2011 Mull Murmur Chapter 1

The Tunnock’s Mull Rally, 2011

The Tunnock’s Mull Rally, 2011

MullMurmurs – Chapter 1

Wellhowsyeraxelssittingandyerbigendsrunnin? Welcome one and all for the 42nd time to the home of rallying’s biggest challenge and hugest adventures on the wee scottish island of Mull. This years’ event has some new twists and turns and should prove to be interesting, as the organising team in charge try to offer some new challenges to the old hands of this scrumpsillyious event. It’s also a warm welcome back for the sponsors, the tantalisers of taste buds across the globe – Saint Tunnock’s of Biscuitry. Never has so much been done for so many by such a wondrous bakery in such a quaint Lanarkshire township and our thanks go to Boyd and Fergus for all their support of this magnillious event.

Well the action commenced last night in the Aros Hall, with a discussion forum host by that weel kent face o’ Bob Milloy, who is renowned for his commentary on many a Scottish event. The warm up for the forum was not the usual quiz, but a Zumba dance session and there were a few puffin’ and blawin’ faces and the end of that I can tell ye! Bob’s surprise panel, and it was a surprise to him because he didna ken fa wis ginae be there, included Daniel Harper, Robb Fagg, Phil Scholes and Paula Swinscoe and they entertained the packed hall with their stories and memories of all things rallying. There was also the Tunnock’s tea Cake eating competition was won I’m advised by John Bird, son of Billy, who ate an astonishing gut busting 36 tea cakes. Jings he must have some size of a belly to have eaten all them! Well done and many thanks to all who partook of these events.

And so to a dryish Friday morning and Scrutineering. Calum the Comet’s Escort was one of the first through the Tobermory Distillery arch to the welcoming whiff of whisky – what a great place to have scrutineering as the aroma jist maks abodie si cheerie! Calum’s car has now been fitted with a paddle shift thingmebobber, which makes his wee rocket go even quicker through the gears. He’s looking forward to the new format and expects a serious battle to ensue. Young McKinnon was a surprise late entry with 117 on the door and running second on the road, and he has the use of Kenny McKinstry’s own WRC Subaru – Paul has only driven it a few miles and reckons he will need to “learn to walk in the car before he a run”, hmmm that will be interesting to see how much walking is actually done!

Daniel Harper’s mechanics were having a frantic time in scrutineering trying to get the bonnet open, and some silly sausage had gone and sealed in the pull catches behind the bumper. Stuart Walker idn’t have the best of starts to his rally, as the clutch went on the recce car, and the replacement car wouldn’t go above 30mph. Hugh Hunter arrived on Monday and made a beeline for Calgary Bay to look at the kerb that ended his rally early last year – “it’s nothing too look at and must have just nipped the tyre so we have it well marked for this year”. The ever smiling John Cressey advised that he comes to Mull every year to win the event, but ends up content with a finish. Tristain Pye was caught short on the ferry, or not!, as his van was 6cm longer than it was supposed to be and that cost him £150 – ouch!

Young Peter Taylor is taking this event seriously, but as a Mull virgin he has done his homework, clocking up over 1000 miles in recce! Dougie Hall has had a last minute change of co-driver as Mike Graham developed an ear infection which made him dizzy and faint – not good in a rally car so he has been replaced by Alastair Wyllie who flew in a few days ago to fill the hot seat. Young and old Ogg fae Dervaig, were very perflexed when they went to take the car for an MOT earlier this week as it took them 7 hours to drive the 7 miles to Tobermory thanks to a cable which had come off the air flow controller thingmy. The Rintoul’s are here sporting a new Mitsubishi – the shell wis the road car of one of the service crew a few weeks ago but has been transformed into a mighty rally machine which was only completed on Monday night – hmmm, I wonder if the service crew know they have borrowed it!

Richard Cook is also another Mull virgin, and sports a t-shirt advising he is a ‘Baldy Mull Virgin’, Let’s hope his first experience is one he remembers fondly. Young, (well actually he’s not so young now) Eddie O’Donnell is without his usual co-driver this year as Eddie Senior (who is much much older!!) thought he would not be able to do the rally as wife Carol was to be hospital, but she has been released early and we wish her well, so Eddie Senior is now servicing for his boy. Eddie the younger also reckons he has a secret advantage this year as he started a new job this year wee the Council, filling in the potholes at the bottom of the island, so has been over the roads doon there many a day but only at 20mph!

Scrutineering was getting very hectic at one point, and scrutineer Rob Harris has to revert to being a parking attendant as well as directing traffic – I must say he seemed well suited to the task as he waved his arms around at a few competitors to move their cars – I’m sure they were friendly gestures!! Dougie Weir is back after a 2 year absence but the car has a slight misfire which seems to have been fixed. Stevie Brow has a new found respect for co-driver’s, as he was persuaded by his co-driver Keir Beaton, that his hand writing was much better so he should re-write all the notes, “man, it’s hard work!” stated a tired Stevie, but Keir is well rested as he went to bed and left him too it.

Jonathan Mounsey had made a new discovery in rallying, “you cannot learn it like hill climbing”, a discipline for which he is renowned. Alex Taylor at 116 is tackling the event in a Subaru Forester this year – “it weighs 2 ton, but it stops well”, and they hope it will be the most photographed vehicle on the rally as it is not the usual sort of rally car for a tarmac event, and as the number plate states “looks like sh*t, but goes like stink” – here’s hoping! Mull is the only event Dave Hopwood does now adays, with a new gearbox, dry sump and power steering he takes it seriously. Craig Rutherford has also fitted a new gearbox and diff which appear to have resolved the issues he has been tormented with. Pete Gibson is out in the Ulster scarred Mitsubishi and hopes to not collect any more scars here! Mike Storrar and Weazel Currie flew into scrutineering in the ex ice cream Anglia (I’m sure I saw that same car used by a trainee wizard to go Hogworts School). Anyway, when asked how the car was, he replied “she’s a bit old and tired”, at which point Weazel advised she was not! When asked further if he still enjoyed rallying more than as sex, he retorted “it depends who with!”, now was he referring to rallying or sex? I’ll need to remember to ask Mrs Storrar when she arrives on the island!

John Beatson is out in a new Escort Mk2; Curly Haigh has fitted a 5 speed box to get more top speed “I want more, and more” he chirped. Dave Thwaites hasn’t finished in 5 years and advised “this island is like a woman, - they both demand your attention!” He has also move the position of the drivers seat forward, apparently to help him reach the pedals! The vertically challenged Bruce Edwards (this is according to his service crew) is back in the Darrian fitted with the same Honda engine that blew while in sixth 2 years ago. Paul Ballantyne did not get off to the best of starts with his Mull Rally, as he crashed the recce car when leaving his house, and he has not told the wife as it’s her car! Co-driver Stan Quirk has a new mentor with him this year as he prepares to take on the tough demands of Mull – his mum who is in her 80’s, and she was up in the early hours of this morning waiting to give him a ticking off foe staying out so late – well done mum!

There are is a father and son battle in the rally again this year, Euan Mackay at car 46, and dad Allan who is car 52. Last year dad won by 4 seconds, but this year Euan reckons he has the advantage, as he has hidden his dad’s glasses! “I should have went to Spec-Savers before I came to the island but I didnae ha time” quips Allan. Alan McLaughlin is out in a car you are sure not to miss, the Nissan Sunny GTi R which is sporting a new paint job, which is called Candy Apple Red – it’ll be a real challenge to match the paint work if he bashes it. Malcolm Davey is in for a new experience on Mull, seeing the stages at night, as he has only recce’ed through the day – that’ll be interesting!!

And a warm welcome once again to all those who support the event by giving their time to marshal, for without them there would be no event. So be considerate when the pressure is on, they are here doing a job so you can all have fun.

And finally, if you’re going out spectating over the weekend, get to your chosen vantage point early, park safely and take care when moving around. Keep a look out for the Mull Murmurs car which will be distributing your favourite news sheet around the island ably driven by Ian Rae, as I have served my apprenticeship as Bulletin Bill and assistant and attempt to fill the shoes of the immortal and even more famous Jaggy Bunnet, who made this news sheet his own with his sharp wit and banter and has decided to take things at little easier at the event. I only hope I can fill those shoes well and give you the same entertainment he did.It’ll be dark out there and if you wander too far from the road the beasties might get you.

That’s yer lot for now,

Yer new pal, Wee Thistle!!

Tobermory Distillery, Friday, 14:00hrs.