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Smogsport retire on SS8 of the Pendragon Stages: 24th August 2008

Pendragon

The day began with uncertainty over tyre choice due to classic unpredictable Lake District weather, heavy over night rain and the first stage being approx 15-20 minutes away. Funbob, Spikey Mikey and Sord were following down later in the morning and on passing Warcop decided it was drying out so the team decided to start with inters and have full slicks sat in the chase car ready for a swift change. SS1 had its moments with a bit of grass cutting toward the end of the stage and SS2 was even more action packed though this time it was due to Wobs seeing his breakfast for the second time that day, Wobs also proved that it is possible to direct your sick sideways whilst still being fully belted in and attempting to read notes unfortunately this cost the team a few minutes as they had to pull over. On leaving Warcop the team met up with the chase crew to change on to full slicks as by now it was hot and dry (Just ask Wob's), an F1 style stop later saw the crew off to Lowther Park .

SS3 & SS4 were ran through Little Lowther a very short and bumpy stage that does not seem to flow in car available in the Video section. Next up was Long Lowther which was probably the best and most flowing stage of the day, in car of that also available in the Video section, The Clio seemed well suited to Long Lowther and the team set a respectable time beating a lot of more powerful machinery and also catching and passing an M Sport Fiesta.

After Lowther Park it was back to service, a quick splash and dash plus some Ginger Biscuits for Wob's to 'settle' his stomach then off back to Warcop. This time the stage layouts had changed quite considerably and thankfully Wob's was back on full form nailing the notes from start to finish, the first time if felt like it had clicked all day. SS7 went by with no real drama's however on SS8 red mist got the better of Slippy after being stuck behind another crew for what felt like and age the Clio entered a down hill left hander to quickly which resulted in the car breaking away from the rear which was initially caught but then the car got spat out in the opposite direction and ran out of room ending up beached in a ditch. Marshall's eventually got the crew out but the damage was done with broken steering and loss of the rear brake pads somewhere in the stage meant it was game over again for Smogsport.

Thanks to ianhardy.net for use of the photo

Smogsport crash out of the Tyneside Stages: 22nd June 2008

Smogsport finally tackle the legendary Otterburn Ranges taking part in the Alnwick and District Motor Clubs Tyneside Stages. The teams first time on 'proper' pace notes saw them starting cautiously on full wets due to torrential the rain the day before and rumours in service of a lot of standing water.

Wob's deserves a special mention for his performance on the notes, bar the odd mishap and a wrong turning on one of the road sections an excellent firtst attempt in the silly seat. Funbob was on service duty and was on a mission to set a new world record for the amount of junk food consumed inside three stages.

All was going well seeing Slippy and Wobs running 4th in class and 25th O/A till disaster struck toward the end of SS4 when a downhill hairpin left, which incidentally Wob's called spot on, caught Slippy out ending up with the Clio stuck in a peat bog rendering the crew helpless and in need of recovery (Thank you to the lads in the Landrover for dragging us out). Unfortunatley the off resulted in the team going OTL and out of the rally.

Incar footage of the 'Off' and other stages can be viewed Pics/Video Page

THE SMOGSPORT MINI IS SOLD

MINI SOLD The Smogsport Mini is SOLD CLICK HERE for spec and CLICK HERE for pictures

Funbobby has said goodbye to the Smogsport Mini and took a baby in Part EX. Please not the trailer is still available please contact us for further details ad pictures.

HOWFORD HYDRAULIC STAGES: 19th of April 2008

How Another early bath for Slippy and Big Al on the Howford Hydraulic Stages thanks to a broken drive shaft. Due to the nature of the event it is very hard on transmissions and as a result claimed a number of retirements on the day. Little consolation as the bad luck continues and just to top it off between Wobs and Slippy neither managed to set the camera away for any incar footage. The day started well and the first stage was a good blast seeing us post a respectable time in class.

Couple, sorry the only photo's of the day CLICK HERE

DDMC EASTER SPRINT CROFT CIRCUIT: 24th March 2008

Smogsport's latest venture was at Croft for the annual Easter Sprint. Funbobby and Wobs were taking the Smogsport Mini out for her first event since the new race/rally clutch install completed by Wobs himself and one of our local sponsors JRM Motor Engineers.

The weather was always going to be a factor on the day but for once we got a break and conditions were dry on the track although a tad cold. It was the mini's first event in dry conditions after a monsoon that were the Christmas Stages and Jack Frost Rally's. Wobs was himself was also cutting his teeth on his first event driving instead of sitting in the co drivers seat and although there were few claims of teaching Funbob a lesson (mostly delivered after a few John Smiths) there were a few nerves in the air. Once the event got underway nerves dissipated nd they got on with the job in hand. Early progress was evident as both drivers were challenging some bigger machinery lap time wise

The lads then went on to finish the day with Funbobby 1st in class and Wobsy second in class. So after a cold day for drivers and crew, Slippy and Spikey Mike (Wobsey's dad) it was nice to come away with a trophy.

NEWS 26th of Feb 2008: The Evening Gazzette Newspaper features images and their rallying exploits

Smogsport are contacted by Martin Neal, the Evening Gazzette newspaper's motorsport journalist, after he stumbled across the teams web site to ask if he could feature them in his weekly column. Click the logo to read the article

NORTHWEST STAGES: 16th of Feb 2008 Slippy and Big Al take an early bath on SS6 of the North West due to suspected issue with the Clio's diff !

North West The rally was once again based in Blackpool taking place on Saturday 16th February and was, as promised a tesing event with only 65 finishers out 120 entrants. The action was due to start early morning with the long promenade stage but unfortunately an accident saw the Prom stages cancelled, Our best wishes to the crew involved . So Slippy and Al headed for the brand new never rallied before venue that was up until the night before the rally a secret for security reasons. On arrival the stages at Hillhouse, an ICI owned site, were quite intimidating with a mix of loose gravel and super smooth super quick tarmac sections that circumnavigated a deep lagoon manned by rescue divers incase anybody went for a unscheduled dip.

The Clio was working well on it's recently purchased Pirelli RS7's, newly fitted discs and Mintex 1166 pads so after an entertainig few laps of the Hillhouse Stages the crew headed off to MOD land in the form of Weeton Camp, again the car was going well seeing Slippy and Big Al running 52nd O/A with a bit left in the tank till disaster struck and the car lost all drive rendering them helpless by the side of the stage. Due to the nature of the stage and the timings unfortunately they had to wait 4 hours till Funbob and Wob's could rescue them, however the wait was made bearable with Slippy and Big Al being fed sandwiches and Kit Kats through the fence, Big Al living up to his name prove he can certainly eat.

Videos of the event available in our Pics/Videos section.

Click Legends Fire logo's to visit the North Wests Stages official site for results and pictures

JACK FROST RALLY CROFT: 9th January 2008

After the events on the Christmas Stages Smogsport were again back at Croft for the Jack Frost Rally ran by the Darlington and District Motor Club. Only the Mini was in attendance on this event as the Clio was being prepared for the Legend Fires North West Stages in Blackpool. However Slippy and Mark Lowe as service crew, Big Al spectating with family, Funbob driving and Whitehouse in the Co Drivers seat the full team was in attendance.

Funbob & Wob's got off to a flying start on stages 1 and 2 gaining places until the issues with the clutch reared it's head again. Having shortened the push rod too much we thought it might be game over until after much deliberation Slippy, Mark and the legend that is Big Mac ingeniously carried out a repair by using small nut as a spacer to get us back out again!

The boys missed stages 3 and 4 while the 'repairs' were carried out so were given 2 stage maximums of 8 minutes in total and a re-start after lunch . So with the pressure off they got valuable time and experience in the car on only our second ever rally and by the end of the day finished 76th overall.

Our first ever finish - a nice feeling indeed !

SPECSAVERS CHRISTMAS STAGES CROFT: 29th December 2007

2007 Christmas Stages leave's the Clio battered and bruised: Slippy and Big Al where running a respectable 9th in class in what can only be described as horrendous conditions, unforunately a lack of spot lights and very slippy conditions saw the Clio hit a bale head on toward the end of the rally.

In car footage HERE