cool avatar

tell us a bit about your car and your plans

Thanks for the welcome 1200RC, I've gotta get some sleep now but I will get something a bit more detailed here shortly. I have rallied both 4dr's and coupes for the last 15 years or so with a break in the middle when we spent around 4 seasons in 4WD. This Coupe is now showing its age and I'm currently in the throws of building up a new shell with a few "new" ideas.
This is a great site and I will be as interactive as I can.....you can always learn more by talking to other people

Bob

Welcome to the club Niscoupe, hope you can share your wealth of information and experience with the rest of us.
Do you perhaps happen to be Bob Cooper?? I only ask this as your name is Bob, you live in NZ, youve been rallying for years and your avatar is of a red coupe similar to a pic I have seen of Bob Cooper's. Am I right?

Cheers,
Simon

im pretty shure this is bob cooper he is full of useful knowledge on plenty here is a great upgrade for steering on a rally carThe front suspension needs plenty of castor....you will have to cut a bit out of the bottom of the front guards to give the wheels clearance but it is well worth it.The steering will be heavier when driving slowly but much better feel when you get moving. I also used early model Corolla steering arms (KE20 or 25 I think) which are much shorter than the Datsun ones, this gives a much better lock and "gears up" the steering. I used the standard sway bar on the front and nothing on the rear for gravel, but used a small bar on the rear for Seal.

rally experience ay?

well, theres about 3 of us guys just getting into/preparing rally 1200's and there is a number of things specific to rallying weve been trying to get answers to actually, hope you can help us out along the way

Michael

Yes Simon, that is me. I am only too happy to try to help you guys out as much as I can. I certainly don't profess to know everything but I have learn't a lot over the years and are still learning now! I have always enjoyed the Datsuns, especially the coupes...they still look good even today. In the rallying scene it is really hard to compete against the late model FWD cars in our class, but I'm sure that the RWD cars are a lot more exciting and spectacular to both drive and watch.

Great to catch up with you here Matt, how's your car coming along?

its coming along quite good got to get some lexian windows for the rear side windows still along way to go

Glad to hear its you Bob, I have seen many photos of your coupe(s?) and visited your website.

We just had a round of the Australian Raly Championship down here in Tasmania and there was a Datto 1200 Coupe in it. Driven by a bloke called Peter. I am yet to find out the specs on his car but damn he can drive a small car fast. At one of the Super Special stages (run in reverse order) the first car to beat his time was an EVO Lancer. He was whooping Commodores (new and old), escorts, geminis etc. Got some good pics when I was out in the forrest officialing. Will post them as soon as I get them processed. Sadly Peter wrapped the car on the second day :( Put the tail into a pole which spun him into a bank, so my dad told me. Unfortunatly when my dad was talking to him he forgot to ask what the coupe was running. In the forrest stages the old Datsun 1200 was beating the Protons Satria's that race the 1 make Proton Rally Trophy!

I will stop now, just want to say again its great to have another rally person in the club, espically someone who has been there and done that!

Simon

Forgot to mention that I am (if it wasnt already obvious enough) one of those guys looking to rally a Datto 1200.

I have been involved with rallying for a number of years now on the officialing side. After sadly having my old 1200 coupe written off about 2 years ago I have been stuck into rebuilding my other coupe thats in the shed.

My girlfriend and I are very keen to get into the racing side of rallying. I am at the stage of looking at setups (suspension, engine etc) and working out what to run on a budget.

I hope you dont mind me asking you heaps of questions that will help me get my coupe built.

Cheers
Simon