Henry Webster

Do you think that we'll see Dave back on the Hillrally circuit? I must admit to being a little surprised to see this, but its great news that Dave has taken it on. Good luck to all! H

If I was advising someone else I would say you need to uprate the wiring, however I might or might not (depending on who is reading! ) have been running 80/100s in my 200 Tdi road car for some years now with no-side effects. It does make a huge difference to the lighting - almost up to the standard of a more modern std car! H PS. I believe it technically does not adhere to the letter of the law for a vehicle of this age.

Giles, This sounds very similar to problems that I had with mine after the car swallowed a load of water on a Hillrally stage. We eventually tracked it down to mud on the hotwire in the AFM. My understanding is, when you replace the AFM plug after you have started it, the ECU has already swapped on to the limp home map - which overfuels to be safe - and will effectively continue to bypass the AFM. I would personally try swapping out the AFM for a known good one, before trying the ECU. You may have got away with the welding! H

I'll be there with a trailer - my bank balance is depending on it! H

Certainly it is the baulk rings and I would say it was the grooves on the inside. I'll take some photos when we've got it apart again. I think Jules is right - we're just working it too hard! I know that the LR boxes aren't the strongest, I was just wondering whether anyone has found any baulk rings last longer than others or any useful snippets like that. We used coated ones last time, but if anything they seem to have lasted less well - so have reverted this time around. I know this forum is more firmly entrenched in the challenge scene, but does anyone have any experience with any of the aftermarket LT77 or R380 motorsport gearkits and steel baulk rings? Or anyone have a cheap V8 R380 kicking about? H

I think I know the answer to this one, but does anyone have any ideas of what I can do with LT77 synchros to make them last longer? Are there any better options? The problem: I'm doing a gearbox rebuild on average about every three events at the moment. The Baja GB saw off the last second gear synchro, I guess the 20 odd stage miles we did with no brakes didn't help much! Its not too expensive - but its alot of effort to be doing every couple of events, especially when you have to pull the whole box apart to get to the second gear synchro. Any thoughts welcome. H

Generally reckon if your going to go to the trouble of having the box out, you may as well replace it with a re-con. In my experience the seal kits don't last well.

I'd try the Dextron II before you do anything more dramatic. Both my LT77s use this. H

I'd love one too, please! H

Like last year the quad competitors are made up of UK 4x4 off roading scene folk. Alongside Paul and Mark is Naomi Ridley who is Hillrally and French championship regular Russel Ridley's daughter and Daniel Upton who is Terry Banyard's regular navigator on his forays to France. I believe the winner of the quad section last year, Matt Lee (he of Mattseratti fame) and Matt Harrison (ex-BORC winning navigator and Milner Pro-Truck driver) are competing on bikes this year. H

Either should be possible - should be easy enough to camp either at Builth Wells or up on Sweet Lamb. Builth Wells and Rhayader both have a number of hotels and guest houses. Drop a line to the organisers - I am sure they will be only too keen to help. If not I'll PM you my number in case you have any problems. We should be there from Thursday night with any luck. H

Here are the highlights of the entry list - Alister McRae and the debut of the McRae Enduro will be interesting. McRae Enduro website The top entries 00 Alister McRae (GB)/Campbell Roy (GB) McRae Enduro 1. Marc Blazquez (E)/José Ferrer Trias (E) Nissan Pathfinder 2. Boris Gadasin (RU)/Alexander Mironenko (RU) Nissan Navara 3. Hamad Bin Eid Al Thani (QA)/George Saryan (AUS) Mitsubishi Pajero 4. Ian Rochelle (GB)/Amanda Garratley (GB) Bowler Wildcat 5. Francesc Termens (E)/Jordi Vilalta (E) Mitsubishi Montero 6. Piotr Beaupre (PL)/Jacek Lisicki (PL) Bowler Wildcat 200 7. TBA (GB)/Elwyn Manuel (GB) Bowler Wildcat 8. Toni Van Deijne (NL)Wouter Rosegaar (NL) Mitsubishi L200 Strakar 9. Franco Grigoletto (I)/ Roberto Briani (I) Fornasari RR450 10. Miroslav Zapletal (CZ)/Miroslav Janacek (CZ) Mitsubishi L200 Strakar 11. José-Manuel Fernandez (E)/Alberto Velasco (E) Mitsubishi Pajero 12. Jozef Sykora (SLK)/Marek Sykora (SLK) Mitsubishi Pajero 13. Vincent Thijs (Bel)/Johan Bude (Bel) Mitsubishi Pajero 14. Andrea Spinelli (I)/Monica Buonamano (I) Mitsubishi Pajero 15. Guiseppa Fornasa (I)/Enso De Michelis (I) Fornasari RR450 16. Zdenek Porizek (CZ)/Premysl Korejz (CZ) Mitsubishi Pajero 17. Richard Haywood (GB)/Quin Evans (GB) Bowler Wildcat 18. Richard Hopkins (GB)/Gary Toroysan (GB) Land Rover Discovery Y Rali Bryn Cymru (National ‘A’ Rally) - unseeded 1. Henry Webster (GB)/Sarah Suter (GB) Landrover Discovery 2. Richard Corking (GB)/Quentin Baum (GB) Landrover 3M Special 3. Andrew Graham (GB)/TBA Milner R4 Protruck 4. Trevor Milner (GB)/Andrew Lees (GB) Milner R45 Protruck 5. Mike Moran (GB)/Richard Suter (GB) Bowler Wildcat 100 6. Glen McKeith (GB)/Caroline Smith (GB) Land Rover Freelander 7. Ben Gott (GB)/Chris Hammond (GB) TMC DB MII 8. Dan Lofthouse (GB)/Simon Kerfoot (GB) Lofthouse Proto LD4 9. Nick Tidboald (GB)/Phil Peake (GB) Bowler Wildcat 200 10. Frazer Williams (GB)/Dave Thomas (GB) QT Special 4600 Bikes - top five only (unseeded) 1. Lee Edmondson KTM 2. Derrick Edmondson KTM EXC-R 3. Brian Eland KTM LC4 Enduro 4. Laurence Barber KTM 525 5. David Dickinson KTM 525 XC Quads 1. Daniel Upton Bombardier Renegade 2. Mark Calzoni Yamaha Raptor 3. Paul Green Bombardier 800 4. Naomi Ridley Yamaha Raptor

I'd agree with Steve, Ole - unless you are keen to stay Land Rover - Milner's machines are lovely bits of kit and very well built. It sounds like your events are much like our Hillrally events in the UK, which are the events that I do. I'd love to find out more about your events they sound fun! If you are coming to the Baja, say Hi - you can't miss us we are in the Discovery disguised as a cow! H

I would vouch that you don't need to go vented apart from for the pose value. I've got solid discs on the front of the Discovery racer and suffer no fade problems (apart from when I've failed to bed the pads in properly, which happened on the first stage of the Scottish Hillrally.) What there is on the front of the racer is the larger 110 calipers. I used EBC green stuff all round. Regular heavy breaking from 80+ mph doesn't cause any problems. H

I know what its like, there are never enough weekends. H

Alot of those interested in Rally Raids will be at the Baja GB next weekend. H

Jules, I was wondering why Glen was in a Freelander - that explains it. Bob, does that mean that the 101 is coming too? I'm competing as well. I can't wait - really looking forward to it! H

Dew, I agree with Nige & Fridge etc. Join your local club, go to some events. Never go laning on our own and learn a bit about what you are driving and how you should be driving it. It would proabably be worth saving up to get some proper tuition. I didn't when I started, but when some years down the line I took a course in preparation for perhaps doing some instruction I was amazed how valuable it was even for an 'old hand'! I would also recommend that you have a read of Tom Sheppard's book on off road driving. Its a bit clinical, but it really helps to know what is going on underneath your car. Its really important to understand what the centre diff lock does and when low range is useful. This book tells it all. Its also worth noting that it is perfectly possible to get a Land Rover stuck in a seemingly innocuous flat field so don't be embarrased that you almost got stuck there, but your Land Rover with the right approach should be able to cope with much worse. H

Fantastic, PMSL Had a few sets of those too!

I too have many memories of SATs, most of them scary! I used to navigate on the Hillrally championship with Mike Bruce in Nessie the Series 1. We always used to run SATs long after everyone else had moved on to radial diamonds. They gave us a real advantage in the very soft stages as the extra couple of inches the 7.50s had over the 205s made all the difference. They were horrible on the road though, and I must admit to being more scared sometimes on the road sections than I was on the stages. In the end I bought our way into radial safety by getting Michael a set of Colway Diamonds. Road sections were much safer. H

Wow, a comp safari next to a Hook Norton pub with a reputation for food on my birthday, sounds like we may have to make the trip! Lets hope I can keep the car together until then! H

Onwards and upwards - only a couple of places left to go then! Seriously though very well done - you've joined the long list of greats that have conquered an AWDC championship round. Good luck with the rest of the season. Have you got an event in your neck of the woods later in the year? I might need to bring the MuddyMoo over for a go! H

We're competing all being well - and I get through the list of jobs still left to do! H

I'm afraid I can't afford to join you - to committed to the Hillrallies and the Baja GB this year, but Im sure I'd not be the only one to be interested in finding out some more about your car!

I've only used the Goodyear's on my racer, so can't really comment on longevity, but can on their performance. I've found them excellent both on and off road, they behave like all terrains on the road (quiet and good roadholding), but are much nearer to BFG Muds off road. It is fair to say, though, that they are quite alot less aggressive in standard sizes than BFGs. If my road experience of the Goodyear ATR on road is anything to go by then they should last incredibly well too. Hope this is of some help.