MULLMURMURSMULLMURMURSMULLMURMURS – Chapter 7
– published on the island, during the event by Jaggy Bunnet
Provisional Leaderboard after 11 Stages:
| Posn | Driver/Co-Driver | Car | Hrs.Mins:Secs |
| 1 | Chris Griffiths/Stephen Griffiths | Subaru Legacy | 1.26:59 |
| 2 | Neil MacKinnon/Mike Stayte | Subaru Legacy | 1.27:29 |
| 3 | James MacGillivray/Brian Kennedy | Opel Corsa | 1.27:36 |
| 4 | John Price/Mike Bowen | MG Metro 6R4 | 1.28:52 |
| 5 | Eddie O'Donnell/Eddie O'Donnell | Ford Escort | 1.28:53 |
| 6 | Paul Kirtley/Jon Geldart | Ford Escort Cosworth | 1.30:58 |
| 7 | Richard Thompson/Reg Smith | Nissan Sunny | 1.31:19 |
| 8 | Gordon Boyd/Stella Boyles | Ford Escort Cosworth | 1.31:50 |
| 9 | Steve Davies/Simon Proud | Ford Escort | 1.34:19 |
| 10 | Billy Bird/Plug Pulleyn | Vauxhall Astra RWD | 1.34:24 |
Just when you think things are looking settled, crash, bang, wallop, what a party! This year's Philips Tour of Mull is already looking every bit as dramatic and tense as past years. After last night's rain, everyone has speeded up in daylight and that brings additional dangers. But the big news is, rally leader Callum Duffy is out. The Astra engined Escort was spotted smoking badly on the first daylight test and failed to reach the stage finish. So that puts MacKinnon into the lead, doesn't it? Nope! Halfway through Calgary, the Subaru lost its clutch and MacKinnon had to do the next stage as well without it. He was caught and passed by James MacGillivray and Eddie O'Donnell so he lost nearly two minutes. That means Chris Griffiths has taken over at the top of the leaderboard, having overhauled MacGillivray's wee Corsa, Griffiths now revelling in the Subaru's power and handling, now that it's dry and he can see where he's going.
And there's more. 10th overall last night, Stewart Hymas is going no further having wrecked the Peugeot at the same place as Doc Shirley went off last year so Steve Davies has got into the top ten for the first time followed by last year's Philips Tour runner-up, Billy Bird who has got the new Astra working better now than it was last night … 8th after 3 stages last night, Gareth Jones dropped back later and was hoping to get back into the top ten in the dry to-day, but it was not to be, the Escort jamming in 4th gear following a hard landing after a yump in Calgary and he had to do the next stage like that too. He reckons something is broken in the gearbox but is hoping to fix it at service … Paul Kirtley was lucky in Ensay. The Escort appearing at the Salen control looking very sorry for itself with lights hanging out on wires and splayed front wheels following a massive off but there were plenty of spectators on hand to help out but he dropped a minute on the front runners … Mark Jasper also had a few "offs" in the GrpN Sapphire but survived … Donald Brown did the big Dervaig Hairpin twice! He spun at the first attempt … Daniel Harper still leads the 1300s having cured last night's overheating problems and he's just outside the top ten places overall – in a Mini!
That's yer lot for now, Yer auld pal, Jaggy Bunnet, (Salen, Saturday mid afternoon)
Final Awards for Printing