… Arnold Clark Snowman Rally, Sat 10th Feb 2017 …
Final Class Results:
Class position / Start No. / Dvr / CoDvr / Home Towns / Car / Time
Notes:
Class 5, Historic:
1st, 94 Eddie O’Donnell Jnr/Chris Lees (Salen/??) Ford Escort Mk1, 52m 56s
“We had serious reliability and mechanical problems today,” said Eddie, “the interior passenger door handle fell off.”
73 Ian Milne/Sandy Milne (Brechin) Ford Escort Mk2 – DNF
First non-finish in 19 events. “We came round a corner just fine in Millbuie, powered on nicely and just slid wide into a ditch” said Ian, “quite a few cars had been off there before us, but they were 4WD and got out – we didn’t!”
74 Ernie Lee/Steven Brown (Ellon/Onich) BMW 325i – DNS
Class 6, FWD up to 2050cc 16v:
1st, 77 Martin Crombie/David Law (Contin/Huntly) Peugeot 306, 55m 15s
“We were in one or two ditches, but we enjoyed it,” said Martin.
2nd, 69 Scott Burness/Jodi Devine (Inverurie) Ford Fiesta ST, +2.35
Finished with no auxiliary light bar: “We can’t afford one,” said Scott, “and we’ve burst a rear shock absorber.
33 Alasdair Currie/Grant MacNiven (Isle of Mull/Oban) Ford Fiesta ST – DNF
Cowped in SS2.
54 Grant MacRae/Martin Bruce (Portree) Ford Fiesta – DNF
Punctured the radiato in SS5.
64 Michael Renton/Kenny Foggo (Bonar Bridge/Munlochy) Peugeot 306 – DNF
Fractured an oil pipe in the first stage.
82 Iain Mutch/Orrin McDonnell (Uig/Staffin) Vauxhall Astra – DNS
90 John MacKay/Johnnie MacKay (Newburgh) Ford Fiesta ST – DNF
Anxious parent turned rally driver for the day, John had Junior 1000 driver Johnnie co-driving for him in the Fiesta which the youngster will get his hands on when he passes his Driving test in May. Engine problem forced retirement in the final stage.
Class 7, RWD up to 2050cc 16v:
1st, 32 Paul McErlean/Niall McKenna (Bellaghy/Draperstown) Ford Escort Mk2, 51m 55s
Having left home at 6am, Paul arrived in Inverness some time after 2 on Friday for his first ever Snowman Rally. “The surface changes were unbelievable,” said Paul, “we were just too cautious all day.”
2nd, 58 Steven Wood/Mary Wood (Inverness) Ford Fiesta, +1.19
“The wife’s still talking to me,” said Steven at the Finish, “so that’s a good day!”
3rd, 48 Liam Wood/Lewis MacDougall (Forres/Renfrew) Ford Escort, +2.48
“We had a problem with the wipers,” said Liam, “but we fixed them with two cable ties. We had no auxiliary lights but we didn’t need them at the start of the last stage – but we needed them by the finish.”
4th, 84 Ali Macleod/Colin Linklater (Stornoway) Ford Escort G3, +9.09
One word summed up feelings at the finish: “Success!”
30 Mike Stuart/Sinclair Young (Alford/Lairg) Ford Escort – DNS
Got to Scrutineering OK but then car failed to start and defied all attempts to fire it up.
31 Duncan MacDonald/Neil Ross (Portree/Portree) Ford Escort – DNF
The car lapsed on to 2 or 3 cylinders after a watery hole inn SS2 but managed to reach service. Couldn’t fix it. Retired
88 Rhuaridh Campbell/Josh Paterson (Kintail/Brora) Chrysler Sunbeam – DNF
Alternator failed in the dark in the final stage.
Class 8, 2WD over 2051cc:
1st, 20 Greg McKnight/Harry Marchbank (Penpont/Thornhill) Ford Escort Mk2, 48m 12s
Excellent result with top 2WD runner and 8th overall, but it could have been better: “We’ve been having trouble with the rear axle all day,” said Greg, “something to do with the link bars which located the axle but we don’t know what the problem is – yet.”
[Main Report]
[Fastest Stage Times]
[Classes 1 to 4]
[Classes 9 to 12]
Snowman Blethers