Welcome to rally240.racing
We run a 1972 Datsun 240z in Tarmac Rally events in Australia and compete in club level hillclimbs and supersprints
Our car - 1972 Datsun 240z
History
We started our Tarmac Rally journey in 2004 with a 1964 Elfin Clubman. After 3 attempts at Classic Adelaide in the car we learnt many things but mostly that we should be doing this in a car that is more suited to rally. And has a roof. And a windscreen. And doors would be nice too. At the time in Classic the fast cars were either 911s or V8 muscle cars but Escorts and Datsuns were popular budget choices and after much thought we set out to find a 240 or a 1600 that was either rally ready or a good base to start from. We skipped 2007 while saving budget and looking for a suitable car and in early 2008 a reliable daily driver 240 popped up in Melbourne so we grabbed it and road tripped home.
First Build - 2008
Once we had the car home we realised we had about 9 months to turn this road car into a rally car. Getting into the strip down revealed more rust than we had expected (old Datsun, who knew?) so the preparation centred on fixing the rust, installing a cage and getting the bodywork ready for new paint.
Other work included upgraded brakes and a suspension refresh and all the safety gear required for a rally (seats, harnesses, fire, trip meter etc).
The budget didn't include any performance upgrades so we headed off to Classic Adelaide 2008 with the same running gear that was in the road car as purchased, stock L28 motor and carbs, standard gearbox and open diff with the only concession to performance was new air cleaners and a set of 15x7 Superlites with Advan semi slicks.
The work all paid off and we finished the first event with no issues and a reasonable result and collected our first "plate" for successfully completing every stage within the target time, something we hadn't done in 3 years in the Elfin.
Current Spec
Engine - L28 Nissan, bored and stroked to just under 3 litre, N42 head with ported runners, beehive springs and titanium retainers. Still running standard crank and rods and off the shelf pistons (budget friendly).
Induction - Triple Mikuni 44mm dual throat carbs, Harada manifold, SW Motorsport headers and exhaust by Fat Mikes Hotrod shop.
Brakes - 6 piston Wilwood front with vented rotors, 4 piston Wilwood rear with vented rotors. Polymatrix pads. Twin master cylinder with bias bar adjustment, hydraulic handbrake.
Wheels - 16x7 Performance Superlite alloys, 205 50 16 Yokohama Advan AO50 tyres.
Suspension - Techno Toy Tuning struts and arms, Koni shocks and Eibach springs.
Aero - BRE style front dam and rear spoiler
What is….Targa High Country?
Targa High Country is a national level special stage Tarmac Rally and is round 4 of the Australian Targa Championship run by Targa, the same team that runs the famous Targa Tasmania. High Country is run in the Victorian high country with the HQ and overnight stops based at the Mt Buller ski resort and the daily stages set around the townships of Mansfield, Eurora, Eildon and Jamieson. The event is a full blown special stage rally (ie closed roads and no speed limits) and open to Classic (pre 1986) and Modern cars in categories from full competition to speed limited classes right down to tour groups that stick (mostly) to the posted speed limit.
I think this is actually Wickhams Hill from Targa Adelaide but you get the idea.
Day 1 - Eurora loop
Each day starts with a run down the Mt Buller access road (Mirimbah Stage)and then heads out into the surrounds for the day's stages. Day one typically heads east to the Eurora region with a pair of stages on the outbound loop before a lunch stop in in the main street and then returning in the oposite direction through the morning stages back to Mansfield before the first of two runs up the Mt Buller stage to finish the day.
Day 2 - Whitfield loop
Day 2 again starts a blast down the Mt Buller road before turning North for a combination of fast and flowing roads turning into tight and technical roads before lunch near Whitfield (check out the Whitty Cafe - best burgers ever). The afternoon stages again are the reverse of the morning two before a change of scenery ends the day with a Street Stage around the town of Mansfield followed by Targafest - a cavalcade of motoring icons - or a huge display of rally cars in the main street.
Not an action shot but an example of the stunning scenery in the Victorian high country.
Again the Adelaide Rally stickers are a giveaway here...
Day 3 - Jamieson loop
Day three is the biggee. It's the longest day with the longest stages (Jamieson is seriously 42km long) and the hardest on cars and crews. Jamieson has everything from tight and technical with a thousand switchbacks (I'm guessing) with a 200kmh blast in the middle where you can relax for a minute (seriously).
Lunch at Eildon by the lake and back through the morning stages (just as long in the other direction) before the final run up Mt Buller to the adoring crowd at the top where it's finally time for a beer and a schnitty or a champers if you've managed to get on the podium.
We have had some great times at High Country including three podiums and a Classic win but 2017 was a bit of a bummer with an engine drama robbing us of a finish on the last day.
Our Sponsors
JH Southcott
JH Southcott is an Adelaide institution with a long history of engine reconditioning and general automotive engineering. Southcotts have been helping us with our engines since day one, planning and building a strong engine that sits inside the rules for Classic Rally but also complies with Marque Sports rules for sprints etc.
They have gone out of the way to put together a clever configuration of mostly standard and off the shelf parts rather than custom made everything to keep the costs under control.
Talk to the team at www.jhsouthcott.com.au
Penrite Oil
Penrite Oil is a 100% Australian owned and managed oil company that aims to deliver innovative and tailored lubricant products and services to their customers globally and to partner with their customers to deliver sustainable and long term growth through their passion and commitment to excellent service, delivery and product quality . Every year the company selects a number of “Brand Ambassadors” to represent the company across a whole range of automotive and racing categories. Each ambassador is reviewed on a number of criteria and successful applicants receive support form the company in the form of product sponsorship and marketing exposure.
Team Rally240 is proud to announce that we have joined the Penrite family for 2019 as ambassadors and hope to do our best to represent the brand over the coming year.
You can check our our Penrite profile here which will include upcoming events and should also show all the Penrite products we use. For more information check out the Penrite website at www.penriteoil.com.au and please support the companies that support our local motorsport.
Fat Mike's Hotrods
Mike is a long time Datsun guy and was a Tarmac Rally competitor himself in a very nice red 240z. These days he's more likely to be building and working on hotrods and customs.
Check out his work at www.fatmikeshotrods.com.au
Ist in Early Classic Targa High Country 2015
Lomman / Bainbridge
Yes, we're mostly self funded. This isn't a commercial operation, we're in it for the LOL's but we are very grateful for the help we get from all our friends and supporters.
Can you help us?
We are seeking supporters to help us get out to more events around Australia. If you think we can add value to your brand or product by featuring your brand on our car and our social media presence, please get in touch.
