If you want to follow us on the 2013 event find us at     http://crx89b-2013.blogspot.com

2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique

Hi Folks..... If you would like to follow our 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo story you can find it at: http://crx89b-2012.blogspot.com/ al.

The Film - CRX 89B on the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique 2011

Here the edited film of the 2011 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique as seen by the crew of CRX 89B, a 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S.









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Valence - Monaco. A pot-pourri of pictures and videos

Peter Barker / Willy Cave #273

I quite fancy one of these

Or one of these.

Service team of Simon Wheatcroft and Nigel Chetwynd hard at work.

Here a mixture of videos from some of the more interesting parts of the rally from Valence - Valence - Monaco. We were very fortunate to have the support and sponsorship of Mini Spares and Heritage Insurance to help us enter the event and to raise money for our chosen charity 'Bliss' who care about babies born too soon, too small or too sick to fend for themselves.







Coming soon - The Turini from start to finish

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ZR2 Tourette de Chateau

This time I think the videos will work......At long last after several attempts I can bring you in-car footage of ZR2 Tourette de Chateau. It was quite snowy in this fairly long stage, although would have been much more difficult for the front runners who met fresh snow. By the time we got there much of it had been cleared off the road. There was still plenty left to surprise people though, and the casualty rate in the stage was quite high.

The film is about 20 minutes and in two parts due to You Tube rules, but unfortunately the camera stopped shortly before the end of the stage. Look out for spectator cars coming back down the stage against rally traffic and look out also for the snow plough coming against the rally direction which causes a little "moment". See the number of stopped rally cars, and also toward the end catching and passing the Healey.

I should like to thank Mini Spares and Heritage Insurance very much for their support to our rally effort and our chosen charity Bliss who care for babies born to early or too sick to fend for themselves.

Here the videos of ZR2 - Enjoy





There will be more



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Day 2 Monaco - Valence

Francois Windeck's (Automobiles BMC, Vienne)fabulously painted service vehicle supporting his team of two French Mini Cooper s within the six car Team of the MCR.

Here Jean Paul Burnier & Patrick Alibaux in 218 leave their service point at Monaco harbour to make thyeir way up to the first test of the day - ZR2 Tourette du Chateau

The 2nd of Francois Windeck's team cars prepares to leave town as well. This one driven by Christophe Gandy & Stephane Campo.

The Monaco start ramp.

Here some video of us going over it and finding our way out of town - which seems mainly to be underground.





This is first service on the main road out of Monte Carlo in a little turning to Les Serriers.

We have used it for several years.


Tourette du Chateaux stage after heavy snow - in car footage coming up in the next post.

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The Start in Reims

The computer is fixed at last, so I can now bring you pictures of some of the highlights of the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique 2011.

The teams of Peter Barker and Alastair Vines are captured here getting their cars cleaned up to drive down to scrutineering at the Centre des Congres in Reims.

The scrutineering area at the Palais de Congress was not as pleasant as the old place at the Parc des Expositions. It was overcrowded and very cold, with a howling gale blowing through the place. Not good.

Our service teams with Discovery 4 vehicles loaned to us by Land Rover wait at the edge of town until we appear out of the night.

Here some in car video as we go over the starting ramp and begin our adventure on the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique 2011



As the night wears on we begin to climb up the Col du Granier just before dawn.



Then we go over the top as dawn breaks - not much snow this year



We stop for a major service, tyre change and a nibble on some of Lisa's excellent flap jacks in a lay by on the outskirts of St Andre les Alpes. Nigel Chetwynd getting stuck in.

Land Rover Discovereys are just fantastic tools for supporting a Mini on a long distance rally such as this.

Discovery loadspace chocker with fuel cans, spare wheels, spare parts and tools. Nigel at work in the office!

This is the main time control at St Andre les Alpes where the entire rally comes together during Saturday 29th January - all 330 cars - nearly a 6 hour long rally stream. This is a big rally.

The first competitive test sends us up the Col de Braus in light rain which later turns into a heavy snow storm. Here some in car video of the start and early ascent of the Col.



We completed the test without a hitch and masde our way down into Monaco for the finish of the Concentration run after 23 hours at the wheel. It poured with rain and we all got thoroughly soaked as we gathered up our luggage and headed for the Fairmont Hotel. We were tired, wet and fairly grumpy as chaotic scenes presented themselves in the hotel reception as the entire rally attempted check itself in.

Our position at the end of this day was a mediocre 130th, with team mates Barker in 93rd, Gandy 237th, Morrow / Richards 244th, and Burnier 249th. During the night somewhere south of Grenoble we had sadly lost Anthony Hart and Graeme Allen who had retired with a huge oil leak.

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