… Knockhill Rally Roundup, News & Banter …
The day before the Knockhill Stages, Mid Antrim Motor Club hosted its Icebreaker Forestry Rally in Northern Ireland. Amongst the locals was one visitor from afar, a certain Shaun Sinclair Esq. He finished third overall with Stephen O’Hanlon alongside in the Subaru Impreza S9 and he was only 42 secs behind winners Kenny McKinstry and Kenny Hull in a Impreza S14. Patrick O’Brien and Stephen O’Brien were second in their Lancer Evo VI. The rally was run over two stages, the 8 mile Slieveanorra test and the shorter 2 mile Beaghs stage with each being run three times giving a total stage mileage of 30 and only 55 road miles. Might be worth a thought as a shakedown for next year?
Another driver with unusual plans was spotted at Knockhill. Malloch Nicoll has just acquired a new ‘rally car’ – a 1.6 litre Ford Capri. “It’s a ’73 ‘L’ reg with 40,000 miles,” said Malloch, “and I bought it just to do the Monte Carlo Classique at the end of the month. Not the full Monte Historique,” he added, “but the time trial run that runs alongside the rally, and then maybe have a shot at the ‘proper’ rally next year.” The car had been sitting in a garage for years when Malloch bought it: “I didn’t want to get 100 yards over the ramp in Paisley and then find out the alternator wasn’t working so I took it for a wee run via Inverness (317 miles in total!) in the dark to check it out.” Job done.
Bumped into Paul Ballantyne with hands in pockets mooching about the Paddock but he’s happy enough: “I’m building a new shape Clio and using many of the bits from the old car,” he said, “however, the new car should be 150 kgs lighter and a few engine mods should get me another 20hp. It should be ready for Ingliston.” And so should Paul. By the looks of his baggy troosers, it’s not only the Clio that has been shedding weight!
Donnie MacDonald was one of the first to put his car on the trailer at Knockhill: “The car was completely rebuilt for Mull last year with a new ‘box and transmission so this was really a shakedown for the Snowman,” he said. He had a big 360 spin at the Hairpin on the first lap of the first stage and it almost stalled. “I finished the stage,” said Donnie, “but we think we might have a wee problem with the turbo. So the plan is to get it home and get it into the garage and find out. I don’t want to take any risks with it. Best get to sorted now than find there is a problem half way through the Snowman.”
Murray Grierson was another to disappear early with his Fiesta S2400 machine:” The car has full Euro tarmac suspension which is not good for round here. It has too much understeer and I’m just ruining tyres,” he explained.
Ian Archer appeared at Knockhill in a new car. Having been lured back to the sport last year in an Escort Mk2, the rally bug had obviously wormed its way back into his soul and he has acquired Mark McCulloch’s Evo9. He finished 28th overall: “I was happy enough with that,” he said, “this was all about learning the car and 4WD. It was too cold today to get any heat into the tyres, so no heroics, but it was all about learning the car ahead of the Snowman.”
Chris McCallum was another in a new car, a Subaru Impreza. “I bought it 5 months ago but it was in ‘Irish’ spec so I had to get it all checked out and a new turbo which was just sealed yesterday. I must admit the ‘Subaru Cup’ in the Scottish Rally Championship is looking attractive!”
Colin Gemmell was unusually off the pace at Knockhill: “I’ve used a plated diff for the last 5 years but was constantly chewing up front tyres, so I’ve now got a new electronic diff. It’s a whole new ball game. The car also has new suspension so really it’s a new car. I’m having to learn about settings and electronics rather than just drive the thing!”
Not renowned for tarmac appearances, Dougal Brown was giving his Mk2 an airing at Knockhill: “There’s a few wee wiring gremlins to sort out,” he said, “the radiator fan is not coming on when it should and the wipers stopped working a few times, but it was a good day out.”
Scott MacBeth debuted his smart new Evo7 and finished 20th first time out: “We had a rear puncture on the seventh test but it was far too cold to stop and change it, so we just limped out. The tyre was still on the rim as it had just rolled off when we handbraked it, so there was no damage, just time loss.”
Gerry Kilmurray re-appeared in the driving seat of an Astra and the smile was still there, even when he bumped the car’s nose on a large tyre marker: “I just nipped on the handbrake to slide it round a chicane expecting it to slide, but it gripped instantly and banged the nose on a lorry tyre. It’s also bent a TCA so the tracking is well out.”
Murray Coulthard was back in his old Vauxhall Corsa at Knockhill, but co-driving for his pal Stewart Dodds. Sadly their outing was curtailed when the flywheel detached itself from the crankshaft! However, Murray was saying that his Citroen C2 is getting completely rebuilt and will be out on the Snowman at the start of a full SRC campaign. “I did seriously look at the BRC,” he said, “but I just thought it was going to be too expensive.”
Tom Hynd finished third in class 3 after a rear puncture in the Renault dropped him out of the top 15 but he fought back to finish 16th overall.
Kenny Moore dropped out of the top 20 when the Avenger’s clutch started slipping on SS7 and then started slipping badly on SS8.
The was a new line-up in the Carslaw Fiesta with Caroline consigned to the passenger seat while Donald (the ol’ man) was driving. Progress was being made till a shock absorber broke and the duo finished 32nd overall. Mind you Caroline was none too impressed: “Dad’s braking technique leaves a lot to be desired!”
Gary McDonald was competing in a borrowed Subaru Impreza but lost a chunk of time on the penultimate test when the gear linkage broke, adding succinctly: “Borrowed the car, broke the car, fixed the car.”
Kenneth McRae burst his Peugeot heater matrix leaving him without a demister so Craig Horsburgh spent the day with a rag on a stick wiping the windscreen.
Also on windscreen wiping duty was Doc Steven Brown who soldiered on despite injuring himself. He was co-driving for Stephen Hay and when he shouted “Wipe”, Steven duly obliged, but only after receiving medical attention. When trying to push a rag on to a rod he stabbed himself with the rod and needed a plaster. I almost felt sorry for the wee soul.
Showing his age was Garry Wilson in the Evo: “The last time I was here at Knockhill was the 1986 Kingdom Stages when they ran a stage at the circuit before going down to the forests at Devilla and Blairadam.” Crikey, that was 30 years ago.
1400 front runner Archie MacCallum was on the pace in his Corsa over the early stages but then the alternator bracket broke and it was tied in place with cable ties before the gear linkage broke on the last two stages.
Michael Robertson was having his second run out in his Peugeot 106 after breaking a shaft at Crail but this time the back brakes were seizing on and not releasing. He still finished third in class with a big grin on his face: “With the rear brakes seizing on it was oversteering a lot!”
Sandy Fairbairn failed to finish at Knockhill when the Fiesta’s gear linkage broke for the second time with two stages to go. The last I saw of the boys were legs poking out from under the car with the sumpguard off but they just failed o get it fixed and back out in time.
Robert Cumming was all set to head for home when the Astra’s fuel pump failed but the team thought different. They disconnected the rear light cluster to get some wire then ran a length of the wire from the pump direct to the battery. Bet they didn’t get that from a Haynes manual.
Gina Walker contested her second rally, this time driving Andrew Pemberton’s Citroen C2, and confirmed that she has done a deal with Andrew to use the car in the Border Ecosse Championship.
New kids on the block. Alice Paterson (Stuart’s girl) is getting excited ahead of her BARS test on 14th Feb. The 14 year old’s Peugeot 107 is almost ready and she’s aiming for the Ecosse Junior series. Also doing the test that day is young Lewis Haining (Iain’s boy). Naturally enough, Stuart had a wee bit of a moan: “£325 for the BARS test!” ‘Nuff said. Alan Stark (Chris Wagner’s ex co-driver) is also building a car, a 205, for young Greg Stark.
And finally …
Stig’s Grandpa
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