I've decided that I need to start a list of work I'll be doing to the car this winter to prepare for the 2010 season. I thought I would post it here, as I need to have a list anyways, I tend to lose paper lists I make, and I thought other people mind find it somewhat interesting. I don't know who makes up the 12,000+ visits I've had so far on this blog, but I'm guessing some may be interested to know what work goes into preparing the car. I'm also not into the 'cloak and dagger' secret race car strategy thing, ask me and I'll tell you what I did well and didn't do well. On a related note, I promised a long time ago to post pictures I took during the oringal building of the car, sorry to those who have occassionally asked for it....just haven't made the time yet.
So, I'll try to prioritize, but it's likely to change with time
Step 1: finish new workshop (not really car, but it's the first step. Only wiring and wallboard left before I can move tools and project cars in.
Step 2: repair new WRX daily driver (this is obviously for selfish reasons as I get to use this every day). Once this is done, there will also be more room to work on the rally car.
Step 3: Start Rally car repairs
- fix whatever was causing loss of all coolant during Kananaskis 2009
- replace control arm that is slightly bent
- rebuild transmission, consider upgrade clutch
- consider purchase of different final drive for transmission (currently 3.94).
- repair rear seal that is leaking
- repair flex-pipe on muffler that has developed a hole
- purchase softer springs for ice/snow rallies
- rebuild spare driveshafts
- repair rad fan sensor
- replace battery
- modify skid plate for better protection of water pump and ps pump.
- bleed brakes
- upgrade rear brake pads
- re-synchronize and tune carbs
- take car for dyno tuning (never done this, it's relatively inexpensive and might prove useful)
- (edit) move seat to more comfortable position
I'm sure I'll think of more.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Kananaskis Rally 2009
The 2009 edition of the Kananaskis Rally took place on November 8, 2009. There were 11 cars entered for the rally, and the forecast was for unseasonable warm weather approaching the event. I was grateful that Christa Monasch agreed to join me as co-driver for the 3rd time in the last year.
Recce, registration and technical inspections occurred on Saturday, the day before the rally (Recce definition: we get 2 passes of the stages to prepare our stage notes; on the first pass the driver typically calls out the corners and the co-driver takes notes, on the 2nd pass the co-driver reads the notes back and the driver makes slight corrections). It was clear during recce that the event was going to be slippery, despite the forecast. I would guess that between 60 -80% of all stage kms were snow or ice covered to some degree.
The studded snow tires went on, and I started the rally on Sunday morning with the same3 goals as always: 1) Have fun; 2) Finish; and, 3) try to finish in a better position than my starting number. Our starting position was as Car #9.
The slippery conditions caught out a number of drivers throughout the day, and although there were winter road conditions, we still had summer ditches. We were fortunate to have no encounters with the ditch this year, and were able to keep the car on the road all day. However, about half way through the second last stage, the ‘low-coolant’ light began flashing and the car started overheating. We let off a bit and finished the stage. One 24km long stage and a 7km transit left to go, and the car has no coolant. Inspection reveals that coolant is leaking coolant from somewhere I can’t see on the water pump. There was a small creek near the start of the next stage and I filled the coolant reservoir right to the top, hoping we would get through the stage. We decided to just drive out the stage and not make the car work too hard. We were 8 kms into the stage when the low-coolant light started flashing at us again. We made it to the stage finish, and then finally back to the service area – the rally finish, although the car was starting to get pretty hot. Fortunately the weather was cool, because this VW was 'air-cooled' for about 23kms, just like the old bettles.
Only 7 cars ended up finishing the rally. We finished in 4th place, and had a great time so all goals were fulfilled. The car is going back to storage until I get my workshop finished, and then I’ll start looking at the problem with the water pump sometime this winter.
The next rally in western Canada is the Big White Rally near Kelowna. This is a brand-new event, and I’d love to be there, but it’s just a bit too far and at a really busy time of year. I’ll have to wait until Cochrane 2010 to rally again.
Recce, registration and technical inspections occurred on Saturday, the day before the rally (Recce definition: we get 2 passes of the stages to prepare our stage notes; on the first pass the driver typically calls out the corners and the co-driver takes notes, on the 2nd pass the co-driver reads the notes back and the driver makes slight corrections). It was clear during recce that the event was going to be slippery, despite the forecast. I would guess that between 60 -80% of all stage kms were snow or ice covered to some degree.
The studded snow tires went on, and I started the rally on Sunday morning with the same3 goals as always: 1) Have fun; 2) Finish; and, 3) try to finish in a better position than my starting number. Our starting position was as Car #9.
The slippery conditions caught out a number of drivers throughout the day, and although there were winter road conditions, we still had summer ditches. We were fortunate to have no encounters with the ditch this year, and were able to keep the car on the road all day. However, about half way through the second last stage, the ‘low-coolant’ light began flashing and the car started overheating. We let off a bit and finished the stage. One 24km long stage and a 7km transit left to go, and the car has no coolant. Inspection reveals that coolant is leaking coolant from somewhere I can’t see on the water pump. There was a small creek near the start of the next stage and I filled the coolant reservoir right to the top, hoping we would get through the stage. We decided to just drive out the stage and not make the car work too hard. We were 8 kms into the stage when the low-coolant light started flashing at us again. We made it to the stage finish, and then finally back to the service area – the rally finish, although the car was starting to get pretty hot. Fortunately the weather was cool, because this VW was 'air-cooled' for about 23kms, just like the old bettles.
Only 7 cars ended up finishing the rally. We finished in 4th place, and had a great time so all goals were fulfilled. The car is going back to storage until I get my workshop finished, and then I’ll start looking at the problem with the water pump sometime this winter.
The next rally in western Canada is the Big White Rally near Kelowna. This is a brand-new event, and I’d love to be there, but it’s just a bit too far and at a really busy time of year. I’ll have to wait until Cochrane 2010 to rally again.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Long rally-free summer
Just a quick post to anyone who is starved for rally this summer like I am. I'm very much looking forward to Kananaskis...... in November 'sigh'. I've recently moved and my rally car is surrounded by boxes in my garage, and will be until my new shop is finished (concrete coming this week, weather depending).
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Rocky Results
Results from Rocky Mountain Rally can be found here:
http://www.rallybc.com/rmr/Rocky_Results/2009/results_main.html
We finished in 19th place Nationally, and 13th place Regionally.
The Friday stages weren't great for us. My car was running VERY rich with the high altitude and, therefore, wasn't running right. There is obviously some more work to do setting up the side draft carbs, as the car had significantly less power than my mk3 jetta daily driver (which is not modified at all and is supposed to make less power stock than the 16v). Despite being very slow on Fridays stages, we also had a bit of excitement with a small off. We slid wide on a left hand turn over a crest and skipped along in the ditch for about 20ft. We came close enough to hitting a tree that the tree folded in the passenger side mirror :o
Saturday's stages went better for us. The car seemed to run better with the lower altitude, but was still running very rich. The car seemingly ran better near the end of stages than at the beginning. We had no drama ourselves, but 3 stages ended up being cancelled due to a couple accidents that slowed the rally and a small grass fire that started along the stages. It was fortunate that the rally organizers were so prepared, and that the rally had good radio operators, as the fire was quickly dealt with. I was a bit sorry to see the 3 stages cancelled, as we were making up time on each stage on our nearest competitors, and ended up 5 seconds from 18th nationally, and 25 seconds (IIRC) from 17th. I think we likely would have made this up on 1 more stage. Oh well.
Our times improved throughout the day, and we had a great time. I'd like to thank the organizers and volunteers for all their hard work. I always feel guilty that I get to go out and have a fun time racing, and we all rely so heavily on the volunteers. THANKS AGAIN.
My next rally is likely Bighorn in August, but Christa is looking for a right seat to fill at Mt. Trials in Merritt in a couple weeks.
Chad
http://www.rallybc.com/rmr/Rocky_Results/2009/results_main.html
We finished in 19th place Nationally, and 13th place Regionally.
The Friday stages weren't great for us. My car was running VERY rich with the high altitude and, therefore, wasn't running right. There is obviously some more work to do setting up the side draft carbs, as the car had significantly less power than my mk3 jetta daily driver (which is not modified at all and is supposed to make less power stock than the 16v). Despite being very slow on Fridays stages, we also had a bit of excitement with a small off. We slid wide on a left hand turn over a crest and skipped along in the ditch for about 20ft. We came close enough to hitting a tree that the tree folded in the passenger side mirror :o
Saturday's stages went better for us. The car seemed to run better with the lower altitude, but was still running very rich. The car seemingly ran better near the end of stages than at the beginning. We had no drama ourselves, but 3 stages ended up being cancelled due to a couple accidents that slowed the rally and a small grass fire that started along the stages. It was fortunate that the rally organizers were so prepared, and that the rally had good radio operators, as the fire was quickly dealt with. I was a bit sorry to see the 3 stages cancelled, as we were making up time on each stage on our nearest competitors, and ended up 5 seconds from 18th nationally, and 25 seconds (IIRC) from 17th. I think we likely would have made this up on 1 more stage. Oh well.
Our times improved throughout the day, and we had a great time. I'd like to thank the organizers and volunteers for all their hard work. I always feel guilty that I get to go out and have a fun time racing, and we all rely so heavily on the volunteers. THANKS AGAIN.
My next rally is likely Bighorn in August, but Christa is looking for a right seat to fill at Mt. Trials in Merritt in a couple weeks.
Chad
Friday, May 22, 2009
1 week until Rocky
Excited!
Start list is up. 29 competitors, We're starting near the bottom :( That's ok, it's fun to see how much better you can finish compared to where you started.
Start list is up. 29 competitors, We're starting near the bottom :( That's ok, it's fun to see how much better you can finish compared to where you started.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
2 weeks until Rocky
Ok, finally... Just over 2 weeks until Rocky, and I'm excited!! After only racing at 1 event last year, the car is ready for the first event of 2009. I'm looking forward to the event, my favourite event of the year. The game-plan will "Fun" and "Finish", although perhaps "start" should be the plan, based upon the way both Rocky and Cochrane went last year.
Check out the event details at:
http://www.rockymountainrally.com/
Check out the event details at:
http://www.rockymountainrally.com/
Sunday, March 29, 2009
April Update
Was not able to compete at Cochrane this year, and really missed the opportunity to race. The Manitoba rally (Sunset rally) was canceled for 2009, so the next event is Rocky Mountain Rally at the end of May. Rocky is my favourite rally, and I am very much looking forward to it.
I recently purchased a 2002 WRX from Saskatchewan Salvage auction. I have a bit of bodywork to do to make this my new daily driver, but the cars eventual future may be as a rally car.
If you interested in purchasing my 88 Golf Rally car, plus a ton of wheels, tires, and spare parts, contact me. I will be rallying this car until I find someone to purchase it. The car is strong, safe, powerful, and cheap to rally. It is also capable of winning G2 with a better driver ;)
I recently purchased a 2002 WRX from Saskatchewan Salvage auction. I have a bit of bodywork to do to make this my new daily driver, but the cars eventual future may be as a rally car.
If you interested in purchasing my 88 Golf Rally car, plus a ton of wheels, tires, and spare parts, contact me. I will be rallying this car until I find someone to purchase it. The car is strong, safe, powerful, and cheap to rally. It is also capable of winning G2 with a better driver ;)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
2009 is on the way!
Just a quick post, since it's been awhile.
First, I'd like to extend best wishes to the Western Teams heading East for the first Canadian National Rally of the year, Rallye Perce-Neige in Maniwaki, QC. Particularly to Eric and Leanne since they've offered so much support and help throughout the years to me.
Second, I'm very much looking forward to Cochrane Rally on March 1, 2009, the first Western Canadian Rally of the year. The car has been sitting (neglected) in the garage since November after Kananaskis Rally, but was running very good when it was parked.
Take care,
Chad.
First, I'd like to extend best wishes to the Western Teams heading East for the first Canadian National Rally of the year, Rallye Perce-Neige in Maniwaki, QC. Particularly to Eric and Leanne since they've offered so much support and help throughout the years to me.
Second, I'm very much looking forward to Cochrane Rally on March 1, 2009, the first Western Canadian Rally of the year. The car has been sitting (neglected) in the garage since November after Kananaskis Rally, but was running very good when it was parked.
Take care,
Chad.
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