Rally - Shakedown

Quicksilver with Bob Shepherd

Quintin Milne will take to the stages on tomorrow's Granite City Rally as current leader of the ARR Craib Scottish Rally Championship. So there was much interest around the local hero at today's shakedown near Stonehaven.

But how seriously was 'Quicksilver' taking his test session? When it came to taking rally sponsor's guests around, he always seemed to end up with a lady! However, he has promised to have his sensible head on tomorrow: "The best I can hope for is the two Focus' have problems and then it's try to be best of the rest."

Ollie Mellors was back in Scotland and at the test with his Proton: "We've decided to do the whole Scottish Championship," said the 17 year old, "I don't think people realise just how hot the pace is up here. If I can mix it with the front runners then that is a good guide for me."

Stevie Brown was spotted selling programmes at the shakedown (using his Big Issue experience no doubt) but he has a proper job tomorrow: "I will be doing the commentary at the rally Start and Finish tomorrow," said the Fiesta driver, "I did some reporting work for iRally on Mull last year, so this is the next step!" So pop along and give the debutant some support. He knows the drivers and he knows the sport, what can go wrong?.

Brian Ross was at the shakedown with his Lancer, but he had a special reason. He's using he event to raise money for Cancer Research UK and promised his biggest donor a ride in a rally car. Sharon loved every second of it. So far Brian has raised over 400 quid, so if you see him around, or any collecting boxes, dig deep. Nice one Brian.

Also spotted at the shakedown was a visitor from the deep south, Englandshire, Mark Taylor, the British Rally Championship boss.  Mark was saying very little other than he was invited to attend the rally as an observer. It doesn't take a genius with a calculator to work out why Mark was invited, Aberdeen & District MC obviously have ambition to get back into the British Championship.