[AndyH]

RIGNO the R. A life story – The Second Owner
Andy Dorrington (AD) knew his Subaru’s and was a regular visitor to the ring. He saw the potential of R1GNO and also knew after his very first visit that some upgrades were needed.

Owning a plumbing company obviously had its benefits as AD immediately fitted a set of 308mm 4 pot AP Brakes with 2 piece callipers and competition hoses. The 308mm size fitted under the 22B style rims, which seemed to be the only set around at the time – so he kept them.

Next AD had a brand new set of Leda coilovers fitted. Back in 1999, Pete Croney of Scoobysport undertook some R&D with Leda on various trackdays and between them they came up with a spring and valve combination perfect for the track and road. (in exactly the same way that Litchfield developed the original Type25 ASD suspension).

As Leda were also in Basildon (the Scooby triangle), he had the Scoobysport downpipe (H&S again) fitted to complete the decat on the car.
After his next Ring visit AD discovered that the car had now become under powered in relation to the chassis so he looked for a engine re map.
Bob Rawle had not long started BRD developments with business partner Branko in 2001 and had been working with the Australian developers of the Link ECU, which even back then got rid of the MAF sensor.
Following Bobs advice the Link ECU was fitted/mapped with the obligatory three port solenoid, and additionally a KnockLink and a Lambda Link. You can see both these last two in some of the later in car pics.
The car was mapped conservatively, for 97ron fuel and well within the parameters so that it could run all day on the circuit.

Not long after AD also bought a set of Defi Gauges, and a full set of Carbon dipped plastics from Nitosport (Nito being another well known Scooby owner of the time).
AD also fitted a stereo and uprated speakers at about this time.








At about 43,000 miles disaster struck in the form of a crank failure. These types of failures had befallen a number of SIDC/Scoobynet cars and was one of the reasons that AD had fitted the link.
Ironically the car went back to the original dealer for a rebuild.
The cost: £3,411.59 (some would consider that expensive 10years on!):




I think the engine failure upset AD a little as by the time the car had done 47,000miles it was up for sale in 2002 and had been already replaced by a 22B (Yes you read right a 22B).

Next: The car comes to Kent and KentScoobies is born..