Update On The Tatra Race Preparation

February 26, 2013 Leave a comment

With the cold and snow this past week, it’s hard to believe that spring is less than a month away. Likewise, with all the work that still remains before the Tatra will be ready for our first rally, it’s hard to imagine that as winter draws to a close, so will the upgrades for the race.

A few weeks ago, the rear axle looked like this:

Tatra815RearAxleDisassembledRing

Tatra815RearAxleDisassembled

Now the parts have been inspected and the worn pieces replaced. The axle has been put back together, painted and is waiting to be remounted.

Tatra815RearAxleReassembled

The hole in the center is for the CTIS. The air will pass through the shaft in the axle to the tires, through a small hose that will connect the rim to the air supply.

CTISAirHole

The front axle is ready too,

Tatra815FrontAxlePainted

CTISFrontAxleAirHole

and the air hoses for controlling the CTIS from the cabin are ready and waiting to be connected.

CTISCabinHoses

Soon comes the big job of putting everything back together again.

Filed under Erg Racing, Preparation, Tatra 815 Tagged with

Taking The Scania To Destination Extrême 4×4 Expo

February 24, 2013 3 Comments

Yesterday we went to Machilly, France for a fundraising dinner for Team Destination Extrême. In the afternoon they had a 4×4 Expo, so we decided to take the TGB 30. The temperatures were below freezing, and it snowed on and off for most of the day. Of course, -5°C is rather warm compared to the winter temperatures for which the Scania was designed.

ScaniaSBA111SousNeige

Unfortunately, traffic was heavy because winter vacation started this weekend, and there was a traffic jam on the highway as cars full of families headed for the ski slopes. By the time we arrived, it was just before dark, and the expo was winding down. We had a cup of coffee and warm red wine before joining the small crowd inside for dinner.

For a few hours, we forgot the winter cold outside as we chatted with our friends and acquaintances about 4x4s and watched a short video from the Breslau Rally in Poland last July. We didn’t get home until 1:00am, but it we had a very nice evening and were happy we could go out to support our friends.

Filed under Scania SBA 111 Tagged with

Let The Light Shine

February 13, 2013 Leave a comment

Things seem quiet in the winter, but a lot more is going on behind the scenes than meets the eye.

The Tatra is still in pieces, but meanwhile the renovation of the Iveco Eurocargo is moving along slowly but surely. Last weekend we installed the electricity for the power tools and the interior and exterior lighting and took some photos of the new stowage rack and outside doors for rapid access to the stowed material.

IvecoAccessCantines

We have enough room for sixteen trunks in the rack!

IvecoAmenagement

When we had finished the installation, we tried out the lighting on the first assistance for mobilette (moped) 47. It’s brighter than it looks in the photo, and we have enough spots that we’ll be able to light areas to work outside on three sides of the truck.

PremiereAssistanceCamionDeMobilette47

Now for a little coat of paint, some cleaning up and service and the Erg Racing service truck will be almost ready to go.

Filed under Preparation, Service Team Tagged with