Rally - Customer Service

To help the curious, the aged and infirm and those suffering night blindness – after getting an eye searing blast of Cibie Super Oscars (ask yer faither) or a Lazer light bar during the hours of darkness - my big pal has come up with an idea to help find his ‘Book-tique’ on Friday. He has invested in a suitably decorated banner to fly above the red Transit, hopefully situated near Scrutineering, or somewhere else around Ledaig Car Park adjacent to the Distillery and Bus Stand. 

If the flag as at full height then the incumbent will be at home, if it is at half mast then approach cautiously and chap the windae delicately in case the auld git is having a senior moment (i.e. an elderly nap) in order to engage in a purchasing endeavour.

If there is no flag showing then ye urr looking in the wrang place! However I’m sure exact details will be published here once parked up and open for the business of dispensing educational and enlightening reading material for the rallying masses, namely ‘Murmurs on Mull’ and ‘The Scottish Rally Championship 1980-1989’ and we’ll also have some copies of Eric Dymock’s authoritative biography of Jim Clark.

And if you still can’t see the fluttering flag then you must be suffering the after effects of a visit to the MacG, the MacArms, the Mish, the Western Piles or maybe even a bit of product sampling in the Distillery emporium.

And for only 20 quid it’s 350 pages of nostalgic reading material to while away the hours waiting for a replacement or weather delayed ferry on the way home.

Rally - MullMurmurs

Thirty one years ago saw the publication of the first ‘MullMurmurs’ bulletins, a service which continued until 2010 when the internet and social media overtook the printed word as the mass means of communication.

The trial run of this service started on the 1993 Philips Tour of Mull Rally but it was only ‘semi-officially’ sanctioned, there were some on the organising committee who were a mite disapproving! Although it got off to a faltering start it was well received by competitors, the fans and the local populace, and a much more improved service ran in 1994 and carried on for the next 17 years.

Information was gathered during the rally, typed up on stencils which were then used to run off hundreds of copies on a hand cranked duplicator machine. It was similar to the bulletin service run by the Pattersons on Irish events and on the annual Lombard RAC GB Rally but rather than stick to plain facts, the ‘Murmurs’ included gossip, scandal scuttlebutt, local folklore, fairy tales and occasional flights of fancy. Whenever the flow of factual information flagged, there was left room for other stories which would never be allowed to reach the more formal news outlets and publications.

Even though mobile phones had been invented there were far too many ‘dead’ spots on the island for coverage to be guaranteed hence the need for some form of information service for the hundreds of fans and followers who descended on the island each year. As such the bulletins played a vital role in relaying results and information, in what was hoped was also an entertaining manner. However the sheer nature of this unique event lent itself to such a service and it continued although never actually with full ‘official’ blessing.

Apparently no one individual, club or organisation had ever managed to keep a complete set of 18 years worth of bulletins – apart from the chap who wrote them – one Jaggy Bunnet Esq! Late last year he was prevailed upon to collate them and publish them.

The result is an A5 paperback book called ‘Murmurs on Mull’ which contains ALL of the published bulletins plus a bit of background. The book has been on sale now for a few months but for those who might yet wish to purchase a copy, there is a plan afoot for Jaggy Bunnet’s mobile ‘book-tique’ to visit Ledaig Car Park in Tobermory on Friday 11th of October from which copies can be purchased. Look for the red Transit van! Depending on ferries it is hoped to set up shop around 9.00 am-ish or earlier depending on the queues. More information will be published here as and when confirmed.

By the way, the 1993 event was won by Neil MacKinnon and Mike Stayte in a Ford Escort Cosworth while the MG Metro 6R4 of John Price and Jim Kitson was 6th.

If all else fails, copies are still available on-line at:

https://fife-motor-sports-agency.square.site/

The Book - Signed-off

That is the 1990s Scottish Rally Championship book signed-off and now in the hands of the printers. Both the pleasant and painful bits of the process were completed this morning. The pleasant bit was seeing the 270 page printer’s proof in all its pre-publishing glory and formally signing it over to the printer. The painful bit was then a sit down chat with the boss to discuss the final price. The chat started with the almost customary preamble these days – regardless of any commercial undertaking – with the warning that the original estimate had increased. Apparently the price of paper has gone up – again.

I could have opted for a cheaper grade of paper and different cover but that’s not what this book is about. It’s about creating a permanent and worthy record of an important part of Scottish motor sport, in this case rallying.

With that in mind it looks and feels very similar to the previous book. The initial text section features over 80 detailed rally reports while the photographic section features over 400 photographs, most of them in colour. In other words it will spark even more memories than the previous book. Even so, some photos had to be left out as you’ll see from the pics of these ‘weans’ and cars below – but there’s plenty more in the book.

Some folk have wondered why it takes so long to produce a book. Surely it’s just a matter of writing some text selecting a few photos and sending them off to a certain world-wide on-line marketplace. And yes I did look at those options to begin with, but quickly dismissed them. These third parties assume they are taking the major financial risk so they will dictate (and I mean ‘dictate’, there’s no discussion) terms. Take it or leave it. I left it.

But thanks to the book sponsor and advertisers the personal financial risk is reduced whilst the end product and its design, despatch and delivery remain in my control.

That also meant there was no artificial intelligence’ involved in the book’s production, it was all down to humans and my grateful thanks are due to the additional photographers and proof-readers who are also human – mostly!

It is planned that the book will be ready for early November and some discussions about a possible ‘book launch’ have already taken place. Last year’s low key gathering at a Coltness Car Club night was never intended to be a formal book launch but what a night it turned out to be. There were rallying celebrities and royalty galore having travelled from afar and the Dalserf Bowling Club premises in the usually quiet village of Ashgill were bursting at the seams. What a night.

I did contact the SECC in Glasgow as an alternative venue but once they heard ‘the Bears’ were involved last time, they quickly and firmly declined my request in case they turned up again this time.

In celebration of this morning’s sign-off I shall raise a glass of a rather special sherry casked 12 year old malt this evening. Special, because it was most thoughtfully donated in support of my endeavours by a rather generous and kindly gentleman who ‘does a bit of rallying’. I say ‘celebration’, the feeling is more akin to one of ‘relief’!

In other words: “Deagh shlàinte aon agus a h-uile duine.”

I’m not taking orders yet for the ‘Scottish Rally Championship 1990-1999’ book, but there are still some 1980s books left on:

https://fife-motor-sports-agency.square.site/

Book - More Progress

There’s good news and not so good news on the book front ahead of Christmas. The good news is that there will be more pages, more colour, more words and more photos in the forthcoming ‘Scottish Rally Championship 1990-1999’ book but I suppose the bad news is that it will cost more! On the other hand we’re looking at an early November publishing date – just in time for Christmas!!

But don’t blame me, blame the folk who bought the first book and then asked for more of everything! However, the format remains the same, the first part of the book will contain over 80 individual rally reports from each individual round of the championship during this ten year period. The reports are also longer therefore offering more detail on the events and those who took part and each chapter concludes with a top ten Championship leaderboard with points.

The second part of the book is again split up into photographic sections and there are many more colour photographs this time, although still a few Black & Whites from ‘the good ol’ days’ of Scottish forest rallying, many of which have never before been published. As such this will provide a great old nostalgic wallow through times past.

Also as last time, the front cover will feature a pic of one rally car. Deciding who would feature on the front cover last time was dead easy. Ken Wood and Peter Brown were the only crew to win three Scottish titles during the 1980s decade so they were a natural.

However, during the ten years of the 1990s there were ten different Scottish Champions so no obvious choice for prime position. Which begs the question, who did I choose? And who would you choose? And are we all going to fall out over my choice? Oh, and by the way, the chosen image is a cracking pic – one of the late Tom Coffield’s action photos.

Anyway all will be revealed shortly and my reasons for my choice, but will it match yours?

And here are some more pics that didn’t make the final cut with Donald Milne wishing he had bought a corset in a larger size, the Jaffray carriage with the crew Mr Happy and Mr Bumble all fired up and ready for action, and the inimitable ‘Smiffy’ promoting his own brand range of clothing!!

Book - Progress Report

Called in to the printer this morning for a bit of a session and came home with the first proof of the next book ‘The Scottish Rally Championship 1990-1999’. Earlier fears of having written too much have proved unfounded. The first book covering the 1980s was just over 200 pages, this next one will just be around 50 or 60 pages more!

So yes, there will be more stories and more pics!

In fact, I could have squeezed a few more pics in but that would have meant more pages and therefore more weight. Many folk were surprised just how heavy the first book was so I had to be careful with this one for postage reasons.

Having said that the photos that don’t make this book (or the previous one) will be available for the final book in the series. That’s the one where I won’t give a damn about being sued for libel, slander or defamation. So those who refused permission for photos to be used this time had better brace themselves for the swansong. In other words, if you think some of the pics in this book are a bit risky or risqué then you’ll just have to read the final book under adult supervision.

David the designer at the printer has again done a masterful job of laying out the text and pics but there is one photo which he has ‘greyed out’ because he can’t bear to look at it. He thinks it’s just plain gross – but then he doesn’t really know rally folk. We had a sincere and earnest discussion this morning about whether to include or exclude it – I won. It’s in!

As for the pics here, these two didn’t make the final cut either.

Book - Gone to Press!

The next step … the book is now officially underway. Took the text and photos over to the printer this morning and sat with the designer for an hour and a half. However it looks at this early stage as though the book covering the 90s will be quite a hefty tome. And that’s all your fault as previous buyers wanted longer reports, more stories and more pics. 

No idea of page numbers as yet but it will be heavier! No idea either about time scale. That will be determined by the designer and the print/production team but the aim is to have them ready for the first Monday in November – same as last year! So that might mean another ‘book launch’ in the quaint village of Ashgill, that is, if Coltness Car Club will have me back again! We had a great night the last time so we’ll see.

By the way the pics in the previous post showed Waggy and Woody having a woopsie, but here’s another couple that haven’t made the final selection. One is a very rare sighting of someone smiling and the other shows someone concentrating very hard!

Book - Dilemma resolved

Further to the previous post I have now resolved my dilemma. I won’t go ahead with pics of weans, but will go ahead with pics of half naked men, some of whom might be flattered and some who definitely won’t!

Truth be told I phoned the parents of the wean pics. It’s just such a touchy subject these days that I thought it must be done. Oddly enough the pic with the wee chap and the champagne bottle was only vetoed because the parent didn’t think her own photo was flattering. No problem with publishing a pic of her wean, just not happy with how she looked, otherwise she would have allowed it. Vanity, eh!

As for the other one, the faither was quite happy to let it be used but was also perfectly happy to point out that it would be at my own risk. Said toddler is now well over six feet, built like an F1 Stock Car and plays rugby for his county. A point well made I thought, so I chickened out. I’ll admit it, I’m a fully paid up member of the self-preservation society.

Having said that, these pics (and others) might well make my final book in the series because by that time I’ll be past caring who I upset and far too auld to be hauled through the courts for libel, slander and defamation.

Anyway, the 1990s book is going to the printer this week and it will look similar to the 1980s book but it will be bigger. It will have more pages, more stories and more pics and that’s all down to the feedback from the first book.

However, the style has changed ever so slightly. When I first started this project, it was regarded purely as a factual record of events long past and was written in a historically serious tone although there were a few light hearted bits and stories, but this latest book is a bit more relaxed. It’s still a proper history book but I’ve lightened it up. It features more social and sporting commentary and hopefully reflects what attracted folk to the sport in the first place, the fun and the thrills. Anyway, you lot will be the judge – again!

As for the pics shown here, these are just four of those which didn’t make the final cut – although many more did! You have been warned.

https://fife-motor-sports-agency.square.site/