MULLMURMURSMULLMURMURSMULLMURMURS – Chapter 8
– published on the island, during the event by Jaggy Bunnet
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Provisional Leaderboard after 15 (of 18) Special Stages: |
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| 1 | Neil MacKinnon/Mike Stayte (Subaru Impreza) | 1Hr 56m 13s |
| 2 | John Cope/Tony Cope (Ford Escort Cos) | 2.04.44 |
| 3 | Robert Davies/Neil Fraser (Mitsubishi Lancer) | 2.05.31 |
| 4 | John Cressey/Ian Grindrod (Vauxhall Astra) | 2.05.37 |
| 5 | John Swinscoe/Paula Swinscoe (Ford Escort) | 2.07.08 |
| 6 | Tony Bardy/Reg Smith (Nissan Sunny) | 2.07.55 |
| 7 | Doug Weir/Duncan Brown (Vauxhall Nova) | 2.08.01 |
| 8 | Bob Cowe/John Baird (Mitsubishi Lancer) | 2.09.17 |
| 9 | Pat Johnson/Graham Harper (Subaru Impreza) | 2.09.48 |
| 10 | Stuart McQueen/Alistair Green (Mitsubishi Lancer) | 2.10.20 |
Just when you thought things couldn't get any more fraught, the excitement level steps up another gear on this year's Philips Tour of Mull Rally. Latest news suggests problems for 2nd placed Dougi Hall and 3rd placed James MacGillivray. Both were spotted parked up in the long one, first of to-night's final five tests, and it looks as though neither may reach Craignure let alone the finish.
"It's still gey slippy out there," said Neil MacKinnon, "I was a bit scrappy over the first three stages of this rally, but it just clicked after that. I really like this car, it really suits me." Ominous words for all those running behind the leader!
"I was catching Dougi," said John Cope, "so when we passed him I knew he was in trouble." In 3rd and 4th are Robert Davies and John Cressey. "I was up to third after the first one to-night," said Cressey, "but he (Davies) took it back on that last one – but there's an awful lot of miles left to-night yet." For his part, Davies is enjoying the scrap, well most of the time, "I don't like that b*st*rd behind me," said Davies, "he just keeps pushing and pushing, he never gives up."
John Swinscoe dropped time on the battling duo ahead of him, "I had an off in there,"he said, "right over the grass and through the bracken but didn't hit anything." Tony Bardy is fighting back after his earlier time loss with an engine sensor, "It's going well now, let's hope it stays that way." With MacGillivray out, it looks as though Doug Weir is top 1600 runner, "We had a fright at the re-start to-night when the car wouldn't fire up. We had to fit a jump lead as earthing strap and we're just hoping it holds out." Pat Johnson hopes all his problems are behind him, "We're going well now, let's hope it stays that way." Stuart McQueen is back in the top ten and Roger Binyon is holding 11th, "It's fierce at this position, everyone wants to be on the Mull calendar! We lost time when a car spun in front of us this afternoon but it's going well at the moment." Dave Thwaites' earlier problems were down to a faulty alternator and Dougie Ingram (32) has just pushed the Mini into service.
That's yer lot meantime, more later
Yer auld pal, Jaggy Bunnet, Craignure, 11:30pm Saturday.
