Most liked posts in thread: Mini Cooper to WRC Mexico 2017?

Awwe thanks Crashton and wjosh45....I suppose part of the problem is giving cash to someone you don't know and rallying is not so popular in the US. Anyway that being said I can't go to Mexico if those buggers at the FIA France don't certify the cage. Seems only CR can run rallies without all that FIA stuff. Also I have emailed the shipping and organizers so many times without a reply. Therefore I'm not going to push anymore until I'm 100% sure everything is ready. No wonder rallying for the amateur is dying.


I'm having more issues with FIA compliance. The plumbed in extinguisher has expired so I thought I could just go get it serviced at a local company.......WRONG! has to be an authorized agent which is only in the UK or USA. Shipping and service time would put it past the Mexico rally date so I have to buy a new one! What with the seat, roll cage, belts and this bugger I'm spent a small fortune. Thank goodness I can drive this car to work or it would be a waste of time and money.

 

oh that makes me feel better that it's not just me! LOL With the new WRC cars I fear rallying is going the way of F1 well I suppose I can still rally to work in the safest car in CR!

 

Thanks Crashton, I've thought of that a few times. With all the things that have happened to the Mini and this project I always try to see the funny side and if it's mean to be it will happen. So I email the CR FIA guy to see where we are with the cage cert......he said he had not started working on it yet! OMG no wonder rallies don't run in Latin America, I'm surprised Rally Mexico even runs because no one has contacted me or the other competitor regarding the entry, schedule or shipping. I'm laughing quietly to myself! Meanwhile I'm trying to get the new fire extinguisher.......another laugh for sure. ho ho ho ho

 

I told you! I contacted the only racing shop in CR, can you get me a 4.0L extinguisher system? yeah they said, send a link. I said a link for a Life line system. They said we only deal with OMP, Ok I said I take that, next day I get an email to say they don't have it stock but send a link of another brand and we'll get for you, I send again the life line link, they say no problem this time, then another email arrives to say that vendor does not have it. Ah ok I said, so I look online and found a shop in CA with a Life line system. I send the link to the CR shop and they say ah yes we can get that as this shop is one of our suppliers! Why didn't they say that in the first place!

 

unfortunately no, I asked but they don't do overseas shipping as this is by sea. This is the way shops and folks operate down here.

I checked the regs while flying back to MA.....cut off date for shipping documentation is Feb 7th so if something is going to happen.....it better happen soon.

 

I just heard the start is now in Mexico city in the square that was used to film the James Bond movie. Which means the teams have to do the shake down/Recce in Leon, then bring the cars to Mexico City (6 hour drive) then do the 1 mile stage/start, then drive all the way back to Leon the next day to do the stages. I get that having the start in Mexico is a cool idea but look at all the extra expense and logistics. The little guys running are going to be struggling.

 

https://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/127875/rally-mexico-adds-stage-in-bond-film-location

 

yeah, for the big teams they can handle it but for the private teams...............what a hassle for a 1 mile gravel tyre destroying stage.

 

Yes they want the WRC to be the best event in the championship at the expense of the private teams and locals. Actually the town of Leon are very upset about the last minute change as are a ton of fans who pre-booked everything.

I've been in contact with the other competitor who plans to go to Mexico. He said he is shipping his STI on Feb 5th but so far does not know the cost to ship the car! OMG he is in for a shock...I was supposed to be sharing the container with him but as I have said , the shipping guy did not contact me. The problem is I did not want to pay Gringo tax, I know they want to screw me on the shipping charges. I'm still optimistic like a fool that something might turn up.

The cage cert is #1 and the fire extinguisher #2 when they arrive we will see where we are.

I will say that I'm so grateful for the support, advice and donations that have been given from the nice folks on this forum. I have worked hard on this project and if we don't go it would not be due to my efforts. The Mini is ready but I just require a lot of folks to get the final tasks done.

 

The fire extinguisher is arriving on the 10th if the container shipping time is 2 weeks we still have a chance .....if 3 weeks nope.

 

A song that is echoing in my head on a regular basis. hahaha

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io0fBr1XBUA"]The Chainsmokers - Don't Let Me Down ft. Daya - YouTube[/ame]