Rally - Wet, wet, wet

Many people thought last weekend was pretty wet on the sainted isle for the 2026 Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally, and yes, it was rather damp at times. In fact it brought to mind memories of the 2019 event which was dubbed ‘the Rally of a 1,000 Puddles’ as opposed to Finland’s ‘Rally of the 1,000 Lakes’ – and not for the first time. So much for the BBC weather forecast!

A quarter of a century ago, those attending the Philips Tour of Mull in 2000 thought the Atlantic Ocean was coming at them sideways as the west coast endured a wet and windy battering. Even the fish thought it was too wet. This was also the year that a new BBC weather presenter took to the air-waves (!) with ‘Carol the Weather’ predicting ‘showers’. By goad, there wisnae much space between the bluidy showers!

And as if it wasn’t wet enough, that was the year Doug Weir and Duncan Brown went swimming at Dervaig. When the Nova kissed the barrier at Dervaig junction, it flipped over it into the loch coming to rest upside down in the water. Fortunately there were some foolhardy spectators willing to dive into the water to help the guys out – and in fact the duo actually carried on with Duncan hanging out the windae with a torch ‘cause they had left their light bar in the waatter!

By the end of the rally this motorised gondola race around the canals of Mull was being re-named yet again – ‘the Rally of a Million Puddles’!

And of course, just like last weekend, the real heroes of the hours, days and nights were the dozens of waterlogged, wind-swept individuals who floated gently at anchor at their various marshalling positions around the island. One Marshal reported an unusual sight over at Ulva Ferry where a pink blob like a cow's udder was seen running around – but it was only a dog which had been blown inside out by the wind!

Two years later the 2002 Philips Tour of Mull Rally, greeted arrivals with wet sunshine falling from grey skies. In fact the sub-title, the ‘Rally of the 1,000 Puddles’ was revived as the fish were spotted emigrating in search of somewhere drier to go swimming!

There was however some relief on Saturday afternoon when the rain dried to a drizzle but this was a false dawn. Apparently the island Gods had simply run out of water and were busy stocking up again for nightfall! Some folk even reckoned they had asked their counterparts in Ireland to send over even more waatter!!

Anyway, even though I was only over for one day this year I still managed to get soaked when the puddle on my van canopy spilled over! Not only me, but the MS UK Steward looked a bit drookit when he stopped by, but he didn’t complain. Although this was his first rally and first time on Mull Steve Stringfellow was almost enjoying himself – after all he had had stewarded at Knockhill for umpteen years at the annual visits of the British Touring Car rounds, so he was well acquainted with the Scottish weather!

And another thing, I got some stick for the brevity of my ‘rally reports’ from last weekend, but I keep telling folk I’m retired. All I did was write up a few observations from my short trip while mentioning a few of my favourites, just like most folk who want to know who’s leading and who amongst their friends is doing well. So if you want a full rally report on proceedings you’ll need to look elsewhere – I’m retired!! Pity about ‘Motorsport News’, eh?

Since then I have indeed watched and enjoyed a lot of the ‘Special Stage’ and ‘Moates Media’ filmed reports and whilst they didn’t quite capture the atmosphere at least I kept dry.

Then again, if you want to catch up on ‘Murmurs’ past you can always buy the book! 

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