Iceland Rally

[Mike Kimmens]

My 1967 Genie has just completed the HERO Iceland rally. 1425+ miles in six days much of it on gravel/unmade roads. Car only passed its MOT on 8/8/08 and was driven to Immingham to be shipped to Iceland. I had only driven it 500 miles prior to Iceland and I'm pleased to report that it is a very nice car to drive. If anybodys interested I have put photos of the restoration and rally on my website http://www.salvagecaravans.com/map.html .
Mike

[Gilbern948]

Hi Mike, Sounds fantastic and delighted to hear that the Gilbern ran so well. Regards, Steve Arnold (Gilbern 948)

[Greybags]

Mike ....

What a brave move, restore a car and first outing a rally across Iceland. WOW

Car looks great and I love the piccies.

Wonder if thats the 1st time a Gilbern has ever been to Iceland?????

Grahame

[Mike Kimmens]

Grahame
According to the classic car club of Iceland it was the first Genie in Iceland, great place to visit provided you are tea total, wine £7 a glass, beer £6!!
Mike

[Mike Kimmens]

Grahame,
Great to hear you enjoyed the photos, more are being added and when I find out how to do it I'll be adding video clips. I'm also trying to write a 'diary' of the event although there is a minor problem in that we left the road books in the Genie which because of bad weather the ship was delayed and I won't be collecting it from Immingham till next Tuesday. I'm looking forward to driving it home again.
Mike

[Mike Kimmens]

Good news, if anyone is interested, the Iceland short video clips are now on my website www.salvagecaravans.com/genie.html
Hope you enjoy them
Mike

[Greybags]

Reguarding the Cliff Hangers video .....


I WANT TO PLAY!!!!!!!


I really do like the look of the rally, as me and the wife were thinking of doing something like this when the Estate is finished, as we were going to do it in the MGBGT before I got rid of it to fund the Gilbern.
She fancies one the the wine one's down through France.

A couple of friends and me are looking to take our "Classics" (My Esatate, a Triumph TR2 (that has done the Le MAns Classic and driven the circuit 3 times at over 100MPH in places) and a Mk1 Twin Cam Escort) across and around the Nubergring in 2010... Should be a good convoy to get there...

I really am quite envious of your trip... cant wait to do something in mine..

Grahame

[Mike Kimmens]

Grahame
HERO are going back to Iceland in spring 2010, I'm going provided I can get my son to pay. If you are talking about one of Simon Rossiters rallies in France, I'm doing the champagne one in October so I'll let you know what it's all about. I did the Nurburgring in my MGB GT back in 2002, very good but too long to get to know the circuit. My son and I did a track day at Silverstone last Wednesday and we managed to do 120 laps. Now thats what I call value for money. Earlier this year I did 109 laps of Snetterton. I haven't used the Genie for a track day as I don't think it would be suitable.
Mike

[Mike Kimmens]

Now that I've got my car back from the shipping company I've had a chance to look at the teething problems with the car. First job is to replace the burnt out wiper motor with a more modern and more powerful motor. Water ingress. The boot was very wet this is because the centre of the rear of the boot lid is half an inch higher than the body work. Hopefully I have cured this by making a frame up in the boot to hold the body higher. Very wet foot wells, whilst on the rally we watched the rain coming in around the window frames I'm hoping this was because I hadn't fitted the roof mouldings (there was a problem with them and lack of time to sort it out). This weekends job will be to fit the roof mouldings. Noisy exhaust due to damage from gravel and unmade roads. Minor leak from heater matrix (well it is 40 years old). Speedo head is reading 15% fast ie it indicates 69mph when true speed is 60. Temp gauge only ever reads 40'C, I changed the sender before the rally so there must be a mismatch between sender and gauge. Brakes although they work ie will lock up wheels they don't inspire confidence. Repaint chassis where gravel shot blasted it removing all traces of 4 layers of paint! Although I fitted long 480lbs front springs I had to cut about an inch off the bottom front bump stops to give an inch and half of suspension travel. Now suspension has settled there is now only three quarters of an inch gap between bump stop and chassis. Considering the mileage covered and the conditions I reckon the car did well and all above are minor problems except for the exhaust which is very vunerable.
Mike