The Rally Maestro project

[John C]

or even silver reflective window film?

[Guest]

Just about to set off and watch the stage in Challock Woods! Looking forward to hopefully seeing this car in the flesh.

[E_T_V]

I've started a seperate thread for the rally updates pics etc to keep the thread managable.

Link here

[John C]

I never did hear anything back from the crew, which is disappointing. It makes me wonder if potential sponsors could have tried to contact the girls and then been lost in the same way?

[John C]

Updates from the girls on here (read from the bottom of the page upwards):
http://www.girlsacrossafrica.com/2012/01/

I see that they're currently in 5th overall (which is pretty impressive) and are sponsored by (and presumable therefore featured in) PRACTICAL CLASSICS magazine, which should do the Maestro brand a power of good...

[mgdavid]

small correction, they are 4th overall; got 4th back by being quicker than the Scooby on a tarmac section !!!

[Guest]

Overhauled the BMW on muddy rocky sections in the middle of Greece to reclaim 4th spot, car going well and has had virtually no service other than dip-stick checks, water top ups, adjustments to tyre pressures, running like clockwork so far. Three desert sections in Egypt coming up. Maestro is carrying rather more spares than the ****-or-bust lighter option of the others around them.

MG ZRs are 1.6 engines - the regulations allowed any engine made by the Manufacturer providing they were within the class limits, so, allowed engine swops, but they are normal K-series. Rover Centre at St. Albans are the leading specialists in rallying Rover/MGs with K-series mills.

[matthewsemple]

That is great news - maintaining 4th position is fantastic.

So inspired by this epic journey, and because it was sunny, I decided to use my MG Maestro today. I drove all over Bristol in it and came home with a boot full of shopping from the supermarket. I even had to go through some quite deep water on a country lane where the road was flooded.

Not quite London to Cape Town, but still entertaining!

[G51 NAV]

Come on the Maestro girls
Practical Classics are being very Maestro friendly at the moment: their February 2012 edition has a feature on preparing a car for a concourse contest and the car they use is an absolutely immaculate restored C-reg MG EFi.

[Guest]

Could be in for a very good result if the girls can maintain consistency.The simple and well prepared car is obviously a great asset (400 bhp bmw is a bit pointless when you have to keep your foot off the accelerater to avoid running out of fuel). Lets hope that it will handle high temperature and sand as easily as the route so far.

[John C]

I presume that this car has (and the eBay listing below) are both S-series engines?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUSTIN-MAE...item2a1a731149

[Guest]

Looking forward to seeing all Maestro enthusiasts at the Ace Cafe next Saturday (Brunch, from 9.30 to 11) then on to Tony Fowkes workshop in Corby Road nearby. The Africa Maestro has landed at Felixstowe docks, and hopefully will be out of customs and at the workshop later in the week. The Girls will be attending along with Tony etc.
py

[John C]

This car will be on display on our stand at this event if anyone would like to see it (and possibly meet the crew)
http://www.maestro.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=18175