What spares to take on a rally ?

Post by **pim123** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:59 pm

Hi, planning to take part in a rally next year. It's a 3 day's event and it will be about 1500 km in length.
Does anybody have any tips om what spares to take ?

Post by **Willie** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:53 am

I would say the same spares as you should normally have in the boot!
points,condensor, rotor arm, coil,throttle cable,fan belt, spare bulbs, foot pump, spanners plus one good quality adjustable one, and suitable screwdrivers. In a very long trip like that I would be tempted to include a spare half-shaft too as that is the one thing which would completely immobilise the car but, to make that worthwhile you would also need the diff
gasket and spare axle oil etc. Good luck! I add, a spare flasher unit!

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:29 am

Also throttle and Clutch return springs, a set of plugs and some wire.

Post by **ColinP** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:34 pm

I'd also take a set of points for the fuel pump, feeler pump, gaffer tape,
and a pair of pliers (preferable 2 - 1 snipe nose), knife/scissors, chewing gum (plugging leaks!), AA or RAC card (or equivalent) and mobile phone.

Cheers,

Colin

Post by **nebogipfel** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 1:14 pm

Or you could just throw caution to the wind .............

It's a well known fact that Minors never break down

John

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 1:27 pm

Depends where this 'rally' will take you - how far into the wilds?
I carry a cylinder head + gasket, fuel pump, complete spare (known working) dizzy and coil - and all the little bits listed above - did any one say fan belt? And inner tube and tyre levers. The half shaft is a thought - if you have it you will never break one - and if you leave it behind, well sod's law says you will break one in the most inconvenient place!

Post by **pim123** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:55 pm

Thanks for your tips !! The rally (as it's called in Holland) is on normal roads, so no 'wild' stuff. It is something like Amsterdam-Bejing, but then much shorter...but then I'am only a beginner at this, so one step at a time...

Post by **pim123** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:00 pm

this is a link to the Dutch site, unfortunately there is no English site. but the pics give you an idea:
http://www.historicrally.org/

Post by **Onne** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:58 pm

Looks like a nice and challenging rally. Be sure to check with your insurance if they cover these rallies. Mine wasn't too keen on them

Post by **pim123** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:30 pm

I certainly will, is one of the many things a newbie in Rally's has to think off... Had a taxation on my Minor yesterday for insurance ... about 7000,- Euro, going to get it insured all-risk now based on that value.

Post by **Onne** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:41 am

Excellent! Good luck

Post by **doobry** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:16 pm

best way would be to fit the new parts a couple of weeks before the rally (enough time to check that all is ok!) and take the old (working) parts with you.
I'd add fuel filter to the list, but if you fit a new one, you are unlikely to need a spare.
Same goes with fuel pump - if you have an SU pump and the points are ok, then it's unlikely you'll get any serious trouble, however it helps to carry a working spare - just for piece of mind.

Finally - a starting handle in case of flat battery! Also some jump leads in case you want to rescue other cars....

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:50 pm

Minor comes with starting handle anyway.

Post by **8009STEVE** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:29 pm

When the morris was first made, did it not have a service schedule of 6000 miles or 6 months, whichever came first? If this was okay then, then why do people carry half a car in spares?

Post by **pim123** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:37 pm

Because they have passed their guarantee period ?

Post by **8009STEVE** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:39 pm

Even out of warrenty, the service was still 6 months or 6000 miles.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:55 pm

Because the cars have mostly have done over 100,000 miles - and owners don't want to be stranded miles from anywhere - knowing the part they need to get the car going again in 5 minutes is lying uselessly in the garage at home! As i said earlier - it depends how far into the wilds the 'rally' is going. I certainly would not be paying anyone to fix my car - or to tow it home for me - unless it was some unexpected catastrophic failure that no-one could reasonably guard against.

Post by **Robins** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 8:33 pm

Whats with all these negative waves. Just think everything will be fine and it will be.

Well thats what they told me anyway.

Post by **pim123** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 10:25 pm

Robins...who are "they", do "they" talk to you often ?

Post by **Innovator** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:23 am

Preventative maintenance is the key. As has been said fit all the new bits a few weeks before hand in the comfort of your garage and then go safe in the knowledge that you have a reliable car.

However I would carry a coil, a full working dizzy is a good idea and fuel pump. Plus make up some leads so you can direct wire the fuel pump, coil and dizzy. So if there is an electrical problem you by pass everything and get power straight to the components.

I have done many owners club overseas trips and I do not think we carryed any spares.

Have fun.

John