By Phil Jobson

Normally a driver’s concern would be for the reliability of his rally car, but a trip to and from the Cambrian this year proved that the service van warrants equal importance.

Entered as a shakedown for the forthcoming Roger Albert Clark Rally, the driver had not competed on a stage event since rolling Snowy on R.A.C.2009. Rebuilt engine had been fitted, together with a new rear suspension set up and a complete car rebuild.

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By Fiona Gourlay

The event based at Aberfoyle with stages in Loch Ard Forest has two stages 10 miles long and one stage 18 miles with the finish being at Stirling Castle. This was the first outing for the now power steered Cheviot Trees sponsored opal manta driven by Gary Wilson. I was looking forward to the event as I had not competed in a forest rally for 3 years. Thanks to Mick Horne at Mill garage who fixed the back shocker as it had broken just before leaving for the event.

We got to Aberfoyle in time for scrutineering. We got though with no hitches but had fun putting on the roof decals.

It was a disappointing entry with only 23 cars running .We were the only 2 wheel rear wheel drive car there. There was 4 other 2 wheel drive car and the rest 4 wheel drive.

The Sunday morning was a bit damp but not raining. We were looking forward to the start and ready to go:-

The first stage Clashmore was a bit scary until Gary got used to the new set up on the car, but was great fun. Having started 23^rd we were up to 19^th. The second stage a repeat of the first saw us in the ditch but thanks to spectators we were only 12 sec slower and up to 16th overall. Gary now had more control of the car. He was now ready to drive quicker as we went into the 3^rd and final 18 mile long Loch Ard stage. We finished it in 12th position. We then made the 30 miles to Stirling castle and were in 12^th overall position having had a great day.

The other local competitor in the national was co driver David O’Brien in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth driven by Gordon Smith from Aberdeen they finished in 9^th position. The event was won by Reay MacKay and Robert MacDonald Subaru Impreza WRC.

The international event was won by Juho Hänninen and Mikko Markkula from Finland in ther Škoda Fabia S2000 . Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle in their Peugeot 207 S2000 were third and Hawicks navigator Kevin Rae driven by David Bogie in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX were 4^th O/A.

By Barry Lindsay

The final round of the AS Performance NE rally championship was held on the ranges of Otterburn. Due to an army exercise the organisers had been restricted to half of the range, and made a brilliant job of using every single mile of what they had to give 80+ mile of competition in 11 stages.

We were still in with a chance of the title for the fifth time but would rely on Michael Glendinning & Andrew Roughead not finishing and also either beating or finishing very close to Bob Grant & Pete Carstairs. A tall order but we would try! Saturday saw scrutineering and a recce which I obtained the help of Neil Thomlinson to navigate on as we checked the notes and noted the severity and direction of the chicanes.

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By Caroline Lodge

The morning after my exploits at Kames I was up bright and early to pack the car and set off to The Isle of Mull. We’ve being going to the rally since 1999 to either, marshal, radio or service. However this year I was competing in the event for the first time. My friend Rachel has done the event for the last 2 years but as she is ‘indisposed’ this year she asked me stand in for her, and navigate for Dave Edwards from Carnforth way.

On arriving on Mull I had a short time to get sorted out before meeting up with Dave and Rachel and heading out for to start our reccy. We spent most of the first part of the week driving the route in day light and at night. The Mull weather was not good to us, we experienced, gales, torrential rain, spectacular forked lightening and marble sized hailstones! Luckily it seemed to get things out of it’s system and the weather improved towards the end of the week.

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By Barry Lindsay

Spadeadam were well represented at the local tarmac rally, ten of the Ninety cars had SMC members in, and onto that, SMC were also running two stages and helping out on others. A new format this year meant crews set off much earlier so that four extra stages could be added at Lowther. Crews made their own way to the rally start at Warcop for the early setoff on a damp, cloudy morning.

Stage 1 Dom & Allan were 5^th fastest setting a time of 10m33, Keith & Dave got 10m 43, Barry & Michael who struggled to get heat into the rear tyres got 10m 55 just ahead of David & Fiona on 10m57. Geoffrey & Caroline got 11m10, 2 seconds ahead of Peter & Paul. Chris & Andrew got 11m 26 then came Barrie & Andrew on Barrie’s first stage on route notes getting 11m 57, then Craig & James on 12m 29. One person with no luck on this rally is Tim; this year retired on stage 1 with various problems including Gearbox, Wheel bearing and clutch.

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By Barry Lindsay

The seventh round of the AS Performance championship & a round of the SG Petch championship crews headed to do the Tyneside Stages on Otterburn. 79 crews took part with four of them Spadeadam crews, Barry & Michael Lindsay were seeded at 23 in the 106, David Hope & Fiona Gourlay at 39 in the Subaru. Geoffrey Harkness & Caroline Lodge were at 44 in the Corsa then Peter Taylor & David Robson at late entry at 73, but running slotted in, in the thirties.

Stage 1 Barry & Michael were on a mission to catch a class rival who for a “joke” had been seeded infront. Despite pushing hard over the 9 mile stage the crew only got 24 sec off them!. 10^th Overall fastest time of 8m 19, Peter & Dave got 8m 46. Then the start of a daylong battle between Geoffrey & Caroline who got 8m56 and David & Fiona 1 second behind.

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By Barry Lindsay

The Kames rally Time trial on the 17^th July was the 3^rd time trial of the year. East Ayrshire Car Club run four events in the year. For some reason the events don’t attract a big entry, 19 crews entered the July event. Barry & Michael Lindsay were seeded at no 4 with Geoffrey Harkness & Caroline Lodge at 5 in the Corsa. The way they work is that everyone follows the organiser car round the two laps of the circuit. Competitors get three goes at the stage with the best time used in the results. There are four variations during the day so that equals 12 runs with four times to count. Ideal for getting to the car, testing something different or just for a blast!! Continue reading →

By Allan Cathers

We had a fairly steady start on the first Ae stage and somehow were 10th fastest. We had a good run through the super special at Heathhall 6th fastest. After service the first stage was Twiglees marshalled by some familiar faces. We felt we had a good smooth run through Twiglees but our time was not as good as it should have been and we dropped to 12th. We didn’t really understand why. In Castle Oer we had a real go and Rory admitted he overdrove quite a bit of the stage resulting in a few slides. We remained 12th.

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