2011 Mull Murmur Chapter 6

The Tunnock’s Mull Rally, 2011

MullMurmurs – Chapter 6

MullMurmurs – Chapter 6

Top Times after 19 (of 19 Stages) - Provisional

1 Paul MacKinnon 2hr 28m 04s

2 James MacGillivray 2hr 33m 51s

3 Daniel Harper 2hr 34m 12m

4 Tristain Pye 2hr 34m 22s

5 Eddie O’Donnell Jnr 2hr 35m 18s

6 Jonathan Mounsey 2hr 36m 52s

7 Lewis Gallagher 2hr 36m 52s

8 Tim Stell 2hr 36m 54s

9 Doug Weir 2hr 37m 14s

10 Angus Ogg MacKenzie 2hr 37m 57s

As I made my way back to the hotel in the small hours of the morning, listening to the reverberating sounds of musical exhaust notes as rally cars departed the finish area at Tobermory, this 42^nd Tunnock’s Mull rally never ceases to amaze me and keep me enthralled. In the dying stages of the night it was like watching a poker game unfold, as the stakes became higher and drivers continued to push the odds further and further, to the point that someone’s nerve had to break – but who would be first? Would Paul MacKinnon manage to keep going, albeit with a comfortable lead at the start pf the leg?, Could MacGillivray pull the inevitable rabbit out of the hat and sneak even closer to Paul?, Would Daniel Harper continue to push the Mini as hard in these last few stages as he had earlier in the event and overhaul MacGillivray? Would Eddie O’Donnell manage to get a penalty removed? It was nail biting stuff!

The night time drama, and that is what is was, was to take an usual twist, for when the crews arrived for the stages 17, 18 & 19, they did NOT know what their positions were relative to one another after Stage 16, as communications had apparently broken down and they did not know if their overall position had changed albeit they knew their own times but not those of their rivals, nor how close they were to the crew in front or to what extent the crew behind were breathing down there necks – not a comfortable position to be in when there is a lot at stake! Do you continue to push?, do you ease off a little as you had, yes had, a good margin on the guy behind? These were the event changing decisions crews were needing to make. What had been a drama was now a crisis, as decisions had to be made – too push and if so on what tyres?

Paul entered stage 19 Tauth/Calgary with a 6-minute advantage, but a puncture could change that very quickly. But what was about to happen was not what he had expected for half way through the 22 miler the engine dropped to 3 cylinders and his drama was quickly turning to a crisis – “I thought it was all over and I wouldn’t be able to get to the end. She was struggling to pull up the hills but I continued to keep it going.” He dropped over 2 minutes but thankfully the margin was sufficient to keep this, his second win of the Mull Rally, the previous win being in a Group N car, rather than the WRC he used this year. The cause of his last minute anguish – an injector wire had broken!!

James MacGillivray’s night leg had not got off to the best off starts, as he smacked the seem piece of wall in Ardtun that had claimed Dougie Hall in 2004, the last time this stage was used. “There was no real damage but my pride is a bit dented!” Daniel Harper had decided that he was going to take the all or nothing approach to the night section. The weather had improved significantly as the rain had stopped and the outside temperature was quite mild, but the roads were still damp. However, as he pushed the Mini through the initial stages an odd vibration began to immerge from the front of the car, and this continued to get worse the further down the back of the island they went. “ I had no idea what the ‘eck it could be, and it was making handling difficult" of the nibble car. Undaunted he continued to push and hoped they could fix it at service at Craignure before tackling the last stage. Although he didn’t know it, he was only a few seconds behind Tristan Pye. At service the discovered that a lower wishbone and accompanying ball joint had began to work loose and were almost at the point of detaching when they arrive at Craignure! Once fixed he give it everything over through Calgary Bay and was rewarded with an excellent 3^rd Overall as he overhauled Pye to finish 10 seconds ahead.

Tristan Pye had given the rally everything he could and there was nothing left – he had pushed himself, his co-driver and the car to the limit but it was not enough – “If I come back next year” he quipped, “it won’t be in a Group N car!!” Hmmm, methinks his dander is up and he has his heart set on a win in the near future. Now, O’Donnell the younger was also going to have his troubles on the last stage, for as the car careered down the through Calgary steps, Eddie touched the brakes – oh trullocks – none!!!! The pedal was decidedly soft and because he had also made the decision at the start of the leg, it was going to be a Tobermory or bust run through the night he was pushing as hard as he could go, and his times show this, the boy, I mean man, was on a mission! – oh the thought makes me shiver with excitement and at the same time my heart is in my mouth as I think of the thoughts which were going through his head as he pummelled the car down the steps wi’ nae brakes! Thankfully through skill, well that’s what he told me, he got the Escort to Tobermory and he was happy chap.

For others in the rally, they were having their issues to deal with, and most rally drivers expect to be on the edge as they push through the stages, but not so on a road section. However, this was the predicament Jonathan Mounsey found himself in, literally on the edge of a drop as he overshot a corner on the road section from Dervaig to Tobermory due to oil being spilled on the road, with the car teetering on the edge of a bit of a fresh air drop less than 2 miles from the finish. Thankfully he managed to get it back on the black stuff and finish within his lateness – but to say it was close………..

Gallagher, Stell, Weir and young Mackenzie were all delighted with their finish positions, and believe you me, getting to the end of the Mull Rally is no mean achievement. It takes guts, skill, technology, knowledge and a bit of luck. Some whose luck ran out, was Bruce Edwards (35), as he retired on ss18 with mechanical trouble – here’s hoping it was not the engine again which had robbed him of a finish a few years ago. Douglas Ingram (63) had complete suspension failure on the back of the mini and was not prepared to risk life and limb without it – a wise decision. Steven Paterson (77) was stopped in ss17 but the reason is unknown, and last victim of the might leg to succumb was Dave Riley (90) who was also spotted parked up in ss18. Too have got so far and not finish I’m sure is hard to swallow – but that’s rallying! We also received an appeal from a competitor who had suffered a puncture at the end of Ardtun. Car 89, Jamie Peden had been that keen to get going they changed the wheel but left the punctured rim and tyre at the road side. He is keen to retrieve said 16” Revolution wheel and if you have this or have seen it can you call him on 07500 919281 – glad to help. Dave Calvert (72) is chuffed to bits because he finished his 36^th Mull rally in 36^th overall position – now if you had been a betting man!!

We had received reports earlier in the day of a strange site off the shores of Pennygael as crews went to Ardtun, was it a basking shark?, was it a whale?, was it a deep sea diver forging for sunken treasure of a langoustine boat that had met an ill fate in the past? – no it was none of these – it was the Chief Medical Officer of the rally, Dr. Ben Shippey, but what was he doing? There he was stripped, yes stripped with the exception of his hat, to his birthday suit and wading into the sea. He had apparently kept the hat on to protect his modesty! But isn’t the water really really cold at this time of year? If it was as cold as I believe it was, then I don’t think there would have been anything to protect as it had probably retracted like a tortoise going into it’s shell!! But why was he going into the sea? Was he doing this for medical reasons?, had the pressures of the rally got to him and he was trying to end it all? No, the answer was much simpler than that – he was fishing, yes fishing but not for fish, for the wheel off his Landrover which had come loose and careered into the depths of the sea. He managed to find the wheel but it had become damaged and he had lost all the wheel nuts. So not to be undone, he decided to take off the spare wheel from the back door and use the wheel nuts from this. However, age had taken it’s toll on the door and when he yanked the wheel off it's mount, the rear door came with it!! Oh dear, methinks that will take more than a sticking plaster to fix.

And now to conclude this, my first time doing the Mullmurmers. I hope you have enjoyed my scribblings and I have entertained and kept you informed. I know I had some might big shoes to fill and to follow in the steps of a legend is not easy, and that is was Lord Jaggy Bunnet is, a legend. It would also be remiss of me to not extend the thanks of all to the Paramedic & Rescue crews, as well as the marshalls who look after us as we enjoy our sport, for without them we won’t have a sport. I must also thank Ian Rae from Blairgowrie, who volunteered (yes, he now knows that was a foolish thing to do) to drive through the stages distributing the diatribe I produced.

Oh, hold the presses (always wanted to say that!) – I have just been advised the Boyd Tunnock, the owner of that most wonderful bakery called, emmm, what’s it called again, oh yes - Tunnock’s, was spotted being carted away by the Polis from the Salen Hotel yesterday afternoon. He has tried to claim they were just giving him a lift to Tobermory – a tall tale if ever I’ve heard one!! But we must thank him, his family and his Company for supporting this event once again – and did you try one of their pies last night – scrumptious!!! Eddie O’Donnell the senior was spotted eating two – at the same time!!! They must be good!! So until next time, have a safe journey home and I look forward to seeing you all next year – assuming I get back!

That’s all for now,

Yer new pal, Wee Thistle, Tobermory, Sunday, 13.00hrs.

(Note: MullMurmurs also available online at: www.mullrally.com or www.scotmaps.co.uk )