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Rally News - March 17, 2009
Crail Tales
Sandy Loynd was
all set for a day's servicing for Bruce Edwards at Crail last Saturday, but when Tom Morris' co-driver had to call off at the last minute, it left Tom looking for a replacement or heading home for an early bath. What a choice, eh? Help out Bruce or get a run in a Metro 6R4? No, contest really. Fortunately, Sandy had his comp licence with him and managed to borrow a set of ovies and a crash hat. "It was my first time in a Metro," grinned Sandy, "I thought the Darrian was quick till I sat in that!" But what made the biggest impression? "The noise. I had been told it was noisy, but I can't hear a thing. It's just magic."
Gary Adam was at Crail on Saturday morning. He was on his way to Murrayfield and had just popped in to see how Neil Ogilvie and his Dad were getting on. Neil has done a lot of work on Gary's MkII since he got it and this was his reward, a run out at Crail. Gary actually bumped the car a wee bitty on the McRae last year so this was its first outing since then. Neil finished 11th overall after a cautious start, so he probably had a better day out than Gary - who had to watch Scotland getting gubbed by the Irish!
Speaking of the Adam family, 
I spotted this contraption hanging out the back of the Escort at service. Gordon Adam explained it was a tracking gauge, but I didn't see any brand names or stickers on it. "No," he said, "I saw something like this at the Touring Car race at Knockhill last year so I made up something similar at home just for the price of the materials. And it works. I had it checked out with someone's laser equipment and it is perfect!" So if you fancy a tracking gauge, have a chat with Gordon. He could be bribed.
John Marshall's appearance at Crail was a one-off in the KG Motorsport Impreza and he had his son Ross with him in the co-driver's seat. Ross has no intention of coming back to rallying either. He competed in 78 Legends races last season. Last year's tyres will be this year's dry tyres, so he only needs to buy one set for the new season! He has only one engine (whereas the serious teams have two!) and it didn't need anything during the season. And with the dearest entry fees being less than £300 per weekend, no wonder he's sticking to racing.
I also spotted a couple of auld fermers 
hanging over a gate counting the yows home, but as I got closer I could see I was mistaken. It was George Anderson and John Millar. George isn't doing much this year but is planning to take the Lancer back to Rally Barbados in May. The last time he was over he had to carry a clutch and bell housing on the flight as hand baggage. Good job they didn't weigh it. I don't know whether it's the rally or the rum that's the biggest attraction, probably both!
How's this for finding a co-driver? With both sons now driving, Allan MacKay (he of Ford Anglia WRC fame) needed a new co-driver. On Mull last year he bumped into Charlotte Banner whose Mum and Dad marshall on the Tour each year and she said she was desperate to go rallying. The man from Brora, he say yes. So Maw and Paw brought her up to Crail from Yorkshire at the weekend for her debut. Allan said she was great, but it was him that let the side down, when he clipped a tyre barrier on the last stage and broke the Lancer's steering.
Iain Grubb was at Crail helping out the MacKenzie father and son duo who had bought his Peugeot 106. I accused him of being retired, but he says work on the Lancer is actually progressing. He's had a roof skin and rear quarter fitted in recent weeks and is now ready to start bolting on the greasy bits. If he would stop helping other folk and just get on with it he'd be back in the woods soon. Mind you, he says he'll have it finished and out on the stages before the year is out. Oh yeah? And I saw a formation of pigs coming into land on the main runway after the last rally car had switched off on Saturday afternoon!
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