Looking at the Entry List for the Mach1 Stages in
just over a week's time there are at least 5 crews from Mull CC plus a few Mull
rallying regulars entered and of course that makes sense. The Mach 1 at
Campbeltown offers the perfect venue for tarmac testing ahead of the forthcoming
Beatson's Mull Rally in October and of course the returning Jim Clark Memorial Rally
in November. Where else can you get 95 miles of tarmac for a mere £290. Worth a
thought, eh?
And before you go thinking that Machrihanish is 'just an airfield',
this one has hills (wee ones admittedly) tight stuff round the houses (but no
occupants), and a mixture of slow and fast corners with some top gear
straights. Not only that, it's a two day event, so if you have trouble on the
Saturday, get it fixed for Sunday. No other 'testing' venue offers such facilities
including a flat, sealed surface service area and on-site catering that would
tempt a well-fed bear, never mind an empty one, including the wilder
gastronomic gourmet types from Coltness CC.
And if that's not enough, a night out in Campbeltown on the Saturday
offers up the chance to make your excuses heard amongst friends in any one of
the local hostelries, although beware drinking in the Royal Hotel bar which
overlooks the harbour. Rumour has it that one or two inebriated rally folk have
ended up being dunked in the harbour in the past, either deliberately by their
friends and rivals, or inadvertently having partaken of the sweet amber nectar
for which the town is world famous.
There will be an event preview and timetable in the on-line mag
shortly, but in the meantime if anyone fancies
the ultimate tarmac testing opportunity in Scotland, Campbeltown is only
137 miles from Glasgow or you could check out the ferry from Ardrossan. Either
way the views are terrific and the drive is enjoyable.
