1995 – Murmur Chapter 4

MULLMURMURSMULLMURMURSMULLMURMURS – Chapter 4

published on the island, during the event by Jaggy Bunnet

Early times from 2nd Service at Craignure (after 6 stages)

1	Calum Duffy/Hugh Duffy – Escort RS	50:44
2	Neil MacKinnon/Mike Stayte – Escort Cos	51:56
3	Eddie O'Donnell/Eddie O'Donnell – Escort RS	53:58
4	Michael Shiel/Graham Shiel – Astra	55:00
5	Billy Bird/Plug Pulleyn – Astra RWD	55:20
6	Stuart Egglestone/Steve Egglestone – Peugeot	56:32
7	John Shirley/Neil Fraser – Escort RS	56:34
8	Gordon Boyd/Stella Boyles – Escort Cos	56:50
9	Derek Carless/Pete Forrester – Escort	57:14
10	Steingrimur Ingason/Joff Haigh – Nissan	57:20

Official Leaderboard after Stage 3:

1	Calum Duffy/Hugh Duffy – Escort RS	23:18
2	Neil MacKinnon/Mike Stayte – Escort Cos	23:57
3	Eddie O'Donnell/Eddie O'Donnell – Escort RS	24:51
4	Billy Bird/Plug Pulleyn – Astra RWD	25:19
5	Michael Shiel/Graham Shiel – Astra	25:21
6	Richard Thompson/Reg Smith – Nissan	25:39
7	Gordon Boyd/Stella Boyles – Escort Cos	25:29
8	Stuart Egglestone/Steve Egglestone – Peugeot	26:04
9	Ian Gemmell/David Aitken – Mitsubishi	26:06
10	John Cressey/Bob Harris – Manta	26:10

Gordon Boyd (6) has got a problem with a chipped tooth in 4th gear so can't use it. Has the spare parts but needs Saturday morning to take 'box out and repair and re-fit – if it lasts that long.

Michael Shiel broke an engine mounting, Derek Carless blew a head gasket but replaced it at first service, John Dalton is losing time with a spongy brake pedal and Roy Jarvis has a huge "weg" in the driver's side of the Corsa – it took down a telegraph pole! Brian Cameron (58) was spotted cannibalising his own brand new Rover road car to get a track rod end to replace the broken one on the rally car.

Retirements include: John Price (2) dropped valve, Paul Kirtley (8) accident, John Cope (17) alternator, Mark Huson (19), Tugs Sherrington (22) engine, Geoff Wright (24).

Jimmy Paterson (11) went out on the 2nd stage when all four wheel studs sheared on one of the front wheels, but the car's fixed and he'll be out to-morrow and Beefy Fraser (110) was spotted parked up in stage 1.

That's all for now, Yer Auld Pal, Jaggy Bunnet 1:00 am, Saturday, Craignure

Published October 11, 2008

2008 – Murmur Chapter 7

MullMurmurs – Chapter 7

( Provisional ) Leaderboard after 9 (of 17 Stages)

1 P MacKinnon/D Barritt (Subaru Impreza) 1h 11m 33s
2 C Duffy/I Duffy (Ford Escort MkII) 1h 11m 57s
3 J MacGillivray/I Frazer (Ford Escort MkII) 1h 15m 28s
4 W Bonniwell/K Rae (Subaru Impreza) 1h 15m 40s
5 J Cope/R Fagg (Subaru Impreza) 1h 15m 49s
6 D Harper/C Campbell (BMW MINI) 1h 15m 50s
7 K Hall/R Millener (Ford Fiesta) 1h 16m 16s
8 T Pye/K Riddick (Subaru Impreza) 1h 17m 02s
9 D Miller/A Bailey (Subaru Impreza) 1h 17m 55s

Who’d have thought it? Sunshine at Dervaig. It’s as pretty as a picture here on the 39th Tunnock’s Tour of Mull Rally with the sun sparkling on the shimmering surface of the River Bellart as it flows under the dainty Dervaig bridge. It wasn’t so pretty last night when Darren Meadows rolled his Escort into it! Fortunately, he and Jonny Bould were OK, but going no further.

Paul MacKinnon started the afternoon Leg the way he finished off Friday night, in record breaking form, taking 2 seconds out of the Calgary West record on his first run through. The 2nd run was aborted and has caused a delay due to another competitor going off and the car having to be removed by the Rescue crews. Paul looked remarkably calm and composed. “I’m just taking it steady, and happy just to take a couple of seconds out of Calum when I can.”

As for Calum, he’s slipping back. “I can’t keep tyres on this thing. I’m running the hardest I can get and it’s still all over the place. You can’t slide it or drift it, it just wants to keep going.” But if you think he’s given up, think again. “I’ll get that back tonight – when it’s cooler!” James MacGillivray says “We’re holding our own” but he was promising a big push tonight. Daniel Harper finished the last stage with a bad misfire “It crawled out on one cylinder. I switched it off and started it up and it was fine – it must be Cressey’s wiring!” Kris Hall is going as hard as the little Group N Fiesta will let him but is losing out to the big boys in daylight this afternoon “I’m happy with my times, but I can’t go any harder.” John Cope was looking slightly happier “I’ve softened it up more than I have before but it’s still a bit too skippity. It’s better, but not right. I’ve caught Hall, now I’m after Bonniwell.” As for Willie Bonniwell “The tyres are working better today, it’s all about confidence now. It’s either that or Kevin – he’s got a bigger stick today!”

For all you spectators out there, it sounds as though November the 5th is coming early to Mull this year.

And what about Pye and Riddick? This time it was a pheasant!

Paul Kirtley has retired. The exhaust manifold has blown in Calgary and the excessive underbonnet heat would damage the engine, so he’s called it quits, gone back to service and hopes to get it fixed to go for a run out tonight. It also looks as though Ian Colman has retired, the Nissan is off in Calgary and caused a delay in the stage.

Yer Auld Pal, Jaggy Bunnet – Saturday, 2.30 pm, Dervaig

P.S. Any of you service crews lost a battery impact gun? It’s been found. Call Gary on 07796 861440 to reclaim it.

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