One of the legends of the Tour of Mull Rally will make his debut on the Andy Mort Tour this month.
Bill Sturrock is making the long trip from his home in Scotland to experience the lanes of Lancashire for the first time, navigating for Ian Rae in a Peugeot 205.
Bill became the stuff of legends on the Tour of Mull after taking up the all-important role of distributing the eagerly-awaited ‘Mull Murmurs’ printed bulletins, written by motorsport journalist John Fife, to fans and officials along the route.
Bill became the stuff of legends on the Tour of Mull after taking up the all-important role of distributing the eagerly-awaited ‘Mull Murmurs’ printed bulletins, written by motorsport journalist John Fife, to fans and officials along the route.
John takes up the story:
“Up to nine bulletins were printed during a Tour of Mull rally. The information was gathered throughout the event, typed up onto skins, then printed on a duplicator in the back of a van.
“There was no internet and no social media, so these bulletins were distributed by various physical methods.
“Running ahead of the rally, Bill threw out copies to marshals for handing out at stage starts and finishes. He also doled them out to passing groups of spectators, and they were hastily snatched up in a desire for the latest news and results,”
Of course, going into a stage in between the Police road closing car and the Event Safety Officer meant Bill was under time pressure to get the job done.
So, he would enlist the help of any unsuspecting 2300 Club member to sit alongside him and help hand out the bulletins – the passenger usually arriving at the stage finish ashen-faced and unable to speak properly.
“Bill once turned up to Mull with a left-hand drive, ex-MSport Ford Focus recce car. He was very popular with the spectators as he ditch-hooked his way through the stages!” said one rally official.
The 2300 Club would like to extend a very warm Andy Mort Tour welcome to Bill and Ian.
