Rather than continue to hi-jack the "saw a Yeti" thread and because I am genuinely interested, I thought I'd start this one.

I use the Yeti to transport me to various inhospitable locations around the country in conjunction with my function as a MSA (Motorsports Association) radio operator and controller for rallies.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints and availability, I bought a 2WD SM, however so far, it has been OK under "light" off-road conditions - i.e. muddy forest tracks.

My biggest problem so far is getting a feed direct from the battery to the MSA radio in the cockpit - I currently use a temporary cable with crocodile clips and feed the cable out the top of the bonnet and then in the passengers door. It works for now, but not really suitable for a "mobile" installation.

How many amps does the Radio consume when transmitting?

You may find a suitable point under the dash near the fuse/relay area.

I know in the fabia there's some nice heavy gauge positive feeds from the battery there.

Kev

How many amps does the Radio consume when transmitting?

You may find a suitable point under the dash near the fuse/relay area.

I know in the fabia there's some nice heavy gauge positive feeds from the battery there.

Kev

I usually run with a 7.5A in line fuse on the feed, but I'd like to know there are 10A available. The other thing is it needs to be independent of the ignition switch.

Edited 27 September, 201015 yr by Jock

Jock: I've never been to a car rally and would actually love to do it one day. So perhaps you could organise a "Yeti Adventure" to a rally one day? Would be a great way to see a few Yeti's together and do something new.

Jock: I've never been to a car rally and would actually love to do it one day. So perhaps you could organise a "Yeti Adventure" to a rally one day? Would be a great way to see a few Yeti's together and do something new.

That sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, I do most of my "work" either in Yorkshire or across the border in Scotland, so it would be quite a trek for yourself to come up. I will try to organise something for next year though. Meantime, the Wales Rally GB which is a round of the World Rally Championship (11th - 14th November), that's going to the the top level event in the UK this year. http://www.walesrallygb.com/home.php

Myself, I'm off up the the Intercontinental Rally of Scotland on October 15th to 17th. http://www.msaevents.co.uk/ros.php

That sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, I do most of my "work" either in Yorkshire or across the border in Scotland, so it would be quite a trek for yourself to come up. I will try to organise something for next year though. Meantime, the Wales Rally GB which is a round of the World Rally Championship (11th - 14th November), that's going to the the top level event in the UK this year. http://www.walesrallygb.com/home.php

Myself, I'm off up the the Intercontinental Rally of Scotland on October 15th to 17th. http://www.msaevents.co.uk/ros.php

Oh I realised that! But doing a big trip will be part of the fun!

As to the two you mention: alas my car is only being delivered end of November! So it will have to be next year.

Jock,

There seems to be some opportunities for you in the fuse compartment in the side of the dash panel. There sre several unassigned fuses, Numbers 4,7 and 36. Numbers 2 and 3 are for towing devices, so if you do not pull a trailer that uses thes, they are available and have 20 and 30 Amp fuses.

Finally, there are the electric rear window on terminal 24 and the front and rear lighter on 30 with a 20 A fuse.

it seems to me that there is plenty of power broought into the cabin, and it should just take a little fiddling about to use it for your radio.

I have no clue which are "on" when the engine and/or "ignition" (whaddaya call that on a diesel???) are off, but a multimeter would easily tell you.

I am also an MSA Radio operator so do the same as Jock, but luckily I've got the 4x4, and some Stage Commanders do take that into account!

I run my radio straight from the battery, with the cable from the back of the bonnet in through the passenger door. If I know I will be travelling far with it like that I stick a bit of gaffer tape over it.

I'm still trying to work out which is the best door to run the aerial lead to the mag mount is. Tried the back corner of the front passenger door, and the top of the rear passenger door, and thought about the hatch, but that is much too tight. Where does yours go Jock? Mag mount is better on the Yeti than the Freelander due to the flat roof, and it sits nicely right in the middle.

This was on the Ditton Priors Rally:

Edited 27 September, 201015 yr by Llanigraham

I am also an MSA Radio operator so do the same as Jock, but luckily I've got the 4x4, and some Stage Commanders do take that into account!

I run my radio straight from the battery, with the cable from the back of the bonnet in through the passenger door. If I know I will be travelling far with it like that I stick a bit of gaffer tape over it.

I'm still trying to work out which is the best door to run the aerial lead to the mag mount is. Tried the back corner of the front passenger door, and the top of the rear passenger door, and thought about the hatch, but that is much too tight. Where does yours go Jock? Mag mount is better on the Yeti than the Freelander due to the flat roof, and it sits nicely right in the middle.

Unless I'm doing a control, I'm usually single manned, so I use the back corner of the passengers door with a loop in the co-ax to stop the (inevitable) rain running down the cable and into the cockpit. I just make sure it's not at too acute an angle and try to follow the sealing strip for a couple of feet so no single point gets too much pressure.

The hatch is too tight as you say.

See Mounting Tom Tom for some very useful info about power supplies in the cabin.

At the moment, I'm running my light bar from the power socket by the hand brake - it's a permanently live supply and is fused at 20A. However, I'm trying to find a way through from the battery to the cabin for a separately fused supply. There are two wiring runs passing under the scuttle that may be a good route, but I need to take off the storage box on top of the dashboard (instructions in link above) to see if they appear inside the car.

To be honest, I'm struggling - I've never had a car before where all the interior trim fits so tighly that you cant get from the footwell up behind the instrument panel to feed a live supply through. The fuse box by the battery has spare terminals on it, so that end is no problem, it's just a matter of getting a wire inside the car.

I pass the wires for the light bar in through the top of the O/side rear door, though I'm not over happy with that arrangement at present.

Final thought, if you intend running your engine whilst on duty in stage (now it's getting colder!) dont forget to de-select your DRL's using maxi-dot, otherwise they'll be on all the time which may confuse competitors, especially at night.

Cheers Jock for starting this post I was thinking along the same lines as there seems to be a few of us on here with similar sporting interests.

I fancied travelling to the Scotish IRC but will be Yetiless so it looks like Rally GB will be my first outing if all goes according to plan with the build delivery etc.

I'm also pondering the RAC which seems to take in the more traditional stages that I have always associated with rallying.

I would be interested to see how you eventually wire in the radio as I have a 2m/70cm amateur radio that I'd like to mount in the SM when he/she arrives.

I'll watch and listen out for you on future events. Never know we might be able to share some soggy sandwiches and a luke warm coffee one day.

Speedsport - Thanks for the DRL reminder - I'd already discovered that after comments from marshals - "You've left your sidelights on" and even "Both tail lights have failed" :-)

Onesque - I do most of the Yorkshire events, then Kielder, Otterburn and across the border - may very possibly meet up with you in some manner - you can always try calling G(M)6WQH on events!

Now that we have a motorsport thread, is anyonelse going across for the Mull Rally (ex-Tour of Mull) this year?

I'm probably marshalling the late hours service at Craignure & on Saturday the Killichronan campsite - if that fits in with their requirements.

Edited 28 September, 201015 yr by speedsport

Now that we have a motorsport thread, is anyonelse going across for the Mull Rally (ex-Tour of Mull) this year?

Not this year I'm afraid - not enough brownie points!

Not this year I'm afraid - not enough brownie points!

I have the answer to that one. We are taking a holiday on Mull, going up midweek, returning a week after the rally - it's a lovely time of year up there. Can't quite work out why they seem to put on a rally each year, on the middle weekend of our visit! It happens every year, how strange!!

Edited 29 September, 201015 yr by speedsport

I have the answer to that one. We are taking a 12 day holiday on Mull, going up a week today, returning a week after the rally - it's a lovely time of year up there. Can't quite work out why they seem to put on a rally each year, on the middle weekend of our visit! It happens every year, how strange!!

We had planned to do that this year ... but we bought a Yeti instead!

Anyone out on the Malton Forest Stages Rally - Sunday 7th November 2010?

After a very busy motorsport summer which "finishes" with my Aintree trackday this coming Saturday, it's Mull Rally next week, then my next event is the Rally of the Tests which runs through the North West on 18th Nov.

Onesque - I do most of the Yorkshire events, then Kielder, Otterburn and across the border - may very possibly meet up with you in some manner - you can always try calling G(M)6WQH on events!

I will make a note of your call sign. Mines G7 TOG.

Anyone out on the Malton Forest Stages Rally - Sunday 7th November 2010?

Another possibility depending on number of entries.

The Scottish Borders Hill Rally - Saturday the 20th & Sunday the 21St November 2010 - if anyone is interested.

The Scottish Borders Hill Rally - Saturday the 20th & Sunday the 21St November 2010 - if anyone is interested.

Might be a bridge too far, although nephew has entered in the Tomcat. Novembers a busy month with Rally GB, RAC, Malton Stages and Grizedale so will have to choose wisely. This is all assuming the beast has arrived by then.

Am I likely to see any other Yeti's this weekend in the Welsh forests?

Looking at heading for Myherin and then Crychan Friday and Saturday and currently not sure about Sunday.

I will be taking it easy as only 250 miles on the clock but looking forward to the adventure.

Am I likely to see any other Yeti's this weekend in the Welsh forests?

Looking at heading for Myherin and then Crychan Friday and Saturday and currently not sure about Sunday.

I will be taking it easy as only 250 miles on the clock but looking forward to the adventure.

Hi Phil,

enjoy your weekend and first proper adventure out in the Monster. The weather forecast sounds interesting from what I heard yesterday mind, so you could end up bringing her home looking similar to the description given in Fluffy's post, if not a tad worse :S

Regards,

TP

I'd missed this topic. How this takes me back some 30 years or more to when the RAC Rally was a real event with night stages and everything!

The Mintex Dales?

Anyone recall Tony Pond, Roger Clark, now sadly gone? The group B cars and especially the Audi Quattro? Could the Quattro have been the start of the bloodline that resulted in the Yeti and other fine cars?

Ahhh, nostaligia!

John

Well, for the first time since 1976 I will not be out on the WRGB. Have done something every year it has run since then, marshalled, start and finish timing, radio and sector marshal, even worked for Skoda GB Rally Team, but this year....zilch. And to be honest I don't think I'll miss it, as I was supposed to be Sector Marshal in Crychan with the CSMA, and last year we got loads of grief and problems from spectators. Not as bad as 3 years ago on Rheola when I got laid out by a spectator for asking him to move! Instead I shall be working Friday and Saturday nights!

I worked for the Skoda Rally Team in the days of John Haugland and the Group B Estelle. In fact I still have a Hella map reading light out of his last Grp B Estelle that did the RAC. Used to have the Hella 2000 lights off the front of it as well, but sold those to someone near Abergavenny who was very interesred in all things Skoda.