Well, the dust has well and truly settled on the Desert Challenge and I’ve only just got round to updating the blog.
Chicherit and Thorner in the X3 finally won by a huge margin, but Glen Reid and Paul Richards in the Saluki gave them a good run for their money on the last day, and were leading through PC2 before losing time with a stuck. The three T2 Patrols of local drivers Al Heli, Al Heraiz and Al Shawi were 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and Dave Mabbs took 5th in the FJ. Despite missing Day 2, Team Saluki took a creditable 10th place.
News from the NewTrix garage is not good. The engine had broken two con-rods and needs a complete replacement short block, which has been sourced from the original supplier, Turnkey Engines in California. Talking with them, it’s clear that the oil pipework from the pump, through the external filter and cooler, was much too small in diameter and routed too close to the exhaust. So despite the water temperature remaining OK, the oil was getting way too hot and the flow rate was insufficient to keep the engine lubricated. Fortunately, this can be easily remedied, but it’s an expensive way to find out! In addition, the front diff is shot, so we’ve decided to re-fit the original 4.33 diffs instead of the higher ratio after-market units. I don’t think this will significantly affect our acceleration, but it will keep our revs a bit lower. We’re also installing an oil temperature gauge, and repositioning the oil cooler to give improved airflow through it.
The rear doors and front wing were heavily damaged by the 3-car pile-up, and the impact even bent the rear chassis rail. Rather than replace the doors, Carwise opted to dent them out and they are now re-painted. Most of the major work is now completed, and we’re looking forward to getting the Beast back on the road and doing some shake-down runs.
We managed to get two half-page articles in the Xpress newspaper, in addition to which we were asked to help out with a video shoot just before the start of the DC. The resulting one-hour video of the rally, produced by Talkabout Media, used this footage to bracket the commercial breaks. It was aired during June and July on ART Prime Sports and Showsports, and includes our 3-car pile-up as well as Ramesh’s disasterous fire.
On the rally front, we have an exciting season in prospect. The ATC-UAE recently announced a new cross-country rally/baja series which they call ‘Desert X’. This will comprise six events, each of about 200km, and will include both autos and motos. The first event is already planned for 2nd October, and the new format has been well received by bikers and drivers alike. In addition, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will again take place during the last week in March, and the Hail Baja plans to be back in the FIA Baja Championship in 2010 – presumably subject to their allowing female competitors! A further cross-country event from Riyadh to Jeddah is reportedly being planned, but no details have emerged to date.
Above are a few photos of the DC, taken by Tim Ansell.
Chicherit and Thorner in the X3 finally won by a huge margin, but Glen Reid and Paul Richards in the Saluki gave them a good run for their money on the last day, and were leading through PC2 before losing time with a stuck. The three T2 Patrols of local drivers Al Heli, Al Heraiz and Al Shawi were 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and Dave Mabbs took 5th in the FJ. Despite missing Day 2, Team Saluki took a creditable 10th place.
News from the NewTrix garage is not good. The engine had broken two con-rods and needs a complete replacement short block, which has been sourced from the original supplier, Turnkey Engines in California. Talking with them, it’s clear that the oil pipework from the pump, through the external filter and cooler, was much too small in diameter and routed too close to the exhaust. So despite the water temperature remaining OK, the oil was getting way too hot and the flow rate was insufficient to keep the engine lubricated. Fortunately, this can be easily remedied, but it’s an expensive way to find out! In addition, the front diff is shot, so we’ve decided to re-fit the original 4.33 diffs instead of the higher ratio after-market units. I don’t think this will significantly affect our acceleration, but it will keep our revs a bit lower. We’re also installing an oil temperature gauge, and repositioning the oil cooler to give improved airflow through it.
The rear doors and front wing were heavily damaged by the 3-car pile-up, and the impact even bent the rear chassis rail. Rather than replace the doors, Carwise opted to dent them out and they are now re-painted. Most of the major work is now completed, and we’re looking forward to getting the Beast back on the road and doing some shake-down runs.
We managed to get two half-page articles in the Xpress newspaper, in addition to which we were asked to help out with a video shoot just before the start of the DC. The resulting one-hour video of the rally, produced by Talkabout Media, used this footage to bracket the commercial breaks. It was aired during June and July on ART Prime Sports and Showsports, and includes our 3-car pile-up as well as Ramesh’s disasterous fire.
On the rally front, we have an exciting season in prospect. The ATC-UAE recently announced a new cross-country rally/baja series which they call ‘Desert X’. This will comprise six events, each of about 200km, and will include both autos and motos. The first event is already planned for 2nd October, and the new format has been well received by bikers and drivers alike. In addition, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will again take place during the last week in March, and the Hail Baja plans to be back in the FIA Baja Championship in 2010 – presumably subject to their allowing female competitors! A further cross-country event from Riyadh to Jeddah is reportedly being planned, but no details have emerged to date.
Above are a few photos of the DC, taken by Tim Ansell.
