Book - In the Post

 

 

The first batch of books has now been dispatched and they are in the post – but only to the advertisers. They get to see them first – but they have been sworn, well maybe politely requested, to not reveal who is on the front cover. Many of you will have made a good and no doubt pretty accurate guess as to who it should be going by past covers, but you never know. I can be a wee devvil at times. So here’s another front cover that didn’t make the final edit. Any clues there?

As for the rest of you, you’ll just have to wait, although copies can be purchased at the Coltness CC ‘Open Night’ next Monday, after which I will add the new book to the list already on the wee website book-tique. There is no door charge for entry and all welcome, although best be on good behaviour – this is ‘Bear’ territory !!

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Book delivery

 

First batch of books arrived ahead of launch on Monday

Book Launch

New Book Night …. The latest book, ‘The Scottish Rally Championship 2010-2019’ will be officially launched at the next Coltness Car Club ‘Open Night’ on Monday 2nd November. All welcome. The venue this time will be Larkhall Golf Club in the quaint and historic village of Larkhall right slap bang in the middle of ‘Bear Country’!

Initially there had been an intention for the ‘Larkhall Foghorn’ to interview the author – his idea not mine – but this won’t happen. Apparently Stewart has got tickets for Van Morrison on Monday night. This came as something of a surprise as I didn’t know Morrison’s sold light commercial vehicles let alone have a special headline sale in the SECC. Anyway, it would appear Stewart will be otherwise engaged choosing his next van!

So it will fall to me to say a few words on the night, just don’t expect anything too formal. One of the reasons I think a few words should be said is because the 2014 accident is addressed in this volume and some new facts have been shared.

However the publication of this latest book marks what I call the end of the ‘first stage’. That’s because the compilation, writing and preparation of the first four books covering the decades 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and now the 2010s was fairly straightforward since I already had the majority of the information on file whereas no-one has kept a full record of the Scottish Rally Championship during the 1970s and 1960s. That makes the job of compiling this earlier history all the more difficult – hence it being called ‘Stage 2’.

However, the indecision regarding ‘Stage 3’ remains. It was originally suggested in jest that an end of series book be compiled featuring all the foties and stories that couldn’t be printed in the more formal books. This idea seems to have gained ground, and there might indeed be an appetite for a ‘less formal’ lookback on the Championship. It has to be said that some of the photos which I have taken over the years could be regarded as ever so slightly embarrassing and therefore have remained unpublished and unseen! Anyway, be careful what you wish for.

In the meantime, work and progress will continue to be made on the 1960s and 70s tome.

As for next Monday 2nd November, the doors will open from 7.30 pm at Larkhall Golf Club, Burnhead Rd, Larkhall ML9 3AA and it should be easier to find than the former ‘Bears Dean’ at the very close by Dalserf Bowling Club which some local neanderthals set fire to late last year.

What three words:  ///bitter.user.courier

Anyway, it’s even easier to find the Golf Club. As last year head East on the A71 from Junction 8 (Canderside Toll) on the M74 at Larkhall. There’s a set of traffic lights on the A71 between the Motorway and Garrion Bridge but turn off (North) at this junction towards Larkhall and the Golf Club car park is half a mile along there on the right.

Oh! And the photos? These show two of the front covers which have already been rejected, so you’ll just have to wait to see who is really on the front cover this time. It was also suggested that the author should feature on the front cover, but a majority decision thought this a bad idea!

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Funeral arrangements

 

Redmond (Red) Barry’s funeral will take place on  Monday 9th November at Perth Crematorium, Crieff Road, Perth, PH1 2PE at 2.30pm, and thereafter at Huntingtower Hotel, Crieff Road, Perth PH1 3JT.

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! 

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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

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