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| Cambrian Rally Mid-Wales
Where & When?Sunday 20th April 2003 The MOD ground at Sennybridge near Llandovery Mid-Wales. Prices?I think it is around £50 + cost of an ACU licence. Who's Coming?As far a I know fom the Elefant group only Andy Cadney and John Mongers are competing with Paul Kristensen and Gavin Blackman as spectator support. Feedbackby John Mongers Tues 22nd April This year's Cambrian Rally took place last Sunday (20th) over the military ranges and training area near
Senniybridge in South Wales. 2 e900 Elefants
entered into a field of almost 400, Andy's 944 and my own.
The rally consists of 3 laps of about 45 mile's, the vast majority off road,
during each lap there are 2 timed tests of about 3 or 4 mile's. The start
and finish of each lap is in the Army FIBUA village. The weather was fine
though the day started cold, it hasn't rained for some time (weeks) this made
for a dusty day with hard going and the water holes that can be anything up
to 4 ft deep were not at all bad.
Paul K made the trip down to lend his support and a welsh guy who's name
I've forgot on a 750 turned up and helped out. It was great to have their
support and nice to meet a name off the net.
I lent Andy a pair of wheels shod with a set of Karoos other than the 944 kit
his bike supports it was near standard. After losing the front guard early
on he finished the rally with no real problems, (though a very muddy face)
and I think had an enjoyable day.
Problems I encounter which has made me focused on making a few more
improvements and modifications are:
Going though the first water hole a marshal signalled me to slow down, I
ended up cross-rutted in 3 foot of muddy water and the bike stalled. That
slow turning of the starter motor know to all Elefant owners had the same
marshals head in his hands as he thought he was going to have to get in and
help push the bike out, but after a moment or two it fired up and I was on my
way. I must get that starter wiring sorted.
Next water hole no slowing down hit it at full tilt, result water in my
jacket, boots, down my back, helmet, goggles and the fuse box, battery light
coming on and fuse's melted. The Welsh guy on the 750 came to my aid with a
hand full of 25-amp fuses. Need to get that fuse box sorted.
On the final lap I was getting into the swing of things, the KTM front end
was real good and hadn't bottomed out once yet. It was this that gave me the
confidence to start jumping some of the things I'd slowed for on previous
laps, result one heavy landing and the rear suspension compressed the
calliper came up and knocked the exhaust pipe clean off.
The sound of the Ducati twin a full bore without any pipe was fabulous I just
hope everyone else in South Wales enjoyed it as much. I finished the event
with the exhaust pipe in my backpack and a huge smile on my face, but I must
make that call to Sandy in the USA to get that rear shock and spring sorted
(I should also lose weight).
I changed the oil before the event and went from fully synthetic to a
synthetic fortified oil. In the past I have been able to change up and down
the gearbox without using the clutch with no problem. Not this weekend it
was a real pain at times. Back to synthetic today. The oil thing has been
proved beyond doubt to me.
Although many (most) of the small bikes are a lot quicker and handle much
better off road I doubt many riders had more fun.
Busy now getting the bike ready for the Rydale Rally in early June.
Picturesby Paul K. Here are a few photos taken by myself they are not really a true reflection of the day, the wind was blowing force 10 and it was freezing but at least it did not rain. I used my digital camera but I will not use a digital camera again for action photos, it seems there is a delay in the shutter after you have pushed the button and hence some of the best shots were empty of elefants. Sorry Andy as most of yours suffered from this. As always please click on an image for a higher resolution one.
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