Rally - Binnie wins Scottish

The race for the 2022 KNC Groundworks Scottish Rally Championship title is back on. Just when you thought David Bogie was on course for his 6th national title, the hiss of escaping air punctured his hopes.

Bogie’s Fiesta Rally2 punctured a front and rear tyre on the same side on the Castle O’er stage and with only one spare in the boot he was out. That set up one helluva scrap for the lead of the Dumfries & Galloway RSAC Scottish Rally with Michael Binnie and Claire Mole snatching a superb victory in the Evo9. 

At the halfway point, just three seconds covered the top three with David Henderson and Chris Lees in second place ahead of Freddie Milne and Patrick Walsh. Henderson punctured in the very next stage after first service and this caused the Fiesta Rally2 to spin losing even more time, then it punctured again in SS5, but Milne was already out. A double puncture stopped his Rally2 in SS4. That pitched John Wink and Neil Shanks into the runner up position behind Binnie, then the Hyundai stopped and parked up mid Stage 5.

That put the Fiesta R5 of Joe Hegarty and David Turkington into runner-up contention with the similar car of Hugh Brunton and Drew Sturrock. Hegarty broke a driveshaft which then bust the steering in the final stage but somehow he manhandled the car through while Brunton momentarily lost concentration and his car appeared with some of the Galloway undergrowth adorning the front end.

Meanwhile Henderson was determined to finish on a high scorching through the final stage to snatch third place from Hegarty.

Binnie managed to hang on and was virtually speechless at the rally finish. “I don’t know how that just happened,” he said, “it didn’t feel quick but the times showed otherwise.” And no punctures!

There was also a fearful scrap going on for fifth place between the Lancers of Angus Lawrie/Paul Gribben and Willie Paterson/Tom Hynd. Despite bending a bottom front arm Lawrie squeaked a six second gap over Paterson who admitted to a double ‘off’ when he almost binned it in SS2.

Mark McCulloch and Michael Hendry might have done better in the Proton if they hadn’t lost over a minute with a puncture in SS2 and just managed to hang on to 7th place by one second from the Fiesta R5 of John Rintoul and Ross Hynd.

Top 2WD was the Escort Mk2 of Stuart Egglestone and Brian Hodgson in 9th place with the Fiesta R5 of Bob Adamson and Jamie Edwards rounding off the top ten. Only 27 seconds behind Egglestone was the FWD Peugeot Rally4 of Peter Stewart/Harry Marchbank in 11th place overall.

It wasn’t a particularly long rally, but it packed a lot of action and drama into its six stages with rain on the last two turning what was already a very tricky surface into a very tricky and slippery surface. At least the rain kept the dust down and the midges at home.

The quote of the rally came from Steven Brown co-driving the top Junior, Robert Proudlock in the Vauxhall Adam which finished 20th overall: “He (Robert) drove like a fanny on the first stage, and I co-drove like a fanny on the last one slowing him down!” This is only Robert’s fifth rally!

Full report in next Thursday’s ‘Motorsport News’.

Results

1, Michael Binnie/Claire Mole (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) 42m 20s 

2, Hugh Brunton/Drew Sturrock (Ford Fiesta R5) +45s

3, David Henderson/Chris Lees (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +1m 34s

4, Joe Hegarty/ David Turkington, Ford Fiesta R5) +2m 05s

5, Angus Lawrie/Paul Gribben (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9) +2m 10s

6, William Patterson/Tom Hynd (Mitsubishi Evo9) +2m 16s

7, Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry (Proton Satria Evo) 3m 30s

8, John Rintoul/Ross Hynd (Ford Fiesta R5) +3m 31s

9, Stuart Egglestone/Brian Hodgson (Ford Escort Mk2) +3m 40s

10, Robert Adamson/Jamie Edwards (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +3m 51s

Rally - Fines & Penalties

Regarding Ott Tanak's 4,000 Euro fine by the FIA Stewards at the conclusion of Rally Estonia, there are two schools of thought. Some reckon it was a bit heavy handed while others thought it was well deserved.

Whatever, it reminded me of the heavy handed response to the 'Jock Armstrong incident' five years ago by our own national sporting authority. If you recall, Jock 'mooned' at a fellow competitor (and friend) and was adjudged to have brought the sport into disrepute and was fined £1000 and banned from competing for six months.

That incident was followed up by the 'Quintin Milne affair' a year later when Q was fined £5000 and banned from all motorsport competition for 10 years for being found in a forest with an unauthorised vehicle - in this case with a bunch of mates on off-road motor cycles. Admittedly the Forestry Commission at the time was none too chuffed, hence the draconian response.

These decisions predated the arrival of  Hugh Chambers (current MS UK Chief Executive Officer) and Dave Richards (Chair of MS UK) although the furore at the time may have contributed to the departure of the previous incumbent of the CEO position.

What incensed many at the time was the use of the phrase "to make an example of" which implied that these penalties were rather more excessive than the activities deserved. Whatever it's past history now.

Anyway, I was reminded of all that when Tank incurred a hefty fine for not wearing a Pirelli branded cap at the finish ceremonies and final media briefing. He claimed it had been soaked with champagne, but the Stewards produced before and after video footage which contradicted Tanak's claims!

Apparently he has past history, having done it before in Spain last year, hence the hefty fine although the sum of 3000 Euros has been suspended and he 'only' has to pay 1000!

The wearing of such caps is actually written into the FIA WRC rules so there is no excuse and since the sport needs all the sponsorship support it can get, then they have to be enforced.

However, it raised the question, is there another reason Tanak didn't wear the caps at his home event or back in Spain?  But no-one asked it!

The Pilgrimage

If you thought the previous Post was seriously bad news, this is worse ...

The Pigrimage ... My big pal Jaggy is a worried man these days. It seems that his other 'less than svelte' figured pal Big Jim has come down with an affliction, no not Covid, much worse than that. He has caught religion.

He visited the Isle of Iona the other weekend, perhaps the most religious island in Scotland’s archipelago. It is said that anyone visiting the island feels a sense of peace and tranquility as soon as they set foot on its hallowed soil. Apparently it was noticed by other members of his family group (disciples?) that Big Jim succumbed slowly but surely to its idyllic restful charms and he went on to spend an awfy lot of time inside the Abbey, perhaps in quiet meditation or religious endeavour.

Of a more worrying note was the sight of him trying on a coarse fabric monk’s habit with cowl and visiting the island’s barber which offers only one style of cut – a shaved circle on top with a fringe around the edges. As for wearing the open toed sandals, the resultant image is not one for those of a more sensitive disposition, but socks are not allowed.

And that leather bound book with the gold tassled bookmark which he purchased in the secular shop didn't look like an airport paperback thriller.

This fear has been reinforced by Big Jim’s latest refusal to attend any rallies or other motor sports events which are held on the Sabbath. The bark of a BDA or a flat four is anathema to him now, while the sound of an R5 in full explosive speed mode is an abomination, especially when disturbing his contemplative peace on a Sunday.

Aye, the big lad seems to have caught it bad. Not a word of profanity has escaped his lips since his conversion. Next thing you know he’ll be renouncing the evils of drink.

Oh! Wait a minute. That might just be a step too far. Perhaps there is some hope of a debauched life resurrection after all.

Road - New & Used car waiting lists

If you thought the new and used car and LCV markets would improve after Covid and lockdowns, well you were right, up to a point. It seems they will indeed improve - for the motor trade's benefit more than the consumer's.

Some manufacturers are seriously considering reducing the numbers of new cars manufactured to maintain high prices and high profit margins and if there are fewer vehicles about this will have a knock-on impact on the used vehicle market, limiting choice and keeping prices high.

The Vehicle Remarketing Association has looked into the current situation and have published a report on their findings. Of course it might not be that bad  - it could be worse!

Happy days eh?

VRA statement here:
http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2022/07/20-jul-new-car-waiting-lists/

Rally - RSAC Scottish Rally

Current KNC Groundworks series points leader David Bogie heads the entry list for this weekend's fifth round (of 8) of the Scottish Rally Championship, the Dumfries & Galloway RSAC Scottish Rally. Michael Binnie is only 5 points behind Bogie and starts at Number 2. They have both scored on all four rounds so far, so it's now up to the rest such as Jock Armstrong, Freddie Milne, Mark McCulloch and David Henderson and their ilk to catch up.

First car leaves the Lockerbie Lorry Park Start at 09.00 Hrs on Saturday morning and is expected to finish around 16:10 Hrs in Moffat Main Street later that afternoon. There will be two Service Halts during the day at Lockerbie Lorry Park at 10.57 Hrs and 14.24 Hrs.

Remember, on this event, the two wheel drive cars run at the front in reverse order, followed immediately by four wheel drive brigade in conventional seeding order.

Full entry list now in the on-line mag:

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2022/07/19-jul-rsac-scottish-entry-list/

 

Rally - the Hie'lan Fling

Hie’lan Fling … You’ve all heard of the ‘Scandinavian flick’ but the Scots have their own version which can be just as entertaining. The recent image of Jamie MacLean in the oversteering Nova on the Mach1 Stages generated interest and some debate - as in, ‘I wonder if he really meant to do that’, or was it the result of a very late turn-in, or maybe even a mis-understanding of Roger Clark’s book ‘Sideways to Victory’ approach, or was it simply a case of ambition over-reaching talent?’

For those of you who may have doubted Jamie’s style, commitment and intentions, here is the full sequence, although it has to be said, the photographer was sheltering behind a two and a half foot thick concrete bunker wall during Jamie’s approach, and then had to duck down awfy quickly as the manoeuvre developed!

However this Hie’lan Fling, as so ably demonstrated by Jamie, was indeed completed successfully, albeit untidily, and no concrete walls were harmed in the execution of this assault on a perfectly innocent corner.

Rally - Brunton wins Kinloss

Hugh Brunton and Drew Sturrock won the Autosave Components Kinloss Summer Stages at the weekend. It was cold and dry when they won last time in February, this time it was hot and dry.

Once again this new venue came in for great praise - good surface, long stages and no Merges or Splits. There were just six Special Stages, but they totalled 52 miles of competitive running.

Despite no fourth gear for the last three stages, Brunton's Fiesta R5 was never headed, leading from start to finish and although they pushed hard (despite what the Sheriff might have you believe!) Barry Groundwater and Michael Hendry finished second in the Subaru almost one minute adrift.

John Morrison and Keir Beaton finished third in the Fiesta R5 but were pushed hard all the way by the Darrian T90 of Andy and Karen Horne who were only three seconds behind at the finish.

I don't know what Joe McKeand is adding to his breakfast these days but he finished fifth with Charlotte McDowall in the Subaru Impreza. Brian Watson and Sean Donnelly completed the top six in their Ford Escort Mk2.

And yes, if you look at the tenth overall finishers, that is 'the' Donnie MacDonald co-driving for Thomas Gray. It also coincided with Thomas' best finish so far in the Escort and depending on who you believe it was all down to Donnie the Ditch's sterling efforts on keeping madcap Gray under control - fat chance, eh?

Another thing, if you thought three generations of McRaes at Knockhill was special, it was every bit as special up north with three generations of Mackays on the stages. OK, so Grandpops Allan was running Course Car duty with the Anglia but the weans were competing.

Euan MacKay and Michelle Hunter finished a quite incredible 13th overall in their 1600cc class winning Peugeot Ten 6 while Euan's brother Gordon was 25th in another Peugeot 106 with his 17 year old son Jack co-driving on his first event. And one only hopes the youngster doesn't quite follow in the wheeltracks of his faither and grandfaither - and stays out of the undergrowth! Stephen Fraser and Alan Grant won Class 2 in their Mini 1275GT.

Hopefully next year the Scottish clubs can knock their heads together to sort out a sensible rally calendar, because both this event and the Mach1 deserved better entries than they had this year. Yes, they are both pretty remote for many folk, but the reward is reaped when you get there.

Sadly, no pics from Kinloss, but permissions may be sorted for next year.

Results
1 Hugh Brunton/Drew Sturrock (Ford Fiesta R5) 52m 08s
2 Barry Groundwater/Michael Hendry (Subaru Impreza S11 WRC) +56s
3 John Morrison/Keir Beaton (Ford Fiesta R5) +2m 08s

4 Andy Horne/Karen Horne (Darrian T90 GTR) +2m 11s
5 Joe McKeand/Charlotte McDowall (Subaru Impreza) +3m 17s
6 Brian Watson/Sean Donnelly (Ford Escort Mk2) +4m 33s
7 Kris Tennant/Rafal Stanislawski (Subaru Impreza) +4m 43s
8 Chris McCallum/Stephen Clark (Ford Escort Mk2) +5m 01s
9 Ben MacDowall/Alison Horne (BMW 130i) +5m 03s
10 Thomas Gray/Donnie MacDonald (Ford Escort Mk2) +5m 04s

Class Winners

C2: Stephen Fraser/Alan Grant (Mini 1275GT); C3: Euan Mackay/Michelle Hunter (Peugeot 106); C4: Watson/Donnelly; C5: Horne/Horne; C6: Brunton/Sturrock