Bob Shepherd brought his 2001 McRae Focus down for
the weekend. A car that would bring a tear to a glass eye. This was the
car that Colin cowped on the RAC Rally. He went into the final round
that year battling with Richard Burns for the World title, but only one
of them would win it. Sadly it wasn’t ‘our man’ but at least Richard had
a Scottish co-driver. The Focus was pretty badly damaged if you’ll
recall, but just look at it now, fully restored in its Acropolis Rally winning colours.
Oddly enough I was at the Acropolis that year to see Colin win. I
didn’t have any Passes (the FIA are even tighter than the MSA) but as
Colin came round the corner on to the main drive at the finish he
stopped just short of the ramp right in front of me. I vaulted the
barrier without thinking and walked towards Colin as he got out of the
car, and then he burst out laughing. I asked him what was up, and he
said: “Look behind you”. There were three Greek polis coming after me
with guns drawn. Colin thought this was hilarious, me getting gunned
down in Greece. Then he said: “Suppose I tell them I don’t know who you
are.” Fortunately he did, otherwise I might have got the chance to
sample Greek prison food – or worse!
