March 2022 News
12 CAR RALLY – 9TH MARCH
Kicking off with our second 12 Car Rally, with 7 Entries (3 Expert and 4 Semi-Expert). A good selection of clues from Uncle Bob, and it was Richard Dickson & Roger Alcorn who finished on 8 penalties, just one ahead of Michael Riddick (deputising for The Captain) & Keith Riddick. Making a return this season were the other father & son team of John & Mark McCulloch, who finished slightly further back on 20 penalties.
In the Semi-Experts, Rab Henderson & Peter Game took the win on 20 penalties, from a second-place tie between Nancy Dickson & Greg Alcorn and Rebekah Russell & Mairi Riddick, who were both on 23 penalties. Fourth place went to Ron & Grace Orr on 138 penalties. Thank you to Bob Green for organising, the Gowans Family for the start venue, and everyone who came out on the night to marshal.
12 CAR RALLY – 16TH MARCH
Our final 12 Car Rally until November, with 5 Entries (2 Expert and 3 Semi-Expert). The event was by no means easy, but it appeared both crews had brought their ‘A’ game and were sitting on ‘zero’ when arriving at the third last control. However by the end, it was Scott Peacock & Keith Riddick who had dropped no time but missed a code who finished on 15 penalties, with John & Mark McCulloch only losing time, and finishing on 27 penalties.
In the Semi-Experts, it was a win for Rebekah Russell & Mairi Riddick on 41 penalties. Things in the T-Roc have become competitive since their very first in February, going from a casual “oh well, we missed a code”, to “I’m not going to indicate so they can’t see where we go” tactics! Rab Henderson & Peter Game were runners-up on 90 penalties, ahead of Ron & Grace Orr on 188 penalties.
Thank you to Michael & Isobel Riddick for organising another challenging event (that’s 3 in 4 months, and they appear to still be married…), the Gowans Family for the start venue, and everyone who came out on the night to marshal.
We will endeavour to organise some ‘table top’ (classroom-based) training sessions before the winter events, to help refresh everyone’s memory. New competitors are always welcome to come and try out a 12 Car. Please get in touch for more information.
DINNER DANCE – 26TH MARCH
A good night was had by all in the Arden House, Kirkcudbright, celebrating our 2021 Champions. Thanks to May and Norman Gowans for organising, Glen Cunningham and Leah Gowans for the music, and Billy Coupland and the team at the Arden House for hosting us. A full list of prize winners on the night can be found here.
MEMBERS IN ACTION
Snowman Rally (5th March): The first of eight rounds in the Scottish Rally Championship took place north of Inverness, and we’ll start with the good results!
After a season driving a LHD Ford Fiesta Rally2 and narrowly missing out on his third Scottish title, Jock Armstrong wheeled out his trusty Subaru Impreza and was instantly back at home, setting a flying pace all day to finish 2nd Overall, with Cammy Fair alongside.
Our other long-term club Sponsors the Stewart family, had a good day in their identical Peugeot 208 Rally4 cars, with Peter Stewart & Harry Marchbank finishing 15th Overall and 1st in Class Pro2, with Dad Richard Stewart and Carin Tait-Logan taking 2nd in the same Class and 45th Overall.
Fresh from his East African success, Drew Sturrock returned to the UK to compete with Hugh Brunton in a Fiesta R5, finishing 8th Overall, just ahead of Jamie Edwards, co-driving for Bob Adamson in his new Ford Fiesta Rally2, who finished 12th Overall.
The Snowman marked Robert Proudlock’s first time on gravel, but like his debut on tarmac last month, he took to it like a duck to water. With the experienced Doc Steven Brown in the navigator’s seat, the pace in the Vauxhall Adam increased throughout the day, eventually ending up with 2nd in Class and 36th Overall.
Moving on to the less good results – it was a day to forget for Angus Lawrie & Paul Gribben, as the engine expired on their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 less than 2 miles into SS1, despite the car performing well at a full-day test just a few weeks prior. Further up the same stage, Mark McCulloch & Michael Hendry pulled in with a small under-bonnet fire in their new Proton Satria Evo. Having driven the newly-completed car less than 20 miles before the start of the event, and never on gravel, SS1 was a baptism of fire – quite literally!
Keith Riddick & Mairi Riddick made their return after a roll on the Scottish Rally in July curtailed competition, and were lying 26th Overall when the inner CV joint on the MGZR collapsed in SS3, resulting in instant retirement. Scott ‘The Captain’ Peacock, teaming up with the experienced Craig Wallace for the season in the 1400cc MG ZR, was on course for a Top 40 finish, before a snapping drive shaft on the final stage. After stopping to make sure things were ok, they reached the finish slowly at Muir of Ord in 49th Overall. You could say, both cars acting more like Rovers, than MGs!
And spare a thought for Jan Budge & Bruce Lindsay: travelling up to Inverness from Thatcham (that’s 550 miles, each way) they retired with Clutch failure on the way to SS1!
Malcolm Wilson Rally (12th March): Rory Young doesn’t often contest a full championship, and despite not competing since our Galloway Hills in September, he and Allan Cathers were lying a fantastic in 2nd Overall (of 150 starters) when an engine fault on their hired Ford Fiesta Rally2 lead to instant retirement in the heart of Grizedale Forest. Also in Grizedale, there was disappointment for brothers Scott & David Sloan, who slid off the road in their Peugeot 208 R2 in the penultimate stage. With the help of spectators, they were able to right the car and continue, only to have the final stage cancelled for them due to another competitor’s incident. They finished 82nd Overall.
Jock Armstrong contested the event to give the Skoda Fabia / Subaru hybrid – the Skodaru – its gravel debut, and finished 3rd Overall. Jamie Edwards, co-driving for Arron Newby in a Skoda Fabia R5+, finished 7th Overall. Both TEG Sport crews were pleased to get a ‘fastest time’ each on the 7-stage event in the process.
Donington Rally (13th March): On the penultimate round of the 2021/2022 MSN Circuit Rally Championship at the Derbyshire circuit, Andy Scott and Laura Connell finished 4th Overall in the Ford Fiesta S2000 Turbo.
North West Stages (19th March): The second running of this closed-road event in Lancashire had attracted a good entry of 125 cars for 14 short stages of approx 4.5miles each. Joe McKeand wheeled his Subaru Impreza out of winter hibernation, and co-driven by Charlotte McDowall, they finished in 17th Overall. And although he’d entered under Pendle Motor Club, we’ll still give Bruce Lindsay a mention (as he would say – “why the h*ll not”) as he took his Ford ‘Fezbomb’ Fiesta to 85th Overall from a start of 115, with not a mark on it.
North Wales Rally (26th March): Back out again (yes, again!) was Jamie Edwards, co-driving this time for James Williams in a Hyundai i20 R5+. The pair lead the rally after SS1, but retired from a broken wingmirror (their car fell on it…) in SS2.
DCC Ingliston Stages (26th March): On the second round of the Scottish Tarmac Championship, Scott Gourlay contested his first event in the driver’s seat of the family Peugeot 205, with Roger Alcorn alongside. After catching 3 cars on SS1, they suffered a loss of power on SS2 then broke a driveshaft on SS3. After missing SS4 to fix it, they had “4 cracking runs” on the remaining stages, to finish 43rd Overall. Cole Hastings, along with Carl Robson in a Toyota Yaris, retired early with gear selector problems on the last corner of SS1.
Well done, everyone!
📸 Alan Scott Photography: Peter Stewart & Harry Marchbank on the Snowman.
MEMBERSHIP
New members are always welcome – join here today!
COMING EVENTS IN APRIL
SCC Tarmac Autotest – 3rd April
Committee Meeting – 5th April
SCC Tarmac Autotest – 10th April
Speyside Stages – 23rd April
