MULLMURMURSMULLMURMURSMULLMURMURS – Chapter 6
– published on the island, during the event by Jaggy Bunnet
6
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Provisional Leaderboard after 8 (of 18) Special Stages: |
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| 1 | Neil MacKinnon/Mike Stayte (Subaru Impreza) | 57mins 40secs |
| 2 | Callum Duffy/Del Duffy (Ford Escort) | 58m 49s |
| 3 | Dougi Hall/Gareth Williams (Ford Escort) | 59m 49s |
| 4 | John Cope/Tony Cope (Ford Escort Cos) | 61m 46s |
| 5 | Eddie O'Donnell/Eddie O'Donnell (Ford Escort) | 62m 35s |
| 6 | James MacGillivray/Brian Kennedy (V'hall Corsa) | 62m 38s |
| 7 | Robert Davies/Neil Fraser (Mitsubishi Lancer) | 63m 15s |
| 8 | Steven Clark/Barry Young (Peugeot 106) | 63m 38s |
| 9 | John Swinscoe/Paula Swinscoe (Ford Escort) | 63m 40s |
| 10 | John Cressey/Ian Grindrod (Vauxhall Astra) | 63m 45s |
No changes at the top of the leaderboard on this 32nd Philips Tour of Mull Rally but more delightful drivel follows. First an important announcement for all competitors – It is VITAL that all crews display their 'OK BOARDS' if they go off or park-up in a stage. Failure to do so has already caused some unnecessary delays today.
Maybe it's psychological but when daylight comes, most competitors cheer up, altho some get further depressed – now they can see where they are having their accidents! … Mark Hudson (15) copped a big one in Calgary, the Escort well off the road and him taken to hospital with a broken wrist … Peter Smith (45) also had a big one in the same stage but both crew members OK … the crew of 89 both heaved a sigh of relief, Jim Brindle and John Bould in the Mini have both co-driven for Pete in the past … the O'Donnel twins are out, head gasket gone … Ian Dixon (48) has skelped something on the co-driver's side (of course) and the Escort's crabbing a bit … Chris Paton (67) thinks power steering is a wonderful thing, he has done 31 Mulls and co-dvr Dave Cabena has done all 32, still anything which makes it easier for a pair of old-timers has to be good … Allan MacKay is off at the Toilets in Calgary … Gerry Kilmurray (74) hit a patch of mud and skelped a wall – lightly … Chris Woodcock is OK now after his pre-rally scare. Two dowels in the cam shafts sheared late Friday afternoon and Daniel Harper helped him rebuild the engine making the start with minutes to spare … Dave Calvert (56) has dinged the nose of the Escort … Brian Otridge had a fuel pump fail last night (and nearly forgot he had a spare wired up) and then the turbo failed so it has been replaced and he's catching cars today … Mark Hughes (113) smacked a banking in Calgary and the Escort went up on two wheels but got away with it … and finally, let's not forget the service crews who have to refettle all the above – that is when they are not causing damage. Grant Fleming (77) has a bent co-driver's door courtesy of service crew chief Fergus who drove up on the pavement alongside the car as Graham Thomson opened the door! But no-one will fall out with Fergus, he is the guy behind all the Tunnock's biscuits which are being dished out to crews and marshals. Nice one Fergus – and I won't tell a soul about your embarrassing mishap. It's a secret between you, me – and the population of Mull.
That's yer lot meantime, more later
Yer auld pal, Jaggy Bunnet, Tobermory Car Park, 4:00pm Saturday.
