pouring from the right bank of the V64V engine." was caused by the following!...



This very sad photo is the aftermath of Rob Gibson's MG Metro 6R4 terminal engine damage following Rd1 of the 2014 Retro Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill over the weekend of 30/31 March. Rob describing it as "...the chewed up top of a piston! That's what happens when you change gear from 3rd to 2nd when it should be 3rd to 4th. Driver error to the extreme - only myself to blame!"   

Mega OOPS

David,

Thanks for posting. I'm no engineer but that doesn't look very healthy to me!    My stomach turned when I saw the smoke pouring out of the car and it's done the same again now!   

Rob told me, soon after returning to the paddock (on foot) that it was his mistake selecting second rather than fourth.

Do you know, yet, what Rob's intention is? Is the engine salvageable? How soon before we hear the powerful bark of the V64V again?   

Lastly David, did you see my email regarding the May rallycross meeting?

Cheers, Steve