Sadly, the 2300 Club has today decided that the 2020 Andy Mort Tour will not run. We were confident that the changes that we had made for 2020 would allow the safe running of the event. The new restrictions that become law on Monday, regarding larger gaterings, mean that we now see continuing with our plans as being irresponsible. We apologise to all our many friends who were looking forward to the October 17th. We hope to see you in 2021 when the work that we have done in 2020 will bear fruit.
2300 Club, 9th September 2020.
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Here you will find a list of the winning teams for the Tour of Mull (& the Mullard Trophy Rally & Tunnock's Mull Rally) from 1960 to the present day
These are the Team Results for the 2000 Tour of Mull
The 2300 Club began life as the motoring section of a factory sports’ club in Blackburn in 1955. The factory was Mullards, part of the Philips’ empire, with over 5,000 employees. The Club was originally the Mullard Motor Cycle and Car Club, but this overlong title was shortened by taking the initial letters as Roman Numerals (MMCCC) and translating them to 2300.
The Club did all the usual things for a number of years. Navigational rallies, treasure hunts, club nights, cheap tyres and exhausts, but catering for its own members. The first big step forward was in 1959 with the first Mullard Trophy, a restricted rally to which outside clubs were invited. The event became an annual affair and was so well received that by 1963 the Mullard Trophy Rally was invited to become a qualifying round for the Motoring News Championship and, with the exception of one year, remained in that prestigious Championship until it came to an end in 1987.
The rallies of the 1960s were in the hands of Arthur Rogers, and were all outstandingly successful, high speed road events. We used north Lancashire, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, but it gradually became apparent that the residents of these areas were understandably less than enamoured by these regular night time intrusions by ourselves and many other Clubs. In 1968 the Committee concluded that they would not be organising any more events of this nature. The problems were becoming too great and too intractable. 1968 happened to be the year when Brian Molyneux and his family had a holiday on the Isle of Mull and the germ of a ridiculous idea was sown. The roads of Mull were ideal for rallying. Narrow, tortuous and, in places, quite frightening, they would provide a serious test of rallying skills.
MullMurmurs – Chapter 1
Well, hullawrerrchinasanhowzyerschockiesshooglintheday? If ye huvny goat guid suspension, go home now! Otherwise let me bid you a warm and tastiferous welcome to the 38th running of the annual Tour of Mull Rally sponsored by the best thing to hit the tastebuds since Adam reached for that apple! – St Tunnock’s of Biscuitry, sponsors of ‘the best rally in the world.’
As usual, the tee-shirts were flying in the Aros Hall last night when that awfy nice big chap, John Fife hosted the annual Tunnock’s Rally Forum with special guests Neil MacKinnon, Paul Kirtley, Alick Kerr, Chris Paton and Dave Cabena. A fun filled frolicsome time was had by all with Quiz prizes kindly donated by Dunlop, Kumho, Nissan and Volkswagen.
Earlier on this week, Dougi Hall was up to his usual tricks. Last year he cycled the full length of the 22 miler in1 hour 7 minutes 33 seconds and averaged 19.94 mph. This year it was wetter and slippier and he ‘only’ managed 1hr 8m 22s for the trip, so he’s set himself a target for next year – under an hour. Gaun yersel Dougi! And it’s all in aid of raising funds for the Bear Cubs, Steve Davies’ rallying apprentices. So if you see Dougi, give generously. And Rod Brereton continued his RNLI fund raising activities with support from Tony Tyres and Kumho raising £300 at his Music Quiz in the Mishnish on Tuesday.
And no, you’re not seeing things. Buzz Lightyear is not on the island! It’s only Rally Director Neil Molyneux zipping around on a Scooter with L Plates. At least the nickname Buzz Lightyear is better than the other one we came up with, Mr Blobby’s mate, Mr Wobbly – give him a wide berth!
And just before the rally gets underway, make sure you get ‘tooled up’ for the weekend, the 2300 Club girls are selling Tunnock’s Tour of Mull gear in the Aros Hall. Rally programmes are also on sale there and at various shops and garages around the island so look out for them, they are essential reading with full rally timetable and Road Closure details. Also tune in to Oban FM over the weekend on 103.3 to enjoy (?) the dulcet tones of Campbell Cameron with all the latest rally gossip.
But back to the rally, Scrutineering opened for business at Tobermory Distillery where first through was Neil MacKinnon’s (1) Mull machine, and lucky to be here at all. Two weeks ago the Kenny McKinstry car he was planning to use was crashed on an Irish event (not by Neil!) prompting the guys to have to get another Subaru ready for this weekend. They have spent the last week converting a Left Hand Drive car to RHD, but since no-one had a conversion kit in stock they had to make everything from scratch. A seriously big job. Then bringing the car up yesterday morning the tow truck blew its engine to bits and brought downtown Belfast rush hour traffic to a halt while the McKinstry lads emptied the truck and transferred everything to a spare and they arrived here on the last boat last night.
And whilst on the subject, here’s the ‘Tweak of the Week’. Spot the top-hinged front number plate. When the car is in full flight it blows back allowing more air through the radiator. Nice one bhoys.
James MacGillivray (6) has fitted last year’s 2.3 litre MkII with Proflex and used it on the Jim Clark., he says it has transformed the car, so he’s ready for tonight. Causing a stir last year was young Paul MacKinnon (9) up to 6th before the engine let go, but he’s back with a GrpN Subaru. He reckons it needs the full AP brake kit, but has only got the GrpN Brembos at present – but then boys like him don’t use brakes
Billy Bird (10) reckons “the calendar would be good, anything else is a bonus” referring to the annual Tunnock’s Tour of Mull Calendar which features the top 12 finishers on each of the monthly pages. Calum Duffy’s car was next through and the MkII should be in an art gallery not out on a rally. The 2.4 John Reid engine is producing in the region of 300 bhp while the car itself was built by Den Sport in Ireland. The result is every bit as mouth watering as a caramel wafer. The car also features suspension built in Sweden by Sellholm which is cheaper than Reiger but just as good according to Den Sport, worth a chat anyone?
Paul Kirtley (5) appeared in the WRC Impreza which he first used in 2002, but which has recently been rallying in Holland (and winning) with Dirk Boers. MSP has sold Dirk a new S7 so the car is back here and since Paul’s car from last year is now up for sale, brother John Kirtley, who runs MSP, won’t let him use it! George MacDonald’s (26) wee Corsa looked a treat after it’s rebuild from the Speyside. Engine, gearbox and transmission have all been re built ready for this weekend. Top ten for ‘Chicken’ George?
Tristan Pye (19) has already clinched the GrpN BTRDA title this year so it’s a change of shock absorbers and brakes for Mull, John Marshall (29) blew a turbo on the first stage of this event last year so guess what’s brand new under the bonnet this time – and check out his tribute to Colin McRae on the back window. Dougi Hall (2) is well prepared – he bought a standard engine off E-Bay to replace the one which failed last year. Chris Tooze (34) has done 2 events in his new Lancer and had trouble on both. He hit a sheep on Epynt on the first one (and still finished 3rd) and somebody ran into the back of him on the second. Better luck this time, eh.
Stuart McQueen has upgraded his EVO7 to EVO9, but what do you made of Denis Biggerstaff (8)? Denis Smallerstaff more like. He’s taking this seriously, looking fitter and meaner than ever despite the fish supper I saw him sneakyly tucking into last night. And it’s a new car, but he’s having trouble with the paddle-shift, so fingers crossed for a trouble free run.
Barry Renwick (30) has spectated here before, but he’s a Mull Virgin “the roads look totally different from this angle”. Steve Davies (45) made it to Scrutineering, which is a tribute ton his preparation skills, only kidding, but hoping for better luck than last year when “the gearbox sh*t itself on the second last stage”. Another Mull virgin is young Alick Kerr (75) the John Easson Scholarship winner. You won’t mistake his Fiesta, it’s got gold door numbers. After two seasons in a Peugeot 205 this is his 3rd outing in the Fiesta, but first time in the dark and first time on tar with it.
Robert Davies (49) is in for a culture shock, he’s not out in his Lancer, but a Ford Fiesta “I’ll either do very badly or chuck it off” he said wistfully. Lyndon Barton (18) has a brand new engine in the Subaru which has still to be run in. He installed a new engine last Wednesday, which promptly failed and it was a rush to get another for this weekend. Tony Bardy’s (7) Hyundai Accent WRC is a similar spec to last year’s car but it’s brand new although the boys had a wee misfire this morning.
And if you hear a siren and see flashing lights just ahead of the rally to-night that could be Bulletin Bill with the ‘MullMurmurs’, so look out for the Flying Ford Focus and be ready at the road side to grab a Bulletin!
Yer auld pal, Jaggy Bunnet, Tobermory, Noon, Friday
4 thoughts on “Sad News: 2020 Andy Mort Tour Will Not Run”
Sorry to hear that it will not run this year as we were looking forward to the event. We will hopefully be there 2021.
So sad that all your hard work has had to be put on hold. Thanks for all you’ve done and look forward to the 2021 event.
It’s a shame, but probably the wisest move in the circumstances. Thanks for all the effort and we’ll see you next year.
Oh no, what a shame, looking like there’s no form of motorsport for the clubmen. Funny how anything that makes a revenue like F1 and football is ok, even going to the pub or restaurant, but not for us mere motoring enthusiasts. look forward to 2021.
Best wishes.
Phil