Classic Adelaide 2004 Tarmac Rally (aka THE HORROR!!)

[obrut]

Classic Adelaide 2004 – Tarmac Rally (aka THE HORROR…)

Day -1
We arrive to find Adelaide sunny and dry – weather looks great for the event with cooler days forecast. Spirits are high for a good result. Car is running better than ever and we even had time for a 300 km drive into the mountains and back before loading it onto to the truck. All is working as it should. Documentation and scrutineering pass without incident. Everyone loves the retro orange colour scheme.

Day 0 – Prologue
A single stage to set the event running order. Car feels quick and we better last years (wet) time by about 20 odd seconds. Car is pushing a little on cold tyres but otherwise feels great. Our mates in the 914/6 beat us by about 1 second.

Here are some pics from prologue:





Day 1 – Competition (7 closed road stages)
First stage and all is going well – beat last years time for the same stage by 10 secs and narrowly beat the 914/6 boys.

Second stage – throttle linkage pops off from behind the pedal halfway throught the stage and we lose about 2 minutes finding and fixing it. We finish outside of our alotted “trophy” time and “drop” the stage. This is the FIRST stage I have ever dropped in 6 rallies and I’m pretty bummed. Our "3-in-a-row" Gold trophies are gone.

We decide to get back on the horse and concentrate on solid times for the remaining stages. We’re convinced we can peg back the 3 minute lead we have just handed the 914/6 boys.

Third stage – Almost back on track, we beat last years time by 12 secs but drop a couple to the 914/6 boys.

Here’s some pics from day 1:





Fourth stage – All going great now, beat last years time by a few secs on a short stage and finish equal 13th out of 67 (our last rally had us with regular 28-32 place finishes). Take 11 secs off the 914/6 boys.

Fifth stage – more of the same. Equal 16th for the stage, 7 secs better than 2003 and 6 over the boys.

Sixth stage – having a great time now, 14th place and 9 and 8 seconds quicker than last year and the boys respectively.

Seventh stage – start well but car suffers a power loss about 1 km or so from the line whilst going uphill in 3rd. About 300m later BANG CRASH RATTLE etc – something has seriously let go. Finish the stage, limp it out of time control and park it. Remove helmet and fire it up and it seriously sounds like someone has tipped a bucket of nuts and bolts into it. My beautiful engine is dead. Switch off, call tow truck and begin a long wait…

The tow truck arrives and the idiot operator promptly smashes my front spoiler into 3 pieces on the tow dolly: excellent!

Get the car back to service and pull the rocker cover off: a piece of valve stem comes out in my hand – not a good start – and we find a 3 piece rocker.

Decide to pull the engine, heres a pic:



Note the jack/block of wood/milk crate engine and gearbox stand...

After removing the head on number 1 (see pic below) the noise became self evident. The lower part of the broken valve is embedded into the head, the valve seat is nowhere to be seen (most later found in the muffler) and the top of the 10.5:1 piston is munched (but still serviceable after a hit with the angle grinder).



We ring home, find a head and have it shipped overnight.

Day 2

We could only get a stock 2.4E head with small ports not the large ports on my other 5. Bolt it on with a new rocker, reassemble the engine and it back in the car by 11pm. Nic (my mechanic) and a loaner apprentice worked like demons - thanks guys.

Day 3
Final check/connect and it fires up!! However, whilst it runs it won’t go over 4500 rpm in 2nd and the mismatched head is backfiring and popping/farting etc. Decide to not risk the remainder of the engine and park it – we are out of the rally.

We spend the rest of the day spectating. Then head straight to the pub and really get on it – much to the amusement of the reminder of our guys who can’t drink (breath test every morning).

Day 4
More spectating. Just about all of our mates bring it home – with only a few little bingles.

So there you have it – all in all a very forgettable experience. Car arrives home today and its top end tear down time with 12 new valve$$, 12 new spring$$, 1 new piston etc…

What do you do - that’s motorsport folks…


ps: Before you ask: it appears that an over-rev dropped the valve (just ask any of the 50 "monday morning freakin' experts" who walked past us when we were working on the car). Don't know when it occurred - certainly not during this event - possibly sometime in the last year, who knows...

[OZCarrera3]

Sorry to hear you had such a dismal end to what promised to be a good event. If its any consolation, the car looks fantastic!

I suppose the tow damage was a "at your own risk" situation and no compensation will be forthcoming?

Ah well, plenty to look forward to next year!

[Zeke]

Please look for the thread about the valve damage and subsequent rod problem that finished off the case after running on a top end rebuild only. It had to do with the rod bolts being stretched on the rod that pounded the valve into the head. Then the rod nuts worked loose. Game over.

I'm sorry for you guys that you didn't get a chance to catch those 914-6 boys and just have a good go at the tarmac in general.

Fantastic looking car.

[rotorhead]

Ryan,

The shots of your car look fantastic. A great driving effort marred by an unfortunate mechanical failure. Better luck next year.

Steve

[Langers]

Bloody hell...bring on Targa, eh? From the sounds of things the COBs didn't have a trouble free run either.

Are you going to do the twin-plug setup whilst the engine is out again? Something positive has to come out of this!

[jpnovak]

Ryan, so sorry to hear the engine misfortune. I am sure it will come back together quickly, stronger and faster of course.

[Fishcop]

Bad luck Ryan, really dissappointed for you.

Did Rex Broadbent end up winning again?

[Adam]

Bummer!

Sorry to hear you were knobbled... 3-in-a-row would have been great.

[Porsche]

That sucks mate. A hat trick would have been lovely.

[obrut]

Thanks Guys

It really sucks that the valve let go during a twice a year (and big-expense) event rather than a $100 track day.

We're also sitting on two clean events for Targa Tas - so here's hoping we can go Gold in Tassie next year.

ps: John - yep, Rex won again.

[TRE Cup]

I second what Zeke said- tear down the whole motor and replace the rod bolts while you are in there. sad ending- looked like an amazing event

[Fishcop]

Dave, we have some amazing open road events over here... I think we'd all love to see a couple of TRE Cup entrants! Good excuse for a holiday. I'd even crew for free

[Langers]

You know what, I think the car must have been unhappy with Simon's promotion to the window. Shame it had to end like this.