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fro
30-04-2007, 09:19 PM
Name: Fro (Stephen) Horobin

Age: Close enough to 30
Location: Canberra, Australia.
Occupation:Commonwealth Public Servant
Marital/Life status: Married, to my supportive, understanding wife, Naomi.

Time involved with rallying:Since some time in the early-mid 90's. My first Rally of Canberra was the last Esanda. So that makes it about 93-ish?

How did you get involved with motorsport: My father raced Sprintcars and super-modifieds since before I was born. I spent my early years in Perth, and my father raced at speedways around the South-West of Western Australia. The family moved to Canberra some time around 1988. Dad tried to get himself (and me) into racing go-karts, but ended up speedway racing again.

How did you get involved with rallying: I got to know a few rally people through a mechanic that worked on my car, and ended up volunteering to help out at a Nat Cap. I did a finish/stop control near Glenloch Interchange at the end of Greenhills, out of the back of my old mans delivery HZ Belmont panelvan. It was memorable 'cause it was dampish, at night, and I remember seeing Mark and Mandy Hughes having a heated discussion at the stop point, having just rolled in the stage.

Time competing in rallying: First navigated for Umby, at Narooma back in 2000(?). Had heaps of fun, and got about a bit after that. First event as a driver was 2002 Nat Cap, with Marc Kelly as navigator.

What else have you done?
As an official: I've organised a couple of club-level rallies. I've been involved with RoC in some way since '93, to the point where I've been attributed as a senior official?!? I was involved with the 2005 Bathurst ARC Round (I don't know if that's something I should readily admit too or not!). I've run a few motorkhanas and khanacrosses, been on both the LCCC and BMSC committees, been President of the BMSC (2003-2004), been on the ACT Series Committee (2003?), and am currently on the NSW Rally Advisory Panel (2005-2006). I get about a bit.

As a competitor: I won the ACT Rally Series Novice Driver category in 2003, and have competed irregularly around southern NSW since. I competed at the 2005 Subaru Capital Rally (the piggy-back event to Rally of Canberra), and was first (and only) in the P3 class. I've navigated in a few diiferent things, next to different people along the way, as well...

Plans for the future:
As a competitor: Do more rallies, have more fun, try a few things further afield, enjoy myself. Do more motorsport other than rallies, and different types of rallies (TRE's, TA's, Navigational...).

As an official: Get involved with the sport at more levels, and try to make a real impact on the direction that the sport as a whole is heading. Work to ensure the viability of rallying, now and into the future. Keep the best interests of the sport at heart, and remember that my passion for the sport comes from, and should be for, the people involved with rallying. Maybe look at broadening other people's perceptions of what rallying is in NSW outside of "Special Stage Rallying" as well?

What am I doing on the Excel Series forum?
I've taken an interest in the series since it's inception, always thinking it's been a good idea. I went for a ride with Fazz (Glenn Farrant) in his Excel at one of the SouthCare Charity Ride Days here in Canberra, and the Excel seemed like a competent, nice little car. I've had plans on one ever since.

I finally got a green late-94 X3 single cam last week. I've got plans for it to be my recce car for Rally of Canberra (with sumpguard and new steering wheel), and hope to get a cage into it in the near future. In the mean time, it might visit a few khanacrosses and motorkhanas.

Photo's of Excel to come in the near future.

fro
14-01-2008, 03:02 PM
I finally got a green late-94 X3 single cam last week. I've got plans for it to be my recce car for Rally of Canberra (with sumpguard and new steering wheel), and hope to get a cage into it in the near future. In the mean time, it might visit a few khanacrosses and motorkhanas.

Okay, so the car got a sumpguard, then never did get to do Recce for Rally of Canberra, nor compete in any khanii.

It got dropped off yesterday for the Roll Over Protection Structure to be fitted, and well, after that, I don't know what else it will require to become a going concern. Paint the cage and interior, reassemble and fit the dash, fit some seats and harnesses, and steal some bits out of the OneHundredEightyBee (fire extinguisher, first aid kit, triangles), and then go.

The plan is to go to Narooma, but it'll still have standard suspension, standard brake pads and standard exhaust. I still have faith that we will have too much fun.

Photos still to come.

fro
09-02-2008, 10:45 PM
Cage is in, and now painted. Still need to paint the floor. The dash is hacked up, ready to covered and bolted in.

Then it needs seat mounts, the trims under the side windows, and then the generic rally gear (fire ext, mudflaps, triangles, first aid kit).

It's getting there... Narooma is looking promising.

haggers
12-02-2008, 10:16 AM
Fro

You don;t muck about. When do you sleep?

Haggers

fro
17-02-2008, 08:21 PM
You don;t muck about. When do you sleep?

When I'm dead.

Thanks to Paulie, Matt Searle and Purdo, we are now very confident of making Narooma.

Photos taken today for log book.

Still needs seats (one here, one soon to be on order), seat mounts, fire extinguisher mount, first aid kit and triangles. First aid kit and triangles can be pinched out of Datsun if need be.

Work was slowed up spending last week in Newcastle for work, and I'll be spending this week in Coffs Harbour. Still got to call and organise a light-pod, but I'm crazy enough to do Narooma without one, 'cause it'll be too dusty to use lights anyway!

DMS ordered during the week (thanks gslrallysport!), and fingers crossed it turns up in time.

there's some dicky connection with the horn (it tooted for a millisecond, and then stopped working), but otherwise everything is fully operational.

fro
17-02-2008, 08:23 PM
Photo's from today for the log book.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2347/2270386991_ecd2ea0353.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/frosport/2270386991/in/photostream/)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2056/2271180464_33c51a9f5f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/frosport/2271180464/in/photostream/)

John C
17-02-2008, 08:28 PM
Car looks great Fro and its a different colour good luck with getting to first round:clap::clap:

fro
17-02-2008, 08:39 PM
Thanks John.

And yes, the weathershields are staying on the car...

shabby
19-02-2008, 10:32 AM
Car looks great Fro, this will truly be a great test of the strength of an Excel to see whether it can handle Fro's abuse.

I look forward to taking a peek down at Narooma.



Shab

haggers
21-02-2008, 12:18 PM
Fro

Whatever you do , DON'T strengthen the rear strut towers by plating from underneath. Do it on the top otherwise BASTARDS INCORPORATED will give you some heavy duty after sales service! I'll explain in detail at Narooma.

Haggers

fro
22-02-2008, 10:02 AM
Rear strut top wa strengthened/plated from above as part of the cage install... hope that was the right thing to do!

Look forward to Narooma, and looking at all the other Excels. And catching up for a beer or two as well!

AnnaR
22-02-2008, 10:55 AM
and the FFHA*, can't forget the FFHA*....

*Furious, frequent handbrake action :rofl:

fro
24-02-2008, 10:59 PM
Even with the cam timing retarded two teeth (Aaargh!?!), the Excel still powers on, just not as rapidly. Cam belt changed (and cam timing correct) it now goes great.

Nav Seat mount still a source of pain. Spent most of the day trying to make seat mounts, only to realise I'd now made it impossible to actually fit the seat. Another visit to Capral planned for tomorrow for more aluminium and attempt number two. Fire extinguisher mounted, horn fixed thanks to Paulie's late-night spares emporium.

Still to be resolved before Narooma:
Lightpod (including wiring)
Rally Computer (including sensor and remote)
Navigators footrest
Brake pads to be fitted (ordered, awaiting delivery)
New ignition leads (old ones have the outer perished)
Oh, and hopefully, fit the DMS, which I still expect to arrive at 5:30 on Friday afternoon.

And don't worry Anna, the handbrake is fully adjusted, and has already been tested a couple of times...

fro
13-10-2008, 02:37 AM
Okay, so after it's un-timely demise at the 2008 Bay Stages Rally whilst trying to chase down Fazz, the Polynesian Dream is no more.

I have now received delivery of a build date Feb98 TwinCam Auto 3-door, in a weird silvery-green colour. Pics to come. On the agenda now is conversion to manual, and then preparations to get ti ready for an onslaught on 2009 RaceBrakes Sydney NSW Excel Series.

fro
11-01-2009, 01:03 AM
Okay, after a period of almost 3 months inactivity (due to house moving and all sorts of dramas), progress!

Spent today pulling the interior trim out, and tonight chipping out tar and sound deadening. I still haven't gotten the dash all the way out, and the last of the tar is awaiting liquid nitrogen and a chisel, but real progress has been made. Hopefully, I'll have it ready for Mir Kilby to call and drop it around for ROPS installation.

After much deliberation I have decided to paint this vehicle as well, as the current paint is no good in hue or condition.

Whitey
11-01-2009, 12:38 PM
After much deliberation I have decided to paint this vehicle as well, as the current paint is no good in hue or condition.

:clap:Good to hear that it is underway.

Is it going to be Polynesian Dream?

fro
11-01-2009, 03:05 PM
Nope... I don't know what colour yet. We'll see.

Jimbo
11-01-2009, 03:17 PM
Hey Fro, I reckon you should try a paint scheme along the lines of this.. :grouphug:

DaveTrees
11-01-2009, 04:44 PM
nah, go the classic airbrushed "naked chick on polar bear" panelvan look :D

ernysp76
12-01-2009, 09:06 AM
Hey Fro, I reckon you should try a paint scheme along the lines of this.. :grouphug:

What is he looking at sponsorship by Wicked Campers?

fro
04-05-2009, 12:40 AM
Alright, car is now awaiting dash to be returned from motor trimmers before the rest of the interior can be re-installed, and the suspension to be rebuilt one night this week. Needs to go off for it's log book inspection, and the sumpguard fitting. But it's getting there.

Didn't end up painting the exterior, and painted the interior and engine bay and front wheel arches with two-pack, but I did it myself (with lots of help). It didn't come out the greatest.

Anyway, Kirrilee and I will be there at Taree, having scored my officiating points at Lithgow.

Let's see how much those Cullens smoke me by... I've got the "well run-in" phat twin-cam installed. It's only done 278,000km. Maybe time for a rebuild between Taree and Bega?

Matty C
04-05-2009, 07:29 AM
Let's see how much those Cullens smoke me by... I've got the "well run-in" phat twin-cam installed. It's only done 278,000km. Maybe time for a rebuild between Taree and Bega?


You might be suprised Fro.

So far my form has only been in pace-noted events!?!

swill
04-05-2009, 10:17 AM
Fro has superaids