02 Aug: Solway Coast Entry & Info

… usedcarparts.co.uk Solway Coast Rally … Sat/Sun, 6/7 Aug …

It’s August. Time for sun, sea, sand and rally cars. That can only mean the Costa del Solway. This weekend’s ‘usedcarparts.co.uk Solway Coast Rally’ has a cracking entry of nearly 80 crews from a’pairts for this 44 stage mile event.

No doubt taking up where they left off last year, after an epic day long battle, winner Mark McCulloch and runner-up David Hardie are the top two seeds this year, but they will face serious opposition. Running at number 3 behind the Mitsubishi and the Subaru is the rapid Mk2 of Gary Adam, with Lee Hastings, who finished 7th last year, eager to do better on home turf this time in his Subaru.

Then come the Subarus of Nigel Feeney (4th last year), Ian Paterson (9th) and John Marshall (Mach 1 winner) all capable of wins here while Greg McKnight (5th last year) has entered his Mk2 after doing the Scottish in a Lancer. Rounding off the top ten is Richard Dickson who can never be discounted because we see him on so few events each year. Last year he was sixth here in his Subaru running auld knackered tyres. Rounding off the top ten seeds is Steve Retchless having come north to take on the Scots in his Mk2. Steve just loves the stages and ‘the crack’ and he was eighth last year, but he’s got Adam and McKnight ahead of him.

Another welcome sight will be the VW Polo S2000 of Peter Stewart. After a herculean effort, the boys have rebuilt the car after it suffered a fire on the Galloway Hills late last year. They only managed this mammoth task by taking bits off his Dad’s (Richard) car to have a look and then putting them back on. With a bit of luck, his Dad’s car will be ready too, if they remembered to put everything back where it should be!

The first of the day’s 8 Special Stages gets underway at 9.00 am on Saturday morning but there is already one topic of concern being expressed. Last year the canteen nearly ran out of food and the Officer’s Mess ran out of beer. By all accounts they are better prepared for the invasion this year, but do they know The Sheriff is coming? He’s running at 23 in his Mitsubishi – Lord help us all. Remember to pack the Anadin and the Irn Bru.

Spectators: As is the case generally this past year, spectating is rather limited and folks are requested to adhere to instructions and advice and follow the ‘green’ arrows signposted from the A711 Dundrennan/Kirkcudbright road. And just to emphasise the ‘stay safe and follow instruction’ advice, this event, more than any other, demands respect. Just bear in mind this is still an active military gunnery range – so if you stray from safe spectator areas you might be going home via A&E. So please, be careful, and don’t pick up anything shiny!

usedcarparts.co.uk Solway Coast Rally
Entry List:
1, Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) Cl.4
2, David Hardie/John McCulloch (Subaru Impreza) 4
3, Gary Adam/Gordon Adam (Ford Escort Mk2) 4
4, Lee Hastings/Julie McGuire (Subaru Impreza) 4
5, Nigel Feeney/TBA (Subaru Impreza) 4
6, Ian Paterson/Heather Grisedale (Subaru Impreza) 4
7, John Marshall/Scott Crawford (Subaru Impreza) 4
8, Greg McKnight/Chris McKnight (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 4
9, Richard Dickson/Roger Alcorn (Subaru Impreza) 4
10, Steve Retchless/Iain Tullie (Ford Escort Mk2) 3
11, Stephen Thompson/David Crosbie (Ford Escort Mk2) 3
12, Stuart Walker/TBA (Skoda Fabia S2000) 3
14, Iain Wilson/Mark Fisher (Subaru Impreza) 4
15, Jim McDowall/Jamie McDowall (Subaru Impreza) 4
16, Jim Sharp/Helen Brown (Subaru Impreza) 4
17, Stuart Paterson/Allan Paterson (Subaru Impreza) 4
18, Hamish Kinloch/Craig Service (Ford Escort Mk2) 3
19, Robert Adamson/Jane Nicol (Ford Escort Mk2) 3
20, Murray Grierson/Mark Grierson (Ford Fiesta S2400) 4
21, Peter Stewart/Kenneth Marchbank (VW Polo S2000) 3
22, Colin Gemmell/Derek Keir (Subaru Impreza) 4
23, Brian Watson/Caroline Will (Mitsubishi EVO) 4
24, James Gibb/Robin Laird (Ford Fiesta) 4
25, Chris Marshall/Richard Winstanley (Mitsubishi Evo 5) 4
26, Derek Blyth/Nick Colman (Subaru Impreza) 4
27, Gareth White/Harry Marchbank (Peugeot 208 R2 Vti) 2
28, Chris McCallum/Peter McCallum (Subaru Impreza) 4
29, Stevie Hope/Louise Hope (Ford Escort Mk2) 4
30, Graham Bruce/Cameron Fair (Mitsubishi Evo IV) 4
31, Alan Wallace/Darren Robertson (Mitsubishi Evo 6) 4
32, Kenny Moore/Richard Wardle (Hillman Avenger) 3
33, Hamish Grant/Stewart Hurst (Ford Escort Mk2) 3
34, Derek Connell/Laura Marshall (Subaru Impreza) 4
35, Willie Nelson/Craig Nelson (Subaru Impreza) 4
36, Robert Marshall/Lewis MacDougall (Ford Escort Mk2) 3
37, Hugh Murdoch/Ewan Murdoch (Ford Escort Mk2) 3
38, David Newall/Craig Wallace (Ford Escort Mk2) 3
39, James Allan/TBA (Subaru Impreza) 4
40, Steven Hay/Steven Brown (Vauxhall Corsa) 1
41, Keith Riddick/Mairi Riddick (MG ZR) 1
42, Richard Stewart/Carin Logan (VW Polo S2000) 3
43, Donald Bowness/TBA (Vauxhall Nova) 2
44, Michael McKenna/Paul Gribben (Vauxhall Astra) 2
45, Joe Pringle/Thomas Purvin (Vauxhall Corsa) 2
46, George Fell/Lois Fell (Ford Puma) 2
47, Scott McMinn/TBA (Subaru Impreza) 4
48, Jim Robertson/Colin Maxwell (Citroen C2R2) 2
49, Brian Pringle/Martyn Douglas (Subaru Impreza) 4
50, Andrew Varley/Tony Bilham (Ford Escort Cosworth) 4
51, Gary Douglas/TBA (Subaru Impreza) 4
52, Stewart Dodds/Robin Neil (Vauxhall Nova) 1
53, Kevin Mathers/Craig Forsyth (Peugeot 205) 3
54, Bob Irvine/Robert Cumming (Vauxhall Astra) 3
55, David Benson/Steven Benson (Honda Civic) 2
56, Michael Harbour/Thomas Mullen (Honda Civic) 2
57, Simon Hunter/Howard Pridmore (Peugeot 205 Rallye) 1
58, Chris Woodcock/Heidi Woodcock (Proton Satria) 1
59, Niall Cowan Jr/Thomas Bruce (MG ZR) 1
60, Innes Mochrie/Paul Hunter (Rover Metro) 1
61, Stuart McBride/TBA (Vauxhall Nova) 1
62, Beefy Fraser/Fiona Moir (Hillman Avenger Tiger) 2
63, Alan Clark/Iain Thorburn (Hillman Avenger) 2
64, Greg Turner/Charley Sayer-Payne (Peugeot 206) 2
65, Luke McLaren/Keith Fair (Ford Fiesta ST) 3
66, Andrew Barker/Shona Hale (Vauxhall Corsa) 1
67, Patrick Messer/Natalie Messer (Peugeot 205 XS) 1
68, Gordon Watson/Simon Little (Peugeot 205) 3
69, Colvin Howie/Tom Howie (Hillman Avenger) 2
70, William Paul/Charles Blair (Vauxhall Nova) 1
71, David Kirkpatrick/Colin Johnstone (BMW Compact 318ti) 3
72, Gary Parker/Lynn Parker (Vauxhall Nova) 1
73, Paul Collins/Ian MacDougall (Subaru Impreza) 4
74, Alan McMorran/Mark Simpson (Chrysler Avenger) 2
75, Colin Stockil/Sarah Craven (Peugeot 205) 2
76, Gareth Frank/Sam Spencer (Vauxhall Firenza) 4
77, Joel David Simpson/Nick Young (Nissan Micra) 1
78, Pete Gorst/Phil King (Citroen Saxo) 1
79, Alan Stark/Greg Stark (Peugeot 205 GTI) 2

There’s a cracking entry of nearly 30 cars and crews for Sunday’s usedcarparts.co.uk Solway Coast Junior Rally for 14 to 17 year olds which gets underway at 9.00 am on Sunday morning. The youngsters will contest 10 special stages, totalling approximately 40 miles. This is one of the favourite events on the British Junior rallying calendar as it features ‘real roads’ as opposed to the more usual feast of airfields and single venue locations.

usedcarparts.co.uk Solway Coast Junior Rally
Entry List
1, Josh McErlean/Tommy McErlean (Peugeot 107)
2, Peter Bennett/TBA (Skoda Citigo)
3, Finlay Retson/Andrew Falconer (Citroen C1)
4, Ewan Tindall/Paul Hudson (Citroen C1)
5, Tommi Meadows/Gareth Hooper (Nissan Micra)
6, Zak Hughes/Chris Evans (Citroen C1)
7, Harry Chalmers/Steven Brown (VW UP)
8, Jude MacDonald/Michael Cruickshank (Nissan Micra)
9, Josh Hislop/Ellya Gold (Peugeot 107)
10, Gethin Sharp/Heather Merrison (Toyota Yaris)
11, Robi Wood/Osian Davies (Nissan Micra)
12, Lewis Winder/Mike Baird (Nissan Micra)
14, Alex Holliday/Joe Taylor (Nissan Micra)
15, James Hall/Simon Bradley (Citroen C1)
16, Johnnie Mackay/Gordon Reid (Nissan Micra)
17, Cameron Russell/Ian McRae (Nissan Micra)
18, Lewis Haining/Charles Blair (Toyota Aygo)
19, Peter Beaton/Kenny Foggo (Citroen C1)
20, Riley Banks/Keegan Rees (Peugeot 107)
21, Tom Rawlings/Chris Woodhouse (Citroen C1)
22, Lwi Price Edwards/Martin Forrest (Peugeot 107)
23, George Sheard/Shaun Hughes (Citroen C1)
24, Edward Lewis/Emma Morrison (Citroen C1)
25, Dan Curwen/Aaron McClure (Nissan Micra)
26, Amy McCubbin/TBA (Nissan Micra)
27, Alex Tentori/Paul Jenkins (Nissan Micra)
28, Adam Ripper/Nigel Banks (Nissan Micra)
29, Alice Paterson/Ian Crosbie (Peugeot 107)
30, Steven Jones/Christopher Brierley (Nissan Micra)
**