How many "Classic Rally" Gilbern Projects ??

[Bitsa]

I'm building up my Red Genie with the possibility of doing some Classic Rallying. I'd class the events I'm looking to do more as social time trials than out and out stage rallying. I will also hillclimb/sprint her.

Genies seems to fit the Classic Rallying Pre '68 bill - good design including suspension - good power & power/weight ratio - inexpensive to buy a base car - not many specialist parts required for the initial build ...

I see that Roy Pine is building up at least one car. Who else is out there building a Gilbern Classic Rally car ??!!

Where are you based ??

Anyone interested in comparing notes over a beer ??

I'm in Basingstoke but would happily travel ..

Cheers

Chris

[GGenie69]

I'm building mine for hillclimbs/sprints, track days and blatting about the Australian Alps on dark nights . Unfortunately my Gilbern was first registered in 69 so is outside the cut off for classic rallying.


I'd swap notes over a beer or two. Now, when you say "you'll happily travel".......

[nick]

We're building a classic rallying car. So far we've replaced and carried out the following:

- Shocks and coils all round (using Kayaba products)
- Ignition parts and leads (using Quinton Hazel ignition parts and Denso spark plugs)
- Ripped out and replaced the interior carpets as they were damp and replaced the door seals
- Installed a Brantz 2 international trip metre
- Installed an OMP fire extinguisher under passenger seat

Our mechanic says he's yet to set up the engine correctly with the timing.... when he's done that i'll let you know what he did!

Nick.

[Mike Kimmens]

I'm building a 1967 Genie for Historic Rallying, so far engine rebuilt & refitted to bare chassis with front and rear axles fitted, next job is to overhaul suspension & brakes. Will fit new roll cage (on order with Roger) before fitting body. Have booked HERO rally to Iceland in September so need to get on with it. Ultimate goal is to do the Monte Carlo Rally with the Automobile Club of Monaco. I'm based in Rayleigh, Essex and would like to meet up and exchange notes/ideas.
Mike

[hayling3000]

Chris,
The historic Rallying scene is great fun!
I have done 6 CRA events, 4 Monte's (Winter Challenge) and 2 Emerald isle, 2in my Healey 3000 and 4 in a Jensen Interceptor. The ACM Monte is stage rallying and ultra competitive!
A small, light, reliable sporting saloon is the way to go and a Gilbern looked right to us.
You should build for reliability and simplicity, though not racing/staging, you will allways be pushing against the clock and attrition is inevitable. All modifications must be in period so care with braking, electrics, fuel and suspension are uppermost with duplicate systems where possible.
Get the HERO and CRA regs and make sure you build it to spec, easy to get caught out by scrutineer, IE; No Digital displays on Dash, including trip, clock and thermometer!
We ran once in the Masters but competitiveness is so high we dropped back into clubman class, a much nicer bunch who do our damnedest but enjoy a beer too!
I will go to the Alton pub meet next month and be good to talk!
Meanwhile am trying to source some polybushes for the trailing arms, anyone tried it?

Roy

[Bitsa]

I see that there is also a white Invader 3 3 FOE already out playing ....

http://www.hrcr.co.uk/pics.php?imageid=3773457

[series4]

I agree with the KISS principle especially for long-distance events. If the crew are uncomfortable they fatigue much more easily and then it doesn't matter how good the car is.

Peter

[Mike Kimmens]

Roy
Why are you going down the route of fitting a sierra 5 speed gearbox? Thats not period, nor is it within the regs. Makes a bit of mockery of what the spirit of historic rallying is all about
Mike

[hayling3000]

Mike, since we intend to compete only in clubmens, not masters, we have a bit more freedom,
and since we will not win, we do'nt care very much and neither will the organisers!
Also, having competed regularily before, pretty much anything seems to go now, including Marina engined Morris 1000's and Lowered suspension, big calipers, wide tyres Etc.,
We will get a FIVA passport as FIA not required for historic road rallies.
The cost of a rebuilt 4 speed and overdrive is just too much! We want reliability and a good cruising speed to get to and fro from Monaco!
Thats the theory anyway!
Roy

[Mike Kimmens]

Roy
We will have to agree to disagree, but the regulations state period mods only and if you fit parts from a later model then the date of your car will be the later date. Hence you will be competing in a 1980s Genie!. Scrutineers from both HRCR and HERO would take a very dim view of this mod because there is no good reason for doing it as the original gearboxes are still available. Least penality - reclassified as 1980s car, worst penalty - banned from rally.
Mike

[Bitsa]

Mike,

Can you point me towards the regulations your building to . Two specific areas that I'm unclear on ...

1) Suspension - can you change spring length/rate ? - There doesn't appear to be a definitive on what was originally fitted ....

2) Fuel injection - I have a full factory original injection kit. Can I keep the manifold, throttle bodies, and trumpets but move from manual injection control to electronic. I think the answer is probably no but I'd like to see the regs ....

Conversion from Watts to Panhard is legitimate as some Genies had a Panhard rod.

Sorry a beer isn't possible just yet as I'm using most of my spare time with a pot of resin

Chris

[hayling3000]

Chris,

Look at the Classic Rally Association and H E R O websites and down load the regs. Stage Rallying H R C R, is different.

Basically everything must be in period, usually pre Jan 1ST 1968, even if it is genuine with the exception of a few safety related items. But if you are not a real contender in the masters class, they are pretty laid back. As it happens a rebuilt 4 speed and o/d came my way the other day so we will be original. However we are upgradingall other systems for maximum efficiency and reliability, including brakes, electrics, fuel and cooling.

Very good article in this months Healey mag about starting Classic Rallying on a rally in Norway, can copy if you like.

When is the next pub meet?

Roy

[Bitsa]

Roy,

Thanks .. next meet is Wed 27th ... unfortunately I'll be abroad ..... I don't think I'll do the fuel injection until I've found out what the standard car is like.

Did you want a Panhard Rod for yours ??

Chris

[Mike Kimmens]

Chris,
I'm building mine to HRCR and Hero. I've entered HERO's Iceland rally in September. Yes you can change the springs. I've checked with scrutineers re panhard rod and both said it would be OK. Koni or Spax front shock absorber conversion is OK because they still retain the lever arm unit but conversion to th later Invader type isn't. As Roy said its easy to get regs from their website.
Mike