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A few answers to recent questions:
Yes, I owned the car as I raised the sponsorship (a chance meeting at Goodwood with the stall-holder next door to us!), and I would like to see it exhibited somewhere, Members ought to have a chance to see the car.
I think Jane and Gill did brilliantly. Gill's father (who is seriously ill) I think was behind the entry-fee etc.... Gill paid all the entry fees herself ....I feel a need to place that on record. Tony Fowkes put in tremendous hours in the prep, he had the car for nine months. He lost count of the hours, frankly, it was a labour of love by a real enthusiast. The detail of his care soon showed up when other cars started to fall apart. He resisted all sorts of ideas, but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. Interestingly, his ideas were also passed on to a Mercedes driver (Tony being ex-works Mercedes rally driver and who also then went on to assist the team with logistics planning), and his tips were mostly ignored...that car became the most unreliably car on the event. The Maestro probably proving the most reliable. (one reason it did so well).
Jane is a very gutsy driver - Ive seen her drive in uk events in the past, and was surprised, however, at the way she rose to the challenge. Gill's ability on maps was fairly well known so the 2nd place overall at Dover, while a bit of a surprise, was half expected (several rivals told me they thought she would be in the first six or so) by Baune (half way down in France, end of leg one).
She made one big mistake and nose dived into a ditch, the car fell on its nose, with back wheels up in the air, and the girls had to stop other cars to help them pull the back down before they could drive out. The strengthening around the front, double plating behind the bumper bar and much else, proved a gods-send. The only faults I can see on the car are: a) smashed rear right side light, by an Ozzie driver impatient at not being able to get passed...b) front left headlight not working; c) exhaust valve burnt.
The head was done by Peter Burgess and was set up to run leaded, unleaded, paraffin etc. It was on three cylinders when it ran into Cape Town. It had big petrol line filters to both tanks, Jane says its not fuel, its the valves. We had fitted NEW inlet, but could not trace new exhaust valves in the prep (see appeals on this site earlier).
It was the lowest powered car on the event, but, was never out of the top ten. It was probably the most original (ie, mostly manufacturers parts-bin stuff, chiefly organised by MG Mal), all the others ahead of the car were using a lot more specialised stuff (brakes, clutches, tuning, lighter panels etc).
John Clayton wants to get it to Race Retro Show (Stoneleigh, near Coventry) end of the month but its touch and go as the ship might not have docked in time. I would suggest its cleaned up and shown "as is" although I bet Tony Fowkes will want to sort the dents etc.
I tried to access this forum on the event from Africa, but kept being told I needed to give my I.P. address (what is that), so couldnt get in, thanks to those who have kept this amazing performance well reported. The Maestro Project has done you all proud.
Philip
Yes, I owned the car as I raised the sponsorship (a chance meeting at Goodwood with the stall-holder next door to us!), and I would like to see it exhibited somewhere, Members ought to have a chance to see the car.
I think Jane and Gill did brilliantly. Gill's father (who is seriously ill) I think was behind the entry-fee etc.... Gill paid all the entry fees herself ....I feel a need to place that on record. Tony Fowkes put in tremendous hours in the prep, he had the car for nine months. He lost count of the hours, frankly, it was a labour of love by a real enthusiast. The detail of his care soon showed up when other cars started to fall apart. He resisted all sorts of ideas, but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. Interestingly, his ideas were also passed on to a Mercedes driver (Tony being ex-works Mercedes rally driver and who also then went on to assist the team with logistics planning), and his tips were mostly ignored...that car became the most unreliably car on the event. The Maestro probably proving the most reliable. (one reason it did so well).
Jane is a very gutsy driver - Ive seen her drive in uk events in the past, and was surprised, however, at the way she rose to the challenge. Gill's ability on maps was fairly well known so the 2nd place overall at Dover, while a bit of a surprise, was half expected (several rivals told me they thought she would be in the first six or so) by Baune (half way down in France, end of leg one).
She made one big mistake and nose dived into a ditch, the car fell on its nose, with back wheels up in the air, and the girls had to stop other cars to help them pull the back down before they could drive out. The strengthening around the front, double plating behind the bumper bar and much else, proved a gods-send. The only faults I can see on the car are: a) smashed rear right side light, by an Ozzie driver impatient at not being able to get passed...b) front left headlight not working; c) exhaust valve burnt.
The head was done by Peter Burgess and was set up to run leaded, unleaded, paraffin etc. It was on three cylinders when it ran into Cape Town. It had big petrol line filters to both tanks, Jane says its not fuel, its the valves. We had fitted NEW inlet, but could not trace new exhaust valves in the prep (see appeals on this site earlier).
It was the lowest powered car on the event, but, was never out of the top ten. It was probably the most original (ie, mostly manufacturers parts-bin stuff, chiefly organised by MG Mal), all the others ahead of the car were using a lot more specialised stuff (brakes, clutches, tuning, lighter panels etc).
John Clayton wants to get it to Race Retro Show (Stoneleigh, near Coventry) end of the month but its touch and go as the ship might not have docked in time. I would suggest its cleaned up and shown "as is" although I bet Tony Fowkes will want to sort the dents etc.
I tried to access this forum on the event from Africa, but kept being told I needed to give my I.P. address (what is that), so couldnt get in, thanks to those who have kept this amazing performance well reported. The Maestro Project has done you all proud.
Philip
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