zedrally

Yes, this is indeed good news. I was initially sceptical about the program, by the conclusion even my good lady was glued to the screen. MOM

If it's not to bad you can patch it up with black silicon, after all you still have the faux leather boot on the inside! MOM

Hi Jim, I can't get the link to open either, typical CRC, don't let the locals know until it's to late! If you've got a mate there, then try to get hold of the Route Instructions. We [you], might be able to use them on your upcoming adventurer next year! MOM

zeds in this condition are usually given away! Just offer to trailer it away....

Yep... 1600's take out 2nd and 3rd, with a 260Z in 4th place. Datsun confirms it's place as Australia's best ever Rally Car.. Read on for the official release....MOM Record Breaking Alpine Rally Win The 58th Alpine Rally finished in Lakes Entrance this weekend with a record breaking performance from winning co-driver Ross Runnalls. He now has a record seven wins in this classic Australian motorsport event, one clear of another 1970's Alpine legend Frank Kilfoyle and his 1980's sparring partner Greg Carr. The Australian Alpine Rally is the world's second oldest motorsport event having been run for the first time in 1921. Co-drivng for now three times Alpine Rally winner and two times Australian Rally Champion Geoff Portman, who was also Runnalls first and long time driver, drove their powerful, on loan, Holden Commodore V8 with great control and flare in the wet and tricky conditions in the Alpine high country to the north of Lakes Entrance and Orbost. This was a fitting result for Portman and Runnalls as this rally win came on the 30th anniversary of their first Alpine Rally start in 1975. They were at the time also Holden mounted in a rugged looking fawn coloured 1956 Holden FE Sedan. The win in this year's event was also Geoff's first Alpine start since his last win in 1982. This years Holden, a 1984 Commodore, was borrowed from another previous Australian Rally Champion Barry Lowe and son's Aaron and proved the perfect weapon for Geoff who even admitted, privately, at the finish that it had to much horsepower for him to handle! The final day of competition yesterday saw an epic battle for the lead between Portman/Runnalls and New South Wales driver Kari Dirickx and co-driver Tim Batten in a potent Datsun 1600. Dirickx started the day 4 seconds ahead of Portman who had decide to "push" on this final day having become more at home in the big unfamiliar V8 Commodore. Portman / Runnalls also had an advantage of "local knowledge" with both of them going thru Forestry school together in the 70's and then spending extended time in the Alpine forestry regions since. At the end of another fitting, tough Alpine Rally, Portman and Runnalls finished 30 seconds in front of Dirickx/Batten with Tim's father Mike Batten/Glen Murray, Datsun 1600 just piping teenager Jesse Robison co-driven by sister Sam in yet another Datsun, this time a 260Z coupe, proving this car makers dominance of club car rallying in Australia. At the presentation at the Lakes Entrance Kalimna Hotel last night, a crowd of more than 400 competitors and Alpine Rally enthusiast celebrated the end of this years Alpine and the presentation started with event Secretary Jodi Mann announcing that this would be her and, event boss, Stuart Listers' last Alpine Rally as key organisers. Immediately a round of three cheers for Stuart was called for from yet another Australian Rally legend on hand, Bob Watson which was rousing supported by the packed crowd. So another Alpine Rally is done; where too from here. There will be another Alpine, most likely in two years time, the HRA stalwarts have already started to put in place the steps to ensure that, so it is true ?. Resistance IS Futile, even if your names are Stuart Lister and Jodi Mann. Final Results Geoff Portman/Ross Runnalls Holden Commodore 207:52 (Minutes:Seconds) Karl Dirickx/Tim Batten, Datsun 1600, 208:22 Mike Batten/Glenn Murray, Datsun 1600, 217:50 Jesse & Sam Robinson, Datsun 260Z, 219:53 Full results and photos will be on www.hra.org.au later today

Just a note on the bellows.. There are 2 schools of thought on these, well 3 actualy, if you include the why have them option. 1. Use bellows without tieing the base or bottom part of bellow to the strut. 2. Tie to the strut. and of course 3. No bellow. After considerable thought, I used option 1. Mainly because I could see little compression/expansion of the bellows in general use, therefore they actually became a floating dust cap. Also, if a split or tear develops, the bottom part won't become a cup that contains dirt, water etc. Any foreighn material accumulated will just fall down around the strut and to the ground. If tied, and not using the OEM part, they may be a little to rigid, with corresponding wear issues which could lead to the issues listed above. Even with the OEM tied to the strut, the risk of foreign material floating around the cup after a split/tear is possible. I would like to hear other people's opinions on this, I doubt there is a definitive answer, but who knows? MOM

Be different..... Next re-spray will be in Datsun Rally Team colours.... Red-White-Blue! MOM

Hi Jim, Had to change plans with Xmas trading [i've actually gotten quite busy & can't leave the shop with 1 person as planned]. I believe some of the stages may be in the Omeo area, they are still looking for officials, so if you would like your own "special" specie spot just put your hand up, or I can put you into contact with the right people. There are some awsome zeds entered in this, I saw & heard Rob Devonish's 280 [stroked out to 3.1l I believe with the mandatory triples] on the MIrboo Meander, only a Spitfre could sound better. Ah, it sucks, the sound of these awesome rally cars in the forest won't be heard by me. I'll promise to drive up to the Golden Age next year...... Mike

Hi all, Last night the starting order for this Historic event was released. 89 Starters of which 31 are Nissan/Datsun vehicles pre 86. It's quite a tribute to Datsun that there are so many rally cars still in active competition. Check out the details at http://www.hra.org.au/comingEvents/documents/2005Alpine_Start-List.pdf MOM

Don't know if it helps....but I've always used a 2' PLumbers wrench. If your n the OAkleigh area, feel free to drop in and I'll show you how on one on the spares I have, or bring the strut in and we can attack it together... MOM

I can only respond to the rally side of life. If you intend to run HRC [Historic Rally Category], then there is very little you can modify. The only freedoms appear to be exhaust manifolds and the removal of metal in the inlet manifold. Forget about turbo engines and rear disc brakes, those mods where allowed in the Group G days of pocket rockets flaring around the trees. I think the most innovative was the infamous Dazda of those times. [1600 with a rotary engine]! As far as our 240's go, stock standard will allow you to compete in HRC 2. Any minor mods will place you into PRC [Production Rally Category] immediately, such mods would be placing a 280 engine [non turbo, but FI] into a 240. This would be allowed as a model run-on and is in fact a very popular upgrade in most PRC 240's. They will always be recognised as a 280Z [even though we never had the model here]. Triples likewise aren't recognised [as they never actually where sold as/in a standard production, yes I know they were sold in the Nismo cateloge and were run on some of the works rally cars, but the FIA & CAMS don't see it that way. To many people have belted there heads against the proverbial brick wall for them to see it "our" way. The best you could do it to make a HRC copy of 8075 [i think] that had the experimental FI on the slightly enlarged 240 engine. Now having said all of that, it really comes down to what the Supplementary Regulations of the event allow, and even down to the attitude of other competitors. Whilst you may not be able to compete against the field, you may, subject to the Clerk of Courses approval be allowed to run, more than likely there will be no category for you to compete in [we generally class this as Cat 4 which is for pre 81 cars that don't fit into any actual category, this is conditional on what the CoC allows]. An example of this is the upcoming Alpine, which has attracted many cars which are ex Group G cars and can longer compete in either HRC or PRC without extensive de-modifying! If in any doubt, ask your eligbility commitee, CAMS Manual of Motorsport or CAMS directly. As for the track, I'd be interested in hearing about that as well...... HIH edit: I forgot about the recently introduced Classic Rally Car Class... It's HRC 3 & 4 I think that may allow the tripples. Best go to the book when in doubt...

Cable ties can be regarded as "New" Technology! Bugger...forgot to put the steel clips in. TG for Cable Ties..... Just put the 1st strut together and all appears fine, now for the wheel bearing, brakes and the final fit.....

Last Saturday I called into Repco fo a set of bumpstops for the Front Struts that I'm rebuilding. They had a Munroe Protection Kit PN PK004, complete with Bumpstops which has the bellows that you where after. Kit Price was $80.96, which was actually cheaper than one quote I had been given for Bumpstops alone. I've just fitted them over the strut tube and they are an excellent fit, how long they last is another matter, although they give a 2 year warrenty. Mike

Great news Jim, I'm sure you enjoyed the drive back to Omeo on Thursday! Start planning for the great Zed re-union at the Historic Alpine Rally. It will start at Lakes Entrance on Saturday/Sunday 3rd/4th December. Look forward to catching up with you & Tess. MOM

Hi Jim, Long time no speak.... I'm not running the event, just fullfilly a CAMS role [making sure that it's possible to complete, fine tuning competitors instructions etc...] Last time I was in contact with the director he had 42 crews, I guess it should be up to 50 by now. Yes, Omeo is due for a run in the zeds, perhaps some of the younger members can organise something for summer? When's the next rodeo? Incidentally, have you had another bushfire up there? Last time I saw your car it was orange, now it's burnt orange!!!!!!! Hi to Tess.... MOM

Why don't you e-mail the Director and get a copy of the last event sent to you. Even if you don't make it, at the very least you can grasp an idea of how an event like this works. I'll be at the start of this one, one of my duties is to assist "newbies", just look for the White 260 if you make it.. I trying to pdf a copy of a 2003 event which I directed, it's complete with maps in each section, start at Rockbank, finishing @ Lal Lal. Will attach it later..

Hi Sean, Thanks for the interest in the event. The first event is always the hardest, TA's are at the bottom of the Rally pyramid. They are generally designed to enable any car, ie road car, daily driver to complete a precribed course in which crews have to report at pre-arranged points. No intermediate limits of speed are allowed between these points, there is however a overall time limit for the event. Generally it's 5-6 ours, after which the finish control closes ane you cop 300 points and generally finish somewhere near the bottom!!!! It's an ideal way of "breaking" in a new crew, the navigator needs to follow maps, while the driver needs to follow instructions and relay back to the navigator what he sees ahead. Many experianced rallyist's still compete in these events, some of the current VRC navigators use these events to "hone" there skills. Its the weekend before the Nightmoves (possible good chance to run the car over an extended period beforehand?) also, but it would appear from the supp regs that it is not an event suitable for a rally car? 5. Crew Eligibility 5.1 At least one crewmember must hold a CAMS level 2NS Licence or superior and be a current financial member of and hold a club membership card issued by a CAMS affiliated car club. 5.2 The driver(s) of the vehicle must hold a current and valid civil drivers licence. As you can see it a good way of getting the girlfriend involved without the expense of a Rally Licence or any Licence at all.... Non-HRA members can run? As long as one crew member is a current financial member of a CAMS affiliated club, you join in the fun. It would definatly be a good day, but possibly at an inpractical time for us due to us being incredibly un-prepared for the event the next weekend! This is the best preparation you could have as a crew. Incidentally, which car have you prepared? Cheers MOM[/i]

well it's only a piece of pipe with 2 bends and 4 holes as I see it. Could be that much, could it?

It's actually a Touring Assembly. Only one crew member needs a CAMS 2NS Licence. There is no one answer for how HRA events work. Every Director has his own idea of how an event should run, therefore you find that the HRA runs Touring Assemblies, Touring Road Events, Historic Touring Road Events and Rallies. No circuit stuff here... This particular event is suitable for all levels, from first timers to experts. You certainly won't get lost if this is your first time in a navigational event. Confused, yes, lost no... The supp regs and guide to competitors [which you can download from the www site explain it all, have a read, I'm only to happy to answer any questions that you might have after]. MOM

Hi all, Next Sunday [19th June] The Waltz in the Black Forest is running. If you have CAMS Licence and navigator [girlfriend, partner or whoever you can drag along] you're more than welcome to enter. Cost is $65 per crew, families are also welcome at this price. Car type is optional, as many crews just use daily drivers. Starting at the BP servo opposite Calder Park @ 9:30, it will wind it's way along approx 180 km's of mainly bitumen roads, towards the finish BBQ approximately 80km's out of Melbourne. It is expected for most crews to drive it in 5-6 hours. I conducted the course check with the event Director last weekend and love some of the roads that he has used. [love to get the rally car out on some of it]! More details are available from www.hra.org.au or feel free to PM me with any queries. There will be at least 1 260 out there, so why not have a go at something different and have a go.... MOM

Are you thinking about the factory type 1/2 cage? [the type that bolts into the welded nuts in the rear quarter panel]. If so then I'm interested as well, I only found out last Wednesday night that it is Homolated and you can have your car CAMS log booked with it.. MOM