The Independent American Magazine for all Mini Owners
Issue link: http://mc2.epubxp.com/i/33536
mini heritage section struck in the form of a Mercedes van that we met in a head-on collision. Luckily, no one was hurt and damage was minimal; we pressed on after exchanging details. He shouldn’t have been on the stage, but in rallying there are no excuses. 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 chutes 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 line, losing 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 challenge, but we were also 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 was replaced and voila! We had front brakes at least. The crew also changed us onto our last set of studded tires and filled the tanks with all our remaining fuel. Bill drove superbly, and for the first time ever we achieved our correct target speed at the summit of the Turini. Descents with less than perfect brakes were another matter: we erred on the side of caution and started to get a little behind. The final three stages were completed without incident, albeit a little slower than we would have liked, and we made our way back to the podium in Monte Carlo, arriving at 2.30am. We had placed right in the middle of the pack: 166th overall and 8th in a very competitive class. Above all we had shown that when running well we could hold our own with any of the other crews in the rally. The waterfront was bustling with rally crews telling tall tales and fans wanting autographs. We made our way to a cafe and relaxed over beers as we started planning our 2012 campaign. Next year, we are going to win! Definitely. >>> Battling the unpredictable elements during the Col de Braus regularity stage has become something of a tradition for rallyists competiting in the Monte. Issue 32 MC2 Magazine 45 Heading out of Monte Carlo and up into the mountains, the Mad Dog Rally team presses on. At the start, the diminutive Mini sandwiched between an Austin Healy 3000 and a Jaguar XK140.