Goodwood rally 2012

On 11feb there is a tarmac rally at the goodwood race circuit.
It's our first outing in the swift with me not having driven in a rally for 10 years and I also have a virgin co driver although he had raced extensivly at goodwood so he will be some help .
I think first car away will be about 9.30 but I expect to be starting about 50 mins after that. There is also 2 stages run in the dark.
The best bit is that its free entry for spectators so if anyone is about POP in and say hello.
I will try and put updates on as the day progresses

Cheers
Brian "mad kiwi" Stevens

All set
https://2img.net/h/i156.photobucket.com/albums/t21/kiwimazda/IMAG0421.jpg
Plus my daughter Hannah,Junior madman Blake at the back and I are looking to get one of these each for next year
https://2img.net/h/i156.photobucket.com/albums/t21/kiwimazda/IMAG0415.jpg

Just to cheat I have copied this from my write up for my car club so i apologise if it makes no sense in places

Its been nearly 10 years since I last drove in a rally(abingdon 2002) and since then my only outings have been in the co drivers seat or sprinting. In June last year I purchased the swift with a 160bhp Bill Falconer engine and fitted new belts,seats and fire extinguishers to go and do some more rallies and just have a skid round at the back. I was finding the cost of sprinting expensive per mile for one day and just wanted to get more miles on a day. I still think sprinting is good value and very social.
A very very cold morning greeted us Goodwood circuit for the rally. The car refused to start to get it off the trailer and new plugs were swiftly put in and the jump leads attached but still no spark. By this time my blood preasure was starting to rise. A quick tow start and away it went but the battery was now toast which meant that the crew would have to push start the car all day and more importantly I could not stall the car.
Scrutineering and noise test were done with no problems as was signing on.
We(Matt Carter virgin co driver) and I were seeded 36th from 47 starters and the plan was to take it easy on the first stages as grip and only have driven the car about 5 miles meant I did not want to ruin it all on the first stage and end up in the bar early.
So we check in for SS1 and are in control 2 cars back when I stall the car. You can imagine the language. We pushed the car back and managed to start it. Thank god for dead time and we started 2 places back. The lights went green and the decision to take it easy went out the window. The stages are quite fast and flowing and chicane count number 1 was on the board. A massive moment and when it was all straight enough it was pedal to the floor and wreck the other side of the chicane on the way out. (21st = in stage)
Stage 2 was a repeat and no cones were harmed through this stage(24th)
Now I have lost count from stage 3 how many cones, grass cutting moments and spins we had but non the least we were having a laugh and charging at Brian Farminer who was 2nd in class. We were separated be seconds and trading times all day. Really good value.The best time we did was on stage 8 where we acheive a 2min 28 sec which was 10th fastest.
Unfortunatly the charge came to an end on Stage 9 when I over cooked it into Lavant and after a series of spins ended up in the gravel. Lucikly some marshalls were on hand to get us out but the time was now lost. We finished the stage but the time deficet was to great to 2nd to regain and I now had to fend off the bloke in 4th. It was now a safe drive required to get us home but quick enough to keep 3rd. Time acieved through stage was 4m56s. Man in 4th was 5.16. Job done.
End result was 3rd in class, 19th overall.
A big thanks must go to Matt for helping me all day especially with what lines to take round Goodwood. To the marshalls for their sterling work at replacing cones and pallets whenever we came through, Lord March for letting me cut his grass on several occasions and to the cone on the front straight that I beheaded, For that I am not sorry at all.
Last but not least Tony from TP services and Adam. I got revenge by making them change tires.
All in an excellent day and a few little tweeks will see the car on Tarmac suspension not forest for the next outing.
Cheers
Brian Stevens

congratulations are in order 3rd in class on first outing well done!! how was the car other then the battery?

Really good. It surprised me. Need to lower the back and stiffen it up a little. I looked over the time sheet today and we were 10th fastest on one stage and and generally about the 16th fastest. Would have finished 16th over all if I had stayed out of the gravel.

Pics and vids
At 3.06
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX7hEs0FZvI&sns=fb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFX4svPbq_I&feature=share


At 12.57 and 20.16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiurwwkP02Y&feature=youtu.be
https://2img.net/h/i156.photobucket.com/albums/t21/kiwimazda/DSC_0237.jpg
https://2img.net/h/i156.photobucket.com/albums/t21/kiwimazda/DSC_0257.jpg

haha that first video made me laugh smashing the daylights out of the cone.

well held on the second video

plus looks abit boaty but most swifts are like that what did you used to race have you always been into swifts?

I did a lot if co driving in rallies in NZ. Did one tarmac rally 10 years ago in a 205 gti. Then went sprinting in a Mazda rx7 and a Mazda rotary powdered westfield( bloody lethal). This is my first swift.
Cheers for the comments

Brian

And an in car compilation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtt4X6qyTEQ&sns=fb

no worries and a rotary powered westfield does sound lethal bit unusual but lethal was that with the time attack lot?

Sprints and hillclimbs
https://2img.net/h/i156.photobucket.com/albums/t21/kiwimazda/JK5M4210.jpg

christ that looks evil!

It nearly killed me so I called time on it.

i bet! was it n/a or turbo? looks like you have good car control judging by your spins and saves unless its just luck lol

The westy was n/a and my car control is down to luck more than skill