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.
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.
Here are some of the surviving MCR Mini teams who arrived in Monte Carlo for the final gala dinner. Missing from the shot are Peter Barker, Bill Richards.
My computer has suffered a major breakdown, so I apologise for the absence of any updates since our return. Fortunately I have not lost any pictures taken during the event as they are still in the camera. Now that we are back up and running I will process the pictures and update the blog in the next few days. Please be patient.
Other results:
Winner - Porsche 911 - sala / Torlasco
2nd oa - Innocenti Mini Cooper - Raimondo / Calegari
109th - Aaltonen rally champion
The two stages on the run down from Valence were made more interesting with the presence of lying snow and ice on the highest parts of the route. Many teams were more than half a minute late as they went over the Cols.
After a three hour break crews were sent out into the night for three more special stages. The Col de Turini was a blast with real problems over this most historic of Monte- Carlo rally stages. The Morrow / Richards team tried to make it more difficult for themselves by having no rear brakes due to an earlier issue with suspension.
The next two stages were both icy and very rough seemingly little more than mountain goat tracks. All returned safely even if a little bruised.
So ended the 2011 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.
Look ou for more pictures and video from the event in the next few days.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
playing safe...track rod end change on the way into the first test on Monday
Peter Moss plotting our strategy for the four tests we faced on Monday. We did not do well on the first test as a tyre change on the way there seemed to upset the Halda calibration even though we had accounted for it. We got it sorted later in the day, but we dropped to 97th oa
MCR team results are:
24th. Barker
97th. Vines
122nd. Morrow (accident in Last stage - but still running)
129th Burnier
229th. Gandy
