At the start of September I applied and got my CAMS Clubman Rally License, isn't that hard to get really, 25 question online test, have held a license for 5 years and your older than 25. A week later I had my license, this will allow me to enter any state based rally event.
So on the 24th September BSCC was holding a Khanacross and Come and Try Event at Bli Bli in a sugar cane field. This was for first timers to get use to how a rally was run as well as drive on a track at speed, and you can use your road car, perfect.
Monday 19th
Downloaded the forms and read the Sup regs a few times, as I was going to use the road going RS Liberty so I had to install a fire extinguisher into the car to meet the regs.
Wednesday 21st
Paperwork night at the BSCC club rooms, the main item checked where, extended CPI for a day ($10), rego, licenses, entry form and $60 fee. We also got a set of pace notes for each of the 3 tracks, this was so we could get use to tulip directions.
Thursday 22nd
Spent a few days chasing up a set of used rally tires for the rims I got a month back for the rally car, Ross dropped them off today for two bottles of Bundy. Worked out a list of tools and part to take, just in case.
Friday 23rd
Half day at work today so the afternoon was spent getting ready for tomorrow. Drove down to Revolution Race gear to pick up a balaclava and a fire extinguisher for the car. Also got the tires fitted to the rims, $60 for 4 tires, not cheap. Then packed the car, with the tools and fluids I might need, just fitted with 4 tires also in the back. About 7am I realised I had forgotten to install the fire extinguisher, so ripped out and drilled holes in the floor and installed it.
Saturday 24th (Bli Bli is about 130km away and the event started at 7.30am)
Kevin arrived at about 5am, he was the co-driver for the day, and we headed off for Bli Bli. On arriving at the location we were the first to arrive apart from the coffee van which was setting up, we picked a spot and got setup. Tires went on as more competitors arrived; by 7am 25 odd cars had turned up, most of the cars where rally cars with a few road cars and the odd off road rally 4x4.
At 7am we signed in, got a number for the car, No.9 in our case and the car was looked over by the scrutineers. We then had a driver’s briefing, then a slow drive around the track following each other around to get an idea what the track looked like and to have a read over the pace notes.
Then it was time to go.
We were the 5th car ready to start, track 1 was 1.45km long, rectangular course with a few chicanes every now and then to slow you down as well as a muddy patch and a few dips.
Countdown 30sec to go, then 10sec, at this point the Xbox gamer clicked in 5,4,3, cars revving to about 5000/6000 rmp at this point ,2,1 drop the clutch and were gone, I was going to take it easy the first time around, but it’s hard to take it easy I found out. The first track was great, Kevin was yelling out instructions, but a little late, crest, oopps too late, dip, corners mud, dip, finish. Our first run was a 1.48 great fun, and the car was i one piece.
Track 2 was a little longer, and a lot rougher, but once I heard 5,4,3, it was on.. I'm not sure what we got for that track, but it was two laps, the second lap was lots faster.
Then it was back to Track 1, track 3 was going to be in the afternoon.
Did track 1 again, this time I got a better start, and finished with a 1.42. After going to the pits and looking the car over for damage, we decided that we would just do track 1 as track 2 was way too rough for a road car.
So back to the start of Track 1, this time a little more aggressive in the corners and braking, a 1.40 followed by a 1.42. Our 4th time around would be our last, we started well, but the smell of the clutch was a sign that we were pushing way to hard, and the brakes where getting a little soft as well, but we did do a 1.38 and hit 100km/hr on the back straight.
We stopped for the BBQ lunch, all part of the entry fee, free burger and drink.
Then after lunch we both agreed that we should call it a day, we still had 130km to drive home, so we watch some of the others, packed up and headed home.
This was a great day, had loads of fun and meet lots of new people. Next time I will have the rally car for the event and should be able to push a little more with worrying too much.
Photos of the day
Look for the white RS Liberty Wagon
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