Lets off-road!

Blue skies and sunshine in November? Yep, you read that right, wrapped up warm I hardly knew I was in Aldershot in the middle of autumn, only the leaves on the ground and the muddy puddles gave away the game. Rushmoor Arena in Aldershot is the home of the service park for the Tempest Rally, a two-class rally that’s part of the MSA English Rally Championship. The competitors are split into 2WD and 4WD, after a couple of forest stages they arrive in service to be fettled ready for run round the Arena stage. The 2wd class is home to modern and retro rally cars from Mk1 Escorts to the latest Citroen C2.




Former F1 commentator Tony Jardine is campaigning a Ford Fiesta this year, he would clout the marker barrels but continue on during his first pass of the stage.


With repairs carried out and cars given a quick check over and clean it was out onto the stage, two laps of the stage meant that there was always a couple of cars to watch, most of the stage is inaccessible but the spectator bank is perfect for viewing close up as the cars take serious punishment from the rutted track before blasting up a tarmac stretch then into trees.






With the last of the 2WDs clear it was time for a wait, a crash in the previous stage meant the 4WDs were running behind, but they soon rolled into service. The 4wd class is mainly a Subaru and Mitsubushi.





With tyre pressures adjusted and tweaks made the cars were into the stage, anti-lag systems popping and banging away the top class were much faster through.





The Armed Forces Rally Team runs several Land Rovers at the end of the 4Wd class, slower than the WRC spec cars they still provided an interesting spectacle.


With the delays I only had time to watch a single running of the stage before leaving the Arena, the drive home was on route to the next stage so I shared the road with mud splattered rally cars ready for the off once more.

You can view more photos from the morning here, thanks for looking.

Steve

Operation DayRelease - The spirit of RetroRides.

The spirit of Retro Rides shone on a gloomy Saturday morning. When the call for “help wanted” went out a motley crew of chaps came together to move the heaviest piece of workshop machinery I’ve ever tried to shift…..a two ton car lift!

Pulling into the secret yard in the removal van my retro spotting radar went pop



As is always the way with these things, what started off as a simple collection job got more complicated with a trailer collection to deliver a chassis and an engine pickup too, the rest of the hired help turned up and the chassis and engine shifting were soon carried out.


Following a bit of mucking around we got down to the serious business of discussing the heavy work

With careful use of trestles, car dollies, engine lifts, blocks of wood and rope the various sections were man handled around the yard and the jigsaw puzzle was put together.




With the trailer dropped off we hit the M4 for the blast to Area52, the secret headquarters of the South West Division of retroRides, the all white convoy made good progress



Picking up an extra set of wheels at Bath

Before we arrived at the drop zone.

Much tea and pasties were consumed to build up strength for the unloading session



And after a look round the area we began the plan to take the jigsaw puzzle apart.



With the van in position we dragged the various parts out, the erecting will take place another time




With everything neatly stacked away the day was over, the team drifted away before the shutter was locked for the night. Leaving a very happy but tired Bruce to ponder the next stage of the project that is Area52


You can see more pictures from the days adventure here.
Steve