Well there isnt much to report on the Zulu Rally 2007.
We started off well, running 2nd in class for the first 2 stages, only for it all to come to an end in stage 3 when we came over a blinde rise to fast , the tyres were totally finished after the previous stage. We slid off going into a hairpin left , hit an earth bank and broke a lower control arm! that was our rally over!
We sat in the stage for around 5 hours before the service crew could get to us, we fixed the car and drove it out. We could have re-entered for day 2 under super rally rules, but would not earn any points! So we decided against risking damaging the car for no reason.
Next national rally is the Total International Rally in Ermelo next month.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Consistency pays of for team ELB Catering Supplies
After around 2 months since the last round of the Total Northern Regions championships, the regional rally fraternity moved onto the to the picturesque town of Tzaneen this past weekend.
The ELB catering supplies corolla has undergone another change in the engine department, reverting back to the reliable standard 1600 20 valve motor for the remainder of the year.
Other forced changes included having to make alternative arrangements for tyres as ATS would not supply 14” tyres to regional competitors as there is a shortage of the size and have decided to give national competitors preference. This caused us to use an alternative make which was slightly narrower, and unfortunately did not suite the car at all, altering the handling and making the car a handful to drive.
With poor handling the pace was far from electrifying , however did force us to be consistent and more cautious, which at the end of the day proved to be a blessing .
The rally went by without any major happenings, apart from a puncture in stage 4, which cost a bit of time.
In the end a 9th overall and 3rd in class S3 was an excellent result for the team, opening our points tally after a dismal opening round of the season.
The next rally in the Total Northern Regions series, is the PMC Rally on the 9th of June.
The ELB catering supplies corolla has undergone another change in the engine department, reverting back to the reliable standard 1600 20 valve motor for the remainder of the year.
Other forced changes included having to make alternative arrangements for tyres as ATS would not supply 14” tyres to regional competitors as there is a shortage of the size and have decided to give national competitors preference. This caused us to use an alternative make which was slightly narrower, and unfortunately did not suite the car at all, altering the handling and making the car a handful to drive.
With poor handling the pace was far from electrifying , however did force us to be consistent and more cautious, which at the end of the day proved to be a blessing .
The rally went by without any major happenings, apart from a puncture in stage 4, which cost a bit of time.
In the end a 9th overall and 3rd in class S3 was an excellent result for the team, opening our points tally after a dismal opening round of the season.
The next rally in the Total Northern Regions series, is the PMC Rally on the 9th of June.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Finally back to regionals
Finally after what seemed like another off season the Total Regional series starts again this weekend with the Tzaneen Rally.
The event is a favourite amongst most competitors including Ernie, the classic Mineshaft and Canal stages where guys have been known to put their cars in the canal with the slippery surface under the leaves that cover the forest floor catching them out, is an awesome experience, what a pity the national wont be going back there again!!!!
We have reverted back to our standard motor for the rest of the season due to unforseen problems, however the upgraded ECU and exhaust should make a big difference in the performance of the standard package.
I will report back next week!
The event is a favourite amongst most competitors including Ernie, the classic Mineshaft and Canal stages where guys have been known to put their cars in the canal with the slippery surface under the leaves that cover the forest floor catching them out, is an awesome experience, what a pity the national wont be going back there again!!!!
We have reverted back to our standard motor for the rest of the season due to unforseen problems, however the upgraded ECU and exhaust should make a big difference in the performance of the standard package.
I will report back next week!
Dejavu for Worms and Martin on the Sasol Rally.
After a disappointing opening round of the Sasol National Rally Championships in the Western Cape with the Turf Quip backed Corolla suffering gearbox problems throughout the event until it cried no more, the team of Allen Worms and Grant Martin went into the Sasol Rally with high hopes of a good finish to open their points tally.
The event started without any issues on the opening stage, only to be followed in stage 2 by what can be referred to as a soft fall over. The car slid through a muddy patch in a right hand bend hitting the bank on the outside and falling softly onto the drivers side. The only damage being a wing mirror and drivers side broken window. Around 3 minutes were lost with getting the car upright and getting re-started.
The rest of the day continued without any issues for the team. The rest of the A6 field except Salie du Toit and Gert van Rensburg in their brand new Total backed Toyota RunX, had problems with punctures and other problems bringing the Turf-Quip corolla back into contention.
Going into day 2 the team lay 2nd in A6 only 36 seconds behind leaders du Toit and van Rensburg, in confident mood taking back a second on the days opening stage the Nelspruit Super Special.
All came to an end at the 2nd stage of the day when the gearbox gave up on the start line for stage 8.
A disappointing end to what looked to be a positive result. The team will however be back with guns blazing in Kwazulu Natal next month for the Zulu Rally.
The event started without any issues on the opening stage, only to be followed in stage 2 by what can be referred to as a soft fall over. The car slid through a muddy patch in a right hand bend hitting the bank on the outside and falling softly onto the drivers side. The only damage being a wing mirror and drivers side broken window. Around 3 minutes were lost with getting the car upright and getting re-started.
The rest of the day continued without any issues for the team. The rest of the A6 field except Salie du Toit and Gert van Rensburg in their brand new Total backed Toyota RunX, had problems with punctures and other problems bringing the Turf-Quip corolla back into contention.
Going into day 2 the team lay 2nd in A6 only 36 seconds behind leaders du Toit and van Rensburg, in confident mood taking back a second on the days opening stage the Nelspruit Super Special.
All came to an end at the 2nd stage of the day when the gearbox gave up on the start line for stage 8.
A disappointing end to what looked to be a positive result. The team will however be back with guns blazing in Kwazulu Natal next month for the Zulu Rally.
Worms and Martin have a tough season opener.
Allen Worms and Grant Martin teamed up in a Turf-Quip backed Toyota corolla Rxi for the opening round of the Sasol National Rally Championships , the Toyota Dealer Rally.
The intention going in to the event was to have a solid finish and get rid of the rust for returnee Allen Worms who last rallied around 3 years ago, and getting comfortable with new navigator Grant Martin
The event however started badly for the team with a puncture in the stage 1, which cost around 20seconds and immediately put them on the back foot. Stage 2 only got worse with yet another puncture only 9 km into the stage, with a faulty jack causing the car to fall off constantly the team had to make their way out of the stage at a snails pace , the tyre causing serious damage to the front right fender and bumper. In the same stage 3rd gear gave up , around 12 minutes were lost.
The rest of day 1 continued without any problems except the frustration of having no 3rd gear , which left the stage times off what they should have been.
Day 2 started off as day 1 ended, a clean stage 6 without 3rd, and then finally in stage 7 the gearbox cried no more. Stopping almost half way through the stage, a heart breaking end to a very frustrating event.
The team will be back with guns blazing at the Sasol rally in April.
The intention going in to the event was to have a solid finish and get rid of the rust for returnee Allen Worms who last rallied around 3 years ago, and getting comfortable with new navigator Grant Martin
The event however started badly for the team with a puncture in the stage 1, which cost around 20seconds and immediately put them on the back foot. Stage 2 only got worse with yet another puncture only 9 km into the stage, with a faulty jack causing the car to fall off constantly the team had to make their way out of the stage at a snails pace , the tyre causing serious damage to the front right fender and bumper. In the same stage 3rd gear gave up , around 12 minutes were lost.
The rest of day 1 continued without any problems except the frustration of having no 3rd gear , which left the stage times off what they should have been.
Day 2 started off as day 1 ended, a clean stage 6 without 3rd, and then finally in stage 7 the gearbox cried no more. Stopping almost half way through the stage, a heart breaking end to a very frustrating event.
The team will be back with guns blazing at the Sasol rally in April.
Friday, May 4, 2007
A new year and new challenges for Team ELB catering supplies
The 2007 Total Northern regions championships kicks off this weekend with the RMC Belfast rally. This was the scene of the first rally that Ernie Boshoff and I did together12 months ago, we return this year more experience and more power.
The bullet proof Corolla’s engine cried no more as we pulled into the parc ferme on the final event of the 2006 season. It has now been undergoing a rebuild and upgrade at the Raceprep concern in Randburg. The question of reliability as apposed to power or speed is going to be on the mind as we enter our 2nd season together.
Apart from the upgrades to the car is the enormous increase in competition in class S3 this year. The entry list for the event looks somewhat different to last years regular runners, with a few noticeable absentees, as well as a number of old and new names added to make the 2007 series an interesting one.
I look forward to keeping you up to date with the teams news and results throughout the season , and seeing those of you who aernt competing , spectating at what looks like a very competitive season.
The bullet proof Corolla’s engine cried no more as we pulled into the parc ferme on the final event of the 2006 season. It has now been undergoing a rebuild and upgrade at the Raceprep concern in Randburg. The question of reliability as apposed to power or speed is going to be on the mind as we enter our 2nd season together.
Apart from the upgrades to the car is the enormous increase in competition in class S3 this year. The entry list for the event looks somewhat different to last years regular runners, with a few noticeable absentees, as well as a number of old and new names added to make the 2007 series an interesting one.
I look forward to keeping you up to date with the teams news and results throughout the season , and seeing those of you who aernt competing , spectating at what looks like a very competitive season.
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