McLachlan-Clough Back Together in 2009
An Assault on the Endurance Rally Championship Looks Likely, maybe, then again.....
For Sale: Proven 205 1.6 Challenge Car
April 20th 2008 - CMC Endurance Rally
The 106 ( future Enduro Rally car) passed its MOT with no problem, so we set out to help run the CMC event. We set up a couple of tests, then acted as start control on one of them.
Of course we had a little play as well, and got the car a bit dirty!. It was very cold at the start control, but very interesting seeing how the cars were prepared and performing.
We then went on to run as course opener on the night route, and also ran another test on Sunday morning. The event was very friendly with crews helping one another with running repairs where necessary. The best bit was how competitive and close the competition was, it really looked good.
My 106 ran really well, but it does need suspension work - nothing that some proper Bilsteins, springs , and bushes won't sort. Popular opinion was that the Rover 200s were faster than the Peugeots, and the results seemed to reflect that. I couldn't help thinking that perhaps the fastest drivers were in the Rovers, and a properly sorted 106 would be right up there.... hope that's the case anyway!
Older News
After a rather abrupt end to the Twighlight Rally in 2005, the Welsh Road Rally Championship was lost for the year. The car was fixed but has been sat gathering dust in the garage. In the meantime however, a few plans were made.....
The first was to transplant an Mi16 engine into the rally car to get more competitive on the Welsh Road Rally scene. A 205 Mi16 was purchased, but the engine turned out not to be as advertised, so I used it as his road car for a while. It then sat on the drive for 2 years!!
The Endurance Rally Car class was invented for the 2004 season, and this looked like good fun - a nice cross between road and stage rallying with the Lombard Rally to finish the season.
I'd been keeping an eye on this, however the Endurance events are limited to 1400cc, so either a downward size engine transplant would be needed or another car! Having decided to give it a go, and not wanting to downgrade the 205, I located a Peugeot 106 Rallye in need of some repair in early 2005. This was a bit chavved up, but generally in good shape aside from it's engine having half fallen out. Rather predicatably it ended up sat on axle stands in my garage for 2 years. It was then actually fixed and has provided nearly a year's service commuting to work.
A decision has now nearly been made though!, and in order to get ready for 2009, and the 205 Mi16 is now on ramps in the garage getting ready to be put back on the road in order to free up the 106 (and garage) for preparation. 2 years on the hasn't been too good for the 205 though, and although it started at the first turn of the key, half the buttons don't work anymore, the fan is on full speed all the time, and rust is appearing in various places!! hmm, this could take some time.
I haven't been totally idle since 2005 though; the garage has been getting some attention. I built some new ramps so that I can lift the car on the sills using my hydraulic lift (it is designed to lift the car on the wheels), and have also put much better lighting in!.
So I should be able to get on with the 106 quite well once I make the 205 roadworthy once more - that is until we start work on the house extension in May (life is busy).
The 205 should also provide a bit of fun (as quick as Mat's Impreza), so that should keep me happy on the road. Just got to decide how much to do on the 106 - if anyone hears of 106 rally prep parts (esp Cage, Guards, Bilsteins), let me know!
205 Mi16 Fixing (to clear the garage for the 106)
9th September 2008 - Having fixed the air flow meter, it was running great but yet another oil cooler has started leaking. Time to actuall buy I new one...
17th July 2008 - De-ja-vu. Failed replacement oil cooler (2nd hand). 205 off the road and in the way again.
10th July 2008 - Disaster already - its only done 90 miles since it's MOT and the oil cooler let go dumping all the oil on the dual carraigeway - an effective way of keeping the oil cool but not the bearings.... hopefully the engine is OK. Will I ever get onto the 106?
7th July 2008 - Coolant switch fitted, so it now stays cool - too cool in fact as the switch doesn't switch off. Also I've now remembering all the other things that were wrong with it - engine mounts, rear wiper, inteference on the radio, poor running (not revving well either).
4th July 2008 - 12 Months MOT. Hopefully this will mean work can start on the 106 - just got to change the Radiator switch (and thermostat for good measure) to stop it overheating and make the interior blowers work...
30th June 2008 - The 205, all back together and looking nice failed it's MOT, nothing major though, just washers, handbrake, headlight aim and an indicator which stopped working on the way to the test...
2nd June 2008 - The 205 Challenge car has been relocated to my brothers garage, and the 106 is on the ramps. No work has been done yet, as the 205 Mi16 still isn't on the road :(
A few minor repairs turned into more serious problems with lots of welding needed - of course!
Minor valence repair turns into large lumps of metal needing to be cut out and replaced. The rear wing was an even bigger job, and still needs sanding and painting as I write.
And this is before I get onto the engine, which is 'ticking' a bit - hopefully just needs to get some clean oil circulated. Also nothing on the centre console works, so some electrical issues to sort out before the MOT!
I should have learnt by now not to leave cars standing outside, they just seem to disintegrate in super fast time. AAARGH! The rust is similar but worse than on the 1st 205 I prepared which has also been sitting outside.
