… Arnold Clark Snowman Rally, Sat 10th Feb 2017 …
Rallying. Sometimes your luck is made for you, other times you make your own. Competitors will need a bit of both this weekend.
There’s no Jock, Euan, David, or at the last minute, Garry, entered for Saturday’s Arnold Clark Snowman Rally. Which means four likely lads for the first victory of the season are out of the game before the first wheel sprays gravel (or mud, snow or ice) in anger.
That opens up a whole new bunch of opperchancities for everyone else. Top of the heap must be Mike Faulkner. Hampered by lack of budget, he makes up the difference in tenacity and talent. He has never won in Inverness, always outgunned by faster and more modern machinery, maybe this time. Three 3rds and a 2nd are a tribute to what he can do with the Lancer. Could this be his year?
Donnie MacDonald won here two years back in his Evo9, but will have the Fiesta R5 at his mercy this weekend, while Bruce McCombie, Barry Groundwater and Steven Clark are Lancer mounted. Then of course there are the Milne twins. Can the calmer and more measured approach (well, just a bit) of Fred overcome the mercurial talent of his big brother Q? However, the unknown quantity in the top ten is Andrew Gallacher. He’s set on a full season with the Focus WRC.
But what of Mark McCulloch? If the deal comes off (I’m sworn to secrecy) he too could be in with a shout on Saturday evening.
However, this is the Snowman. Pre-event predictions are about as reliable as a 1957 Trabant. So how do you fancy a few outside bets? John Wink, Michael Binnie and newcomer Lawrence Whyte could well spring a surprise and remember, it’s 9 years since Reay MacKay last won the Snowman in the Metro, and he’s back in a Focus WRC this time. Bob ‘The Man from Moscow’ Adamson has a fabulous new car and could also pose a threat once he gets the hang of it.
And Alan Dickson is back too. Last seen in the woods over ten years ago (3rd in the Championship in 2006) he was spotted moochin’ about the Service Area and asking awkward questions at the McRae Challenge last year at Dunkeld. Now we know why, he’s got a Lancer.
Plus there is a late entry from Shaun Sinclair. He’s been about as lucky as a two leaf clover over the past couple of seasons, but if he gets some reliability, and some sensibility (a big ask admittedly), then he could be the dark horse this year.
Oh yes. Garry! And Jock. With David Bogie and Euan Thorburn concentrating on the BRC this coming season, many folk thought Jock Armstrong would again be in the running for the title, but sadly he will miss out on the opening two rounds. With him refusing to Appeal the decision of the National Court, the MSA’s hands are tied with regard to his licence suspension. This followed that well publicised silly prank and the subsequent over-reaction by the three judges on the motor sports bench. And we all thought this was a sport.
As for Garry, he had to withdraw his entry at the weekend. Very reluctantly. His leg is still in stookie and he’s hobbling about the yard in Duns on crutches! “I fractured my fibula three and a half weeks ago,” said Garry, “I fell on the ice running across the yard. Originally I thought I would be ready for this weekend, but it’s taking longer to heal than we thought. Instead we’ll spend our Snowman budget on a test ahead of the Border Counties. It’s four weeks away so I should be fully fit for then. I’m still aiming to do the Scottish Championship but I’ll have to start with a dropped score!”
The 2018 ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship gets underway this Saturday morning at 09.00 Hrs with the ceremonial start in Inverness High Street. A vintage season is in prospect.
Rally HQ will be at Fairways Leisure, IV2 6AA, from Friday afternoon till Saturday evening. Fairways is situated on the South West edge of Inverness. Access from the A9 at the Inshes/Culloden/Raigmore Hospital junction and follow Sir Walter Scott Drive until you can see the course on the left hand side then enter from the roundabout at the west end of the course.
Scrutineering will take place as usual at Arnold Clark Peugeot, Harbour Road.
Programmes available from these outlets:
Arnold Clark Peugeot, 36 Harbour Rd, Inverness IV1 1UB
Autosave, Greyfriars Street, Elgin IV30 1LF
Autosave, 35H Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1UA
Bannerman’s Seat Filling Station, 44 Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1UF
Bitz Garage, 10 Tom Semple Road, Nairn IV12 5QW
Charlies Café, Margaret St, Inverness IV1 1LS
Contin Filling Station, Contin IV14 9ES
Fairways Leisure, Inverness IV2 6AA
Kingswells Filling Station, 36 Old Perth Road, Inverness IV2 3HR
Ord Filling Station, Great North Road, Muir of Ord IV6 7XR
Skiach Service Station, Evanton IV16 9XJ
Tore Service Station, A832, Tore IV6 7RZ
Full Entry List:
1 Garry Pearson/Paula Swinscoe (Duns/Withnell) Ford Fiesta R5, Class 12
2 Mike Faulkner/Peter Foy (Aspatria/Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, 11
3 Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry (Dumfries/Archiestown) TBA, Class 12
4 Donnie MacDonald/Andrew Falconer (Inverness/Inverness) Ford Fiesta R5, 12
5 Bruce McCombie/Michael Coutts (Banchory/Torphins) Mitsubishi Evo 9, 11
6 Quintin Milne/Sean Donnelly (Banchory/Elgin) Subaru S11 WRC, 12
7 Andrew Gallacher/Jane Nicol (Hurlford/Edinburgh) Ford Focus WRC, 12
8 Freddie Milne/Patrick Walsh (Aberdeen/Aberystwyth) Subaru Impreza, 12
9 Barry Groundwater/Neil Shanks (Stonehaven/Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo X R4+, 11
10 Steven Clark/Paul Gribben (Mostyn/Annan) Mitsubishi Evo 5, 11
11 Michael Binnie/Claire Mole (Cornhill/Duns) Mitsubishi Evo 9, 10
12 John Wink/John Forrest (Huntly/Rothienorman) Hyundai i20 R5, 12
14 Scott McCombie/Mark Fisher (Banchory/Workington) Mitsubishi Evo 9, 11
15 Lawrence Whyte/Stuart Loudon (New Aberdour/Bothwell) Ford Fiesta R5, 12
16 Reay MacKay/Keir Beaton (Fort Augustus/Inverness) Ford Focus WRC, 12
17 John Morrison/Peter Carstairs (Conon Bridge/St Andrews) Mitsubishi Evo 9, 10
19 Ross MacDonald/Matthew Johnstone (Conon Bridge/Aberdeen) Mitsubishi Evo 9, 12
20 Greg McKnight/Harry Marchbank (Penpont/Thornhill) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
21 Fraser Wilson/Craig Wallace (Port William/Kirriemuir) Mitsubishi Evo 9, 10
22 John McClory/David Hood (Strathblane/Elderslie) Mitsubishi Evo 9, 10
23 John Rintoul/Ross Hynd (Lower Largo/Dalgety Bay) Mitsubishi Evo X, 11
24 Ian Baumgart/Dave Robson (Hawick/Jedburgh) Subaru Impreza, 10
25 Brian Ross/Iain Thorburn (Elgin/Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo 6, 10
26 Alan Dickson/Martin Forrest (Glasgow/Bridge of Don) Mitsubishi Evo 9, 11
27 David Ross/Kyle MacKintosh (Auldearn/Auldearn) DAM Metro 4100, 11
28 Keith Morris/Terry Mallin (Aberdeen/Motherwell) Mitsubishi Evo 6, 11
29 Scott MacBeth/Daniel Forsyth (Culloden/Elgin) Citroen C2 R2 MAX, 3
30 Mike Stuart/Sinclair Young (Alford/Lairg) Ford Escort, 7
31 Duncan MacDonald/Neil Ross (Portree/Portree) Ford Escort, 7
32 Paul McErlean/Niall McKenna (Bellaghy/Draperstown) Ford Escort Mk2, 7
33 Alasdair Currie/Grant MacNiven (Isle of Mull/Oban) Ford Fiesta ST, 6
34 Fraser MacNicol/Keith Boa (Ullapool/Ullapool) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
35 Duncan Campbell Mauchline Michael Cruickshank Crieff Subaru Impreza 10
36 Ellya Gold/Jean Hay (Dunfermline/Dunfermline) Mitsubushi Evo 6, 10
37 Thomas Gray/Ricky Finlayson (Tore/Inverness) Vauxhall Nova, 4
38 Keith Riddick/Kirsty Riddick (Haugh of Urr/Haugh of Urr) MG ZR, 3
39 Matthew Thomson/Ian Graham (Inverurie/Inverurie) Subaru Impreza GC8, 10
40 Finlay Retson/Tom Hynd (Blairgowrie/Montrose) Ford Fiesta R2, 3
41 Robert Adamson/Richard Wardle (Moscow/Pickering) Skoda Fabia S2000, 11
42 Neil Coalter/Hannah Cessford (Sauchen/Sauchen) Ford Puma, 3
43 Ross McFadzean/Laura Marshall (St Quivox/Ayr) Subaru Impreza, 10
44 Ally Reid/Donald Urquhart (Muir of Ord/Muir of Ord) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8, 10
45 Sandy Arbuthnott/Ian Arbuthnott (Elgin/Forres) Ford Focus, 10
46 Ross Hughes/Neil Ewing (Lanark/Largs) Citroen C2 VTS, 3
47 Alex Pirie/Frazer Skene (Drummuir/Tomintoul) Citroen C2 VTS, 3
48 Liam Wood/Lewis MacDougall (Forres/Renfrew) Ford Escort, 7
49 Colin Baxter/John Campbell (Tain/Invergordon) Ford Escort, 4
50 Jim Robertson/Mike Curry (Penpont/Thornhill) Ford Escort, 4
51 Ian Petrie/Alan Falconer (Muir of Ord/Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo 4, 10
52 Paddy Munro/Seumas MacLean (Kyle/Sconser) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
53 Scott Sloan/David Sloan (Dumfries) Vauxhall Corsa, 1
54 Grant MacRae/Martin Bruce (Portree) Ford Fiesta, 6
55 Tommy Graham/Mark Pickering (Bedale/Leyburn) Mitsubishi Evo 8, 10
56 Donald Brooker/Rachel Booth (Ballater/Inverbervie) Subaru Impreza, 10
57 Tom Howie/Charles MacKenzie (Inverness/Gairloch) Talbot Sunbeam, 2
58 Steven Wood/Mary Wood (Inverness) Ford Fiesta, 7
59 Kevin Crawford/Claire Martin (Alford/Huntly) Mitsubishi Evo V, 10
60 John O’Kane/Meghan O’Kane (Kyle Ford) Escort Mk2, 4
61 Scott MacDonald/David Falconer (Maryburgh/Inverness) Vauxhall Nova, 2
62 Adrian Stewart/Emma Steeley (Banchory/Portlethen) Peugeot 205, 2
63 Jamie Stewart/David Findlay (Blair Atholl/Rattray) Peugeot 205, 2
64 Michael Renton/Kenny Foggo (Bonar Bridge/Munlochy) Peugeot 306, 6
65 Niall Cowan Jnr/Thomas Bruce (Dumfries/Durham) MG ZR, 1
66 Andy Struthers/Alasdair McIlroy (Lanark/Jedburgh) Citroen C2 VTS, 3
67 Colin Patterson/Gary Clark (Drumoak/Alness) Ford Escort, 4
68 Steve Ross/Rowena Hay (Nairn) Vauxhall Corsa, 3
69 Scott Burness/Jodi Devine (Inverurie) Ford Fiesta ST, 6
70 Steven Bellshaw/Lorn Hughes (Fortrose/Inverness) Citroen C2 VTS, 3
71 James Campbell/Kevin McIver (Watten/Peterhead) Talbot Sunbeam, 2
72 Steven Crockett/Martin Henderson (Aberdeen/Newmachar) Peugeot 205, 1
73 Ian Milne/Sandy Milne (Brechin) Ford Escort Mk2, 5
74 Ernie Lee/Steven Brown (Ellon/Onich) BMW 325i, 5
75 Mark Shaw/William Munro (Argay/Bonar Bridge) Subaru Impreza, 10
76 Hector MacInnes/Jenny O’Kane (Breakish/Kyle of Lochalsh) Subaru Impreza, 10
77 Martin Crombie/David Law (Contin/Huntly) Peugeot 306, 6
78 Brett McKenzie/Lauren Murray (Elgin/Fochabers) Subaru Impreza, 10
79 Mike Moates/Gary McDonald Aberdeen (Ellon/Subaru) Impreza 10
80 Billy Falconer/Eric Falconer (Inverness) Peugeot 205, 2
81 Graham Morrison/Steven Edward (Inverness/Tomatin) Subaru Impreza, 10
82 Iain Mutch/Orrin McDonnell (Uig/Staffin) Vauxhall Astra, 6
83 Gary Blackmore/Sandy Corrigan (Fort William/Ardgour) Subaru Impreza 555, 10
84 Ali Macleod/Colin Linklater (Stornoway) Ford Escort G3, 7
85 Chris Baillie/Allen Cowe (Portree) Peugeot 205, 2
86 John MacIntosh/Ali MacGregor (Inverness) Talbot Sunbeam, 4
87 Drew Barker/Shona Hale (Kirkaldy/Dunfermline) Citroen C2 Challenge, 3
88 Rhuaridh Campbell/Josh Paterson (Kintail/Brora) Chrysler Sunbeam, 7
89 Stuart Urquhart/Rod Manson (Shotts/Aberdeen) Subaru Impreza, 10
90 John MacKay/Johnnie MacKay (Newburgh) Ford Fiesta ST, 6
91 Nikki Addison/Rachel Matheson (Inverness/Beauly) Peugeot 106 GTI, 3
92 Shaun Sinclair/Paul Beaton (Connel/Inverness) Subaru Impreza, 12
93 Ronnie Horne/Paul Horne (Nairn) Subaru Impreza, 10