Skoda Rally Blog

Well, things have looked up considerably since my last entry!

Firstly, thanks to some good work at the Chiropractor and dedicated rehab work, my back is much better (I’ve just been to the gym this morning, so that’s how much better it is), and secondly (and far more importantly) the car has a new clutch in it, and is nearly ready to run. As ever, Mum came to the rescue and helped take the car apart (right up to the “heavy stuff”), and then Paul came over and did the rest with me (unfortunately the engine needs to be dropped out to change the clutch), making him realise in the process that it’s not straightforward ‘just changing the clutch’ – OK, it’s not rocket science, but it’s a physically demanding task and at one point he asked if it’s “usually this difficult” – it was actually fairly easy for once. Everything else bolted back up easily enough and it’s given me a chance to check everything over (one of the shafts needed a new boot, aside from that all is well).

So the car will be back running in a bit, and then I need to sort out the tankguard, and it’ll be ready for a run; I’ve got a nice, shiny and re-painted bumper ready to go on the back (as the current one is marked and melted from Rally GB), and then the last job is to change the windscreen as it’s cracked from Rally GB too.

By this evening, all should be done and we should be ready for Rallye Sunseeker 2009. Another Skoda battle with the Beckett Brothers is ahead, and it’ll be good to have someone to compare times with for a change!