28th August 2010 - We have sent in our entry for the Harold Palin Memorial Rally at Manby on 2nd October, before then we have some preparation work to continue, along with some damage to repair from the Centenary Rally.
Liam has created a Facebook page for the PAL Rallying team, to access this you can use the button on our website homepage, add us to your friends list as another way to keep up to date with what we are doing and where we are going.
23rd August 2010 - SECOND IN CLASS ONE ! - PAL Rallying have won their first trophy as a team rallying together (though they have both won before as individual competitors). A great day in the newly built Nova, it makes all the hard work, time and expense worth it, see the "Event Review" page for a full report, photos and in-car video will be posted shortly.
20th August 2010 - The Nova is ready to go for Sunday, the small issues of engine tuning and new wheel hubs have been sorted out, we are
seeded at car 50 so not too much pressure for a learning expierence with the new 8v engine. We Cant Wait !!!
Also we have added our test day to the Events Review section of the website. Click Here to go to the page
14th August 2010 - After fitting the replacement engine we took the car to Blyton airfield for testing and general familiarisation. The weather conditions were terrible lots of standing water and heavy rain. Liam took the car for a run and was pleased with its performance, a few small issues with handling and car set up on the newly fitted tarmac suspension and maybe a little twitchy at high speed, but it is a Nova ! A lot of water leaking into the car which require sealing and the windscreen misting up (no electric windscreen fitted yet), also the carbs were picking up a bit of water making the engine splutter from time to time. All in all a good days testing with a few issues to resolve, but thats what testing is for.
10th August 2010 - Bad news for the 1600 engine ! To get it in running order will require a considerable expense and time, so we are considering a long term change of class to a 1400 engine, this would also fit in with out long term plans for the BTRDA championship. We have fitted the borrowed a 1400 engine which has a multiple class winning record, many thanks to Dave Woods at Alpha Motorsport. We will shortly be arranging a test day for the new car & engine set up, with a view to keeping the engine in the car. So we have entered the Centenary Rally but in Class One, back to the same class as our Peugeot 106.
25th July 2010 - Our first rally in the Nova resulted in a DNF, see the "Event Review" page for details, and the "Gallery" page for photos.
21st July 2010 - We have submitted our entry for the Opposite Lock Rally !
Thanks to a week of non stop work by Matt Wood, assisted by Pete and Liam, the Nova is finally ready so we will be competing on our first rally in our new car. However, as we haven't done any testing and as yet Liam hasn't even driven the car, so the rally will be a big learning curve.
12th July 2010 - The Nova build is in it's final stages, though there are still a fair amount of smaller items to complete. The car will shortly be returned to the Alpha Motorsport Workshop for a bit of finishing off, and specialist set up work, then it's approval by the MSA Scrutineer, Rolling Road Setup, MOT and away we go !!! Hopefully for the Opposite Lock Rally at Manby but it's getting very close.
14th June 2010 - PAL Rallying would like to send its best wishes out to the family and friends of Martyn Lewis, who unfortunately died following an accident whilst competing on The Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally. This tragic loss has affected the PAL team as they competed in the 1400s with Martyn being at the sharper end. Liam also looked for inspiration from Martyn in how to drive whilst on the stages. Rest In Peace Martyn Lewis.
28th May 2010 - A lot of work has been put into the building of the Nova this month, the results are now looking good, new pictures posted,
there is still a fair bit of work to complete (mainly wiring) but the finish line is approaching !!!
18th April 2010 - PAL rallying were at the Twyford Woods Rally marshalling at the stage start with other members of the Dukeries Motor Club.
On the rally car front, the build is coming on (see the "New Car Update" section of the "About Us" tab).
6th April 2010 - Event Review and Gallery pages now updated and added. This weekend (10th April) sees the PAL Rallying Nova finally come back home with its steering modification and new 1600 16v engine fitted after its top and tail check. This means Pete and Liam can now crack on building the car hopefully in time for May 16th, their first planned event in the new car.
2nd April 2010 - The car has been returned to the workshop fully sprayed. We have now started to rebuild it into a rally car !
So far the suspension and underside of the car has been refitted (its now a rolling shell), whilst bolting on various small items the engine is being checked over with a new paddle clutch and cambelt being fitted, before the engine is mounted into the car. A new pair of Redtop fuel pumps have been fitted, with the next job being to pipe up the pumps and braking system of the car.
23rd March 2010 - The shell is now sprayed in the new PAL Rallying colours. Now its time for the rebuild to start in in preparation for the first rally, hopefully in late April or early May. We will keep you updated with the progress
8th March 2010 - The shell preparation and strengthening work is now complete, the car is going off for the spraying today, just a matter of putting it all together when it gets back !
15th February 2010 - Unfortunately the Nova will not be ready for the Bill Cammack. This means Liam and Pete will be at Manby to Marshal on the stage start with other members of Dukeries Motor Club.
The Nova is now getting its engine trial fitted so that the engine bay can be modified to suit. This is the last step before the car can finally go off to be sprayed in PAL Rallyings new team colour (Blue, hence the website lol). This also means that tomorrow (16th) Liam starts work on the wiring loom. After sorting out what parts are needed the old loom is going to be split and only the essential wires transferred to the "new" car. This should hopefully mean that the new loom will go straight into the newly designed, flocked dashboard once the time finally comes.
Liam and Michelle (his girlfriend) made the trip to the Wyedean Rally at the weekend, they went to visit the ex PAL Rallying 106. After a good chat with John Powell, the new owner, in the Chepstow Racecourse service area, the pair went to spectate in the Forest of Dean to show their support. After 7 stages John managed to bring the car home 34th in the 1400s and 5th in class, much better for the lack of snow this year.
Finally bit of information, the website will be getting upgraded webspace in the next 10 days, this may even see the website revamped again!!!!! This will hopefully see the website get a more professional look. More information to follow.
8th February 2010 - Best of luck to John Powell and Kieran Hone competing in the Rally First section of the Team GMF Wyedean Rally on Saturday 13th February, in the ex PAL Rallying Peugeot 106. They are seeded at 54 in the 1400's, lets hope they have better weather for it than the deep snow and ice that we had to contend with when we competed on this rally last year !!! Best of luck, we hope you enjoy rallying the 106 as much as we did.
24th January 2010 - Liam got back in the driving seat on Saturday at the Dukeries Track Day, many thanks to Andy Smith for the use of his excellent handling Peugeot 205. Pete and Liam also had rides in other club members cars, a great time was had by all.
16th January 2010 - Pete and Liam attended the Awards Presentation Dinner for the EMAMC, Liam collected the
1st in Class 1 Driver and 1st/Fastest Front Wheel Drive Car awards for the Competition Car Insurance Multi Venue (forest) Championship, also Pete collected 1st in Class 3 Co-Driver in the same competition. Photos of the evening will be posted in the Gallery Pages shortly.
10th January 2010 - PAL Rallying has entered the EMAMC, ANEMMC and ANCC championships for 2010, all we need now is the car to compete in
1st January 2010 - Happy new year from everybody at PAL Rallying.
The new website has been launched but please bear with us whilst we finish off the galleries and review sections, as we are modifing these sections. Also Happy Birthday to our website, it is ONE YEAR OLD today!
10th December - The Annual Xmas Beano night of the Dukeries Motor Club, saw Pete and Liam both collecting awards.
1st December - During the 2009 season PAL Rallying won awards in various places, details as below :
Liam won awards in :
Dukeries Motor Club Rally Championship : 1st Driver in Class 1 and 1st Co-Driver in Class 2
EMAMC : Multi-Venue Championship : 1st Driver in Class 1 and 1st Front Wheel Drive Car
Pete won awards in :
Dukeries Motor Club Rally Championship : 1st place Overall Co-Driver
Dukeries Motor Club : Chairmans Award
EMAMC : Multi-Venue Championship : 1st Co-Driver in Class 3
ANEMMC : Single Venue Championship : 1st Co-Driver in Class 3 (4th overall in the championship)
Bill Cammack Memorial Rally : 1st in Class 3 and 2nd Overall Two Wheel Drive Car
Jane Cowling Memorial Phoenix Stages : 2nd in Class 3
Premier Stages Rally : 3nd in Class 3
25th November - Pete and John feature in the Motor Sport News this week, the headline "Going rallying by torchlight" says it all !
23rd November - Pete and John completed the Premier Stages Rally and won 3rd in class, there were some pretty hairy moments especially the last stage, see the event review ! Big thanks to Liam and Ralph for servicing in the wind and rain to keep the Escort running.
17th November - Liam has purchased a power uprated 1600 16 valve engine to fit in the Nova. Preparations for the Premier Rally are complete, with Pete Co-Driving for John and Liam servicing for John and Andy.
25th October - New photos of the Nova build have been added in the gallery.
5th October - Pete and Liam competed in the Harold Palin Memorial Rally on Saturday (3rd October).
Big competition in both class 2 and 3 saw a hard fought day at Manby airfield. After 10 stages Pete and John managed to finish 12th overall and 4th in class 3, missing out on 3rd by the small margin of 11 seconds !!!
Liam and Andy finished up 25th overall and 5th in class 2. A good result for only Andy's second event in the 205.
On the Nova rally car news, the car is now with Matt Wood of Alpha Concrete, where it will undergo a full interior shot blast, full seam welding and strengthening, before going off to be resprayed.
PAL RALLYING NEWS AND UPDATES
