Road - OutVanRageous

M-Sport's 'Road Technology' division has launched a limited run, exclusive new vehicle – the R-Spec Edition Ford Transit Custom. Drawing inspiration from the success of the 2017 Ford Fiesta WRC, MS-RT will produce just 50 vans that capture the visual essence of an M-Sport WRC Fiesta.

Based on the five-seat Transit Custom DCIV (Double Cab In Van), the R-Spec Edition gets metallic paint, dual-slide load doors, rear-view tailgate camera, parking sensors, LED loadspace lighting and a 240V power convertor.
 

There's an extended front diffuser and a sumptuous interior with Sparco competition-inspired seats, blue seatbelts and a grey dash replacement.

Lazer LED lights are incorporated into the front grille and there is enhanced security with lock protection to protect your investment.

The R-Spec also includes an MS-RT big brake kit, intercooler and boost hoses, as well as an MS-RT exhaust box which 'enhances' the sound!

An optional power box developed by Steinbauer is also available, providing 209 bhp and 486 Nms of torque. And to top it all off or bottom it all out, 20 inch alloys are another option.

Prices start at £35,995 +VAT +RLF. More info at: www.ms-rt.co.uk

Note: Dear Santa, I know it's early, but you'll need time to save up, plus you'll need to make alternative plans to deliveries by chimney ....... 

Rally - Kames capers

With victory on to-day's Albar Landscapes Kames Trophy Rally Ewan Tindall clinched outright victory in this year's Lawrence of Kemnay Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge. It was quite an emphatic demonstration too, setting 14 fastest or equal fastest times out of the 16 stages.

Running him close all day was Jude MacDonald just losing out by 24 seconds. The gap might have been a wee bit closer had it not been for an involuntary excursion up a banking on the 12th test!

Running fourth car on the road, Lewis Haining had just started the first stage when the rain came on, and as he leaned hard on the top left hander coming into the 'arena' the Toyota lost adhesion and he spun but still managed to finish third. Johnnie MacKay chased him hard in the Micra but had to settle for fourth ahead of Andrew Blackwood and Lewis Winder.

In the Senior rally, Colin Gemmell took his first win since swapping from a Subaru to a Ford Escort Mk2 with Ross Cree in second place and Martyn Douglas third, first time out in his newly acquired VW Polo GTI. Willie Pollock was fourth, but a lucky fourth, when the Mk1 executed a 'Strictly' quality pirouette avoiding another car at the exit from the merge.

Both Taylor Gibb and Nigel Feeney struck trouble - amongst other things - during the day. Full story to come in the on-line mag!

Albar Kames Junior Top 6

1 Ewan Tindall/Paul Hudson (Citroen C1) 29m 48s

2 Jude MacDonald/Michael Cruickshank (Skoda Citigo) 30m 12s

3 Lewis Haining/George Myatt (Toyota Aygo) 30m 55s

4 Johnnie Mackay/Gordon Reid (Nissan Micra) 31m 24s

5 Andrew Blackwood/Gordon Winning (Citroen C1) 31m 32s

6 Lewis Winder/Mike Baird (Nissan Micra) 31m 49s

Albar Kames Trophy Top 6

1 Colin Gemmell/Derek Keir (Ford Escort Mk2) 25m 42s 

2 Ross Cree/Jane Nicol (Ford Escort Mk2) 26m 05s 

3 Martyn Douglas/Brian Pringle (Volkswagen Polo GTI) 28m 35s 

4 William Pollock/David McLeod (Ford Escort Mk1) 29m 15s

5 Marc McCubbin/Joan Blackwood (Skoda Citigo) 30m 01s

6 Kevin Maguire/Paul Hunter (Skoda Fabia) 33m 05s

Rally - Bogie in Control

He came, he saw, he drove, he conquered. David Bogie was in imperious form on the McRae Gravel Challenge, a unique one-off event to mark the tenth anniversary of the loss of a much loved car club member and World Champion.

Even though he was the top seed, David ran with the Number 2 on his door as the Number 1 slot remained blank – because, in Coltness Car Club’s eyes there will only ever be one Number one.  Another point worth noting, many of those taking part paid their own special tribute with custom made stickers and slogans to keep the memory alive.

Even though it was testing new DMACK Tyres, the Skoda Fabia R5 was up and away before the rest of the field had woken up: “I was surprised just how slippery the surface was,” said David, “we weren’t quite expecting this. The stages were good, but damp. In fact the second run was much better, the surfaces had polished although still slippery. It was a good test ahead of Wales Rally GB next month.”

Andrew Gallacher finished second, 23 seconds behind, but the Focus WRC was minus a front and rear bumper at the finish: “It was in the second stage,  the back end just stepped out under braking on the approach to a hairpin and we were off and up a banking backwards,” said Andrew, but looking at the car at the finish he remarked, “I thought the idea was to keep it in the spirit of Colin!”

Only 1 second behind Gallacher in third place was Quintin Milne in the Impreza WRC, but he was lying second till the third stage: “I spun in Stage 3. My own fault, I was looking down at the anti-lag button instead of looking at the road,” said Q, “we spun between the logs and I had to drive back, handbrake it round, and get going the right way again.”

There was only a second between 4^th and 5^th too, with Barry Groundwater just pipping John Wink to the place. This was vintage Barry. With no distractions (Brian Watson was in Ireland!) he knuckled down to the job and the Lancer just edged out the Hyundai R5, but Wink was trying too. On his second outing with the new car he was mighty impressive using up all the road - and a wee bit more.

Bruce McCombie was 7^th and a tad lucky at that with all four wheels well off the road at the Hermitage corner in the first stage as the Mitsubishi didn’t grip and just pushed on at the downhill right hander. He slid wide and the car almost stalled, but he kept going as the car stuttered and spluttered as it regained the road, finally clearing as it climbed the hill.

At the very same corner, Greg McKnight was the star turn. First time out in his new Millington Escort it didn’t show. The car came into sight with the tail out and sliding, kept it going all the way round and fired it up the hill with great rooster tails of damp dust thrilling the huge crowds. Normally seen in yellow and green livery, Greg kept the car in the colours in which he bought it just two weeks previously. It was red with a black bonnet – his own wee tribute to a lost star.

There was one disappointment, well maybe two. Running Course Car, Jim McRae was running the 2.3 litre engined Vauxhall Firenza instead of the V8 after a last minute problem. However, what was lacking in aural drama was compensated by the style. The man still likes to go sideways, but then it broke. A bolt sheared off the bottom of a strut and burst the shock absorber.

In essence – a grand day out in the woods!

Top Ten:

1, David Bogie, 29m 58s

2, Andrew Gallacher, 31m 21s

3, Quintin Milne, 31m 22s

4, Barry Groundwater, 31m 42s

5, John Wink, 31m 43s

6, Bruce McCombie, 32m 02s

7, Greg McKnight, 32m 14s

8, John McClory, 32m 44s

9, Ian Forgan, 33m 05s

10, Steve Bannister, 33m 26s

Rally - Juniors on Albar

Can Ewan Tindall clinch the 2017 Lawrence Of Kemnay Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge title this Sunday at Kames, Muirkirk? The best 6 scores from the 8 round series count towards the title and he's got 4 wins from the 6 rounds so far. Action gets underway with first vcar off the line at 09.31 Hrs on Sunday 24th Sept. 

Full entry list and preview here:
http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2017/09/22-sep-albar-trophy-rally-entry/
 

Rally - McRae Challenge

There are a couple of extra treats in store for visitors to this Saturday's (23rd Sept) McRae Gravel Challenge at Craigvinean. One of which will be on display opposite the entrance to the main Spectator Car Park up the hill from the NTS Hermitage car park.

Thanks to Lanarkshire based Stuart Nicol Transport, Ally Shaw is bringing his magnificent 'McRae Tribute' Volvo FH tractor unit. This is not a show vehicle, it is a working truck doing a weekly run to Holland and back, and yet Ally keeps the machine spotless. On that basis if you've got greasy fingers from the nearby burger van, dinnae touch it. The detail on the cab and sideskirts is quite breathtaking.

Not quite so breathtaking, but just as colourful, will be the Commentator at the main Spectator area. Club member and sports journalist Stewart Weir will be on commentary duty having been ever so slightly persuaded by his fellow Bears to assume the task. He will be hosting interviews with the drivers during the short break between Stages 3 and 4.

 

And if you are coming to the event, best get there early and be extra careful on the A9, especially when turning off or on to the road.

Full spectator info and maps here:

http://www.coltnesscarclub.com/documents/MGC%20spec2017.pdf

http://www.coltnesscarclub.com/documents/seed%202017.pdf

Short event preview and entry list here:

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2017/09/20-sep-mcrae-gravel-challenge/