… Dunoon Presents Argyll Stages Rally … Sat 23rd …
The ARR Craib Scottish Championship leaderboard could be in for a bit of a shake-up this weekend, given the format of Mull Car Club’s counter in the national series. The 2WD cars will run ahead of the 4WD brigade on Saturday’s Dunoon Presents Argyll Stages Rally and that could provide a wee boost for Greg McKnight who currently lies 6th in the overall standings and will run first car on the road.
On the other hand, just 6 points separate the top four, with Donnie MacDonald holding a 1 point lead over joint 2nd Andrew Gallacher and Mark McCulloch, with Bruce McCombie a further 5 points behind. So far, Garry Pearson, Rory Young and Fred Milne have yet to make an appearance in the top ten overall and this could be their chance. Also look out for John Wink who is getting quicker on each appearance with the Hyundai. Then of course there is Jock Armstrong currently holding 8th place in the points standings.
The rally will get underway from Dunoon Pier Car Park at 09.00 Hrs on Saturday morning at the start of an event with 8 Special Stages and the first car home is expected at Dunoon Stadium around 17.00 Hrs with the Presentation of Awards taking place in front of the grandstand shortly afterwards.
There are Spectator directions and maps on the Dunoon Presents Argyll Stages website here:
http://argyllrally.co.uk/spectators/
Souvenir Rally Programmes will also be on sale at selected outlets, see list below:
Spectator Area 1 :- Glenbranter
First car due SS1 09.37hrs & SS5 13.23hrs
On the A815 north from Dunoon look for the entrance to Glenbranter village which is well sign posted, drive into Glenbranter village and look for the green arrows directing you into the car park, please drive slowly and considerately in the village. Once parked follow the green arrows to the designated spectator area, this is opposite the stage start and offers good views up the hill away from the start. Please do not wander out of this area and listen to the marshals at all times.
Spectator Area 2 :- Bishop’s Glen
First car due SS4 11.43hrs & SS8 15.35hrs
Head south out of Dunoon on A815, a short distance out of town at the West Bay you pass a swing park on your left, take the next right into the car park across the road from the swing park, park up and follow the green arrows along Kilbride Road, you will be directed into the forest and the spectator area is about half a mile from the tarmac road, it will be arrowed all the way. The spectator area offers good viewing of a fast downhill section just after the start into a sweeping right hand bend before heading back uphill, the spectator area has been increased in size from last year and will have toilets and a food van.
Spectator Area 3 :- Bishop’s Glen
First car due SS4 11.43hrs & SS8 15.35hrs
This spectator area is about 4 miles south of Dunoon, follow the A815 south until you come to Innellan, look out for the Osborne Hotel as you will be turning right up the hill just past the hotel, go up the hill and turn left at the top onto Wyndham Road, follow this road past the school to the forest entrance on the right, it will have green arrows all the way from the junction with the A815 and will also be arrowed to the spectator area. There is limited parking at the forest entrance, please do not block the entrance or park dangerously on the single track road.
The spectator area is a fair trudge up the hill, if you make the effort you will be rewarded with a fabulous spectator area stretching along the banking on the top side of the road, there are no trees in this section so viewing of the stage is very good with a wonderful backdrop looking over the Clyde. There is a crossing point to get to the spectator area, please obey the marshals at all times
Argyll Rally programmes will be available from Tuesday, to buy from:
The Observer Shop, 219 Argyll St, Dunoon PA23 7QT
Cotthouse Filling Station, Sandbank, Dunoon, PA23 8QS
– It’s on the A815 just outside Dunoon as you approach from the North.
Chouxmakes Cakes, 23 Castle St, Dunoon PA23 7HP
Cowal Car Components, 68 George St, Dunoon PA23 8BW
Benmore Cafe and Shop, Benmore Botanic Garden, A815, Dunoon PA23 8QU
– on the A815 at the southern tip of Loch Eck as you approach from the North.
Strachur Filling Station, from the A83 at Cairndow head south on the A815.
– It’s just south of the junction with the A886 road to Otter Ferry.
Holy Loch Coffee Shop, Rankin’s Brae, Sandbank, Dunoon PA23 8FE
Sweet Spot, 48 Hillfoot St, Dunoon PA23 7DT
Queen Street Chippy, 71 Queen St, Dunoon PA23 8AX
Also available from Black of Dunoon Bakers’ shops and B&C Family Bargains
Entry List:
101 Greg McKnight/Harry Marchbank (Penpont/Thornhill) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
102 Fraser MacNicol/Andy Brown (Ullapool/Houghton-le-Spring) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
103 Paul McErlean/Niall McKenna (Bellaghy/Draperstown) Ford Escort Mk2, 7
104 Keith Riddick/Kirsty Riddick (Haugh of Urr/Castle Douglas) MG ZR, 3
105 Alasdair Currie/Grant MacNiven (Isle of Mull/Oban) Ford Fiesta ST, 6
106 Gordon Murray/David O’Brien (Perth/Duns) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
107 Barry Lindsay/Caroline Lodge (Carlisle/Brampton) Peugeot 206, 3
108 Keith Robathan/Phil Sandham (Aberdeen/Carnforth) BMW M3, 8
109 Ross Hughes/Steven Brown (Lanark/Fort William) Citroen C2 VTS, 3
110 Scott Sloan/Shannon Turnbull (Dumfries/Dunfermline) Vauxhall Corsa, 1
111 Jim Robertson/Mike Curry (Penpont/Thornhill) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
112 Tom Howie/Charlie Mackenzie (Black Isle/Gairloch) Talbot Sunbeam, 2
113 Grant MacRae/Martin Bruce (Portree/Portree) Ford Fiesta ST, 6
114 John O’Kane/Meghan O’Kane (Kyle of Lochalsh) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
115 Donald Peacock/Albert Connelly (Castle Douglas/Castle Douglas) Peugeot 205 GTI, 2
116 James Campbell/Kevin MacIver (Watten/Peterhead) Talbot Sunbeam, 2
117 Steven Wood/Mary Wood (Inverness) Ford Fiesta RWD, 7
118 Scott Peacock/Robin Neil (Castle Douglas/Haugh of Urr) MG ZR, 1
119 Niall Cowan Jnr/Thomas Bruce (Dumfries/Durham) MG ZR, 1
120 John Brownie/Gordon Ritchie (Inverurie/Stonehaven) Opel Kadett C, 7
121 Jamie Stewart/Kevin Mollison (Blair Atholl/Alyth) Peugeot 205, 2
122 Steven Crockett/Martin Henderson (Aberdeen/Aberdeen) Peugeot 205 1
123 Douglas Watt/Mark Grierson (Inverary/Dalbeattie) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
124 Ian Milne/Sandy Milne (Brechin/Brechin) Ford Escort Mk2, 5
125 Ryan Ingram/Lewis Brown (Isle of Mull/Isle of Mull) Honda Civic, 3
126 Drew Barker/Shona Hale (Kirkcaldy/Dunfermline) Citroen ‘Kettle’, 3
127 David Cameron/Douglas Cameron (Old Kilpatrick/Old Kilpatrick) Ford Escort Mk2, 5
128 Ernie Lee/?? (Ellon/??) BMW 325i, 5
129 Nikki Addison/Rachel Matheson (Inverness/Beauly) Peugeot 106 GTI, 3
130 Duncan MacLean/Ian Parker (Lochgilphead/Lochgilphead) Peugeot 106, 3
1 Jock Armstrong/Cameron Fair (Castle Douglas/Kilmarnock) Subaru Impreza, 10
2 Bruce McCombie/Michael Coutts (Banchory/Torphins) Mitsubishi Evo9, 11
3 Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry (Dumfries/Archiestown) Ford Fiesta R5, 12
4 Gary Pearson/Dale Bowen (Duns/Aberdare) Ford Fiesta R5, 12
5 Donnie MacDonald/Jamie Edwards (Inverness/Wrexham) Ford Fiesta R5, 12
6 John Wink/John Forrest (Huntly/Inverurie) Hyundai i20 R5, 12
7 Rory Young/Allan Cathers (Dumfries/Brampton) Ford Fiesta R5, 12
8 Andrew Gallacher/Jane Nicol (Hurlford/Edinburgh) Ford Focus WRC, 12
9 Michael Binnie/Claire Mole (Cornhill/Duns) Mitsubishi Evo9, 10
10 Scott McCombie/Mark Fisher (Banchory/Workington) Mitsubishi Evo9, 11
11 Fraser Wilson/Craig Wallace (Port William/Kirriemuir) Mitsubishi Evo9, 9
12 Ian Baumgart/Dave Robson (Hawick/Jedburgh) Subaru Impreza, 10
14 John Rintoul/Ross Hynd (Lower Largo/Inverbervie) Skoda Fabia, 11
15 Alan Dickson/Martin Forrest (Glasgow/Bridge of Don) Mitsubishi Evo9, 11
16 John McClory/David Hood (Glasgow/Elderslie) Mitsubishi Evo9, 9
17 Keith Morris/Terry Mallin (Aberdeen/Motherwell) Mitsibishi Evo6, 11
18 John McIlwraith/Paul Barbet (Canonbie/Chester) Subaru Impreza, 10
19 Brett McKenzie/Daniel Forsyth (Elgin/Elgin) Subaru Impreza, 10
20 Donald Brooker/Rachel Booth (Ballater/Inverbervie) Subaru Impreza, 10
21 Kevin Crawford/Claire Martin (Alford/Huntly) Mitsubishi Evo5, 10
22 Andy Chalmers/Martin MacCabe (Peterhead/Glasgow) Subaru Impreza, 9
23 Mike Moates/Kenny Foggo (Ellon/Munlochy) Subaru Impreza, 10
24 Donald MacNeill/Cara MacNeill (Furnace) Subaru Impreza, 9
25 James Campbell/Claire Tilley (Isle of Mull/Isle of Mull) Mitsubishi Evo4, 10
26 Alistair Dalgliesh/David Dalgliesh (Lanark) Subaru Impreza, 10
27 Aileen Forrest/TBA (Inverurie/TBA) Mitsubishi Evo5, 10
28 Fred Milne/Abi Louden (Banchory/Aberdeen) Subaru S14, 12