Boothy
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Posts posted by Boothy
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Great day, really did enjoy it from start to finish, thanks to all the marshalls and organisers for a friendly and fun event, well done.
Thanks to Alan Kemp for the loan of a "A" frame ball joint when mine gave up the ghost as far away from the car park as possible opposite side of a swamp properly causing me a major headache of how to get it back to repair it plus not having a spare, I owe you one thanks again Alan.
Some hard punches proving that Mow Cop can easily support a major event on a large and varied site, especially one 4 fields away from home which is nice.
Poor old Saley, broke his motor getting it off the trailer, felt well and truly gutted for him.
Anyway great day, great weekend, Tong next weekend then engine out to see where the smoke's coming from some of you will be glad to know, it definitley gets worse when its leaning to the drivers side and facing a very steep up hill.
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Team Booth and son who are as definite as the Pope is Catholic, are guaranteed to be coming are even considering, as a sporting gesture, giving Saley & partner a hours head start, because it's local and all that, just wondering though about sneaking up saturday and knocking a few off early on the quiet, if you know what I mean, nudge nudge.
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My winch man has been the pub every night this week training, and he says he's having a right long session Friday, so he should be like Superman sunday.
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Very impressed with that, but the inevitable question is how well does it work ? the winch that is.
The other question is how stable are the motors considering its a relatively small thread that its all hanging on ?
But still looks like a real sound idea.
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Didn't want to go down SVA route its been done to death for an awfull long time and is extremely boring and best left for the kids or the SVA hobby bobbies nobbs to play with
Question for play school, how do contractors use their tractors on other peoples land, JCB's etc work on roads, farmers go to market ? or are they cheating ?
Am I right in thinking that the pressure reg is the same with hydrosteer,end of effort with power assisted the pump plus effort of direct steering wheel plus person driving it.
Articulation we've commented on as an avantage.
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Half'ing the series is a big drop Neil, straight after the government have announced an upturn'
especially if you're counting on the XTC because not many of the current motors are compliant with regs (at the moment) from what I can see, with my limited vision.
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There's no price you can put on safety, a basic cage should be considered as an absolute essential, looks like all concerned were fine thank godness.
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Derrrr, bet you've broke'nd der layshaft or the bearing, ficko should ave beene more carefull shouldn't you ???
Speaking of laying better check me Chickens are still clucking about, on the shippon roof
Love to help but its sillage stirring on Saturdays, followed by cleaning the ferrets, as you know
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Looks familar that Neil, was that Team Gunnit I saw or Dan ?
Now't we've not seen this on the Howlin Wolf there
You're lucky you don't see them on the Motorway after the dash
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JST or may I call you James,
The last thing I want to do is to upset or slag off any organisers, the majority I admire for the thankless task they do, I often project manage £ multi-million schemes for the firm I work and know "horses for courses" and let the right team get on with things and try not to interfere unless required or asked to do so.
I wouldn't stand a chance at organising an event nor would Ilike to try.
Let me start with it was a perfectly innocent question of "why the stigma with hydrosteer"? it was never intended to be a dig, it was a simple question, and all I wanted was a simple answer.
If the simple answer was that hydrosteered vehicles usually have huge tyres and all the associated bits attached to highly modded vehicles that we don't want at an entry level event, then that would have sufficed, I was asking what people percieve as the advantage, because I cannot honestly see one to performance.
Yes I can see that bigger or wider tyres (if fitted) can be steered easier, I can see that massive amounts of articulation can be achieved with it, due to the lack of prohibitive steering rods, but on my vehicle with 35" Simex'es and standard'ish springs and shocks, then the only advantage is it won't hurt your wrist or finger one day, and soft ars*s can drive it to.
By a careful selection of bits and pieces both new and second hand my system cost sub £250, all in and piped, that is not cheque book material plus the time involved to root and scource things, I am a electro mechanical engineer by trade, I can and do love to fiddle and experiment with things, sometimes better, sometimes worse, perhaps if TV got better than it is then that would entertain my active mind better.
I would not hesitate to drive it on the road with it if I had to. Its safety or reliabilty does not worry me.
I am the first to apprechiate that there must be an entry level for the sport and that must be respected and encouraged for its continued growth and success, but there must also be something to aim for in levels including vehicle technology, wouldn't an awful lot of us fancy a hour or two in the the Mitsimog or one of Bathtubs creations for example, won't make us a better driver and could probably show us up for how bad we are but I'm sure we would love the chance.
I am also the first to realise that finding different levels or classes at comps must be hellishly hard and how to class vehicles apart without causing confict must also be very difficult, I take my hat of to you and respect you for it.
I also realise that different people have different levels of skills in fixing and modifying things, some are not capable of this and can only just manage "bolt on" bits, or perhaps have to pay huge sums for mods to fitted, we all don't so please don't assume these bits have cost a fortune, sometimes you could not be further from the truth. Some of us me included seem to spend every moment of our spare time fiddleing and fixing things, mostly as cheaply as possible, please don't call us for that, it was our choice, I don't have an endless amount of money and have to pick and choose wisely.
I also realise that all the toys don't make a poor driver/team better only skill, judgement and practice can do that, and respect and help newcommers where possible. This is demonstrated actively with the Northern Challenge series and this must be applauded.
Daan, I choose to transport my motor to events on my trailer, it is my choice, it was not essential, nor is it mandatory but is suits me, I used to tow my old Sankey with camping gear etc when I was into trialling but again that was my choice, I've bought it so I might as well use it.
Hows that guys, has anybody actually changed thier views on hydrosteer?
Don't go there.
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Apparantly Barrie "The Donk" Gee has sold his motor to fund his new project so I cannot see him coming.
I can't wait.
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Well Daan,
Its got very soft springs, extended ProComps (nothing wrong with them I know), extended rose jointed trailing arms, Stuan Beadlocks, and normally about 5-8psi in the tyres, and considering myself as a responsible adult know that soft tyres and soft springs don't add up to a stable vehicle at speed, in the event of heavy braking or a hard swerve anything can happen.
I have a brand new Toyota HiLux, the old Nissan 4.2 Patrol (me tow'er) and my wifes car and all are better suited, more comfortable and cheaper to use on the road.
End of.
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Now't wrong with a donkey.
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Well thats better, but to help a point along I have spent most of the season suffering from 3 brand new ZF74 pumps which have certainly not given me any benefit at all, so I think this year I have proved that lock to lock steering is possible with a system faiure and would willingly take on any slalom course with no belt on if thats what required.
Now you take your drag link off to simulate a power steering failure and follow me, point is anything can happen.
Down sides of hydrosteer,
Doesn't work as well as you think, and certainly is not mega powerfull and will easily stall if nose down in a trench etc.
Steering feeling is a thing of the past.
Every time you get in the steering wheel is facing a different direction, don't bother squaring wheel up.
There are plenty of times throught the day when you have not got a clue which way your wheels are facing.
My total hydrosteer cost less than a Paddocks re-con steering box, shop around and adapt its what we do best, don't buy bolt on.
How many out of control JCB's and Loadall's etc are seen out of control ?
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Hydrosteer allowed ?
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Mr Nick, a hydrosteer doesn't turn out of ruts any different than a series or a power assisted steering box, hydro is just a method of turning left of right, it doesn't do some magicy thing with traction like a diff lock or similar, in essence its only a method of turning the steering wheels, no more.
A bit like the difference from progressing from the steering relays on a series 2/3 to a 90 with power assisted, no magic there, just less effort.
Sorry buts that's exactly the stigma I was originally trying to answer.
The original reason I fitted hydrostatic steering (by it's proper name) to my 35" Simexe'd (like most of them are nowadays) truck was for ease of effort and less shock and kick-back on the steering wheel, which in turn allowed my son (who granted has grown into a 6ft monster) to also drive it easily, and definately better.
Hell its even fitted to little Citroens now, to help little grannies park easier, I presume.
I agree wholeheart'dly that 44" tyre'd, portal axled, rear steered, monster trucks should either be competing together or be in a total class of their own (and I love em) and they certainly should not be attempting to enter "Clubman's" type events, which is where most of us started, then some of us got the bug and the welding bottles out and and then created their own "frankenstiens buggy" be it rightly or wrongly in the eyes of the "bolt on only crowd", buts then thats evolution and progress.
But nobody has yet answered my original question, why pick on something that makes life safer and easier for the driver, due to it making the operator less likely to suffer a kickback followed by a sore wrist for a day or two, or is that deemed as part of the learning process?
I accept big tyres, portals, and rear steer, are advantages and perhaps certain comps should make limitations to entry.
We were due a good debate on something, keeps us away from the "X" Factor.
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Come on play the game and not let's get in to a SVA/legality debate.
I find it hard to believe that hydrosteer (in the eyes of organisers) being not stricktly road legal is a valid reason to prohibit entry, but its OK to drive on the highway with beadlocks (totally illegal, modified wheels), tyres down to 5psi, waffleboards, ground anchors and other dangerous parts strung all over the motor, (send a photo of your vehicle mid comp to your insurance company and ask them how they feel), let alone dirty lights, indicators, glass and damage, besides bent steering, bent panels etc, so I am not buying into that one, legality falls directly with the owner/driver.
I not even going down the legality road but I have a full current MOT, tax and insurance, but saying that I do not drive mine on the road, for my own reasons of it handles like a pig. Why, a winch bumper is not original and is classed as modification and could be deemed as dangerous parts especially to a pedestrian, could/should that be outlawed to perhaps?
The MOR website clearly states that vehicles will not be expected to drive on any public land or highway.
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Why or what is the stigma attached to pure hydrosteer, and why is deemed to be so advantagous?
Just read the Midland off road reg's and again "no pure hydrosteer", so whats the big advantage with being able to steer?, or is just the case of another organiser who cannot move with the times.
Don't take it to heart MOR your just the one I saw today, I've been asking myself this question for some time now.
I can understand Rear steer and/or Portals offer an avantage but not hydrosteer, was the same sort of stigma attached to servo assisted brakes or intermittant wipers when thay were introduced?
Or is a case of we haven't got it on ours so you can't play?
Maybe the reason is failure or lack of understanding, but surely the very fact it will turn cannot be seen as an avantage but surely a neccessity and most of the systems I have seen are stronger than the standard bendy rods type so safety surely cannot be penalised because if thats the case why not penalise and ban roll cages?
If its the reason what happens if a hose fails, well I haven't seen one go yet but seen plenty of standard steering rods and track rod ends fail.
So come organisers tell us your reasons.
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I find nightschool ideal for understanding new things, hell they even do discount rates for people of your age.
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Its a bloomin step alright when you've been runnin up and down it all day.
The only bank you've got in Wrexham is the TSB.
Are you doing it or still just talkin about it ?
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How the entries looking for the big Northern event of the year ?????
I'm in full swing preparing the motor.
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Great video.
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I've actually got my back rad of at the moment so I will do a step by step of how it's fitted, and how it's covered, but bear in mind mine is a challenge truck and we think it's quite clever really and very usefull how everthing sort of fits in, just a ball ache to fill up with fuel.
Give us a day or two, no rush round here.
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Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh, but safety must be paramount, burns are possibly one of the worst things that can happen, and can cause pain for years, and scar or disfigure for life.
Construct a good screen and thats that risk put to bed, mine was a pain and needs fans more or less running continously because of lack of direct airflow, that the downside of rear rads, especially with big hot V8's and loads of revs.
What Challenge Events in 2010
in Competing in Land Rovers
Posted
Single vehicle, which has proved itself time and time again all year as you know.
Love the double punch card, forget GPS, leave it for the forrests of Russia etc, and a single or possibly two special stages, but unlike Sunday let competitors either be able to chose and score one or score both fairly.
Must be honest I did not like the trials style one sunday at Mow Cop with an unrealistic 5 minute maximum time allowed, which inluded 10 gates and a winch pull, which I thought was a bit short on time for a clubman, even though I timed out on 5min 07 seconds and didn't record a score, what I should have done is not even attemt it in the first place if I didn't think it's achievable. Just a moan about the time really, call me a mard arse.
And don't make excessively hard punches all day, any clown can find impossibly hard punches to keep the so called big boys amused, but don't forget you are trying to attract newcomers into competitions, possibly with their daily drives which are all nice and shiney and dent free, without lockers or cages, so some easy some intermeadiate and some animals, as well as some nice technical stuff.
Quite a few spectators said sunday "you must be mad trying that", not "I'll get a winch on and try the next one, there's some I could manage".
You know what we want Matt, keep up the good work.