A big shock awaited Iain ‘Maxi’ Grubb at Scrutineering for
the Coltel Granite City Rally. He thought he was going servicing for young
Darren Jones in the BMW, but when the car turned up and drove into the Scroot’s
tent, Maxi’s name was on the windows and plastered all over the car with the
additional message ‘Happy 40th Birthday’.
Completely unknown to him, Jane Nicol had arranged this
special surprise for one of club rallying's nice guys. Always willing to help
anyone out, Maxi’s pals had ganged up on him
to arrange this special surprise.
Iain started rallying in 1999 in a Talbot Sunbeam, then a
wee Peugeot and finally a Lancer Evo 5 but stopped competing regularly in 2006.
Apart from one outing in 2008, he hasn’t sat himself in the driving seat since
– till now!
Fortunately he had kept renewing his competition licence so
all the gang had to do was get his helmet, suit and him to the rally while
Darren brought the car.
And what a car. It is most certainly unique. It’s a 325 with
a 525 engine and if it looks a bit shorter than other 325s, Darren was able to
explain: “I bumped the rear end on the Plains Rally,” he said, “we tried to
pull the bent metal out but it was so strong it just kinked the side panels. So
we cut six inches out of the rear bodywork, attached the rear panel with lights
and shortened the bootlid!”
Simple, but effective. As for Maxi? Gubsmacked? Never was a man's gub so well and truly smackered. But what a lovely gesture by his friends. Nice one guys - and guyesses!
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