Rally of the North 2001

Thanks to our sponsors - Redhills Benz, Lauries Garage, Valvoline, STS Subaru Reckers.

Event Review

What a week leading up to the event. We got the engine rebuilt and going on Saturday 11th, I ran it in a bit on the 12th, and had the CV boot replaced by Lauries Garage on the 14th.

But the event, well, what an event..

Thursday 16th August - Scrutineering.
All went well, and the car flew through with no problems, only missing Saline our First Aid Kit.

Friday 17th August
7:45am, off to Pitstop to get an exhaust leak fixed, a big thanks to Pit Stop New Lynn for their help and work.
10:00am, car packed up and left Auckland bound for the winterless north. Arrived Paihia at 3:30pm, unloaded the car, and relaxed
8:30pm, got the Pacenotes, and had our second novice briefing..and took off home to get an early night in bed

Saturday 18th August
6:30am, up early had some breakfast...checked the tire pressures, and got into our suits, and moved out at 8:15am
8:44am, our official start time as 60th car on the road, got interviewed over the PA system and were waved off by the mayor of Paihia. Then it was off to stage one, approx 35km touring.

Stage One: 19km
This was a great stage, started out fast and sweeping, then jumped into a tight and twisty forest stage, down some great hills and along a fantastic sweeping road next to a river for the last fast 5km. We started out slowly, and had no moments, went wide on one corner, but got the car back before the ditch came up and greeted us. There were a few punctures on cars along the way. The pacenotes were great, and help me to know what lay around the corner. Rule of thumb, a #4 corner was a third maybe second gear corner...generally at 70-80km.

Stage Two: 8.5km
This started high up on a hill, and would its way around the country side until moving to a fast downhill. Again we kept the car nice and smooth and had no moments, just getting used to the #7 corners over the crests...you could go flat over them. Finish and the brakes are pretty hot and smelly, but found most were like that. Off to service in the Kaeo school, and re-fueled.

Stage Three: 32.5km
This was the real test, first 5km were tight a twisty, opening into a medium flowing road for 12km, then the final 15km were very tight and twisty. Just as we were to start the heavens opened, and it rained cats and dogs...great. Got thorough he first 15km without to many problems, tires were hanging on great, but the rain was making it hard going. At some stage the windscreen started to fog up, and I was having troubles seeing the inside of left hand corners, not a great thing to happen when it is tight. We caught the car in front at 20km and had our only moment where I slide wide on a tightening #3 corner. Finally passed the other car and carried on. Along the way we must have passed appox. 10 cars in varying states of accident damage. Finally the finish, and two very sweaty competitors were happy to have finished the stage. A quick service before stage 4 and all we need was some demister on the inside of the windscreen.

Stage Four: 17.5km
This started with a bit of a hillclimb, and then opened out very fast and sweeping, and jump in the middle to keep you awake. Thankfully the rain stopped and we had a good run through. Although, it was very fast, we were getting to 160km/hr down some of the straights, and that was backing off...so who knows how fast the top guys were going, but I would say 230km/hr.

Paihia Service:
We arrived here ready for lunch, and no problems with the car, to be pleasantly suprised to be sitting at 37th overall. We have climbed from 60th on the road at the start. Both Sam and I had a great morning.

Stage Five: 22km
This stage started out narrow and twisty for the first 6.5km, then into fast and flowing roads through farmland, to a tight decent for the last 3km to the finish. It was lock to lock for the first 6.5km, being last car on he road, the roads were quite cut up and some ruts were starting to appear. The last part was great, real tight and twisty, perfect for out car, where driver ability is important and power isn't. Unfortunately the crew in front of us vanished over one of the big banks in this part of the stage, Out of stage five and into service, where again it was a quick drink, and a look over the car (which was a mudball).

Stage Six: 9km
This started on a tight hilly section, then ran across some ridges, into a fast decent. Sadly I went to sleep on this stage a bit, and drove like a nana, so our times weren't to good. Back to service, and there was a little problem wit the oil pressure, or the lack of it.

Stage Seven: 25km
This was the best stage of the rally, really fast and flowing al the way, with lots of bridges and tightening corners to keep the driver on his toes. Only had one moment when I saw Graham Hoylands safety triangle (he had gone off and through a fence) and had a spin. Otherwise a terrific stage, although, some of the locals got a little to close to the road for my liking.

Stage Eight: 18km
This was another terrific stage, although sunstrike was a bit of a problem at times.This stage stared on an uphill and followed a ridge most of the way, with some great corners and descents. We flew through this stage setting 24th best time, and caught two cars I the stage...I was on fire, but it was sadly the last stage, and only a 20km touring section separated us from our first real Rally finish. We arrived in Paihia to the finish at approx 5:30pm, to register as finishing the event.

Our Result:
Well, we couldn't have thought we would have got so high up, but we finished 31st. Before the rally I thought I would be happy with a high 40's finish, but 31st was great.

A BIG THANKS:
To my service crew (my father and mother...keep it in the family), and Sam, who's role of co-driver is a hard job. His great work on the pacenotes was what got us to the end...watch out Nicky Grist...here comes Sam Ackland

For a full result sheet click here.

See our next event here.

Cheers

Simon Bell & Sam Ackland
Redhills Rallyteam