 |
|
     |
|
Mull Murmur 5- published on the island, during the event by Jaggy Bunnet MULLMURMURS, Chapter 5 Provisional leaderboard
after SS7 (of 20) 1 Harper/Campbell (Mitsubishi Lancer) 45 mins 57 secs Two years ago, the Philips
Tour of Mull Rally earned a new nickname. If Finland had its ‘1000 Lakes Rally’
then Mull was the Rally of a 1000 Puddles. Last night it reclaimed that title.
It was so wet on the far side of the island, the fish were emigrating in search
of somewhere drier to go swimming! With 7 stages gone, Daniel
Harper and Chris Campbell lead this 33rd Tour by 41 seconds from Neil
MacKinnon and Mike Stayte. Dougi Hall and Gareth Williams had been leading after
three stages, but struck trouble in the new test at Ardtun when they crested a
rise at full chat - and landed on standing water. Dougi and Gareth were OK and
the car was only a couple of feet from the edge of the road – but parked
vertically on a banking! There have been a couple of
other changes to the overnight leaderboard but this was simply due to later
numbers posting quicker times behind the Mullmurmurs Bulletin timetable, but as
I have always said, the times on this scandal sheet are always Provisional and
issued on that basis to try and get some info out to the millions who are
watching. Harper is under no illusions
about the task that lies ahead: “I’m taking no risks. I backed off in a few
places simply because it’s dangerous out there.” A fact echoed by second
placed Neil MacKinnon who is finding the WRC Impreza a lot more complex than
last year’s Group A machine. During the heavy rain spells last night he had to
switch off some of his extra lights as the alternator could not cope with the
current demands of the other electrical components! Callum Duffy has moved up to
third in the rear wheel drive Escort despite a grumbling back axle. And just
think on this dear readers. If he can be third in a 2WD car after 7 stages
despite “taking it easy” with that back axle, just think what he could do if
he was confident! In these conditions this boy is unreal, Popeye would be twice
the hero if he could find out what spinach Duffy eats for breakfast. Tony Cope is fourth despite
a “sixth gear tank slapper” in Loch Tuath when the throttle jammed open (How
come throttles never jam shut?) but that was fixed at Craignure service. Tony Bardy is fifth in the
Nissan, but a big spin in the first stage of the night was sufficient for him to
remind himself to change his underpants regularly. Trouble was, he couldn’t
see to turn the car around as the windows were opaque with condensation. As
predicted in the previous Bulletin, Dave Taylor is in the top ten, the number 47
seed lying sixth in the Mitsubishi Lancer but with re-seeding taking place
before the mid-day Re-start it will be easier for the ‘Bulletin Boys’ (Bunnet,
Bill’n’Bob) to keep tabs on the quick stuff. It was earlier reported that
Eddie O’Donnell had two punctures in the first stage. Wrong. He had one
puncture in two stages and therefore had to stop twice, hence the Salen Silver
Escort’s position down in the 40s. Mark Durham is top 1600cc runner in tenth
place with the Corsa Kit car but even more incredible is Doug Weir’s 11th
place in the Nova which still has parts of a fridge fitted to the car from Mull
2 years ago! And no, it’s not the light that comes on when you open the door!
Top 1400cc class runner is Ian Chadwick in the VW Polo in 29th place
with Dave Taylor’s Astra 39th. But they are the lucky ones.
Many are out already. Robin Hamilton failed to make the start of the first
stage. The Metro was on its third alternator this week even before the rally
started and Stephen Clark hit a bump in Gribun and the Saxo ended up off the
road on its ear. Jimmy Christie is out in the RWD Astra. When the windows
steamed up he slid off the road at one point and with the help of one solitary,
sodden, spectator managed to get the car back on the road and then the throttle
cable snapped mid stage 3. Rob Davies and Mark Jasper
both had “front end problems” to sort out before the second Leg starts …
Dave Thwaites had to stop and change a puncture on SS2 … Duggie Ingram lost a
wheel on the Mini when the wheel studs sheared and it looks as though he’s out
… Murdo Morrison clouted the rear (driver’s side) corner so that’s the
second dent in his brand new MkII … Dave Dalgleish says the car has grip but
“this doesn’t” as he pointed to his head … and just imagine the trouble
Paul Marshall is having. He’s driving the 3.5 litre V8 Triumph TR7 and
bemoaning the fact that all the “four wheel drive cars are dragging so much sh*t
on to the road and making it even slippier!” … Cameron MacKenzie was in
remarkably good humour despite the fact that his co-driver left the Pace Notes
at home … Steve Simpson has lost the front bumper off his smart red and yellow
Impreza. If anyone finds it could they please hand it in to Rally HQ or any
Rally Official? … Alan Douglas is a lucky boy. He went off in SS2 but when the
stage was stopped it gave him enough time to get the car out and rejoin the
queue to get a Notional time and stay in the rally … one of the stoppages was
caused by the Astra of John Patterson which got stuck astride an Armco barrier
and blocked the road. And speaking of stoppages
there were a couple caused by unruly spectators last night. If you want to ruin
someone’s fun go and ruin your own and leave the rally out of it. It’s not
only stupid, it’s potentially dangerous. Let’s leave the last word
to Brian Cameron at the end of the last stage: “I’m glad that’s over. I
was getting too cocky. I had a BIG moment in that last one!” Pauses for
contemplation and reflection all round methinks! Leg 1 round-up, more later, Yer auld pal, Jaggy Bunnet,
MacGochan’s, Tobermory, Saturday, 10:30 am. |
|
