Tuesday, January 29, 2013
2013 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique
If you want to follow us on the 2013 event find us at http://crx89b-2013.blogspot.com
Sunday, March 11, 2012
CRX89B - Pt 8 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique - Finale
Alastair Vines' Mini - CRX89B Austin Mini Cooper S 1964 on the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.
Alastair Vines and Peter Moss with the help of their service team of Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft tackle the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. They are competing as part of a five car team of British Minis - Equipe Mini. They have sponsorship from Mini Spares Ltd (www.minispares.com), and the support of Roelands Race and Rally (Mini Prep) (roelandsracerally.com), Auto-BMC (www.auto-bmc.com) in France, and Southam Mini and Metro Centre, Warwickshire. (+44 1926 815681).
Part 8 brings closure to this epic Monte, where the weather played such a vital part in the spectacle. This clip follows the weary crews, who have already been on the road for eight hours or so from Valence to Monte Carlo, as they are despatched to complete the five to six hour round trip of the Mountain Circuit in the hinterland of Monaco in the Maritime Alps of the South of France. The Col de Turini, Col de la Porte, Col St Roch, Col de l'Orme, Col de l'Able, Col de Braus - names to set the blood tingling in anticipation for any rally crew.
On this clip there is some great in car video of the CRX89B team skating their way up and down the cols, engaging in dog fights around hair pin bends with other competitors as they struggle to get by on narrow roads. Ultimately the rally ends, rather unsatisfactorily, after ZR 14 Col de Braus. The road from the Cold l'Orme through to the Braus was covered in un-ploughed heavy snow, with loose cattle wandering about, and extremely rough going. Several competitors became stuck, and with cars running at 30 second intervals, queues soon built up behind those with problems. Places were won and lost, tempers frayed and in some cases sanity departed. A sorry prosession of some dozen or so rally cars filed out of the stage on our run, hugely late after having met a number of these obstacles. It was a story repeated throughout the rally field. It is reported that Sala in the Porsche threw his rally away here when the chaos threatened to engulf his otherwise unblemished performance, and lose him his chance of a second consecutive win. It is alleged that he made contact with a number of other competitor cars in his attempts to pass them, and was less than apologetic in the post event damage negotiations, resulting in exclusion for his behaviour.
On this clip there is some great in car video of the CRX89B team skating their way up and down the cols, engaging in dog fights around hair pin bends with other competitors as they struggle to get by on narrow roads. Ultimately the rally ends, rather unsatisfactorily, after ZR 14 Col de Braus. The road from the Cold l'Orme through to the Braus was covered in un-ploughed heavy snow, with loose cattle wandering about, and extremely rough going. Several competitors became stuck, and with cars running at 30 second intervals, queues soon built up behind those with problems. Places were won and lost, tempers frayed and in some cases sanity departed. A sorry prosession of some dozen or so rally cars filed out of the stage on our run, hugely late after having met a number of these obstacles. It was a story repeated throughout the rally field. It is reported that Sala in the Porsche threw his rally away here when the chaos threatened to engulf his otherwise unblemished performance, and lose him his chance of a second consecutive win. It is alleged that he made contact with a number of other competitor cars in his attempts to pass them, and was less than apologetic in the post event damage negotiations, resulting in exclusion for his behaviour.
The Event, as always, was a most fantastic rally, well organised and run efficiently by the original Auto Club de Monaco organisation in the Spirit of the old rallies of the 1960s, and made all the more enjoyable and challenging by the heavy snowfall and the winter wonderland scenery that followed.
I would like to thank my navigator Peter Moss for such a fine effort in organising our team and guiding me around the course to help deliver our class win for cars 1962-65 up to 1300cc, and to become the top finishing Brits in a very creditable 60th position of over 300 entrants.
Thanks also to my service crew Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft for their committment to the event and the efforts that they put in to get our fuel and spares to the right place at the right time in such dreadful weather conditions. Even though they were in a nice comfy 4WD Land Rover Discovery towing a car trailer and often together in convoy with Peter Barker's equally equiped service team, they have stories of survival and self preservation in the blizzard enough to make your hair curl.
Finally thank you to my sponsor Mini Spares led by Justin Jeffries, without whom it would be extremely difficult for us to continue to participate. They have supported us extremely well with our entry, tyre procurement and supplies of spare parts in a timely and efficient manner to help us get ready. A great help, and with great service - thank you.
We shall be back next year.
THE END
Thanks also to my service crew Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft for their committment to the event and the efforts that they put in to get our fuel and spares to the right place at the right time in such dreadful weather conditions. Even though they were in a nice comfy 4WD Land Rover Discovery towing a car trailer and often together in convoy with Peter Barker's equally equiped service team, they have stories of survival and self preservation in the blizzard enough to make your hair curl.
Finally thank you to my sponsor Mini Spares led by Justin Jeffries, without whom it would be extremely difficult for us to continue to participate. They have supported us extremely well with our entry, tyre procurement and supplies of spare parts in a timely and efficient manner to help us get ready. A great help, and with great service - thank you.
We shall be back next year.
THE END
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
CRX89B - Pt 7 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique - Valence - Monte Carlo
Alastair Vines' Mini - CRX89B Austin Mini Cooper S 1964 on the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.
Alastair Vines and Peter Moss with the help of their service team of Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft tackle the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. They are competing as part of a five car team of British Minis - Equipe Mini. They have sponsorship from Mini Spares Ltd (www.minispares.com), and the support of Roelands Race and Rally (Mini Prep) (roelandsracerally.com), Auto-BMC (www.auto-bmc.com) in France, and Southam Mini and Metro Centre, Warwickshire. (+44 1926 815681).
Part 7 covers the final day of the rally as it heads south from Valence to Monte Carlo. Three special stages were expected, one planned, the second a surprise, and the third cancelled due to dangerous conditions created by the snow. This clip follows CRX89B's exciting fortunes over snow covered stages as the team creep up the leader board. There is some service action at the infamous Sortie 57 off the A8, and a walk around the parking for weary crews and cars at La Turbie time control, plus commentary from other drivers and the evergreen Willy Cave former Works navigator to BMC and Triumph.
Positions in Valence Overnight
1st Sala Porsche 911
2nd Raimondo Innocenti Mini cooper 1300
3rd Lareppe Opel Kadette GTE
26th Repoux Innocenti Mini Cooper
44th Burnier Innocenti Mini Cooper
54th Vines Austin Mini Cooper S
94th Vahala Innocenti Mini Cooper
118th De La Hoye Austin Mini Cooper
163rd Richards Morris Mini Cooper S
168th Barker Austin Mini
176th Tsikas Innocenti Mini Cooper
178th Garbaz Innocenti Mini Cooper
END
Saturday, February 25, 2012
CRX89B - Pt 6 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique
Alastair Vines' Mini - CRX89B Austin Mini Cooper S 1964 on the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.
Alastair Vines and Peter Moss with the help of their service team of Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft tackle the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. They are competing as part of a five car team of British Minis - Equipe Mini. They have sponsorship from Mini Spares Ltd (www.minispares.com), and the support of Roelands Race and Rally (Mini Prep) (roelandsracerally.com), Auto-BMC (www.auto-bmc.com) in France, and Southam Mini and Metro Centre, Warwickshire. (+44 1926 815681).
In Part 6 the team go really well over the long 34Km Burzet stage, a Monte Carlo favourite. The stage starts in the village of Burzet, it is cold but dry, and the road is relatively free of snow and ice. As the road climbs up toward the village of La Champ-Raphael at the top this quickly changes, and once more the crews are battling against very slippery conditions. The scenery is fantastic- a winter wonderland!
The CRX89B team get one of their best results of the rally here, by passing over the stage in 11th place, lifting their overall position to 55th.
The film follows the car through the highlights of ZR6 to the St Agreve service point, where their car is attended to by the service crew in minus 9 degrees and falling snow.
This marks about the half way point in the competitive elements of the rally. Sala in a Porsche 911 is leading, with Raimondo in an Innocenti Cooper 1300 doing brilliantly well again in 2nd. Other Mini placings are:
- 29th - Repoux - Innocenti Cooper
- 42nd - Burnier - Innocenti Cooper
- 55th - Vines - Austin Cooper S
- 125th - De la Hoye - Austin Mini Cooper
- 166th - Richards - Morris Mini Cooper S
- 171st - Barker - Austin Mini
- 178th - Tsikas - Innocenti Cooper
END
Monday, February 20, 2012
CRX89B - Pt 5 2012 RMCH - Common Leg
Alastair Vines' Mini - CRX89B Austin Mini Cooper S 1964 on the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.
Alastair Vines and Peter Moss with the help of their service team of Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft tackle the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. They are competing as part of a five car team of British Minis - Equipe Mini. They have sponsorship from Mini Spares Ltd (www.minispares.com), and the support of Roelands Race and Rally (Mini Prep) (roelandsracerally.com), Auto-BMC (www.auto-bmc.com) in France, and Southam Mini and Metro Centre, Warwickshire. (+44 1926 815681).
In Part 5 we see the start of the two day Common Leg, with the first day competing in the mountains around and about the town of Valence over a distance of about 320Km. This part covers the dash up the mountain to ZR6 St Pierreville - Antraiges with its icy hairpins part way through provides plenty of challenges to our intrepid crew.
We did well here - 15th through the stage and lifted our game to 66th overall. END
Alastair Vines and Peter Moss with the help of their service team of Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft tackle the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. They are competing as part of a five car team of British Minis - Equipe Mini. They have sponsorship from Mini Spares Ltd (www.minispares.com), and the support of Roelands Race and Rally (Mini Prep) (roelandsracerally.com), Auto-BMC (www.auto-bmc.com) in France, and Southam Mini and Metro Centre, Warwickshire. (+44 1926 815681).
In Part 5 we see the start of the two day Common Leg, with the first day competing in the mountains around and about the town of Valence over a distance of about 320Km. This part covers the dash up the mountain to ZR6 St Pierreville - Antraiges with its icy hairpins part way through provides plenty of challenges to our intrepid crew.
We did well here - 15th through the stage and lifted our game to 66th overall. END
Sunday, February 19, 2012
CRX89B - 2012 RMCH Part 1 - Preparation, Departure, Tyre testing and scrutineering in Reims
Alastair Vines' Mini - CRX89B Austin Mini Cooper S 1964, on the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.
Alastair Vines and Peter Moss with the help of their service team of Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft tackle the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. They are competing as part of a five car team of British Minis - Equipe Mini. They have sponsorship from Mini Spares Ltd (www.minispares.com), and have the support of Roelands Race and Rally (Mini Prep) (roelandsracerally.com), Auto-BMC (www.auto-bmc.com) in France, and Southam Mini and Metro Centre (+44 1926 815681)
In Part 1 you see a little of the pre-event preparation, the run down to the start in Reims, with Halda calibration to the different tyre sets we are taking on the way. There are views inside the scrutineering building at Parc des Expositions in Reims, plus short commentaries from other Mini drivers. END
Alastair Vines and Peter Moss with the help of their service team of Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft tackle the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. They are competing as part of a five car team of British Minis - Equipe Mini. They have sponsorship from Mini Spares Ltd (www.minispares.com), and have the support of Roelands Race and Rally (Mini Prep) (roelandsracerally.com), Auto-BMC (www.auto-bmc.com) in France, and Southam Mini and Metro Centre (+44 1926 815681)
In Part 1 you see a little of the pre-event preparation, the run down to the start in Reims, with Halda calibration to the different tyre sets we are taking on the way. There are views inside the scrutineering building at Parc des Expositions in Reims, plus short commentaries from other Mini drivers. END
CRX89B 2012 RMCH Video Pt 4 - Classification Leg Cont'd
Alastair Vines' mini CRX89B - Austin Mini Cooper S 1964 on the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.
Alastair Vines and Peter Moss with the help of their service team of Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft tackle the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. They are competing as part of a five car team of British Minis - Equipe Mini. They have sponsorship from Mini Spares Ltd (www.minispares.com), and have the support of Roelands Race and Rally (Mini Prep) (roelandsracerally.com), Auto-BMC (www.auto-bmc.com) in France, and Southam Mini and Metro Centre (+44 1926 815681)
In Part 4 we continue to enjoy the brilliant sunshine and fairy tale landscape created by the fresh covering of thick snow. We descend from the end ZR2 on a very snowy road pursuing a fellow competitor into Castellane, then have a blast up the Route Napoleon with an unseen new Mini Countryman 4wd, before tackling the fearsome Col d'Espreaux with its deep ditches on one side and unprotected flanks to the long drop on the other.
We end the day in Valence in 76th position overall to overnight before the commencement of the two day Common Leg the next morning.
In ZR2, Le Mas - Les quatre Chemins (seen in Part 3), we finish 77th having gone well over the first part of the stage, but lost quite a bit toward the end (off camera), 50 seconds down at the last timing point.
In ZR3, Sigoyer - Col d'Espreaux, the subject of this video, we faired a little better coming out 75th over the stage. We are in good company, with Sala in a Porsche who would lead the rally for most of the event going over in 50th place, and Brianti in a Mini Cooper S who would retire later from 10th place overall, in 83rd position on this test. Our overall position rises to 49th.
For ZR4, Chichilianne - Les Nonnieres (not filmed), another very snowy stage taken as it was getting dark, we did better coming out in a creditable 40th place, and improve our overall position to 34th.
In ZR5, over the challenging Col de l'Echarasson (not filmed), in deep snow and thick fog we hit our first big set back. Many fortunes were thrown into oblivion here, and a Lancia driver was trying to recover his. We arrived to find a big tow truck blocking the competitive stage in the process of deploying a crane arm and cable over the side of the mountain to recover a Lancia that had gone over the edge. We lost several minutes waiting for the road to clear, which we could never hope to catch back. 148th out of here, and crash back down to 76th overall - thats rallying! END.
Alastair Vines and Peter Moss with the help of their service team of Nigel Chetwynd and Simon Wheatcroft tackle the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique. They are competing as part of a five car team of British Minis - Equipe Mini. They have sponsorship from Mini Spares Ltd (www.minispares.com), and have the support of Roelands Race and Rally (Mini Prep) (roelandsracerally.com), Auto-BMC (www.auto-bmc.com) in France, and Southam Mini and Metro Centre (+44 1926 815681)
In Part 4 we continue to enjoy the brilliant sunshine and fairy tale landscape created by the fresh covering of thick snow. We descend from the end ZR2 on a very snowy road pursuing a fellow competitor into Castellane, then have a blast up the Route Napoleon with an unseen new Mini Countryman 4wd, before tackling the fearsome Col d'Espreaux with its deep ditches on one side and unprotected flanks to the long drop on the other.
We end the day in Valence in 76th position overall to overnight before the commencement of the two day Common Leg the next morning.
In ZR2, Le Mas - Les quatre Chemins (seen in Part 3), we finish 77th having gone well over the first part of the stage, but lost quite a bit toward the end (off camera), 50 seconds down at the last timing point.
In ZR3, Sigoyer - Col d'Espreaux, the subject of this video, we faired a little better coming out 75th over the stage. We are in good company, with Sala in a Porsche who would lead the rally for most of the event going over in 50th place, and Brianti in a Mini Cooper S who would retire later from 10th place overall, in 83rd position on this test. Our overall position rises to 49th.
For ZR4, Chichilianne - Les Nonnieres (not filmed), another very snowy stage taken as it was getting dark, we did better coming out in a creditable 40th place, and improve our overall position to 34th.
In ZR5, over the challenging Col de l'Echarasson (not filmed), in deep snow and thick fog we hit our first big set back. Many fortunes were thrown into oblivion here, and a Lancia driver was trying to recover his. We arrived to find a big tow truck blocking the competitive stage in the process of deploying a crane arm and cable over the side of the mountain to recover a Lancia that had gone over the edge. We lost several minutes waiting for the road to clear, which we could never hope to catch back. 148th out of here, and crash back down to 76th overall - thats rallying! END.
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