Sunday, 23 October 2016

Rally - Leuchars Rally



Alistair and Colin Inglis won yesterday's inaugural Weston Transport/Branston Granite Rally at the former Leuchars Air Base venue in north east Fife, but John Marshall and Scott Crawford were only 5 seconds behind at the finish.

John Paterson and Gary Adam battled furiously over third place with JP just hanging on to the final podium step by 2 seconds. Ian Paterson was fifth, while first time out in his new Subaru Impreza, Ian Forgan was a cautious sixth using this event to try out the new car before heading to Wales next week!

John Rintoul was 7th but was slowed a couple of times when his dashboard warning lights lit up like Christmas. Bob Grant was 8th, but like a number of other drivers such as Colin Gemmell and Nigel Feeney, slipped up badly when he went the wrong way at the split. Quintin Milne retired on the first stage when his Mitsubishi broke its transfer 'box.

In the separate Junior Rally for 14 - 17 year olds, Ewan Tindall topped the results this time by 5 seconds from Finlay Retson.

This was rallying's first visit to Leuchars and two sets of roads on either side of the main runway were used to make up the day's 8 special stages. Apart from one grassy/gravelly link section which cut up, most reports were favourable. If the Camp Commandant is also favourably pleased then this could provide a new venue and event for next year's Tarmac Championship. Fingers crossed.
 
Although entered, Bruce Edwards didn't take part but reported that the Darrian is well underway to being restored to full health after its Mull undergrowth foraging expedition. However, he shocked onlookers by dunking HobNobs in his tea!

Digestives, tea biscuits and ginger snaps - fine, but HobNobs, surely not? In the realms of rallying etiquette, this is a no-no, surely? You just don't dunk chocolate covered biscuits, do you? Whatever next, custard creams?

Results:
1, Alistair Inglis, Lotus Exige, 39m 54s
2, John Marshall, Subaru Impreza, 39m 59s
3, John Paterson, Ford Escort Mk2, 40m 13s
4, Gary Adam, Ford Escort Mk2, 40m 15s
5, Ian Paterson, Subaru Impreza N10, 41m 34s
6, Ian Forgan, Subaru Impreza, 41m 47s
7, John Rintoul, Mitsubishi Lancer, 42m 14s
8, Bob Grant, Subaru Impreza, 42m 15s
9, Alan Wallace, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6, 42m 28s
10, Russell Mann, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9, 42m 31s

No comments:

Post a Comment