July 2022 News
GRASS AUTOTEST – 3RD JULY
Following high winds, our third Grass Autotest of the year was rescheduled from 26th June to take place on Sunday 3rd July, at Springholm, with the kind permission of the Sommerville family. After six runs, it was Rab Henderson who won by over 16 seconds, with Richard Dickson taking second overall and first Senior, just ahead of Thomas McCarney. First Lady went to Karen McCarney in 4th Overall, with Jack Gaffney finishing as top Novice.
The full Event Report can be read here.
GRASS AUTOTEST – 17TH JULY
Our fourth Grass Autotest of the year took place on Sunday 17th July, at Larglea, with the kind permission of the Sommerville family. After six runs, it was Rab Henderson who won by over 18 seconds, with Richard Dickson taking second overall and first Senior, just ahead of 3rd placed (and First Lady) Karen McCarney. Niall Cowan Jnr took first Novice.
The full Event Report can be read here.
MEMBERS IN ACTION
McRae Rally Challenge (2nd-3rd July): Taking place at Knockhill, to celebrate 25 years since Colin McRae won the 1995 WRC, the McRae Rally Challenge was rescheduled from 2020 due to Covid-19. Top club finisher was Andy Scott with Laura Connell alongside, who were 4th in the Hyundai i20R5. Angus Lawrie & Paul Gribben finished 18th in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9. Unfortunately that was as good as it got, with returnee Iain Wilson & Mark Roberts retiring ‘Bella’ the Ford Escort Mk II on Saturday with a failed clutch slave cylinder, and Mark McCulloch & Michael Hendry retiring the Proton on Sunday due to a coming together with a tonne bag of gravel and a broken bottom arm. Ian Paterson and nephew Owen Paterson retired on Sunday morning after clipping a tyre and rolling, which lead to the retirement of Stuart Paterson & Alice Paterson as they all took a trip to Ninewells. We wish a speedy recovery to Owen, Ian, and the Subaru.
Greystoke Rally (3rd July): Co-driving for Arron Newby in the Skoda Fabia R5+, Jamie Edwards had a textbook day out at the Greystoke Stages. Run on the dark art of maps, they took fastest time on all 6 stages to win the event by 50 seconds.
Nicky Grist Stages (9th July): To mid Wales for the 5th round of the BTRDA, where Jamie Edwards and American driver Will Hudson had a good run to 10th overall in the Ford Fiesta Rally2. Just one place behind were Hugh Brunton and Drew Sturrock in their older version of the Fiesta R5, who were trying the welsh forests for the first time. The Sloan twins Scott & David made the trip from Kirkton with their Peugeot 208 R2, finishing 6th in class. We also congratulate David and his partner Ashleigh on the recent birth of their son, David Jnr.
Kinloss Summer Stages (16th July): Kinloss Army Barracks was the venue for this popular SV, and despite not being tarmac specialists, it was a win for Hugh Brunton and Drew Sturrock in their Fiesta R5 by nearly a minute. Joe McKeand and Charlotte McDowall made the long journey to the Moray Firth worthwhile and finished 5th in the Subaru Impreza.
WRC Rally Estonia (14th-17th July): Estonia was the next destination on the WRC tour, and Elliot Edmondson and driver Oliver Solberg finished 11th overall in their Hyundai i20 N Rally1.
RSAC Scottish Rally (23rd July): The Scottish Rally Championship was back in Dumfries & Galloway for the RSAC Scottish Rally based at Lockerbie Truck Stop. Top club finishers were Hugh Brunton & Drew Sturrock who finished a fine 2nd Overall in the Fiesta R5. Angus Lawrie & Paul Gribben finished 5th overall in the ALM Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 and they also took the Top Challenger and the ‘Star Driver’ award in the Scottish Rally Championship. A good day all round!
Mark McCulloch & Michael Hendry finished 7th in the Proton Satria Evo, following a last-minute drama with a burst seal on their steering rack after Friday’s test meaning a late night in the garage for the team. A puncture for the whole stage held them back in SS2, and a problem at last Service meant they were running almost last on the road in amount the Landrovers!
Back alongside Bob Adamson, Jamie Edwards was 10th in the Fiesta Rally2, and just outside the Top 10 in 11th was the Peugeot 208 Rally 4 of Peter Stewart & Harry Marchbank, who were first in class and first Front Wheel Drive. After their disappointment at the Argyll Rally, Richard Stewart & Carin Tait-Logan finished 33rd in the sister car.
Despite managing to finish 16th and 1st in class, the MG ZR of Keith Riddick & Mairi Riddick doesn’t like to make it easy and this time it was the gear linkage which decided to play up, falling apart on the B7076 on the way to Moffat for regroup. Thanks to a ‘temporary’ repair with a screwdriver, it was fixed in Moffat when Harry Marchbank convinced the local hardware store to donate some bolts and nuts to the cause. “Thanks also to Niall Cowan Jnr, removing bolts from his own car to make sure we had options as well before he had to enter the control – a real show of class again!” The Sloan twins Scott & David brought the Peugeot 208 out in Scotland for the first time this year, finishing a great 18th, and Robert Proudlock and Steven Brown pedalled the little Vauxhall Adam Cup round the stages to finish 20th Overall and Top Junior.
Niall Cowan Jnr & Callum Shanks wheeled the MG ZR out for the first time this season, and finished 22nd overall & 5th in class. This might be their only gravel outing before the tackle Mull in October (unless they can be convinced to enter the Galloway Hills…) Scott ‘The Captain’ Peacock and Craig Wallace finished 31st in the MG ZR, with Dad Donald Peacock & Mark Roberts brining the Peugeot 205 home in 40th and 2nd in Class C2, just ahead of Father & Son duo Bryan & Scott Gourlay who were 3rd & 45th overall.
Jock Armstrong never made the start as co-driver Cameron fell off his bike and suffered a broken eye socket and ribs (Get Well Soon, Cammy) and Rory Young opted to miss the event and instead went Marshalling with the Solway team in Castle O’er.
A message from Stewart Robertson, President of Solway Car Club & Stage Commander of SS2 Castle O’er: “Would you be so kind as to put a ‘thank you’ on the Solway Car Club website to thank everyone who marshalled at the Scottish Rally please. It was a tremendous effort and as a stage commander l am very grateful to each and every one of them. Also ‘well done’ from the President to all the Solway Members who competed yesterday. It was a tremendous representation from the club.”
Well done, everyone!
📸 Alan Scott Photography: Robert Proudlock & Steven Brown on the Scottish Rally.
MEMBERSHIP
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COMING EVENTS IN AUGUST
Committee Meeting – 2nd August
Grampian Rally – 13th August
SCC Grass Autotest – 21st August
Committee Meeting – 30th August (September, rescheduled)
