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Rally News - Friday 14th August
Exclusions in the News
Jock Armstrong’s shock exclusion from the Speyside Stages Final Results was accepted with dignity by the man himself. “I bought the car in good faith and I bought the Japanese Group N kit in good faith’” said Jock, “I am more shocked than anyone else. I don’t want to win anything by other than fair means. If I was a few years older, something like this would make me want to walk away from the sport. It’s not my fault, but yes, I must accept the responsibility.” Jock refused to blame anyone else although some dubiety remains over the question of the differential’s homologation. It has been suggested that confusion could have arisen over two different parts numbers for Group N differentials listed in the ‘Japanese kit’ specification sheet, and whilst one is acceptable in Europe the other is not.
This matter requires further clarification According to Hankook Scottish Championship Co-ordinator, Robert Beck, the Championship Committee will now have to discuss the matter. Until the Speyside, Armstrong had amassed 131 points and was leading the championship. At the moment, Armstrong has only been excluded from the Speyside event, and since previous round results are now final and binding, the only action that could be taken concerns championship points. The Championship has three Stewards, but they will only need to be consulted if the matter cannot be resolved under the present regulations. Theoretically, Armstrong still has a chance of wining this year’s title as this could be his first ‘dropped score’ of the series.
Similarly, Colin Smith and Craig Chapman were dismayed to find themselves excluded from scoring Ecosse Challenge points. The duo finished second in Class 3, and 35th overall, and those results stand, although it is the issue of championship points that is now in dispute. The Challenge has already taken tough decisions earlier in the year with competitors denied points for a disallowed air scoop and another who bought a car with fibreglass wings already fitted. In Smith’s case, the technical infringement appears to concern the cylinder head. Again no performance advantage is thought to have been gained as the changes are believed to have been repair-influenced rather than performance-enhancing. Points are being withheld pending the results of the Stewards’ Inquiry.
More News
Encouraged and revitalised by young John MacCrone’s adventures, Andy Knight has been tempted back into the driving seat for the 40th Tunnock’s Tour of Mull Rally in October. Andy has been supporting MacCrone’s overseas raids and was on the mainland at Speyside helping the Mull contingent out. Andy is hiring Neil Weaver’s 1400 cc Vauxhall Nova for Mull. He contested the Quinton at the beginning of the month, his first time on a gravel stage for 16 years. And how shall I put it? He didn’t cover himself in glory. So he’s going to the Woodpecker next to get a bit more practice in. But remember just one thing, or two things really, this is the same Andy Knight who won Mull in 1990 and again in 1991 in a 1600 cc Nova!
John Rintoul is another with designs on this year’s Mull. He’s been across the sea to another island, this time called Eire, to buy himself an EVO9. He’s keeping the EVO6 for the woods. Alisdair Graham was out on the Speyside in a Donnie MacDonald Subaru Impreza with a little bit of help from Calum McLeod, hence the ‘Royal Aero’ banner across the windscreen. Prior to the rally he had only driven the car on the main road, so he had more practice for Cooper Park than he did for the forests. Sadly, the head gasket failed half way through Gartly, so he retired.
For Stuart McQueen, rallying seems to be more of a social outing than a sporting occasion. He and the boys were in Joanna’s nightclub in Elgin the night before the rally, which was a surprise, since they had been there last year as well. Still, they got back in and after a few orange juices heavily flavoured with nippy stuff they left in the early hours. You should have seen them at service in Huntly, I almost felt sorry for them. I was asked to insult them quietly, they were in sore need of felt covered spanners and sponge hammers! As Jaggy’s mother-in-law used to say, “May the Lord increase your pain!”
It was good to see David MacDonald and Nicky Jack back in the woods. After a non-finish on the Snowman they were back out in the Subaru for the Speyside. They finished 28th complete with puncture in the fourth stage. They also managed to calculate that their ages plus the age of the car totalled 128 years. More puzzling is how they managed to count that up, they don’t have enough fingers and toes!
Last minute preparation is nothing new in this sport but Alex Curran just managed to finish building his Vauxhall Corsa at 2.00 am the night, or morning, before the Speyside. It was his first time out in the standard 1600 front wheel drive car which was rather different to the old Sunbeam: “The steering wheel wants to pull itself out of my hands all the time,” he said. Consider it work in progress but there he was at service sitting back in the comfy chair whilst the service crew made ‘modifications’. Something was rattling underneath the bonnet and on close examination it was found that the brand new airbox was fouling the metalwork. And since the airbox cost more than the bonnet instructions were given to gently panel-beat the bonnet into shape to clear it! He also learned another thing about the Corsa, get proper straps to keep the tailgate closed. In Clashindarroch, the tailgate flew open and sucked in all the dust. He and Stephen Marshall looked as though the were dressed in desert camouflage at the end of if. Even tie-wraps are not strong enough.
Ex motor cycle trials rider David McLean had his first outing in his new Subaru Impreza. He bought it as a tarmac car and converted it himself. Apparently it was quite a change from the wee well-sorted Peugeot 106 that he had before.
And finally, as a connoisseur of cafes and caravans in lay-bys, I was mightily impressed with the new facilities at Huntly Auction Market. The portacabins of old have been replaced by susbstantial breezeblock built new premises. Even more impressive was the fact that the prices hadn’t gone to pay for it all. A cup of coffee still cost only 80p, a burger was £1.75 and the banana toffee crumble was £2.85.
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