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Rally Report - Monday 24 May 2010 May Rally Time Trial, Sunday, 2 May Testing Times for McClelland Billy McClelland and Helen Brown won last Sunday’s Time Trial at Kames, but after two rounds of the 4 event Kames Time Trial Championship, Steven Bogle and David Murie lead the series in their Mini at the half way point. A disappointing entry of only 15 crews turned up for the event which was surprising really. Although there was a lot on elsewhere, the venue at Kames would provide an ideal (and relatively cheap) day’s testing ahead of the Jim Clark Rally at the end of the month. In fact that was the main reason that Billy McClelland was there and the format suited him perfectly. There were four ‘special stages’ during the day with the organisers allowing three runs at each stage, although only the best time counted towards the final score, but some people like McClelland only did one or two runs and then spent the rest of the time adjusting suspension or brakes, or whatever, before the next one. In fact a perfectly civilised way to go testing! The event also provides the ideal way of using up old tyres, just ask Alister Watson. With no public road miles and everything contained on-site, Alister was using everything, from bald lawnmower tyres to fishing boat quayside protectors (Ok, so I’m exaggerating, but only a wee bit) and spent the day going sideyways everywhere – and occasionally backwards. It might not have been quick, but it was fun, and enthralled and excited the surprisingly good turn-out of spectators. Graham Bruce was just as spectacular at times including one huge four wheel drift which took up the run-off area and the grass verge, coming within inches of the tyre barrier on the long right hander at the Paddock end of the facility. With a set of blades underneath, he could have reaped the farmer’s field next door! Anyway, his relative lack of flamboyance compared to Watson’s allowed him to claim second place behind the flying McClelland but ahead of George Bryson, who was lucky just to be here. “I had to tow it to start it this morning,” said George, “but after I’d changed the plugs and points and everything it seemed to be fine.” Garry Keenan was fifth in the Manta from Blair McCulloch in the wee Nova who was out testing ahead of the Jim Clark too. Another pre-Jim Clark tester was Jim Robertson in the Citroen who finished 7thwhile trying out a set of big brakes for the first time and despite trouble with wheels will probably use them at the end of the month. Finishing 8th was Colin Stewart first time out in the Escort since he ‘modified’ it two years back on the Solway Coast, so no heroics today. John McCallum was 9th second time out in the repmobile Focus and rounding off the top ten was David Tait in the Peugeot 205. Just outside the top ten was the Mini of Steven Bogle who now leads the Time Trial series with two class wins so far but his big sister slapped his hand after the first run. He tried to tell me he had fuel surge, but she told him to stop fibbing and tell me the truth – he hadn’t put any fuel in it! David Connell was the final finisher despite sharing his Corsa with brother Derek Connell who failed to finish when his co-driving brother injured his shoulder on the seat harness just ahead of the final runs of the day. Also failing to finish were Alastair Cunningham who broke a half shaft in the Manta and John Willis in the Metro. He was on the start line of the first of the final three runs when a sudden burst of blue smoke and death rattle emanated from the wee beastie just as he was about to give it death on the marshal’s countdown. And do you know something, it was lucky for McClelland that he did attend Kames, cos he broke another wheel stud! He sheared two at Hallurn the other week, and then broke one on another wheel at Kames, so guess what he’s got planned ahead of the Jim Clark. Now just imagine that happening there! Results: 1 Billy McClelland/Helen Brown (Mitsubishi Lancer) 5m 08.0s Class Winners: **** |