Official Tamiya Mini Rally had started in Japan.

[Grahoo]

Hi there, []

 Do you know about Mini Rally which used M-chassis? and it's really so exciting.

Already we had Mini Rally in our Ahiru-meeting twice a year

at the Ahiru private circuit which is owned by one guy of our member from four years ago.

And always Mini rally was really so exciting.

( Incidentally, Ahiru means duckling in Japanese language. )

 The official staff of Tamiya also watched our Ahiru Rally's contents

and decided to set up same class in their event.

 December of last year, one day I got a registration form of their new year's race from Tamiya suddenly.

I was so surprised because it contained Mini Rally. Soon I told it to my friends and sent a mail also to my friend bakaguyjean who is a Tamiyaclub member. They were surprised too, of course we registered ourselves immediately to the race.

To tell the truth, I was afraid other Tamiya fan will not enter to such an eccentric class except me and my friends.

 But, soon I noticed my misunderstanding when I arrived to Tamiya circuit.

Already many Mini were running on the circuit for the practice, moreover,

a line was from official car inspection area to the other side of the circuit,

and I saw a lot of people were bringing their Mini.

As a result, we was very happy and really enjoyed the race.

The event made a big success and Tamiya official promised to have Mini Rally again

in also next their event.

Now, I believe its class will make a lot of fun for many people in any other country.

And I wish many M-chassis owners around the world will be enjoying Mini Rally in near future.

Because its event makes every people so happy by all means.

 Let me add a few words in last.

Please watch following URL and check many picture of its event out

and please imagine about our pleasure at first! Thank you.

http://tuyosi.ath.cx/dekigoto/20060122/

[DJTheo]

Loved those Mini Rallys already at your site, very nice to see that this inexpensive and fun class is growing, hope many people will follow it also here! [H] Also love the vintage classes and the colourfull Hornets, GHs and Frogs, this meeting is a dream for me!

Cheers

[Gruntfuggly]

Cool stuff - hopefully Tamiya might even start making some proper mini rally block tyres too...

[dunebuggy71]

Totally agree. [Y]

What a fantastic meeting. So many Rallye Minis. Must be endless fun !

And these range of Grasshoppers, Frogs and Hornets. [][]

Please Mr.Tamiya: We need a M03 rallye chassis !!!!!!![au]

[minijosh]

What were the specs on the cars? Bone stock or modded? Would be nice to get one of these rallies at our TC meetings.

[ChrisB]

Fantastic pictures - I loved your original Mini rally site too. It was one of the things that inspired me to build my M-chassis Stratos rally car. I think there is a real untapped market for M-chassis rally cars and events like the one you posted pictures of.

I wish Tamiya would consider at least one M-chassis based rally car release with a classic bodyshell (a Mk1 escort for example). They could build a capable RWD or FWD rally chassis using either the existing M-04 or M-03 chassis using a few bits from the TL-01 parts bin to give better ground clearance - c'mon Mr. Tamiya, you know you want to!!!!!

From the pictures I have seen, maybe with a few volunteer "rakers" to clean away some of the larger debris, the Eastern Bash Red Lodge site would be ideal for a rally event or two [].

Chris

[MikeT]

BiggusDitchus, Show your face mate...

Seriously them mini's look really cool, is there any regulations on motor configuration ( FWD/4WD/RWD )

 

 

[Grahoo]

Thank you people!

I am very glad to receive your favorable comments. []

Well, let me explain more.

 They permitted us to cut their rally block tyre to make mini rally tyre.

It was an epoch-making rule as Tamiya. []

 All the batteries are Ni-Cd 2400 or under, and motor is RS540SH only,

but other regulations were the same as their onroad event.

So, we had to no worry about our cars.

  Mini rally was fast enough and jumps well, it was really fun to drive.

and I think entrants almost did not feel stress about their driveability.

 Offroad 2wd used GT-tuned 25turn motor and they had 3600 Ni-MH.

Of course they were faster than Mini Rally but looked difficult to drive.

 So, some MINI Rally cars could qualify to Offroad 2WD A main as their lap time in that day

because their stability were sure.

Mini Rally car needs only basic options for their toughness and driveability.

To examples, ball-bearings, shocks and something strong parts.

These are necessary as onroad racers also as you know.

And I think no special parts and modification are needed at offroad except tyres maybe.

Now, tyre is surely problem, but they must release it if we speak in one voice. []

[DJTheo]

Yes, hope now Tamiya will release some rally blocks for Mini tires, now that they saw the big success and market for it! [H]

Cheers

[technical.burP]

This is really funny, I am building a 4 WD mini using a shortened TL-01 chassis and a Kyosho Mini shell because my LHS has many for 12 EUR.

Grahoo, I always liked your site - your wolf in disguise Grasshopper, your Goblin and your Mini for sure. I will use your idea of cutting rally block tyres and I will put them onto my TL-01-SW (;-) mini cooper.

Yeah, a Mini rally will be super fun.

[rajicon]

I was sent an email from a person called Ivan, informing me of this

event. **** I wish the Shinkansen down wasnt so much, would love to see

this. Unfortunately Im in Aomori, and I dont have anything RC with me.

Aichi-ken is a great place, I spent a few months last christmas in

Nagoya and Okasaki. While there, I bought many kits from Rakusei.

I was so impressed with the Mini Rally cars on your site Grahoo, I

decided I wanted my own. I would have to say it is one of the cars I

enjoy the most. The M03 chassis lends it self to this so well. The

shell used is not Tamiya, its a Frewer, so I have no wories about

giving it a hard time. I can only imaging that you will have an

excellent time. ?????

Jamie

[Acto-Tuned]

This is really funny, I am building a 4 WD mini using a shortened TL-01 chassis...

My brother build a TL-01 based mini some years

ago. Except for lack of space to mount the ESC and receiver they are great fun

and easy to build. How do you plan to put the chassis back together after

cutting it? We ended up using a hot glue gun just to see how the chassis would

look and to our surprise it turned out to be strong enough.

[SJoerD]

Nice pictures and event mr. Grahoo, I am very impressed. This event has 'an air of love and happyness' as the Fresh Prince would say. Pure uncomplicated fun, not stressed and professional like virtually all races these days. Even Woody from Toy Story was featured. I would really love to join you one day and race with you on such wonderfull event!

[dunebuggy71]

Grahoo. Do you use tire inserts on your Rallye Mini ?

[technical.burP]

Thanks for your interest. I have already done the cutting now and applied some strong epoxy (not the normal stuff that hardens in 5 mins or so) and fibre mesh. I have also glued some thin carbon fibre plates into the chassis. I will post pictures once it is hard enough to move. I know it will be great fun when I put some CS27 tyres on. I will have to cut them too - I know.

[Grahoo]

Thank you again, people.

I am really surprised by many response to Mini Rally. []

 I felt preferable that its event was not like professional racing.

People enjoyed their race and seemed very happy.

all drivers, their friends, wives and children also.

Especially, children brightened their eyes.

( Woody and Andy's buggy team was a "Champion of laughter" in that day.

Of course I love it! LOL ) [pi]

Well, I will enumerate other points that I noticed.

Mini Rally needs safety landing.

Usually no driver likes the jump that seems to easily break his car even if jump seems a lot of fun.

So, I think that jump of table-top shape is preferable for Mini Rally.

A little rough is more interesting than too flat road surface.

Everyone will be able to watch that their suspension systems are working.

Then, I tested 2 different 60D tyre inserts at Tamiya circuit in that day

but could not feel differential of each performances both on soil like clay and mud.

But hard sponge were hopping a little at bumps on the track.

So, I think 60D inner sponge soft (Item no. 50686 )  is  the most suitable for Mini rally tyre.

Peace! []

[sunktothenutz]

Hi Grahoo,

Thank you for the great pictures and information!!!!

I really think the mini's are great fun...at the end of the day it's good cheap racing.

We really must get something like that here in the UK!!

Hmmm  might start looking for a suitable track!![]

[Grahoo]

Hi!

I wish soon you are able to find good track which is suitable to Mini Rally.

Its chassis looks obsolete slightly but I think M03 has many good features for offroad.

A great tiny multi purpose vehicle, yes, M03 is!!!

We used this stupid decal data at the event.

Its sponsors are almost just Japanese-roman jokes and some things are bad English.

I am afraid you do not understand what they mean maybe.

So,  I excuse but I will show them to you. LOL

 

[dunebuggy71]

Awesome ! Grahoo, you´re an Mini Rallye artist.[]

I am a big Mini Cooper and m-chassis fan. Inspired from you. One of my

next projects will be a Rallye Mini. Do you still have some of these

decals ?. I would like to decorate a Mini with your cool stickers. Is

it possible to buy some decals from you ?[]

[sunktothenutz]

Yes..if you can get some...i'll buy some decals from you as well!!!!!![]

Cheers simon.

[technical.burP]

This is how my TL-01 SW Mini 4 WD looks at the moment.

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...=26012006213921

thanks for looking.

Uwe

[Grahoo]

Thank you very much for your comment about my decal, guys![]

Of course it is possible but

I am afraid it becomes too expensive decal and needs a much time for shipping if I make and send to you.

Please use your printers and print at original large size data of these decals to suitable A4 size lavel sheets.

" Print wizard " is very useful for this work if you are Windows XP user. You are able to print them at correct size easily.

Then, Mr. technical.burP's TT01's cub may show awesome performance as the rally weapon.[]

I have ever seen that some of my friends made and drove their TL01mini cars like yours.

But those were made as the onroad racer.

I think it surely seems nice at offroad.

I wanted to try it sometimes but I can not yet because it needs unlimited class for our Mini rally.

[sunktothenutz]

Hi Technicalburp,

 

Great 4wd mini...another project i will have to do!!!...could you just tell me when you shortened the chassis,does it not affect the drive shaft that runs down the side of the chassis??..do you shorten this???

 

cheers simon.

[technical.burP]

Hello Grahoo and Simon,

thanks for you kind words. I would like to race this 4WD mini against 4x4 TB-01 and HPI rally cars in dirt like we already did in Duisburg Meiderich for example (see my showroom for this please). The TL-01 is an onroad chassis but thanks to long shocks, I could give it some good ground clearance. Yes Simon, I had to cut myself a drive shaft that is much shorter than the original. I have used a carbon stick from the kite industry for that and this works fine even with the holes drilled into it. I have reinforced it with cyanoacrylite. I will cover the motor with a rubber hose and hope it does not get too warm.

regards

Uwe

[technical.burP]

Ha, Ha, just downloaded the high-res variant of the ahiru rally decals. Take a close look and you find super brands like ********en or nichelin or purelli. Very funny. I have seen some chinese toys with faked decals already but this is the best ever.[]