Rally - Ronnie Young

Scottish rallying lost another stalwart last week when Ronnie Young passed away after a long illness. When we talk of rallying we tend to think of drivers, co-drivers and cars. Quite often the forgotten folk are the service crews, but Big Ronnie would be hard to forget once met! No-one was safe from his couthy repartee as he worked tirelessly on his charges to keep them stage worthy and road worthy.

A member of Dunfermline CC, he serviced for many folk over the years including Callum Guy, Gordon Boyd, Robin Hamilton, Charlie Campbell, Jack Couper, John Creswell, Mike Gower and many, many others. He worked in the motor trade, latterly as a self employed mechanic before illness overcame him. Our condolences to his partner Marion and his many, many friends.

His funeral will take place at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh on Saturday 12th February at 11.00 am. There is seating for 310 attendees and no standing. Face coverings must be worn.

 

Rally Sport News

The indefatigable Bob Irvine has been busy again. The latest issue of his 'Rally Sport News' has just been published. I missed issue number three cos I couldn't open it but there was no problem with issue 4 which contains amongst other items an interview with 2021 British Rally Champion Matt Edwards and a look back at the life and times of one Donald Heggie Esq and a chap called Tony Pond.

The link is here:

Rally Sport News - Edition 4 - February 2022.pdf(Review)- Adobe Document Cloud

Rally - Awards Night

There were a few marauders from the far north in London (near France) a few days back at Motorsport UK’s annual Night of Champions held at the Royal Automobile Club.

 

Presented by Steve Rider and Hannah White at the invitation of David Richards CBE, Chair of Motorsport UK, the star-studded guest list included Sir Jackie Stewart and newly appointed FIA Vice-President for Sport, Robert Reid, amongst many others.

 

Motorsport UK awarded Sir Jackie its Lifetime Achievement Award to acknowledge the enormous contribution, the three-time Formula One World Champion has made to track and competitor safety since the 1960s. Involved in a serious accident at Spa-Francorchamps in 1966, Sir Jackie became an advocate for motor racing safety, which included pressing for mandatory safety barriers at circuits, seat belts for all competitors and full-face helmets.

 

Never one to miss a free meal and some booze, the RSAC's Jonathan Lord also attended this glittering event. He received the second tier of the governing body’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 in recognition of more than 40 years’ volunteering service to the sport. A Motorsport UK Steward since 1978, he has represented Scotland for many years at Motorsport UK on Rallies Committee and the Motor Sports Council. The Scot has been an International Clerk of the Course since 1982 and still actively attends events in many roles.

 

There was however one other rather important guest missing, one James S McRae Esq. Whilst we were all shovelling snow or cutting up fallen trees in storm struck Scotland, he was sunning himself in Spain and having to endure temperatures of 19 degrees. I almost felt sorry for him!

 

In all fairness, he did phone his son Stewart back home in Scotland and asked if he should come back for 'the do' but Stewart telt him: "Stay where ye are, it's freezin' here!"

 

Also in the photo is Hugh Chambers CEO, MS UK - he's the one in the middle!

Road - Electric Cars

Funny thing happened on the way to the public chargers. The two free chargers were out of order, but the third one which charged 30p per kWh was operational. 

Just bad luck or a deliberate Government ploy? 

Suspicious? Cynical? Me? Surely not!

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/car-reviews/29-jan-hyundai-ioniq-5/

Rally - Start your Engines

The news that Entries are now open for this year's AM Phillip Trucktech Snowman Rally on Saturday 5th March is like the first snowdrop of spring - an early sign that the good times are coming. In other words the KNC Groundworks Scottish Rally Championship is now sitting in the garage warming up, and ready for the call to action.

This year Highland Car Club have moved the rally Start & Finish venue and Rally HQ to the Black Isle Showground facilities at Muir of Ord on the northern side of the Bridge. This provides one easily accessible location for all those involved and has also helped to create a very compact route comprising 5 special stages totalling around 43 miles of forest roads.

Entries close on February 18th although late entries may be accepted for those who are still struggling with that last troublesome nut and bolt and skinned knuckles.

The first car gets underway on Saturday morning the 5th March at 09.00 Hrs and is expected back from 15.35 Hrs.

Regulations & Entries here:

https://www.snowmanrally.co.uk/2022-regulations

This year's KNC Groundworks Scottish Rally Championship will comprise 8 events:

Mar 05, The AM Phillip Trucktech Snowman Rally, Inverness

Apr 23, McDonald & Munro Speyside Stages, Elgin

May 29, Beatson's Building Supplies Jim Clark Reivers Rally, Duns

Jun 24/25, Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally, Dunoon

Jul 23, RSAC Scottish Rally, Moffat

Aug 13, Grampian Forest Rally, Banchory

Sep 10, The Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally, Castle Douglas

Oct 22, Carlisle Stages Rally, Kielder

Regulations & Registration forms here:

http://www.scottishrallychampionship.co.uk/competitors/competitor-downloads/

Rally - Monte Roundup

There's a brief roundup of last weekend's Monte Carlo Rally here if you want all the main points in one short report, courtesy WRC Media, and thanks to M-Sport for the pics. It'll get you in the mood for next month's Swedish!

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2022/01/24-sensational-seb-wins/

 

Rally - 2022 STRC Dates

The 2022 Burnside Piling Contractors Scottish Tarmack Rally Championship gets underway next month with the first round at Knockhill on Sunday 20^th February. 

 

Full list of dates here:

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2022/01/22-jan-2022-strc-dates/