The news from Mull yesterday (see previous
post) triggered memories of past battles, one in particular, Calum Duffy's
first victory way back in 1998 in a 2 litre Mk2. My big pal Jaggy got quite emotional
at the time and I have published the final 'MullMurmurs'
bulletin in the on-line mag if you have a minute or two spare (?) to re-live times
past.
There were 9 bulletins published during that event 22 years
ago. The information was gathered throughout the event, typed up on to skins, and
copies printed out on a duplicator in the back of a van. No internet and no
social media, these bulletins were distributed by various physical methods.
Running ahead of the rally, Bill Sturrock in the '00' car handed
copies out to Marshals for distribution at stage starts and finishes and threw
them out the window when passing groups of spectators, hastily snatched up in a
desire for news and results. If there weren't enough for everyone, one stalwart
would read them out aloud, often by torch light in the dark, to friends and
fellow fans around.
They were also left in the various hotel reception desks at
Salen, Craignure, Dervaig and Tobermory and in cafes and shops around the
island. A bit hap hazard but the system
worked, and it was welcome. They were also read out by Campbell Cameron live on
air covering the rally from the Radio station Oban FM. Such innocent times, eh?
Anyway, the Bulletins were written on the run and told the
story as it unfolded. It wasn't the most perfect of prose, but the big lad always
seemed to get carried away a bit by the finish, so that final Bulletin is
published again here, just as it was written in the final 'MullMurmurs' bulletin
22 years ago.
