2007 – Murmur Chapter 5

MullMurmurs – Chapter 5

Provisional Leaderboard after SS8 (of 19)

1 Neil MacKinnon/Daniel Barritt (Subaru Impreza WRC) 54 Minutes 35 Seconds
2 Dougi Hall/Andy Richardson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) 55m 29s
3 John Cope/Robert Fagg (Subaru Impreza WRC) 55m 58s
4 Paul Kirtley/Jim Kitson (Subaru Impreza) 56m 34s
5 Daniel Harper/Chris Campbell (BMW MINI Cooper S) 56m 51s
6 James MacGillivray/Ian Fraser (Ford Escort Mk2) 57m 03s
7 John Swinscoe/Paula Swinscoe (Mitsubishi Lancer) 57m 32s
8 Tristan Pye/Kirsty Riddick (Subaru Impreza) 58m 09s
9 Tony Bardy/Reg Smith (Hyundai Accent WRC) 58m 41s
10 John Cressey/Stan Quirk (BMW MINI Cooper S) 59m 30s

The 38th Tunnock’s Tour of Mull could be renamed ‘Things that go bump in the night’ going by recent events, after a steady start, the scenery is now taking a pounding. But let me begin with an apology. Although I had the correct order in my previous top ten leaderboard, I mis-heard some times and it must have looked like amateur gibberish, but then again, I’m getting too old to be up this late at night or early in the morning depending on your point of view.

But the big news is that Calum Duffy is out. He made it through the third stage but it would appear that his earlier ignition and alternator problems were unable to be resolved. And just when it looked like MacKinnon Jnr was going to give the ol’man a hard time, Neil turned it up a notch, just one second off his own 2004 Calgary record and equalling John Cope’s 2004 record over Mishnish Lochs. Unbeknownst to him though, son Paul was in trouble in Calgary, two punctures dropping him out of the top ten. Pressure off, but this is such a cruel sport, is it not?

It’s also an unfair sport. Despite heroic efforts to get the car ready (again) for Mull, the O’Donnell twins are out. The Escort is parked well off the road in Calgary – through a hedge! Dougi Hall has leapt into 2nd place but John Cope is still there, so too is Paul Kirtley despite a big ‘off’ in Calgary, but just look at Harper in the MINI and now Cressey is in the top ten too despite a big spin in Calgary, and another at Dervaig. John Swinscoe is pleased, he’s just gone under 7 minutes over the Lochs for the first time and Lyndon Barton is just getting back up to speed after his recent big ‘off’ in Epynt. Willie Bonniwell punctured in Gribun and had a huge spin while Stuart McQueen was in serious trouble – he nearly ran out of cigarettes. And how’s this for a bit of luck? Mike Storrar’s clutch failed at the finish of the final stage, and it was downhill all the way to the Tobermory Control, so he made it, and lives to fight another day.

Further down the entry list, Ian Ackroyd (117) is out in SS2 after a bump in which he broke his arm so he was carted off to Salen Hospital …. Alan McLaughlin (78) is out too, after he parked his car on the beach – quite a few yards from the road in Calgary ….Derek Carless (85) has retired with mechanical problems …. Andrew Smith (94) crashed in the Lochs …. and Malcolm Davey (111) is out too which is a great pity. He was dedicating this event to the memory of Howard Turner who died in Yorkshire just a couple of months back …. Louise Thomas (131) is out too, so her charity fund raising efforts won’t be as great as they could have been …. Rod Brereton (154) has parked his new Clio off the road in the second stage …. Dave Dalgleish (124) retired with either gearbox or clutch failure …. Norman MacPhail (134) is off in SS4 ….and Shug Rutherford (122) lost all his oil pressure.

Time for a tea cake, Tunnock’s of course, and bed.

Yer auld pal, Jaggy Bunnet, Tobermory, 2.30 am, Saturday

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2007 Tunnock's Tour of Mull – Mull Murmur 5

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Published October 10, 2009

2009 – Murmur Chapter 4

MullMurmurs – Chapter 4

Provisional Leaderboard after SS5 (of 17)

1 MacKinnon/MacGillivray        37 Mins 40 Secs
2 Hall/Hall                38m 44s
3 MacGillivray/Fraser            38m 49s
4 Cope/Fagg                38m 19s
5 Pye/Falconer            38m 19s
6 Duffy/Duffy                39m 22s
7 Harper/Campbell            39m 23s
8 Bonniwell/Ewing             39m 30s
9 Pattison/Whittaker            39m 34s
10 Sisson/Stone            39m 42s
(Note: These positions may change as more Time Cards come in)

The big news is that the boys are OK. Neil MacKinnon and Mike Stayte went off near the start of Stage 4 in Glen Aros. The Subaru suffered a heavy impact to the rear end and the boys were shaken and well stirred. The rescue services were called in as a precaution and the crew were taken to the hospital where they will be detained over night for observation, although they both walked into hospital at Salen unaided.

Meanwhile, the rally was delayed for an hour because of the incident but it’s now back on with vengeance. After his front puncture on the Lochs, Callum Duffy is back up to sixth place already having dropped back to 24th, but Paul MacKinnon and Ewan MacGillivray still lead: “Just steady away”, said Paul.

It was wet over the Lochs but it’s drying a bit and there’s more grip out there now. Dougi Hall is second but says: “I’m just not going quick enough, we’ll see what happens next.”

Willie Bonniwell is having a bit of trouble. He’s having to keep the Subaru running because the starter motor has failed, while Tony Bardy says he’s getting too old, and going quickly – backwards! Daniel Harper says there was standing water in Calgary but the front runners are dissipating (good word that) it and it’s drying out for the later runners. Dave Pattison lost time when a fuel pump failed and it took him a few minutes to suss out the problem and switch over to the spare. Tristan Pye is slowly getting to grips with the new shape Impreza. “It’s faster in a straight line and it’s deceptively quick on corners, I’m just trying to find its limits.”

Paul Kirtley was in bad trouble: “A turbo pipe blew off in SS3 and I lost power, but there’s something wrong with the suspension at the rear. When it lands after crests, it’s diving to the right or the left. It’s been a lively night so far!” Dave Hopwood says the standing water has gone – and been replaced by mud dragged on to the road by the front runners cutting corners. Denis Biggerstaff lost a chunk of time in SS5 when he clipped a rock and punctured a front tyre just 3 miles in so he had to stop and change it. Eddie O’Donnell has a slipping clutch but no time to change it at Craignure so he’s going to have to try and get through the next two stages and change it overnight.

John Swinscoe has bruised ears. He got a right telling off from the wife – for going too slow! Andy Knight has brake problems. Inconsistent. When the brake pedal goes long it shifts all the bias to the rear and the car is oversteering everywhere, but he never knows when it’s going to do it. Stuart McQueen spun on the Lochs but got away with it, reversing into a soft banking. Reay MacKay’s exhaust is getting noisy on the Metro – all these high revs are blowing the insides out of it! Stevie Brown broke a driveshaft in that last one but limped out OK. John Rintoul is losing power and doesn’t know why. Guy Woodcock had an electrical fire when the wiper fuse blew but is still going. Billy McClelland’s windscreen misted up in the Lochs and had a slight off when he couldn’t see and then had a big moment in Glen Aros. Cameron Maclean is worried about a noisy back axle and has brake problems and Jimmy Christie says: “It’s only slippy in places – but there’s LOTS of places!” And Dave Thomas is out in the Mini. It developed a serious misfire after he was playing to the crowds in Tobermory!

PLEA FOR HELP: Can anyone help out Car 53, Paul Daniel with a Peltor intercom or Peltor helmet (small) – he’s desperate!

That’s yer lot for now,
Yer Auld Pal, Jaggy Bunnet – Friday, 10.00 pm, At the Salen Hotel (in the lounge!)

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