For sure, rallying had to endure some difficult and troubled times during that decade, and motor sport, with the emphasis on rallying, was forced to take a good hard look at itself in the year 2014. A nasty fatal accident sparked an immediate wide ranging accident investigation which led to the creation of a formal ‘Motor Sport Safety Review’. That was followed by the introduction of new rules and guidelines in 2015 and which in turn was followed by the Fatal Accident Inquiry in 2016 out of which more changes had to be made.
Of course the authorities had to investigate, and whilst they looked for causes and reasons, they also sought to apportion blame. The trouble is they blamed the wrong people this time.
That’s why the rally reports as written in this current book draft vary so widely in length and detail. One of the reasons was that privileges once enjoyed by professional journalists and photographers had been withdrawn. Restricted access to rally organisers and competitors meant that fewer interviews could be conducted and notes taken.
That was because more constraints were being placed on the Press, or Media as it was constantly being referred to, who were trying to gather of information. Of course other participants and spectators experienced restrictions too, it wasn’t just the Press who were under scrutiny.
It might be hard to believe now (!), but back then the sport was in a wee bit of a turmoil with everyone trying to adjust to and interpret the new rules.
The trouble with the RAC MSA Media credential was that it was not universally accepted by everyone. Organisers and officials had different views on how much ‘access’ journalists were to be permitted. It was a right hotch potch at times. I recall one incident where an event Press Officer had agreed with the Clerk of the Course where photographers could safely stand to cover their event only for the MSA Stewards driving through the stages ahead of the rally to come across these photographers and ordered them to move immediately. Such occurrences were fairly frequent back then, being given permission by one official only to be moved on by some other official.
Much of the time the individuals were not to blame, it was the system, although some officials did exploit their authority, but that was more down to a dislike of the press, or even personality clashes. In fact some officials were positively obstructive. Apparently, not all media folk were/are universally liked!!
Much of that distrust stems from the fact that two of the fatalities on the 2014 accident were signed on as a journalist and a photographer (although their two passengers were not!), because they had MSA Media credentials. However, the mainstream press at the time constantly referred to them as ‘spectators’, refusing to accept the term ‘media’. Despite several conversations with BBC and newspaper journalists this description persisted although the BBC did sometimes refer to them as ‘people’ but stubbornly refused to refer to them as media reps.
There was one other victim, often forgotten or overlooked by folk, and that was the driver of the rally car which crashed. Drivers and co-drivers are only too well aware of the risks every time they step inside a rally car but they shouldn’t have to worry about bystanders standing in stupid places. That young man has had to live with the consequences of the outcome of his accident where people, hidden from approaching view, were standing in a very dangerous location, especially when one of them was a former rally driver and rally sponsor who should have known better.
Oddly enough I have never held an RAC MSA or Motorsport UK media accreditation. On the two occasions that I did actually apply for official motor sports accreditation in the early 1980s I was refused two years running – and no reason given. On that basis I never bothered to do so again. And yet I carry a ‘Press’ card (as part of my day job) which is recognised by National and Local Government, the Police, Fire and Rescue Services and even the Armed Forces and yet the MSA didn’t see fit to recognise my application.
Despite that I was consulted by John Quenby, MSA Chief Executive 1990-2001, about an improved press accreditation scheme and attended two meetings at which I voiced my suggestions. I also voiced my reservations to Colin Hilton, MSA Chief Exec 2001-2018.
When their new scheme was announced it bore no resemblance to what I and other journalists/photographers had been suggesting. The current scheme from Motorsport UK in my opinion is still not fit for purpose so I didn’t apply for that either.
Did it stop me from doing my job? Only those who have read my reports, features and columns over the years can tell. Truth be told there were times when I may have overstepped the boundaries of expected behaviour – but always in pursuit of facts, info and stories.
Although originally mentioned as a joke, the idea of an end of series ‘personal account’ after I have finished documenting the official Scottish Rally Championship history, is gathering traction and maybe, just maybe, I will name names!!
Anyway, back to the current book, it’s no’ a red pen I need it’s a bluidy red paint brush!
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