PJ PLANTHIRE AND GROUNDWORKS CHARTERHALL STAGES 2013 ….
The Charterhall Stages has got a cracking entry for this Saturday’s event (30th March) which kicks off at 9.00 am, but anyone needing access to the infield (Service Area) will really need to be there before 8.30 am before the Stages open for business.
Having said that, the Spectator Car Park is handily situated on the other side of the track near a couple of gates which are always good for a bit of action, and folk can arrive at will.
And maybe the reason for such a good entry is that this will quite possibly be the last motor sports event to be held at the ex-wartime airfield. Despite the best efforts of the local car club plus willing volunteers, and the occasional load of tarmac which has been circumvented in passing, the track is in serious need of replacement. It has gone beyond bodging and fixing. Mind you it’s still in better nick than some of Scotland’s neglected stretches of public road!
But seriously, the tarmac has broken up to such an extent these days that forest tyres are often the first choice ahead of slicks.
First used as a sprint and racetrack in 1952, the glory days of motor racing have long gone, but the landowners haven’t actually put a figure on how much it would cost to repair and replace, so there is little chance of any fund raising efforts to get under way. Before such a task was undertaken, the clubs would need to know how much it would cost and have some security of tenure over what is primarily farm land.
A great pity, for you only have to look at the entry for the Brick & Steel Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge part of the rally to see how much it would mean to future generations. There are 17 entries so far from the 14-17 year old would-be rallyists.
And if there are any parents out there with under-age wheel tuggers this would be the ideal event to bring them along and see at first hand what is involved. As we all know, rally folk will stop and chat to anyone and you can have a close look at the spec (and the cost) of the 1 litre cars. This is serious budget rallying – and probably safer than karts!
Spectator access to the car park and venue will be signposted from the B6460 which runs between Greenlaw and the Duns/Swinton A6112 and a charge will be made, but remember, it’s for a good cause. Keep rallying live!
Entry List (Provisional)
1 Dom Buckley/Barry Hogg (Subaru Impreza) Class 5
2 Dale Robertson/Paul McGuire (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 5
3 Ross Fernie/John Young (Subaru Impreza) 5
4 Stuart Walker/Julie McGuire (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 5
5 Billy McLelland/Helen Brown (Mitsubishi Evo 3) 5
6 Stuart Baillie/Alan Cowan (Subaru Impreza) 5
7 Lee Hastings/Brian Findon (Subaru Impreza) 5
8 Steven Ronaldson/Ross Donald (Metro 6R4) 5
9 Colin Gemmell/Cameron Fair (Subaru Impreza) 5
10 Tommy Heard/Andrew Heard (Volvo) 5
11 Garry Wilson/Hollie Wilson (Mitsubishi Evo) 5
12 Kevin Ronaldson/David Falconer (Subaru Impreza) 5
14 Graham Bruce/Jane Nicol (Mitsubishi Evo 3) 5
15 Ian Forgan/Kathryn Forgan (Ford Ka) 3
16 Neil Morrison/John McLeod (Talbot Sunbeam) 3
17 Leigh Mawson/Ross Mawson (Subaru Impreza) 5
18 Kieran O’Kane/John Frew (Opel Ascona) 3
19 Scott Russell/Adam Russell (Vauxhall Corsa) 2
20 Keir Beaton/Chris Hamill (Honda Civic) 2
21 Ross McCallum/Graeme Meins (MG Maestro) 2
22 Andrew Scott/Ian Robertson (Ford Escort MkII) 3
23 Douglas Humphrey/TBA (Opel Kadett) 3
24 Steven Hay/Gary Voss (Vauxhall Corsa) 1
25 Iain Heard/Alistair Maxwell (Ford Escort MkII) 3
26 Douglas Logan/Johnny Miller (Ford Escort MkII) 3
27 Craig Gibson/Chris Lees (Ford Escort MkI) 2
28 Matt Reid/Cameron Reid (Ford Focus) 3
29 Iain Stewart/TBA (Austin Mini) 1
30 Linzi Henderson/Laura Marshall (Peugeot 107) 1
31 Keith Meins Richard/Simmonds (Proton Satria) 2
Brick & Steel Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge
1 Alexander Vassallo/TBA (Citroen C1)
2 Ryan Weston/Mark McCulloch (Peugeot 107)
3 Harry Marchbank/Jordan Black (Nissan Micra)
4 Andy Struthers/Andrew Falconer (Nissan Micra)
5 Michael Dickie/Euan Duncan (Nissan Micra)
6 Ben Crealey/Liam Reagan (Nissan Micra)
7 Alex Adams/Alasdair Graham (Nissan Micra)
8 Scott Murray/TBA (Nissan Micra)
9 Ally Currie/Mark Runciman (Citroen AX)
10 Stephen McClory/Steven Brown (Nissan Micra)
11 Craig MacIvor/Paul Beaton (Nissan Micra)
12 Dylan O’Donnell/Tracey Louise Muir (??)
14 Michael Robertson/Phil Sandham (Nissan Micra)
15 Luke Barker TBA (Nissan Micra)
16 Brodie Balfour/Callum Atkinson (Nissan Micra)
17 Dale Kelly/Peter Weall (Nissan Micra)
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