2013 Woodbridge Stages Report - Never Give In!

Another emotional rollercoaster weekend for Spookworks Rally Team with drama at literally every turn.  At one point the only option available was to pull out of the rally before it even started and take the Spookworks Impreza home on the trailer!

In a truly epic weekend of motorsport the team covered over 550 miles, experiencing sheer despair one minute and pure elation the next.  There were some heroic efforts both on the stage, in service and in support - a total team result.

In the end the results of 8th in class and 38th overall simply do not do the weekend justice.

It all started so well...

Friday saw the usual last minute tweaks including changing the thermostat, installing a fan override switch, a clean and polish - you know the usual.  Then upon turning the key to start the mighty Spookworks flat four engine - nothing.  Try again. More nothing, then the noise of a fork being put in a paper shredder.  All stop. A check of all the basics, spark plugs out, leads changed.  Try again. More fork in shredder noises. Only one thing for it now - panic stations and a quick call to the Oracle.  He led us through several bizarre procedures most of which felt like some sort of medieval Subaru witchcraft and incredibly all done while holding a mobile phone near the engine while the Oracle was on route to a poetry recital.  But then the engine fired back into life.  Back in the game.

Saturday 0530 and the Spookworks cavalcade rolls away from the Spookworks HQ like a modern day rally version of Alexander the Great's War Elephants;  loaded up to the hilt with all manner of spares, tyres and tools headed for Castle Combe Rally Day to display Spookworks Impreza on the Superpro stand with some of our other RAF competitors.  A great feeling of expectation filled the air....

The calm before the storm.  Spookworks on display at Castle Combe.

After a few hours on the stand we decided to give the car a quick shakedown on the small clubman stage.  Everything was going well then after a few hundred metres the temperature gauge was sky high and the car was withdrawn back to the Superpro stand to try and work out what was wrong.  Must be something simple we thought.  Several hours of scratching heads and asking expert advice (Many thanks Alex Taylor!!!) the only option was that a head gasket must have let go and a new engine was required. A quick call to the Oracle was made to confirm this and the subsequent options were all bad and expensive!

Hot and sour - this short stage caused the car to overheat and we considered pulling our entry to Woodbridge

The feeling of despair and disappointment in the Spookworks Camp was overwhelming. We had endured so much to get this far and it now looked like we would have to pull our Woodbridge entry.  Even though we were surrounded by the finest rally machinery known to man morale was very low.  As the day drew a close, a final last ditch effort was made by Alex Taylor to cut out the thermostat in an effort to help the water flow round the engine to hope bring the temperature down.  The car was driven around the car park as the crowds departed and astonishingly the temperatures seemed ok!  Could it be a miracle!  From the depths of despair it was decided to push on to Woodbridge and run the car a few times upon arrival to see if the problem was fixed and therefore enter the rally.

Due to the late departure from Castle Combe and the 200 mile + epic journey across the country to Woodbridge we arrived too late to test the car so we decided to use Stage 1 as a test and just roll the dice. If she lasted a stage then it was better to try and fail then to not try at all.  However that was tomorrow and right now we were all exhausted after the days events, so sleep was the only thing on the agenda as we were rallying in about 6 hours!

Sunday 0853 - After successfully completing noise, scrutineering and documentation we lined up on stage 1 ready for the 9.1 mile test and no knowing how far we could go or if we would make it round at all.

Stage 1 - it was all uphill from here.

Approx 6 miles in everything seemed fine - the car was going like a rocket ship all systems go.  Then suddenly the temperature gauge started climbing began to point vertically in the red. We switched the anti lag off, short shifted and dropped our speed to make sure we got to the end of the stage.  Perhaps there was something we could do in service?  We crossed the finish in 10:16 setting the 28th fastest time out of 71 starters - not bad considering but our situation and our caution had lost us some time.

Still overheating but not until the end....what was going on!!!

In service the engine was red hot but cooling, there a great deal of confusion as the car seemed to have plenty of power and none of the usual symptoms of head gasket failure were present.  We cooled the engine down as much as possible, topped up with water and thought what the hell might as well go and do Stage 2!

We decided for Stage 2 to leave the anti lag switched off (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilag_system) as this medieval device causes intense engine heat and will not help our situation.  To our great surprise, with some short shifting to keep the revs down we completed Stage 2 in a respectable 14th fastest with a 9:36 and the temperature although very hot was not off the scale....we could be back in the game here!

Stage 3 saw us have a good run on the 8.3 mile with our mix of no anti lag and short shifting keeping temps down.  We were having some great battles and despite our slight lack in power our incredible Alcon brakes were keeping us competitive as we were able to brake later than any other car we came across during the entire rally.  We went on to set the 13th fastest time with a 9:26. Putting us inside the top 20 on the event.

Temp issues sorted it was time to start making up ground.

Just as our spirits were soaring and everything seemed to be going well we were dealt a crushing blow.  After a few miles in Stage 4 an incredible mechanical knocking noise was coming from the right front.  The brakes felt spongy and it all felt very terminal.  We stopped in stage to have a look and the issue seemed to be a right front hub.  We limped slowly back to service and the crew confirmed the right front hub had completely destroyed itself. The ball bearings on the hub had been flattened and welded themselves to the hub itself.  We did not have a spare.  Quite simply game over. Despite the effort that had got us so far and the hope that had been generated, this was a final blow none if us could withstand.  The time card was completed detailing our retirement. No one spoke. And then one man spoke to all of us....

Winston was right. Never give in.  We had come so far and endured so much but we will never give in.  The service area was scoured for a spare hub and amazingly after searching almost the entire service park someone said they might have a spare.  After rummaging around in the back of a service van a hub was found and it was exactly the right one!   It was rushed back to the Spookworks Service area and was heroically changed in 20 mins!  The car drove out of service and off to continue battle in Stage 5.

Hub change anyone?  This crack team changed it in 20 mins flat. 

The remains of the hub.  That small lump in the centre of the pic used to be one of a number of ball bearings that have now been vaporised. 

The 8 miles of Stage 5 were a revelation. The car was back on song and we battled hard with our old sparring partner John Franklyn Price and ironically the generous crew who had lent us their spare hub.  We completed the Stage equal 14th fastest with John Franklyn Price, enormously pleased with a 14th overall fastest time.  The comeback begins here! Only 2 stages to go.

Stage 6 saw some of Spookworks best efforts.  The car effortlessly consumed the 8 miles of special stage and saw a 12th fastest stage time of 9.05. Stages like this make it all worthwhile.

Back in business.  Slightly hot under the collar but never stirred

Stage 7, the final test and once again a great result.  11th fastest time over the 8 mile stage with a 8:21.  Most importantly after all the dramas we FINISHED!  The car was in one piece, still functioning and we picked up a very valuable 70 points for the RAF Rally Championship.  Doing some quick calculations if we did not have the stage maximum 19.00 due to the hub problem on stage 4  - we estimate that we could have come home in 7th in class and 14th overall.  What ifs are sadly just that - what ifs.

An exhausting weekend both physically and emotionally, we are completely drained but extremely satisfied with an incredible team effort against all the odds and with an important lesson learnt. In weekend's such as this;  Spookworks sometimes must look outside of it's normal sphere of influence and find inspiration to carry on despite the pressures and the disappointment. In such times there really is only one man who can carry the team forward....

NEVER GIVE IN!

Spookworks had to go right to the big man in our hour of need.

Quick thanks to Oracle and Alex Taylor for their peerless expertise and also to the guys from Car 12 Jim Munden and Dan Hutchins for the loan of the hub.

38th overall and 8th in class. Didn't feel like that from in here!!

Spookworks seeded 22nd for this weekends Woodbridge Stages

This weekend sees Spookworks back in the thick of the action after a disastrous run on the Jane Cowling Phoenix Stages, Fulbeck were the team retired due to a fire on Stage 5.

Seeded 22nd in a field of over 82 cars, the team are hoping for a reversal of fortune in the 60 mile event as Spookworks boffins fueled entirely by hummus, fully repaired the car back to its former glory.

A boffin hard at work at the top secret Spookworks tech centre.  We did not have the heart to tell him the damage was at the front in the engine bay. 

Spookworks Technical Director explains:

"Sadly the damage caused by the fire was quite extensive.  The boffins have been really putting in the hours and the car has been totally reworked for this weekend.  Obviously I can't go into all the detail but we used the damage as an opportunity to bring forward some developments in the car.  We definitely have a stronger and more powerful package than we have fielded all year - we just need a bit of luck. The guys have a crate of Fanta on standby just in case."

Splash back to 2012.  Spookworks had a damp day of drama with problems exhausting the team all day.  In a miracle finish Spookworks came home 18th overall and 7th in class.  Thankfully it netted just enough points to help seal their 3rd consecutive championship.

Currently residing 4th in the 2013 RAF Rally Championship, Spookworks join 4 other RAF entries including their old sparring partner John Franklyn Price who is seeded at 32nd at this weekend Woodbridge Stages held at err....Woodbridge in Suffolk.

Keep up to date with all the development via our facebook site www.facebook.com/spookworks or on twitter @spookworks

Tough luck for Spookworks - Jane Cowling Phoenix Stages Report

It had to happen eventually.  Spookworks had a 100% finishing record dating back to 2008. Even Las Vegas high rollers know you simply cannot beat the odds forever.
   
Regrettably it came when it would do the most damage.  Chasing a 100 point deficit in the RAF Rally Championship a good result was needed to stay in touch going into Round 4.  The car was prepped to the highest level ever and seemed invincible. A thorough pre event check was carried out and everything seemed great.  There was a feel of an upset in the air.....

Twas the night before and all looked - spectacular!

Sadly it all fell apart on Stage 1.  After leaving the line the intercooler pipe which connects to the inlet manifold detached and left us without boost for the first 7.4 mile stage around Fulbeck.  We limped the car through the Stage dropping over 2 and half minutes.  The service crew were right on it and using copious amounts of zip ties the simple problem was resolved and we naively started to talk about how we were going to approach the next 9 stages to try and play catch up.

Stage 1 and already drama.  Cable Tie origami is used to keep the wayward intercooler pipe attached. 

Stage 2 and off the line the launch control decided to add to our woes and we spent the entire stage crawling round at 3000rpm as the launch control refused to disengage.  We dropped another 2 and a half minutes while we cruised around.  As we limped into service, we were at the complete bottom of the leaderboard with minutes between us and the next car.  Despite the best efforts of the boys in service we were unable to track down the fault.  But luckily for us the Oracle was in the next service bay and he graced us with his golden touch and using his black magic plugged his laptop in to the car and simply deleted the launch control.  Problem fixed.  From now on in it was just about fun, as the time difference for any sort of result had now been completely extinguished.

More drama - launch control is not so much "go" as "slow"

Another stage another drama.  The car spent more time on the jack than on the stage.

Stage 3 and the Spookworks Subaru left the line like a banshee and catapulted us into the stage.  Back on full song, the car handled perfectly, devouring the distance and ripping up the stage. Despite being only a small stage (4 miles) we managed to catch the previous car released into stage 30 secs before us (also a Subaru).  But still it appeared our luck was not to be as a fellow competitor had beaten the stage bogey time (the quickest theoretical time for the stage) and as a result the whole field was given a notional time of 4.09 meaning that all our good work was in vain!

Playing catch up at the Jane Cowling Rally.  Plenty of go once she gets going...!

Stage 4 was all about driver error.  Pushing too hard to catch up time, 2 overshoots on slippery gravel chicanes meant a time of 3:51.  Ok but 30 secs behind the fastest time set for Stage 4.  However at least all seemed well and the car was in fantastic form and we were ready to tackle the remaining 6 stages at maximum attack.

With the mechanicals fixed - the pink bit behind the wheel needs some tweaking....

They say bad luck comes in threes, but we must have ordered a double! Off the line on Stage 5 and after 3 corners a misfire robs us of vital power and another cruise around the 4.5 mile stage beckons. Upon crossing the finish we pulled up at the time control and were considering what might be causing the misfire and when our luck would change when it did - for the worse.

Even the Spookworks Media Team worked out that all the action was sadly in the Service Area!

Smoke started appearing from the corners of the bonnet and a strong burning smell meant the day was now at its lowest.  We jumped out of the car and emptied 2 powder extinguishers and 1x 20 litre container of water on to a burning turbo.  After some frantic action the fire was brought under control and eventually extinguished along with our hopes for the event and most of our aspirations for a record 4th RAF Championship.  The cause of the fire perhaps summed up the bad luck of our day as it is unlikely we will ever have a repeat of these circumstances no matter how many more rallies we do.

Blaze of Glory and  Rock Bottom - Here it is......a sad end to a difficult day.

In essence the water pipe came off the side of the turbo and sprayed anti-freeze into and over our turbo blanket.  Then completely unconnected but occurring almost in sequence the turbo up pipe welds cracked causing the turbo pipe to allow flames to escape ignite the antifreeze now on the blanket.  The resulting fire took 5 mins to put out and resulted in significant damage to the engine, wiring and turbo.

We immediately retired and pushed the car back into service.  Game over.

A full investigation is yet to be carried out but with the next event looming over the horizon, Spookworks are gonna need all hands on deck to get the car turned around in time for Round 4.

The boys in service proved to be the stars of the show and without them we would not have got past Stage 1!

The Spookworks Management Team would like to thank the marshals at the end of stage 5 for their help in extinguishing the fire and Jase for actually bringing the fire under control and minimising the damage.  Big thanks go to Dean, Josh and Woody from teh service crew who kept us going as long as we could with some amazing work and of course the Oracle for just being the Oracle.

More details and pics to follow as we begin the rebuild.

Next event is the Woodbridge Stages on 22 September.

Lets hope that we can put all this behind us and that the Spookworks DNF record stays at 1!

Disaster for Spookworks - Retirement due to engine fire Stage 5

Sadly after 4 stages of trouble Spookworks finally conceded defeat after an engine fire at the end of stage 5 which ended any hopes of continuing.

The team had been plagued by problems all day including such oddities as launch control failure and a renegade intercooler pipe.  This is the first DNF in Spookworks history.  A very sad day indeed.  Full report to follow.

Anyone bring any sausages?  Spookworks stops for a end of stage 5 impromptu BBQ.  

Breaking News - Spookworks seeded 35th for this weekend's Jane Cowling Memorial

A source from within Spookworks HQ has suggested that the team are seeded 35th for this weekends event.  Given previous results this seems quite a low seeding but there is no official confirmation yet from rally organisers.  More to follow.....

Spookworks enter the Jane Cowling Memorial Phoenix Stages Rally

It was revealed last night that Spookworks have entered the Jane Cowling Memorial Phoenix Stages Rally on the 4 August.

The organising club's crest has wings...surely that's a good sign?!

Held at Fulbeck Airfield in Lincolnshire, 55 miles over 10 stages await the team who have not turned a wheel since bringing home 3rd in class and 7th overall at the inaugural London Rally for Heroes.

In the heart of RAF country could a little corporate knowledge be an advantage?

Team spokesman said:  "Its exciting to be going back onto the stages after a 3 month absence.  The car is in top form and has undergone some minor developments in the break so we are looking forward to getting out there and see how competitive we can be.  It will be a tough event though - the entry list reads like a who's who of single venue rallying.  Arron Newby, who won last year, Martyn England, Ben Cressey and many more are going to be very tough and super quick so it will be a real challenge.  We have caused a few upsets before and there is no reason we cannot do it again".

Spookworks last outing was a giant killing performance.  3rd in class and 2nd overall...time for some more scalps?

The entries close on the 1st August. More details to follow.....

Spookworks - Battle Damage Assessment - London Rally for Heroes.

Nearly a month has gone by since Spookworks great result at the London Rally of Heroes and only now after the car has been in quarantine for a month, has it been safe to conduct some form of battle damage assessment, effect repairs and prepare the car for the next event.

Ahh the glory days....

Before quarantine, the car rolled off the transporter with symptoms like major electric issues and the most dramatic rattling/grinding sound coming from inside the left rear brake disc. The Spookworks Critical Care Unit (CCU) door was released and the Spookworks recovery crew gingerly entered the quarantine chamber to start surveying the damage.

After a month in quarantine the Spookworks Recovery crew prepare to enter the chamber
 to  begin  a post event battle damage assessment.

The Spookworks Subaru was sitting patiently in the middle of the sterile chamber. Nothing looked to out of place to start off with.  Tyres all inflated, panels all straight, looked like a Subaru....

The car was jacked up and the sump guard removed.  This is when the first clue was uncovered.  One of the sump plug bolts looked like it had just done 9 rounds with a cheese grater.

Parmesan anyone?

Worse was yet to come, as after removing the sump guard the reason for the electrical issues became immediately clear....the wiring loom that runs past the back of the radiator had come loose and ventured too close to the exhaust manifold and lets just say the whole thing looked like a scene from Aliens.

Seriously this could be a backdrop from Aliens...even the rad bleed plug melted.

Stay frosty people.....

This is how close it got to the exhaust manifold -  thats gonna be hotter than  Alex Jones sitting  on a beach in a bikini!

To rectify, the next step will be to cut all the debris away, check the wiring, re-cover, re-secure and get some serious heat protection on there. Thinking a DEI heat sleeve?

Now came the moment of truth.

The car was jacked up and after clearing the area of all non essential personnel the wheel was removed as carefully as a archaeologist carefully uncovering a previously undiscovered dinosaur fossil.  The disc seemed intact.  All clear. The team moved onto Stage 2.

The Spookworks technicians finally identify the rear brake caliper.

Not too bad, the only initial casualty seems to be the missing "U" off the Subaru  caliper sticker. 

The disc was carefully examined and ever so gently and delicately lifted off the hub with precision by several slams from a large ball hammer. The carnage underneath was what no one expected.  2 of the Spookworks boffins passed out at the sight of the damage and one had to be resuscitated at the scene. 

Thankfully, this lucky Spookworks Technician made a full recovery after a short rest. 

The removal of the disc resulted in a number of metal parts instantly falling to the floor and a large metallic dust cloud.

The Spookworks Crew had to wait for the dust cloud to settle before assessing the brake damage.

When the dust settled a pile of debris that looked like molten mettle from a steelworks was all that remained of our once powerful and perfect handbrake mechanism.

After the dust cloud - The initial signs were not encouraging.

The remaining mechanism simply slumped to the floor like a slain dragon.  It actually took a while for the Spookworks Technicians to forensically identify the pieces.  Sadly, with the remains of the left handbrake mechanism looking like next years Turner Prize winner it was time to simply admit defeat and gently remove the entire mechanism and throw it on the scrapheap.  Nothing was salvageable and a complete new mechanism would be required including the back plate.

And the 2014 Turner Prize goes to......

Err this is what it should look like......

And this is what it actually looks like....

So after all was said and done the car was gently wheeled into the Spookworks Development centre where the restoration and repair will soon begin in earnest.  We hope to bring you the details so we can show you the good news recovery "feel good" story before our next event.  First things first though.  Time for an awkward conversation with the Spookworks Financial Manager.....

The amount of damaged parts from the rally were really beginning to add up.