“The last time I saw
you was at the end of the Trossachs Rally in 1985 or ’86,” said the voice, “you
were commentating at the rally finish. Aye, those were the good old days, the
Esso Scottish Rally Championship.”
Renault was launching their new Trafic panel van at the show
and had pulled out all the stops with an outdoor F1 display and simulator, and
the grey haired (but ever so young looking!) guy was wearing Red Bull team
clothing. And since I know flock all about F1, the speaker had me at a
disadvantage.
Turns out he did a bit of rallying in the good old days, and
was a contemporary of Tommy Finn the quick young Talbot Sunbeam stoorifier from
Campbeltown whose name some of you (older ones) might recognise.
David McMillan himself, for it was he, might not be
instantly familiar, but he has one unmatchable claim to fame, or notoriety. He
is the only Scot to have worked with Colin McRae at Prodrive, David Coulthard
at Red Bull and Jackie Stewart at Stewart GP – and he was there when Johnny Herbert
scored Stewart GP’s only F1 victory at Nurburgring in 1999. That will take some
beating, eh?
He’s been away from home now for 30 years, but obviously
keeps in touch with home because he was asking about the proposed rally event
at Machrihanish. In fact he is harbouring a hankering to get himself a car and
do the rally, or get involved somehow. Trouble is, it’s the same weekend as the
British GP.
He isn’t working full time for any team these days. Like
many of us, of a certain age, the work rate and frenetic pace of F1 is only for
the young, fit and masochistic. Having said that he is still very much involved,
although picking and choosing where and when he wants to work and with whom.
For instance, he is off to Barcelona next week with the Marussia F1 team.
Nice work if you can get it, eh? And he’s a lovely bloke.
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