My 'Mini' Adventure

In passing conversation at work with Simon only last week it was apparent that Roger couldn't make the Mewla rally. Simon showing concern for his dad and team manager said "dad will be on his own" , I jumped at the chance! "If you need me I am here" I said optimistically, then quickly realised I best okay that with the boss. "if it's okay with Anita!" I said.The rest as they say is history.....

My 'Mini' Adventure

So the scene was set. Several frantical phone call were made in the build up to the event. What time, what do I need, what do we do, where are we going to stay. These were all my questions to Simon who was already sorta panicing over whether everything was ready. He probably didn't need me questioning him every five minutes.

So the agenda was set, Simon & Hayley was going to pick me up at work 06:30 Saturday. I went off to my last night shift of the week with a chuffed feeling inside of me. I couldn't keep it inside of me though. Everytime someone at work asked what are your plans for the weekend did they get it lol. Both barrels for about half an hour,

"I'm really looking forward to going to Mewla!"

"Mewla?" said Chris

"Yeah Mewla in Wales, I am going to see Simon rally, helping his dad in the service area"

Simon text me before the morning, change of plan, only two people are allowed on the recce you are going to have to get to dad's and come with the van. That was it. My carefully laid plans were in tatters. Now I had to get back from work and pick up my stuff and get to Ken's house for 09:00 on the Saturday. 

I did it! I was up at Ken's by 08:45 rearing to go. The guys were calmly getting their stuff together. Ken, George and Zack already and waiting to get off. This was my sleep time. 

I slept most of the journey, occassionally waking to see what had happened on route. Someone had rolled their car on one of the motorways, that slowed us down but I think we was very lucky that it was a relatively new accident and got through the build back quickly.The next stop was a bikers cafe about 50 miles away from the venue on 'Route 44'. This was great for me being a biker, full english and mug of tea for £4.50 perfect.

A few miles up the road and I was away again and the next thing I knew we was at the veue. 

It's here things start to take shape. Aprrox 3 hrs ago Simon and Hayley arrived and started their part. The recce. This is where they travel the circuit and take pace notes. I am sure if you ask nicely Hayley will tell you all about the pace notes. We arrived at about 10:30. We parked up in the designated area and took a quick walk around to find out where everything is. I wasn't aware but the actual rally was going to take place in a MOD area in the hills some 8 miles away.

I was feeling a bit useless at this point and was trying to take in as much as I could. This was a big learning curve for me and I needed for own reasons to be as alert as I could be, which was hard considering the lack of sleep I had had. We strolled down to rally HQ and had a look around. Ken met up with some old facesand shared a few comments with them.

The car needed to go through scrutineering and a noise check before being allowed to race. I am still not sure what the car has to pass to get through but it does get a through inspection, the noise is an easy one. The car passed and now all was left was for Simon & Hayley to register as the driver and navigator. It wasn't all plain sailing though, the car wouldn't start.....

Just before taking the car to scrutineering the car wouldn't start (once it was stopped) out with the jump starter!!!! This worked after a while and off Ken went to get the car through. Of course the car was stopped again and they couldn't get it going again!!!!! The problems have started already.

The starter motor was going to prove difficult for the remainder of the tour.

So the car and crew had been registered etc it was time to get off for some tea and get to the B & B for the night. Tea was fish & chips in the nearby village of Builth Wells and damned fine it was too. The digs for the night were a small cottage B & B just off the beaten track to Cym Bach.

On the way out Ken took the intercom radio aerial off the roof and then took a wrong turn (something that was going to later prove to be a common occurance for the Selby's). When we got to the B & B it really became apparent the level these guys were at. Its a small thing I know but to be able to fix it on the side of the road just brings home the level of detail these guys go to. Inside the service van Ken has a life time of tools and gadgets stored away. He pulls out his drill and plugs it in to the vans internal 240V supply. Then out comes the taps and die kit. Oops he snapped the drill bit but never mind out came the grinder and Ken recut the drill to new and sharp. Within 30 minutes the aerial was fixed and probably better than the original fitting.

This was it the day of reckoning.....Hayley retired for the night telling everyone she would give them a knock at 06:00 in the morning. I was awake at 05:30 I lay in bed thinking the day is apon us. Wandering what was ahead I lay in bed with a cup of tea. There was a knock at 06:00, Hayley called through the door "Steve are you up?" I thought I best get a move on. Breakfast was served at 06:45 and Simon and Hayley needed to be at the Rally HQ for driver debrief. Our hosts and B & B owners were great they served up a fried breakfast a good hour before they normally would.

The cottage itself was a fantastic place. It looked like it hadn't been touched since the forties. A proper big cast iron bath. Wooden light switchs still hung from the ceiling (although they had been replaced by new fittings probably thanks to the Health and Safety brigade) 

 The ranges are shown on this map to the left. The green dotted line shows the Epynt Way and pretty much encompasses the whole area we was at. We left the B & B and headed into Builth Wells down the A470. Going through Builth Wells we head out towards Garth on the A483. There is an relentless climb in to the hills and in fact when we reached the service area the clouds difted across the area reducing the visibilty to a several hundred yards. This MOD area is a huge training area and amonst other things we had to go through a safety manual explaining the area and the dangers.

If the red flags are on display (which they were) then there is a danger of live amnunition. DO NOT pick anything up it maybe a live round. Have a look for yourself http://www.dtewalesandwest.co.uk/ the safety brief is here and you can download a map here.

We got ourselves set up in what proved to be a great position. Simon told me on the way home it was perfect for him. Not too far from the end of the service area and high up and prominent so it was easy to see.

The ground wasn't level which also was testing (starter motor issue) but nether the less we was pitched.

Ken and George here getting the equipment ready. It was quite a revelation to see these teams all busy getting setup. Some teams clearly were bordering on professional with hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on motorhomes, service vans and trailers. You can see the commitment put in by everyone. This isn't a hobby its a life style choice. There was cars that are WRC class and it shows. The funny thing is Brosis's 1961 Austin Seven holds it own in this boxing ring of giants. Ken's engineering background shows and so does his passion when you get him talking. 'It's all in the car these days' he will say. 'Big engines and paddles for gears', 'let's see them drive this'.

My description of the mini is an elastic band stretched to the limit. One more twist and it will snap. Over the years the guys have spent a small fortune and even more in time and experience to create this monster. 

A B9 class machine, it has seen championships won in its past, although this year isn't going to be one of them. 

Kettle on....Ken calls out of the service van 'tea anyone' as the built in generator roars into life. This is the life eh. 

Now its a waiting game. I questioned Ken on what he wanted me to do. Trying to imagine the pitstop in my mind. The car is going to drive in, check the oil, water, tyres. Clean the screen and generally around the car. Ken explained if the car looks good the team feel good. Positive thinking is a strong part of Ken's life. So going over and over in my head. Oil, water, tyres & clean the screen - oil, water, tyres & clean the screen. 

George took the responsibilty of the fuel over. His partner, Hayley 'the organiser' had already mapped out the event with fuel usage and service times. Her work is invaluable and I can see why Simon was so chuffed she has returned to the team.  Bro & Sis, brother and sister are the where the team name comes from and they have many years of rally experience together. 

  On the first service everything went out of the window. Ken had already told me 'He'll moan about the tyres, he always does' So it was quite funny when the tyres didn't even get a mention.The car swung under the canopy and into place, 'there's no oil pressure' shouts Simon from inside the car. The 25 minute service time was cut down to about 14 minutes due to the length of time taken to book into the check in and then the lengthy drive round to the service area. Add to this the 4 miles or so to the check in point for the next stage and you start to get the picture. 

This is a time for control. Ken starts to take the distributor cap when we notice there is oil all over the engine. Ken explained that he had over filled the oil and expected something like this. My new job was to mop up the oil. I got some absorbant paper out of the van off I went. It looked like the oil was coming out of the rocker cover. Ken meanwhile was taking the oil pressure sensor out, to stop the warning light coming on. George refilled the tank, 17 litres were required for the next stages. Zack had the kettle on and toast made for Simon and Hayley.

'We've only got 5 mins' shouts Hayley 'and we got to get to the start yet'

They jump back into the car and belt up while Ken is still putting the engine back together. 

'Right, start her up' shouts Ken.

 Nothing.... the starter had failed us, here started the problem. We had to push this car uphill out of the service area and we was on slippy grass.If they don't make the check in in time they are out. We all summoned as much strength as we could, dug our heels in and shoved with all our might. She was back out onto the road. Now we had to bump start her. Pushing her up hill we had no joy. So back down the hill she went and thrid time lucky, vrooom, they were off. 

Added to the rally was now the fact that if they stalled the mini around the course (a stage was 20 miles long) they were out and Simon will tell you it is easy to stall.

We tidied up and it was back to waiting again. A quick recap of the next stages and time due back in and we relaxed again. 11:45 they were due in next. I was amazed at the speed of the pitstop and what in fact had happened. 14 minutes if you were sit and do nothing would probably seem like a life time but believe me this isn't the case here. It felt like no sooner had they pulled in they were off again.

  On the next service we was all waiting for the team to get back, however as the previous cars went past to their service areas it became obvious that something wasn't right. 5 mins had passed since car 65 had gone by. Brosis were 67. Ken's face said it all. He was disappointed beyond comprehension. He retreated back inside the van waiting for a call of help from the intercom. I tried to comfort him saying maybe they have stalled and need a push start. Still nothing. The minutes were passing and even my enthusaism had waned to submission. They were out. The car has broke down or worse they have come off the course.

Zack calls out 'They are here' 

George confirms it and its battle stations. Everyone jumps up knowing whatever has gone wrong it needs to be sorted. 

The team next to us had already retired from the race at this point. This had open up the entrance to our service area and knowing this we directed the car in to the side of the service bay. 

'Whats happened' questions Ken.

'We overheated' replies Simon 'We are leaking water'

'I checked us in' Hayley told us, a calm as mustard she had checked the car into the stage end, but the time taken to get the water filled back up and limp back to service had eaten again into the 25 service time. Ken had discovered the problem. A pipe had come off the water pump. but to get it back on the front of the mini had to be taken apart. I continued to mop up more oil, George filled the fuel back up and Zack was doing the honours with the tea and toast again.

With the short time avalable the grill, radiator and associated parts had to come off. The water drained from the system. The pump removed and pipework disconnected. Eventually he got to the problem joint. A quick check for damage and the pipe was refitted. Then in reverse all the parts were put back together. Hayley once again reminding us of the time, with Ken remind hayley that if this isn't fixed no one was going anywhere. As a newcomer I thought any minute now everyone is going to loose it under the pressure, but now we all held it together and they were off with another bump start.

Sadly this was the end of the race for us all. By the time they had reached the checkin point for the next stage the pipe had come off and the engine had over heated again. They had to retire, the stage was 15 miles long.

A phone call to Ken explained they were out and needed recovering before the next stage or we had to got the long way round out of there. This couldn't happen it would take 1 and 1/4 hours to drive out the long way.

We packed up the service centre in record time and set off after them. This was an experience for me. We travelled in the service van to the next stage. All 4 miles of it in rough terrain, through the forest section, over bumps and hills. I thought Ken thought he was in a rally car (he used to rally cars himself) as we bounced along the track. The odd call to Zack in the back 'What was that' as something fell off the shelf. 

Eventually we got to the start of stage 7, there was lots of spectators around the mini and Simon and Hayley had been chatting to them.

Comments like 'You were showing the big boys up there' didn't really console the team.

Tow rope attached we dragged them off and back down the route we had just come. To add to the excitement the route had been closed for traffic as the road we was on was now a part of the next stage. A marshall took pity and let us through saying the road should have been closed but it genuinely wasn't. We carried on for another few hundred yards where we found a small place to fix the hosepipe again only this time Ken did a better and more permanent job. The silicon pipes are really slippy he explained.

Once repaired Simon shot off, consoling himself on the fact that he could have a play back down the track and out of the Ranges, back to rally HQ. The starter motor still broken.