Well the MCHR 2012 is go and at last we’re ready, the car is loaded and its off to the docks. After a long drive we arrived at hotel in Riems, no problems but a welcome break and a chance to relax. Overnight in Chambery.
Some snow visible on mountain peaks but conditions look pretty clear. We’ll make Turin by lunchtime and then we have the calm before the storm of tomorrow’s start. Before the start there is a long list of small jobs but the team are all excited and in full rally mode !
All pre-rally checks went OK, Bill and John have been comparing pace notes. Everyone is excited and can’t wait to get going !
Well it’s the end of Day1 and the Rallye proper has now started and we’ve had no sleep for 48 hours. Never seen snow like this before for such a prolonged period and it’s playing havoc with our internet connections so some of the news is a bit delayed at the end of day 1, however, we’ve just seen the results and the team are over the moon but more work to do, we’re on it for tomorrow…
World-renowned circuit racer, Bill Richards, is again hoping for success when he swaps the asphalt for snow-covered Alpine roads in the Monte Carlo Historique Rallye. Together with navigator, John Morrow, and competing as “Minispares- Mad Dog Rallying” he will set off from the Turin start on 28th January 2012.
Richards, who runs a well-known engineering and engine tuning business in Ashford, Kent, will campaign a 1965 1293cc Morris Mini Cooper S owned by Seattle-based co-driver, John Morrow. The car is a close replica of the fabulously successful vehicles built by BMC Competitions Department in the 1960s and which won the Monte Carlo outright on three separate occasions. The Mini, which was restored in the Bill Richards Racing workshops is currently undergoing extensive preparation for the event.
This Monte Carlo Historique is one of the most gruelling rallies in the world and the team will have to cover 2500 Km including 14 special stages over narrow, snow and ice-covered, mountain roads before they reach the sunshine of the Mediterranean. Richards and Morrow will be competing against more than 320 other cars including a dozen classic Minis. Co-driver Morrow says, “2012 is the 50th anniversary of the Mini Cooper participating on the event and there will be a lot of interest in how the car can perform against its rivals half a century after it was first produced; the Monte is an extremely competitive event but we are very well prepared and are hoping for at least a class win”.
For more official information see the Rallye Website here. Mad Dog Rallying can be followed on this site as well as on Facebook and Twitter
From 28th January to 2nd February Bill and I (that’s the co-driver John Morrow) competed in the Monte Carlo Historic rally. This famous event is now split into modern (WRC) and historic versions that run over most of the same stages one week apart. This year was particularly special as it was the 100th edition of the rally and the celebrations and press coverage were amazing. We were to compete against 327 other cars with some very famous crews. It was going to be a very interesting event.
The evening start at Reims was very cold but had a fantastic atmosphere and large crowds waved us off on the Concentration Run, a brutal 1000Km shakedown drive through the night to Monte Carlo. As we headed through France Mini fans turned out everywhere along the route to cheer us on. We pushed through the Jura mountains Rhone-Alps, Haute Alps and Maritime Alps, eventually arriving with a clean sheet in Monte Carlo the following afternoon. Ten percent of the cars had already dropped out of the rally and things hadn’t really started! Unfortunately there had been a sting in the tail: just outside Monte Carlo there was the first of 14 regularity stages which have to be driven at an ultra-precise average speed. We raced through this first one only to find we were 7 minutes fast and had been misled by a tripmeter malfunction. It was shame to find ourselves towards the back of the field this early on.
The following day we set off on the Classification Leg. A drive to Valence with four regularity stages. The first was a nightmare: awful conditions and car carnage everywhere. PRX 720B picked up a small ding but we had resolved the tripmeter issue and were pleased to find that we were 14th overall. The day was very long and we finished the other three stages quite successfully and were moving quickly through the field. So far so good. We arrived in Valence cold and hungry around midnight. Hats off to the kebab shop owner who took pity on us and re-opened his grill to feed us.
The next was part 1 of the so-called Common Leg. A big loop around the Ardeche plateau encompassing four more regularity stages and finishing back at Valence. Unlike previous years there was very little snow and we drove most of the stages without too much difficulty. Bill drove brilliantly and I managed to keep us very close to target time. We were on the final stage of the day and in the top 50 when disaster struck in the form of a Mercedes van that we met in a head on collision. Damage was minimal and we pressed on after exchanging details. He shouldn’t have been on the stage but in rallying there are no excuses and we had lost time and were once again down the field.
The following day we made running repairs and continued on part 2 of the Common Leg: a run back to Monaco with two regularity stages. Again we did well and pulled back through the field. This was becoming a game of snakes and ladders. But now we had another problem. The rear suspension had been settling from the start of the rally and it dropped so low that we severed a rear brake pipe and lost all our hydraulic fluid. We arrived back in Monte Carlo using just the handbrake.
The final leg was the night loop: a 140Km helter-skelter blast over the mountains behind that tower behind Monaco. They included the infamous Col de Turini where many a rally car has met its demise. Clearly we were in no condition for this but we were not ready to give up. Repairs are not permitted in Parc Ferme but very soon after the start we pulled over and the crew gave us a service. They had repaired three of the four spotlights damaged in the previous day’s collision. The broken brake pipe was removed, the end crimped over, the hydraulic fluid replaced and voila! -we had front brakes at least. They crew also changed us onto our last set of studded tyres and filled the tanks with all our remaining fuel. Bill drove brilliantly and for the first time ever we achieved our correct target speed at the summit of the Turini. Descents were another matter with less than perfect brakes: we erred on the side of caution and we started to get a little behind. We completed the three stages without incident, albeit a little slow, and made our way back to the podium in Monte Carlo. It was now 2.30am. The waterfront was bustling with rally crews telling tall tales and fans wanting autographs. We relaxed over beers and started to plan our 2012 campaign.
We had come 166th overall, were 8th in a very competitive class and the 5th British car to cross the finish line. Above all we had shown that when running well we could hold our own with any of the other crews. So roll on the 101st edition; next year we are going to win! Definitely!
Until next year… John.
Note : A more detailed report of the rally together with some fab photos will appear in the April issue of Mini Magazine.
Team: Bill Richards, driver; John Morrow, co-driver; John Griffin, service; Paul Dunn, service and of course the star, PRX 720B our 1965 works replica Morris Mini Cooper S.
The team wishes to thank their sponsors: Mini Spares, UK, Millers Oils, Piper Cams and L& G Signs for their generous support.
Peille – Col de la Madone (15.187 km)
The last lap, and poor old PRX is beginning to feel how many competitive miles she’s done. Whatever we try we can stop the slide even though Bill is using all his years of talent to overcome the problems with the car – we’re sure a Mini was never intended to be driven like this !
Finish the rally in 166th place out of 249 cars still running. 322 cars started the rally so the attrition rate was quite high.
The Mini can still hold her head high after so many years as a Cooper finished second overall, and 12 managed to reach the end in one piece – congratulations to all.
We think it’s now time for some food, a long soak in the bath and then bed… tomorrow we can analyse our performance and reflect on what has been a truly eventful few days.
All our thanks to everyone involved, check back later for a proper rally report… John & Bill
Lantosque – Col de Braus (33.424 km)
The penultimate test, and we struggled to maintain our position with a partly functioning braking system, slipped a bit to 155/249. Still running although more and more competitors can’t stay the distance and are retiring.
Looking forward now to the last 15ks and then a hot bath…
Moulinet – La Bollène-Vésubie (20.701 km)
Battling on but just holding steady, still 152/253
Saint-Auban – Les Quatre-Chemins (11.101 km)
Short sharp shock – slipped down to 152 but 45th overall. Now the 8th Cooper out of the 13 still running.
Rauno AALTONEN has passed us and is back up to 116th, close on Alastairs heels in 95th.
Arrived in Monte Carlo with no brakes, the rear suspension has collapsed and cut through a rear brake pipe. Attempting to make repairs we have crimped over the end of the pipe and will have to do the Turini night loop with front brakes only. We truly are mad…
Eygalayes (66.742 km)
First stage of the day and what a one to begin with, a cool 66 ks, but we’re refreshed and ready for a full days rallying.
We survived to clear the stage 133/262.
Lalouvesc – Saint-Félicien (30.596 km)
The last stage of the day, incident packed causes us to lose some time and miss the passage control ! Slipped to 122/267.
Now preparing for run back to Monaco and the Turini night loop. PRX 720B looking a bit battered but still in the game.
Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid (22.298 km)
A relatively shorter stage, and we’ve pulled up a few places, now 115th only 9 places behind Alastair. Watch out, we’re coming…
Unfortunately only 13 Coopers left running but they’re true to the mark in this classic event as one is second overall – come on the MINI !!