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Rally News - July 8, 2010 ________________________________________________________________________ John Frew, 1967 – 2010 After serving as a Director of East Ayrshire Car Club, John became Chairman three years ago, quickly making himself a reputation for getting things done. In his eulogy at the service, his local minister said John would be remembered for his favourite saying: “Aye, nae bother.” He turned out at almost every event in the EACC calendar and at every meeting at Kames, organising and marshalling at sprints, rallies, autotests and grass tests. He took a keen interest in bringing youngsters into the sport – particularly through grass tests. He also helped out on other events and clubs and was a Stage Commander on the Galloway Hills. He competed himself in Sprints in a Rover 25 and perhaps what helped to keep him going over recent months was his determination to build a kit car. He was diagnosed with cancer a year ago and lost his wife Linda seven months ago, but he kept turning up at club events when his health allowed – and even when it didn’t. John lost his fight last month on 21st June and motor sport will be the poorer for it. Our condolences to his sons John and Ryan and the rest of his family and wide circle of friends. Robert Smith ________________________________________________________________________ Argyll Stages Rally, July 10 Shaun Sinclair heads the entry for this weekend’s Rally of Argyll on Saturday 10th July. Andy Horne will run at number two ahead of Paul Benn, Steven Clark, Reay MacKay, Calum MacKenzie, Donnie MacDonald, Raymond Mason (from across the water) Malloch Nicoll and Walter Henderson. So the Mull Car Club organisers have got a good entry for their first event on mainland soil, while James MacGillivray, Andy Knight and Eddie O’Donnell head the Mull contingent competing on the event just outside the top ten, so that should add a bit of extra rivalry to proceedings. The rally will start from the Caledonian Auction Mart on the A816 just south of Oban on Saturday morning at 9.00 Hrs and finish at the Atlantis Leisure Centre in Oban around 16.15 Hrs. If approaching from the north, drive into Oban on the A85, turn left just after the King's Knoll Hotel and it’s on the left. Main service is just off the A816 at Cairnbaan, north of Lochgilphead. There are three spectator stages in the forests north of Lochgilphead. Entry to the start of the Kilmichael test (SS3 at 11.40 Hrs and SS5 at 13.28 Hrs) can be made from near the service area while the old ‘Birdfield’ test (SS4 at 12 noon) from the original Argyll Stages days of old is accessible from the A83, north east of Lochgilphead. The other three tests are non-spectator due to access problems so please respect that if out watching. Just pack a picnic and sit yer bum down in Kilmichael for the day. However, this is the ‘tourist season’ so everyone take care, not just when driving on Argyll’s road but when parking. Park with all four wheels off the road and you’ll keep the Polis moderately content! ** Gossip On the recent RSAC Scottish Rally, Iain Haining’s co-driver Mairi Riddick got distracted mid stage in Ae when she spotted her pal doing ‘star jumps’. Still it was slightly more palatable than the sight of Jock Armstrong ‘mooning’ fellow competitors when he was out with a puncture. There will be no living with Alastair Smith these days. The boy Steven got his first class win in the Peugeots and of course Pop is claiming most of the credit. Apparently he’s been giving Steven the benefit of his experience, skill and dexterity over recent weeks and Steven admitted to ‘trying out some new techniques’ (but without being too specific!) and of course he duly won the class. As I said, credit where credit is due, the boy done good regardless of advice! But at least breakfast in the Smith household won’t be as grim as domesticity in the Jarrett household. Charlie Jarrett has had a torrid time of late and was on course to score his first finish in ages – till he cowped it big time in the final stage of the Scottish. Not so bad you might think, but the wife finished, again! More than that, this was Kirsty’s fourth start in the Honda, and her fourth finish. A 100% finishing record in fact. And as he sits there absorbing the morning’s dawn chorus of chirpiness from the cooker area, the toast and scattered egg will be long cold on the Jarrett breakfast table before Charlie can reach for the brown sauce. Richard Dickson achieved a personal ambition. He contested the Scottish in 1973 in an RS1600 and didn’t finish, then did it again in 1981 in a Talbot Sunbeam and didn’t finish. This time he used a Subaru and finished. Murray Grierson was spectating in Castle O’er where Malcolm Buchanan got the former Scottish champ’s vote of confidence. “I was watching the 2WD boys coming past. They were braking before they reached me for a bend just ahead,” said Murr, “but Malcolm was still well lit when he came past - and he still made the bend!” Calum MacKenzie was lucky to finish the Scottish. As he approached the finish of SS5 he noticed a noise coming from the back end of the car, but made it out to the road and emergency service. Keith Robathan and Callum Hardie were servicing and with additional assistance from big Hamish Kinloch they removed the watts linkage and rear diff cover to find that that the crown wheel bolts had come loose. Keith just shook his head: “I’ve been telling him for the last six years to wire lock these bolts, the youth of today - they never listen!” There will be some new faces in different cars this weekend in Argyll. Reay MacKay has sold his Lancer and bought a WRC Impreza while he waits for his Metro engine to come back from its holidays! But the Lancer has been sold to Matthew Calderwood who hasn’t been seen in the woods since the mid 90s in a succession of Fords and rear wheel drive Peugeots. At the time, Matthew was ranked as one of the top ‘Burmah Juniors’ so he had a bit of pace about him. Apparently he took the Lancer out for a run just after he got it but the suspension was well screwed down. It was bumpy and lurchy and twitchy but it was quick and with his lack of current experience and technology thought that was just the way rally cars are – till he adjusted the suspension! Anyway, he’s got veteran Ali Campbell alongside if they can get a late entry for the Argyll. And just a wee note. Matthew has a twin brother called Scott and he competed around the same time too. First they shared a car and then they each got their own, but they used to make my life hell. I would approach Matthew and say “How are you getting on Matthew?” and he’d say, “No I’m Scott, that’s Matthew over there” and I’d then go over to the ‘new’ Matthew and say, “How are you getting on Matthew?” and he’d say “No I’m Scott, that’s Matthew you’ve just been talking to!” Grrrr. And finally ... Jonathan Lord committed an act of extreme bravery at the Barony College. When a journalist popped into Rally HQ looking for some aspirin or paracetemol, Jonathan leapt to the rescue. Without any thought for his own personal safety, and without even a cursory look around, he reached down for Eleanor’s handbag (she wisnae there of course) and had a rummage around coming up with a pack of tablets which he proffered to said suffering journalist. Then calmly returned the handbag as if this was an everyday occurrence. As I said, an act of extreme and selfless courage indeed. I just hope Eleanor doesnae read this – for Jonathan’s sake. Maybe I shouldn’t have written it. Oh well, too late now. ** |