In which Sid drives the 504 to Knighton and has a quick conversion course to rear wheel drive.
Sid arrives at Ti HQ to find the 504 still has much Kenyan dust inside. This does not suit Sid who is much given to cleaning and tidying. However, and perhaps more importantly, the car now has well located front suspension, a heated front screen (but no heater), a new synchro on fourth gear, a shorter final drive for added liveliness, four IPF lamps (but only running ickle bulbs due to inadequate alternator pulley wrap) and two intercoms. The clutch release bearing remains a bit noisy. For full grisly detail see https://timotorsport.typepad.com/ti_motorsport/peugeot-in-africa/.
Dave had hurt his back so Sid drove the 504 to Wales on his own, following the Peugeot 607 and trailer. Not the most sociable of drives but comforting to pass the miles without incident. Also useful to find that since the gearbox work the first to second change is truly horrid while fifth requires enormous strength and great strain on the left elbow.
The hotel was reached with no incident worse than the truly rubbish lunch stop. The Horse and Jockey at Knighton made up for that at dinner.
At Phil Price’s the next morning Dave managed to get the 1st to 2nd change light and sweet. The whole box feels very sturdy and well up to the power available. The 504 feels like a tough old thing, utterly different from the light touch of Cyril the Civic (RIP).
In two hours with instructor John, the new owner of the Phil Price rally school, Sid attempts to reprogramme himself from a lifetime of front wheel drive technique. John is clear and encouraging. In tighter bends we use more power and earlier to oversteer and point the car. We practice hairpins and decide only uphill or acute hairpins will need first gear. The handbrake technique moves towards consciously competent if not automatic. With hindsight we should have done an event to get used to the car before the enormity of the RAC.
Nothing breaks and we load the Peugeot onto the trailer. Sid gets to ride in the comfy tow car back to TI HQ. It is really quiet. And warm.