… Mach1 Stages Rally …
… Sat/Sun, 5/6 July …
Crikey what an entry. This weekend’s brand new Mach I Stages at Machrihanish Airfield will take to the Mull of Kintyre for Round 4 of the BLUE Scottish Tarmack Rally Championship with a damn near full-house entry of 100 cars and crews. The DCC organisers didn’t really want any more than that for their first event at this brand new venue, and it’s tremendous to see so much support for this ambitious undertaking – which is awfy far away from Dunfermline by the way!
Heading the entry list is Quicksilver Milne in his new motor and whilst most folks will think ‘who will finish second/’ just bear in mind that this is a new car and is bit more complex than our Meccano Kid is used to. The Lancers of Alistair Inglis and Barry Groundwater might just be a match for the Focus depending on the layout of the stages, so that will be interesting to judge before it all kicks off and bets are laid down. And if Gary Adam has managed to acquire some ‘smokeless’ tyres, the MkII might just give the total traction brigade a fright. Speaking of which, Tom Morris will be hoping that the Metro’s gearbox woes have been cured and then of course there’s Alan Gardiner. MkI’s shouldn’t be that quick, should they?
Donnie the Ditch will be there too, thankfully there are no forest ditches on an airfield, and The Sheriff will bring his own particular brand of bonhomie while Jock the Bull is giving the Escort an airing ahead of this year’s Mull event. And of course, there’s Rapid Runcie to contend with, provided the Saxo can contain its internals when given the message.
The rally gets under way at Noon on Saturday with the first car flagged away at 12.00 Hrs (that’s mid day ya numpty) and after four stages, silence will fall. The event re-starts on Sunday morning at 08.30 Hrs. In total there are 8 stages offering 62 miles of action and with cars starting at 30 second intervals, you’re head will think your neck is on Wimbledon duty.
There’s just one tiny wee fly in the ointment, so to speak, and that’s the Entry Charge for Spectators. This has nothing to do with the organisers, but the local cooncil folks have decided to charge £15 per car. That might just put some folk off, especially those travelling a distance and have already filled up with fuel. By the same token, permission to camp overnight on site and have a barbecue was refused. Again a pity, as this would have helped to make this a social as well as a sporting event and ensure its future.
On the other hand, maybe the cooncil wants to play things down to see how it goes for this first ever such event and be a bit more welcoming next year. I hope so. Such an event as this deserves to succeed and needs our support.
So, for the moment, let’s just go there, participate and enjoy the experience – and pick up your litter for proper disposal before you go home!
Entry List:
No, Driver/Co-Driver (Make Model) cc, Class
1, Quintin Milne/Martin Forrest (Ford Focus WRC) 2000, 5
2, Alistair Inglis/Colin Inglis (Mitsubishi Evo 5) 2000, 5
3, Barry Groundwater/Sean Donnelly (Mitsubishi/EVO 9) 2000, 5
4, Gary Adam/Gordon Adam (Ford Escort MkII) 2500, 4
5, Tom Morris/Colin Harkness (MG Metro 6R4) 2500, 5
6, Donnie MacDonald/Andrew Falconer (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1997, 5
7, Alan Gardiner/Robin Nicolson (Ford Escort Mk1) 2400, 4
8, James MacGillivray/Shona MacGillivray (Ford Escort) 2000, 4
9, Barry McKenna/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) 2000, 3
10, Ross Marshall/Dave Robson (Ford Escort) 2500, 4
11, Colin Gemmell/Christopher Hunter (Subaru Impreza) 1998, 5
12, Lee Hastings/Drew Sturrock (Subaru Impreza) 2495, 5
14, John Morrison/Peter Carstairs (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1998, 5
15, Ian Forgan/Kathryn Forgan (Ford Ka) 1999, 3
16, Ian Paterson/Helen Brown (Subaru Impreza N10) 1995, 5
17, Shaun Sinclair/Ruaridh Allan (Ford Escort) 1800, 3
18, Reay Mackay/Iain Macknocher (TBA)
19, Stephen Lockhart/Kevin Lockhart (Mitsubishi Evo 7) 1997, 5
20, Nick Runcie/Gary Muir (Citroen Saxo) 1598, 2
21, Stuart Walker/Julie McGuire (Mitsubishi Evo 8) 1998, 5
22, Stephen Thompson/David Crosbie (Ford Escort MkII) 2000, 3
23, James Gibb/Billy Gower (Subaru Impreza)1998, 5
24, Allan Brodie/Cameron Fairbairn (Ford Escort MkII) 1600, 2
25, Bill Hamilton/Charles ‘Matt’ Fletcher (Opel Kadett) 2000, 3
26, Kieran O’Kane/Matt Reid (Opel Ascona) 3000, 4
27, Allan Mackay/Fred MacLean (Ford Anglia WRC) 2000, 3
28, Steven Paterson/John ‘Shuggie’ Wood (Opel Corsa)1998, 3
29, Brian Ross/Scott MacBeth (Mitsubishi Evo 5) 1998, 5
30, Stuart Paterson/Allan W Paterson (Subaru Impreza) 2000, 5
31, Brian Watson/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo 8) 2000, 5
32, John Marshall/Scott Crawford (Ford Escort) 1601, 3
33, Roy Smith/Russell Smith (Porsche 911) 2993, 4
34, Chris Abel/Will Philip (Ford Escort) 1998, 3
35, Alan Wallace/Darren Robertson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) 1998, 5
36, Eddie O’Donnell Jnr/Amanda O’Donnell (Toyota Celica GT4) 2000, 5
37, Euan Mackay/TBA (Ford Anglia JWRC) 2000, 3
38, Stewart Morrison/Jason MacPhail (Ford Escort MkII) 1997, 3
39, Craig Gibson/Chris Lees (Ford Escort Mk1) 1998, 3
40, John Paterson /Paul MacFadyen (Vauxhall Nova) 1398, 1
41, Murray Coulthard/Harry Marchbank (Vauxhall Nova) 1398, 1
42, Paul Ballantyne/Graham Bruce (Renault Clio Sport) 1998, 3
43, Kevin Ronaldson/Barry Hogg (Metro 6R4) 2500, 4
44, Tommy A Heard/Graeme Meins (Subaru STi) 2000, 5
45, Gerry Gaffney/Jane Nicol (Mitsubishi Evo 3) 1997, 5
46, Ross McSkimming/Colin Grant (Ford Fiesta) 2000, 3
47, Freddie Milne/Sean Donnelly (Mitsubishi Evo 7) 2000, 5
48, Craig ‘Bruce’ Teasdale/Duncan Lilwall (Subaru Impreza) 2500, 5
49, Alan McLaughlin/Iain Hamill (Citroen C2R2) 1600, 2
50, Tom Middlemiss/Richard Stewart (Vauxhall Nova) 1998, 3
51, Guy Halley/Jeff Horne (Ford Escort) 2000/3
52, Gordon Milne/Paul Watson (Audi TT) 1798, 5
53, Ross Pringle/Thomas Purvin (Vauxhall Corsa B) 1598, 2
54, Scott Morrison/Craig Sim (Vauxhall Corsa) 1796, 3
55, Cameron Maclean /Craig Fisher (Ford Escort MkII) 1998, 3
56, Keir Beaton/Paul Beaton (Honda Civic) 1600, 2
57, Fergus Gray/James McDiarmid (BMW M130i) 2997, 4
58, Fergus Barlow/Alasdair MacCrone (Citroen Saxo VTS) 1600, 2
59, Andrew Scott/Ian Robertson (Ford Escort MkII) 1999/3
60, Steven Hay/Kyle Livingstone (Vauxhall Corsa) 1389, 1
61, John Robertson/Violet Kydd (Ford Escort MkII) 1998, 3
62, Shug Rutherford /Louis Rutherford (Peugeot 205) 1998, 3
63, Darren Thompson/Larry Higton (Vauxhall Nova) 1400, 1
64, Charlie Donaldson/Shona Hale Donaldson (Ford Cortina Mk1 GT) 1998, 3
65, Kevin Clarke/Steven Ogston (Vauxhall Nova) 1598, 2
66, Ross MacDonald/Matthew Johnstone (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 2000, 5
67, Danny Sutherland/Lucy Melville (Peugeot 205 Gti) 1600, 2
68, Steve McGregor/Gordon Reid (Honda Integra Type R) 1800, 3
69, Greg Inglis/Cammy Reid (Citroen Saxo VTS) 1600, 2
70, Gordon Mcelrath/Colin Smith (Vauxhall Chevette) 1998, 3
71, Alex Adams/Angus Lawrie (Ford Escort MkII) 1998, 3
72, Russell Milne/Briana Carey (Ford Escort Cosworth) 1998, 5
73, Jamie Miller/Alastair Crawford (Subaru Impreza) 2000, 5
74, Alister Macarthur/Chris Robertson (Subaru Impreza) 1998, 5
75, Kenneth McRae/Craig Horsburgh (Peugeot 205 GTi) 1900, 3
76, Ian Shiells/Nicola Ritchie (BMW (Honda) Compact 318) 1998, 3
78, Leonard Jones/TBA (Vauxhall Chevette) 1998, 3
79, Ally Galbraith/Del Galbraith (Ford Escort MkIII) 2090, 4
80, Norman MacPhail/Robert Sherry (Ford Escort MkII) 1998, 3
81, Mark Runciman/Martin MacCabe (Vauxhall Nova) 1299, 1
82, Erle Strachan/Amanda Morrison (Mitsubishi Evo 6) 2000, 5
83, Keith Meins/Amanda Burney (Proton Satria) 1834, 3
84, Norman McLaughlin/William MacKenzie (Subaru Impreza) 1990, 5
85, Paul Hunter/David Law (Peugeot 205 Gti) 1600, 2
86, Robert May/Julian May (Nissan Micra) 1340, 1
87, Colvin Howie/Tom Howie (Hillman Mopar Avenger) 1598, 2
88, Donald Bowness/Ian Parker (Vauxhall Nova) 1598, 2
89, Iain Stewart/Steven Brown (Austin Mini)1380, 1
90, Andrew Keith Yates/Alistair Haw (Peugeot 205 Gti) 1905, 3
91, George Fell/Lois Fell (Subaru Impreza) 1990, 3
92, Thomas Gray/Calum MacDonald (Peugeot 205) 1600, 2
93, William Fleming/Chloe Fleming (Peugeot 205) 1580, 2
94, Gavin Gray/Andrew Gray (Citroen ZX) 1905, 3
95, Duncan MacLean/Ross Callander (Peugeot Gti) 1600, 2
96, Alan Ross/Aaron Harvey (Rover Metro Gti) 1396, 1
97, Bryan Hamilton/Nick Young (Peugeot 205)1600, 2
98, M Thaarique Fazal/TBA
99, James Munro/TBA
101, Ruary MacLeod/TBA
**