Later went into special stage rallies (closed roads). And maybe enjoyed that even more. Worked a lot on suspension on the first outings. Road holding is already fantastic if you just renew all the parts that wear. Braking is fabulous (upgraded alwyas front brakes to Girling brakes). But you need fresh discs, race type blocks and special (and fresh!) brake fluid to do longer stages downhill. You realize a A110 is somewhat lighter than our cars (passed me quite frequently...). I collect (and drive) rally cars. If you look at the brakes in the group B era you will find that AP 4 piston brakes are the norm (up to Audi Quattro's). Our Girlings are as good. By coincidence you have to detach the caliper to change blocks with these as well. Even the cars from the most expensive period (early group A early 1990s) still use 4pot brakes. Sure, ours are iron and later on they were alloy and magnesium, but still the concept is identical. I enjoy those!
Last week there was a 7 day event called the WRC rallye of Germany. Around the Mosel river. Modern cars are fighting for the world championship and 40 classic cars run for fun in between. Timing is forbidden by the FIA because of the power (and dangerously light) group B cars. So on paper it is for fun. I guess most people drive on tracks now and then and you see quite some marshals. For an event like this 2000 people are used by the organisation and 100s of policemen are there. Every stage (10 in total) has fire trucks and ambulances every 2 km or so. Anyway, no way this could be organised for classic cars. So piggy backing with the 'real men' is a unique opportunity. Historic rallying happens all over the world, but this is quite special. Stages are 20km on average with one being 48km. The organisation behind the classic cars has a great offering. They will come with as many as allowed cars that are a mix of cars that were used from the gr2/4/B/early A period. But they are presented as they were back then. No green Opel GTEs! My first car for this was a replica of Munari's number 14 (logical start) and my latest now is a replica of an Acropolis car. Correct in every detail. Do you have a stratos, fine, but it can only compete as it was back then. There were two out there this weekend. And there were quite some gravel sections in it.
Enough for the talk. Below some pics to give the atmosphere! I have only used pictures that I have permission for. A lot of photographers would not allow me to share theirs. But there is only one way to corner a Fulvia on hairpins and that is by the handbrake. That is hydraulic now, but still very period.
A lot of technical tips come to mind. Not that that is interesting. But I notice you can see the carbs (at least the airhorns) on the engine in one of the pics. I have always ditched the 42mms and went for Dellorto's. Left me with 4 sets of solexes so thought I better start using them. And I guess it is the same with 1.3s. If you take off the stock air box it will loose power and will not run as smooth. I use proper horns on this one and the effect was even worse. Solved it now. You DO have to rejet it. But the effect is quite good. I guess this is my last Fulvia build. If anybody is interested in these 42mm carbs, 1600engines, short gearboxes etc let me know.
amazing ! how did it get "homalugated" ? which is, in DE, often oh so difficult even for series-cars that have even the smallest mod's.