Rally - The Book!

On the 19^th Jan, Facebook ‘disabled’ my public account with no explanation. So far nil response despite repeated attempts to make contact. Oh, for the days of being able to telephone a human being and have a chat!! On that basis keep an eye on this Blog at – www.johnfife.co.uk

For those who don’t know, work on ‘the book’ is well underway. The first draft of the history of the ‘Scottish Rally Championship 1980-1989’ is being passed to the proof reader tomorrow.

This will be followed by the next one covering 1990-1999 and then another for the 2000s decade and 2010s decade. At that point work will concentrate on the two books covering the 1960s and 1970s as there has never been a concerted effort this side of the border to document this national 60+ year old motor sporting championship – and that’s why this first book will start with the 1980s!

At some point I will make a list of what’s missing from those earlier decades and see if anyone out there has lists of results from past events stashed away in dusty attics or cobwebbed cellars. Please don’t chuck anything out!

Rally - Meet & Greet

Within motor sport these days there seems to be a flurry of on-line activity with training courses and seminars catering for all disciplines, plus of course various registration schemes and ‘exams’ for those wishing to qualify for higher grades of Marshalling, organising and officiating.

However, many ordinary club members, competitors and fans will be unaware of the numbers and depth of this on-line resource, although much of this behind the scenes work is necessary and even compulsory in these times of ‘enlightened’ attitudes to Health & Safety not to mention Political Correctness. There are of course still some face to face meetings and discussions arranged at public venues around the country but they seem to be fewer in number these days as folks talk ‘Teams’ or turn to ‘Zoom’.

And that’s a pity, you can’t have a right old argy-bargy over t’internet, because the host can always hit the ‘cancel’ button rather than face criticism or answer awkward questions. When you have a panel of experts facing an assembled throng in a public meeting room or assembly hall it’s much more difficult to escape and if a question has not been adequately answered or explained, the Chair won’t find it as easy to move on to another subject until the matter at hand has been dealt with. Think ‘Question Time’ on the beeb.

Of course there are pluses and minuses to the on-line alternative. Such meetings can be held more often and more easily as required without the cost of hiring rooms and travelling to and from venues which may be quite some distance away for some attendees, especially those in the north or the deep south west. On the other hand some might say (surely not?) that on-line meetings are preferable because those who are being held to account can more easily dodge the pertinent issues and persistent questioners.

With that in mind, Motorsport UK is hosting what could be a rather important meeting later this month to which only two representatives from each motor club will be allowed to join in.

So why will this Club Webinar be different? Facing the great British motor sports club elite will be David Richards CBE, Chair of Motorsport UK, and Hugh Chambers, Chief Executive Officer. Topics to be discussed will include the results from the recent member survey, activities and achievements from 2022, as well as plans for 2023 including Motorsport UK’s Vision 2030. I just hope this will not simply be a ‘talking shop’ but also include a ‘listening shop’.

Mr Chambers has been in his post for five years now while Mr Richards has one year left of his second three year term as Chair. Many promises were made at the start of that ‘new dawn’ but what has been achieved, and missed? Admittedly Covid and Lockdown intervened but I’d still to like to see their Report Card and what might be scrawled across it in black ink - or red!

The meeting is due to start at 7.00pm. I sincerely hope that MS UK have ensured that they have booked a decent time slot and not the standard ‘free’ 55 minute introductory offer period. I also hope that the club reps get themselves armed with their questions beforehand - and ensure they get answers. Motor sport is in a perilous position these days, especially the off-track disciplines. 

 

Rally - 2023 Livery

Still not sure about this year’s new livery. After last year’s electrifyingly blue and purple this year’s looks just a wee bit plain – but it does leave scope for a new sponsor to come on board …

Ken & Colin

With regard to the previous post and pictures, a few folk have asked me what Ken and Colin were discussing in the photo of the two of them together. The pics are from a wee story I wrote for Colin’s web site in happier times when he and Ken were ‘hooning’ around, and Ken sent me the pics. 

Here is what they were up to. Kind of sums up the two of them, eh? 

Faster, higher, further!

Rally - Ken Block

Last year ended on a sour note and the New Year has started badly with more tragic news. Rally driver and extreme sportsman Ken Block was killed yesterday in a snowmobiling accident in Utah, USA.

Despite the impression given by his extreme automotive stunts and social media notoriety, Ken was no ‘daredevil’, he was a skilled engineer and hugely talented driver and motorcycle rider. Everything was planned, practiced and carried out with two singular aims - thrill the audience and step out of, or off, each vehicle in one piece at the end of it.

As an accomplished driver and champion, he was also perhaps the biggest single influence in the promotion of rallying in the States. His internet fame had a direct impact on the sport’s recognition in America introducing new fans and generating a wider acceptance of the sport when he went rallying.

He was also a good pal of Colin McRae and flew over from America to participate in the McRae Rally Tribute event in 2008. This wasn’t a publicity stunt, it was a genuine desire to celebrate the life and times of a like-minded individual – and his friend.

In private, he wasn’t the least bit brash or flamboyant, just a genuine fan of the sport and admitted that Colin had been a big influence and inspiration.

It’s just so sad to lose him, we also have a lot to thank him for.

Rally - Big Al

The year has ended on a sour note with the news that Alan Marsh from Kilmarnock, better known as Big Al, has passed away. He was a big chap but an even bigger character and Ayrshire will be very much the quieter for his passing.

He was as well known in rallying, and the wider motorsport community, as some of the top drivers and yet he wasn’t a competitor himself. He was a fan and fervent supporter and just appeared at events in spectator areas or service parks. His arrival was heard long before it was seen and he chatted to everybody like long lost pals whether he knew them or not.

Long before ‘selfies’ were ‘a thing’, Big Al was a regular on the red carpet at film and theatre premieres and big sporting occasions meeting and being photographed with stars of stage and sporting arena. No one was safe from his approach, not even Donald Trump.

During a glittering ‘career’ of collecting he met well over 2,100 celebrities and household names including Billy Connolly, Vic Reeves, Al Pacino, Richard Gere, Brian May, all of the McRae family, Jackie Stewart, David Coulthard, Lewis Hamilton and even Denise Van Outen plus hundreds more.

His early career was in the motor trade although he worked latterly as a film and TV extra. He also made wee films for his YouTube channel which had something of a cult following, so his fame, or rather, notoriety was widespread.

The most obvious trait of Big Al’s character was the fact that the word ‘No’ was not recognised in his vocabulary or his brain. If anyone said ‘No’ to him it was not taken as an insult, it was a challenge. That is, if he heard the word at all. No matter how many times the word was uttered in a conversation the big chap carried on unabashed till his victims succumbed through sheer exasperation.

One such encounter took place in Kilmarnock a couple of months back when Jaggy Bunnet walked into Moorfield Garage Services where Big Al was Head Receptionist, Gatekeeper and Mascot.

Big Al’s opening gambit was: “That’s great we’ll just make a wee film.”

JB: “Naw”

Big Al: Whit ah want ye tae dae is jist walk roon the corner into the office and say a few words.”

JB: “Naw”

Big Al: “A few comments in your own words about the pictures on the wall.”

JB: “Naw.”

Big Al then proceeded on a walkthrough of the part: “Jist like this.”

JB: “Naw”

Big Al: “Right don’t start till I shout ‘Action’ then walk in just natural.”

JB: “Naw”.

Big Al: “Then we’ll do a wee interview”………

And so on, and on. The end result is on his YouTube channel !!

Whit a man, whit a character.

Season’s Greetings

All is dark and quiet within the eerie confines of Castle Bunnet at present as the incumbent, one J Bunnet Esq, is away from home on ‘family’ business.

He packed his bags and sporran to head north on the Christmas train with a hamper of sustaining porridge sandwiches. This is an annual trip at this time of year as he visits his close relatives in Lapland. As the wrongly, and quite unfairly, alleged Black Sheep of the family he has to travel incognito. However, such is the power of his unique skillset, he is obliged to help out the other ‘good’ members of the family who emigrated to the far and frozen north many years back during ‘the Highland Clearances’.

Back then the family had taken up the offer of employment with an elderly bearded gentleman who favours bright clothes and a red toorie bunnet. He was having trouble with his reindeer herd which is where the Bunnet clan has proved most helpful and capable, especially Jaggy himself. His inherent and uncanny abilities as a fully certified and work experienced Haggis Herdsman qualifies him as one of the very few people in the world today who can master an unruly sleigh pulling team of reindeer.

As these animals only get hitched to the sack carrying transport once a year they can prove quite obstinate and unruly. It therefore takes particular skills and the expression of ancient celtic sweary words to provide the necessary motivation. On the other hand, the somewhat worrying aroma of venison stew wafted under their nostrils can provide additional encouragement to persuade these proud and regal beasts to return to harness and team work.

As most of us will ken, shepherding a flock of wild haggis is akin to fechtin’ a horned and angry Highland bull with a feather duster, so getting the reindeer hitched up to work and pull together is a doddle after that.

So in his absence and on his behalf may I wish all those who read this regular source of drivel a Merry Christmas and a very safe, successful and guid New Year to all of you and your families.