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Jaggy Bunnet Rally News - August 17, 2011 Hebridean Motor Storm The third running of Rally Hebrides takes place this Saturday 20th August at various venues on the Isle of Lewis. There are six stages but it’s not a ‘timed rally’ in the official sense of the term. That doesn’t mean to say it’s not competitive though. Show any strapped-in, crash-helmeted driver in a rally car a stretch of closed or private road and you'll see the LEDS glowing behind his eyelids. SS1 & SS2 - Lews Castle Grounds, cars run twice through the stunning grounds of the mock Tudor Lews Castle. For 2011, the Stage has been extended to include a challenging descent through the Castle Gardens to the seafront before a climb through a densely wooded section to rejoin the fast flowing Deer Park section. SS3, SS4 & SS5 - Melbost Farm, the route has been extended by 60% with three runs and the final run in reverse. Drivers now have to contend with a half circuit of an ex NATO Bomb Dump and a technical lap of the Airport Bulk Fuel Installation in addition to the regular blast across the open flowing roads of Melbost Farm. SS6 - the highly popular Tarmac Superspecial finale at Lewis Karting Centre will see the cars tackle five laps of the tight, twisty 650m x 6m karting circuit. Spectators are charged £5 a head to enter the Stages and all day co-driver rides are available in return for a minimum donation of £200 to Macmillan Cancer Support Rides in the top three cars will be auctioned off at pre-event Scrutineering. Last year, Allan MacKay’s Anglia WRC attracted a bid of £600 - and that was just for the ride, not for the car. And that was only because he didn’t have any change (only kidding!). For the third year, all proceeds generated by the rally will go to Macmillan Cancer Support (Western Isles). The event’s Facebook page – Rally Hebrides (20 August 2011) - is now receiving 29,000 views per month and interest in the event is very strong from across the rallying community. The big surprise this year is an entry from the ‘Malton Missile’ himself, Steve Bannister, all the way from Yorkshire in his barber pole striped Ford Escort MkII. Joining him will be Malcolm Buchanan on home soil, Quintin ‘any which way but forwards’ Milne and Andrew Ritchie who also kens only too well how to birl a MkII. Sandy Arbutnott has entered the Metro 6R4 having got to the bottom of its fuelling problems on the Speyside and Ken Wood is taking the V6 Dolomite Sprint over for a hurl roon the island too. In the ‘big banger’ class, spectators will be spoiled for choice with the likes of Reay MacKay, Shaun Sinclair, John Morrison and ‘Highland Hotshot’ Davie Wilson. And if it’s a real fecht you’re after, Barry Groundwater has ‘borrowed’ Brian Watson’s new MkII while Brian himself has dusted the cobwebs off the Quattro. These two pals are forever arguing although it rarely reaches fisticuffs, but keep a bucket of cold water handy just in case. And then of course there’s the family MacKay with a brace of Ford Anglias – will faither cuff the boy, or will the wean duff his Dad? Apart from airyplanes there are two main ways to get to Lewis, the big ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway takes 3 hours while the wee ferry from Uig in the far north of Skye takes an hour and 40 minutes to cross the water to Tarbert. But don’t count on getting home on Sunday, the ferry service is very restricted, but then again, few will be able to move at all on the Sunday after the Saturday night post-rally pairty! Entry List: **** |