The other night Daniel Harper talked about the annual
pilgrimage to Mull for the rally, and he’s right, that’s what it is. For many rally fans, it is a pilgrimage. The Mull
Rally is more than a motor sporting competition, it’s an event. It’s a sociable
and intoxicating, adrenalin filled celebration of the best of British motor
sport.
As part of my own annual pilgrimage to Mull my first stop is
always at the cairn high above Dervaig where I stop and have a chat with the
late Brian Molyneux. Ever since his friends on Mull and members of 2300 Car
Club erected the cairn overlooking his favourite island view following his
death in 1996, this has always been my first stop on the island.
Without his efforts and determination, there would be no
rally. For sure he had a lot of help from his family and the club in the early
years, and especially when he tenaciously pursued national Government to pass
an Act of Parliament which would sanction the first closed public road rally on
the British ‘mainland’. Without his example and leadership the rally would
never have got past the first Time Control, let alone allow us to celebrate the
43rd running of this unique event.
Were it not for his vision and stubborn refusal to accept
‘No’ for an answer when dealing with politicians and vested interests, the only
reason we’d have to come over here is to visit Suzie Sweet’s tuck shop and get
done by PC Plum for parking a pram with two wheels on the pavement.
Or maybe not. We would come for the weather anyway. After
all, there’s lots of it, and we’re spoiled for variety.
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