Redmond (Red) Barry, 1943 - 2026

Scottish rallying, and indeed British rallying, has lost yet another colourful character. Red Barry passed away on Friday (16th October). Red of course was well known in Scottish rallying circles, but he was also more widely known throughout British rallying following his introduction of Maxsport Tyres to the nation’s club drivers and teams.

Red was himself an inveterate competitor but didn’t fool himself. He knew he’d never be a rally winner, due to budgetary and time constraints, so he chose his fights wisely concentrating on capacity class and one-make categories. With that in mind he drove a huge variety of cars which spanned a very active thirty year competition career.

His choice of cars encompassed various marques and models including Mazda, Talbot Sunbeam, Opel, Colt, Lada, Ford, Volkswagen, Suzuki and Peugeot, although he did have a few rallies in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, but the Lancer outings only convinced him he couldn’t compete with the big budget brigade at the head of the field.

He first came to rallying prominence in 1975. Red was the Landlord of the County Hotel in Peebles, a hostelry which had a rather dubious habit. When time was called and the customers persuaded to leave, there was often a hard core who hung around for a wee while outside till the local Polis in their Panda car had gone by a couple of times. At which point the group filed round the back of the hotel and back into the bar! Sometimes the party even carried on to Red’s flat upstairs!

Anyway, he somehow came to ‘acquire’ a rather hot Mini. A quick blast round the local roads convinced him it was a bit of a handful. Amongst his regular bar frequenters was one John Cleland Esq, already making a name for himself racing Minis in Autocross, Hillclimbs and Circuit Racing so Red encouraged him to use the car at a Rallycross at Knockhill. This was in pre-Derek Butcher days and Cleland rose to the occasion finishing 7th overall. This was enough of a ‘pedigree’ to allow Red to trade the car in against a Colt Lancer. Oddly enough, the local Cleland’s of Peebles garage had just become the local Colt dealer and Red did a deal whereby he would navigate for John on a rally if he would be interested in buying the car. With John taking a year out of racing to concentrate in this new family business, the rally car deal appealed.

Whatever happened on that inaugural event will have to remain a mystery but suffice to say, Red pursued his own path after that as a rally driver!

Over the next 30 years Red competed as often as he could while trying to build up a new business. Having moved from Peebles to manage another hotel, the Smiddy Haugh in Aberuthven, Red set about creating a new business. Well aware of his own rally tyre bills, Red thought he spotted an opportunity to help himself, a few friends, and eventually many other club rally drivers around the country.

Once again, he found himself ‘acquiring’ something. This time a set of rally tyre moulds from one of the big household names. Then he made a deal with an existing tyre re-treading business to make some tyres for himself and a few friends but soon others got to know about these budget-friendly alternatives which led Red to create the Maxsport brand and established a good business in clubsport rallying. In 1993 the brand was sold to Monarch Tyres although Red continued to act as sales consultant for the Maxsport brand, but when Monarch went into receivership Red and Bill Madison bought the Maxsport side of the business. Peter Burgess then acquired an interest in the company and a brand new factory was established to continue manufacturing Maxsport Competition Tyres.

Red was a charmer and persuader, and every bit as competitive in business as he was in a rally car. That is something that many people would have discovered following a discussion, arrangement or argument with Red - but only after they had walked away thinking they had done well out of it only to have cause to re-think once they had to time to sit down and think the outcome through. He wasn’t a rogue, just a helluva businessman, with the lilting Irish accent of his early years in Cork enhancing his persuasive mannerisms.

There are countless tales which could be told of Red’s escapades and rallying adventures but unfortunately they couldn’t be repeated in front of today’s more modern woke generation, although the fact remains that the majority of those tales are true. Red was never short of something to say or an opinion to offer and had a good time doing it.

That enthusiasm and zest for life will be hard to replace and is motorsport’s loss. Our thoughts and condolences to daughter Christine and the wider family at this very sad time.

 

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! 

#WRCScotland #WRC
#ScottishRally #RallyScotland
#MotorsportBooks
https://fife-motor-sports-agency.square.site/

Rally - Northern Knights

Northern knights - of the road …. It was a night when the rutting and barking stags fell silent as new monsters roamed the hills and glens on the Isle of Mull. These flame spitting, roaring protagonists howled their own unique mechanical cacophany as they ruled the roads for one final night.

And so it was that John MacCrone and Kirsty Riddick swept to victory on the 2026 Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally. Although harried all the way by Hugh Hunter and Andy Marchbank, the Fiesta Rally2 failed to catch the flying Escort Mk2, but it was close, the leaders were separated by just 39 seconds at the finish after 133 miles of narrow, sinuous, bumpy, ditch and rock lined tarmac. Finishing third were Scott MacBeth and Andrew Falconer in the VW Polo R5 moving up from sixth place previously held by Jonathan Mounsey and Richard Wardle, but lost out when their Ford Fiesta R5 slipped off the road in the 21 mile opening test of the final Leg.

As for the ‘giant-killers’, Ross Hunter and Chris Dodds also lost out on a top ten finish when their Peugeot 208 Rally4 also slipped off the road, but Luke Constantine and Ifan Devine scored a quite sensational 7th place finish in their front wheel drive, 1.2 litre, 3 cylinder, Opel Corsa Rally4. Every bit as impressive, perhaps even more so, was the ninth place finish of a rather elderly, ever so slightly battle scarred, 20 year old Peugeot 206 crewed by ‘Dangerous’ Des Campbell and Rhys Donaldson, and this result surely topped that mighty impressive 11th place finish on the 2019 Jim Clark Rally up against the best of British.

Throughout the field of 87 finishing crews there were many tales to be told, successes recorded and near-misses recalled but only a few can be highlighted here. 22 year old Lewis Hooper with old-hand Steven Brown finished 12th overall in their Fiesta R2 while Junior 1000 graduate Ollie Forrester with Chloe Fleming, the number 62 seeds, scored a marvellous 14th place finish in the wee Citroen C2R2. And didn’t Sarah Hunter do well, with James Braithwaite the number 82 seeds, finishing 17th overall in their Ford Fiesta.

Other results of note included Stevie Brown, the man behind the microphone, and Leesa Watson finishing 20th in a Vauxhall Nova, European Championship co-driver Cameron Fair, having swapped Pace Notes for driving gloves, and Scott Paterson were 32nd in another Vauxhall Nova and they finished just ahead of the gallant wee Rover Metro of Innes and Kirsty Mochrie.

Nikki Addison drove her Honda Civic round to 44th place with Callum Atkinson while another Junior 1000 graduate, Ruan Lowry with Ian McRae finished 54th in their Citroen C2. Iain ‘Phooey’ Noble and grandson Iain MacDonald also scored a finish in the Hillman Avenger as did Marc McCubbin with Steven Whittet in the diminutive SEAT Mii. Of course there were many, many more, and we all have our own favourites, but to finish a Mull Rally is a victory in its own right. It’s not only ‘the Best Rally in the World’, as advocated by one Ian Grindrod Esq no less, but it’s also one of the toughest.

And so the Isle will fall silent once again allowing the stags to take up their rightful position as kings of the island – until next year! Maybe next time I will be allowed to stay longer and witness more.

 Provisional Leaderboard after Leg 3:
1, John MacCrone/Kirsty Riddick, 2h 11m 58.4s
2, Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank, 2h 12m 37.4s
3, Scott MacBeth/Andrew Falconer, 2h 13m 35.6s
4, Stephen Thompson/Larry Higton, 2h 15m 54.9s
5, James Hall/Tom Murphy, 2h 17m 42.2s
6, Colin O'Donoghue/Evan MacBride, 2h 17m 43.3s
7, Luke Constantine/Ifan Devine, 2h 18m 42.1s
8, Hugh Brunton/Richard Crozier, 2h 20m 23.6s
9, Des Campbell/Rhys Donaldson, 2h 22m 14.5s
10, Andy Woodward/Harry Stubbs, 2h 22m 29.9s

#ScottishRally #RallyScotland
#MotorsportBooks
https://fife-motor-sports-agency.square.site/

Rally - Leg 2

Watching from afar …. One of the big attractions (?) of the Island of Mull is its generosity. This 300 square mile rockery adorned with greenery offers the islanders and its visitors a remarkable abundance of weather which further includes a tremendous variety of hot/cold, dry/wet, windy/misty conditions. And whilst rally drivers on the annual Beatsons Mull Rally appreciate this variety of challenges think of those volunteers who Marshal this event bent double into the wind to hold position or standing drookit as the Atlantic Ocean seemingly washes over them at times. If that sounds bad, all is forgiven, well nearly all, when the sun shines on this sainted isle.

And so it was that Friday night’s survivors headed out in daylight on Saturday afternoon for Leg 2 which comprised 6 stages totalling some 40 miles of rain slicked, sun parched, wind swept tortuous tarmac winding its round the north end of the island.

As ever Mull claimed its expected quota of victims including Daniel Harper in the Mini, young Ruan Lowry, top ten seeds Billy McClelland and Craig Rutherford, and Owen Paterson who fell victim to a slippery right hander with the Subaru sliding off on the outside of the bend followed by David Wilson in the BMW. Apparently some spilled/dropped oil added its own multi coloured slick to the watery wetness. They joined a list which already contained the likes of notables such as Ian Chadwick, Stewart Morrison, ‘Montana’ Morrison, Cole Hastings, and very sad to say, Fergus Barlow.  Unfortunately, John Stone was amongst those early casualties on Friday night and had to be hospitalised for further checks following a crash. We can only wish him well.

Meanwhile back at the front, Hugh Hunter is getting into his stride, the Fiesta2 closing the gap on leader John MacCrone’s Escort Mk2 to just over half a minute while Colin O'Donoghue has dropped back from the runner-up position to 7th place. He dropped over 2 mins on the Hill Road/Kilninian stage, a treacherous sliver of tarmac winding its way over the hill and down the glen between grassy banks and dry stane dykes. Behind the leading duo, Jonathan Mounsey/Richard Wardle have moved into third place having passed Stephen Thompson/Larry Higton but the gap at the end of this Leg is a mere 2 seconds. And you know what? Dangerous Des and Luke Constantine are still in the top ten!

Unfortunately Ross Hunter has dropped out of the top ten with a Maximum on the Calgary Bay stage but wee sister Sarah has moved up to 18th place overall (gaun yersel girl) and equally impressive is young Ollie Forrester’s pace as he lies 16th after the daylight run. Another spectator favourite has also lost out, the bellowing Triumph TR7 V8 of James Wilson while it also looks like Mike Storrar is out- that notorious Morris Marina pilot! And what of car 129, the 1 litre SEAT Mii? Well Marc MCubbin is still going as is ‘Phooey the Fireman’, well to be truthful ex-fire brigade officer!

And it ain’t finished yet, the final Leg through Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday morning of one of the longest and toughest club rallies in the UK takes the survivors back into the darkness and uncertainty of this magical, mystical place where spectators stand in fear of a light touch on the shoulder never knowing what lurks behind them in the trees and the heather – was it human or animal - or neither?

 Provisional Top Ten after Leg 2:
1, John MacCrone/Kirsty Riddick, 1h 23m 19.1s
2, Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank, 1h 23m 51.8s
3, Jonathan Mounsey/Richard Wardle, 1h 26m 04.2s
4, Stephen Thompson/Larry Higton, 1h 26m 06.1s
5, James Hall/Tom Murphy, 1h 26m 47.0s
6, Scott MacBeth/Andrew Falconer, 1h 26m 50.4s
7, Colin O'Donoghue/Evan MacBride, 1h 28m 01.0s
8, Hugh Brunton/Richard Crozier, 1h 28m 09.9s
9, Des Campbell/Rhys Donaldson, 1h 29m 10.8s
10, Luke Constantine/Ifan Devine, 1h 29m 32.1s

Note: There has been an officially accepted change of co-driver for James Hall.

Rally - First Leg, Mull

A Night for giant killers …. Friday night was not a night for the fearful or the ungodly. As ever, the Beatsons Mull Rally served up a battlefield where giant-killers rode their skill and their luck. To call conditions treacherous is an understatement. It’s not just the rain that upsets predictions and hopes, it is where the water lies in hollows and verges or runs across the road in veritable streams – and usually in the wrong places. Like braking zones!

And yet, the front runners still manage to head the results, but not all of them. John MacCrone and Kirsty Riddick covered the 44 miles of water slicked tarmacery of Friday’s opening night tests in 41 and a half minutes. That’s not skill, that’s witchcraft. Fully a minute behind them were Colin O’Donoghue and Evan MacBride. I’m sure I saw a leprechaun cackling away merrily on the roof of the Escort in hot pursuit of the witches’ four wheeled broom but only 8 seconds behind them were Hugh Hunter and Andy Marchbank heading up the ‘old guard’.

In fourth place was a Rally4 car, the Opel Corsa of Luke Constantine and Ifan Devine and there was another Rally4 car in the top ten with Ross Hunter and Chris Dodds in the Peugeot holding 8th place, but putting in a demon drive (yet again) was the old school Peugeot 206 of ‘Dangerous’ Des Campbell and Rhys Donaldson.
 
And this is where the real magic of Mull makes itself known, and it’s not just about the machinery its about the men and women inside the projectiles. In 18th place overall are Daniel Harper and Chris Campbell – in a Mini. Not one of those giant german sausage tin MINIs, but a real, genuine British Leyland Mini – just like the car in which he finished 10th overall on this event exactly 30 years ago!

And what about Junior 1000 Graduate Ollie Forrester, first time on Mull in his new Citroen C2. The first time he’s seen real rain and terrifying darkness. He and Chloe Fleming lie just outside the top 20 in 21st place. Marvellous, absobluidylutely marvellous! There’s another young Junior 1000 graduate showing well too with number 99 seeds Ruan Lowry and Ian McRae holding 60th place in the 125 car field.

Top lady at this stage, and she is a rally driver, not just a ‘lady’ rally driver is Sarah Hunter (that’s her big brother in the top ten!) who is holding 28th place with James Braithwaite. No real surprise there given her proven pace on Irish events this past year! And there’s the wee Rover Metro of Innes and Kirsty Mochrie skipping over the puddles to finish the first Leg inside the top 50 in 47th place and looking more like CalMac’s Loch Frisa when it encounters some of the more watery sections!

And that’s what Mull is all about, the people and personalities, so keep an eye out too for Iain ‘’Phooey the Fireman’ Noble in the 121 Avenger, Marc McCubbin on his first Mull with a 1 litre Junior (although Marc’s certainly no ‘Junior’!) Challenge car running car 129 and Cammy Fair, the co-driver turned driver, in his new Nova running car number 90 – but pick your own favourites and follow their fortunes – or misfortunes!!

And what of Fergus Barlow? At the shakedown yesterday, his rally hopes took a dive when a death rattle was heard from under the bonnet. The search was on for an engine or a car, and in the end a bright red Historic spec Escort Mk2 was sourced from Stirling and sent northwards. At close of play last night, Fergus and Heather MacCrone running with the number 135 on the door were holding 12th place overall – first time out in a completely different car!

Provisional Top Ten after Leg 1:
1, John MacCrone/Kirsty Riddick, 41m 30.8s
2, Colin O'Donoghue/Evan MacBride, 42m 32.2s
3, Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank, 42m 40.1s
4, Luke Constantine/Ifan Devine, 42m 55.15s
5, Jonathan Mounsey/Richard Wardle, 43m 41.2s
6, Stephen Thompson/Larry Higton, 44m 06.5s
7, Des Campbell/Rhys Donaldson, 44m 11.7s
8, Ross Hunter/Chris Dodds, 44m 13.2s
9, James Hall/Laura Stone, 44m 31.2s
10, Owen Paterson/Catrin Price, 44m 38.0s

Booktique roadtrip

Thought I'd break the long and arduous road trip north with a short scenic cruise aboard the luxurious 'Inner Hebridean Disco Princess' which offers a full zero calory range of nowt and nae drink but has a huge outdoor freshwater pool for bathing in the all inclusive price.

Rally - Planning ahead

Planning a long and arduous road trip requires considerable thought and research. As such, suitable enriching fortification is an essential requirement both before, during, and after such a demanding undertaking. With that in mind any traveller contemplating such a gruelling endeavour must ensure adequate supplies of nutritious foodstuffs to last, not just the pre-event planning, but the long trip itself utilising its mix of highways, byways and former drove roads.

Then there is the added hazard of the risky sea crossings across the whirlpool of the ‘Narrows of Corran’ followed by the Atlantic current running through the ‘Sound of Mull’ where the carrier of choice, CalMac, ferries boatloads of people wearing anoraks with hoods. An added hazard here may also include having to deal with the intervention of Police, Border Control and Island Immigration Officers although the RNLI can be relied upon to intervene and ensure safe passage.

In other words a road trip to the Isle of Mull is no piece of cake hence the need for careful consideration and planning. Fortunately, the source of such sustenance can easily be acquired once the border with SouthLand has been crossed into NorthLand in any number of retail stores and food banks across the land.

And if there is a shortage – perhaps the blame can be laid at my door. I’ve got mine, have you got yours?

https://fife-motor-sports-agency.square.site/