Where do I start, probably with my usual opening moan, so not to disappoint here goes. The event in question was the 2nd and Final Cabaret run by the PDMC. It was a total financial loss (in the region of £250/300 ). How many members turned up?? Answer ordinary members nil, committee members four, special thanks to Neil Bye who got of his butt and sold 10 tickets- 20% of the total. I sold 6, Rolls Royce sold 12 and the rest in dribs and drabs making a total of about 50. Thankfully the local Group and Disco gave us a discount or the loss would have been even larger. We all had a good time and enjoyed the "Turns" but alas no more Cabaret Nights as we can not afford that type of loss.
Another unsuccessful event, but definitely more enjoyable, was our annual trip to Mull. Thanks to several weeks of hard work by Alan and Ian and the use of Kitchens garage to work in, everything that could be changed (within reasonable expense) was changed. Front and rear Discs, bearings, all suspension bushes, SubFrame (thanks to Mick at 'A' Frame Engineering). All this only to be stopped after completing 12 Stages by a Fuel Blockage problem. The second time we have had to retire on this brilliant event, however on the Stages we did complete we were taking over 45 seconds a Stage off our last years' times for the same stages. This was probably due to the new Diff and Gear Box plus the 15" wheels, making the car handle better than ever. Alas all to no avail, still there's '95, could we be in a Clio??? Watch this space! Other than the rally (is there anything else?) we had a day's (4 hrs) fishing, where all but the "Expert" angler caught fish -- sorry Ian, I had to get that in, plus plenty of Whisky drinking in the "Tobermory" distillery and Les surviving on a diet of Pickled Herring (Uggh!!) and Gillies Pies (Private Joke). Many thanks to all involved with the pre-event preparation, Les and Ian and "Brew and Butty maker" Diane for keeping us going on the event. Let us hope that '95 will be third time lucky! So back to reality and Flookborough on the 6th November.
For the near future it looks like being a close run thing again for the '94 "Lees for Tiles" sony "Lawtec" league. I hope that PDMC can clinch it, but I feel that it will be down to the Grizedale Forest event. Either way, as the '93 winners, it's down to us to organise the SD34 Presentation night, and what a night is being planned. Dates and list of guest stars will be announced as and when they confirm.
Now to past events, the excellent Navigational Nights held by Bill Chadwick, seem to be disappointingly supported. Only three crews turned out on each of the first two events. Come on folks give the organisers a bit of encouragement, Bill has to make a round trip of approx. 140/150 miles to do these events for you. Many thanks to Bill for continuing. A brief resume of the first two and the date for the third appear further on in the newsletter.
Once again "That Rally" is with us, yes the RAC, and on the 20th November the PDMC will be marshalling at Chatsworth House (where else). If Alan hasn't got your name, I would suggest you ring him ASAP, as numbers are filling up.
Almost last but not least a little plug for Ian at K&N. At the end of 1994 BCF/HALON becomes illegal to manufacture. Just how long before the RAC ban it for Motor Sport is anyone's guess. He (Ian) is selling the approved replacement extinguishant in complete kits, at a "Lump" cheaper than Demon Tweed etc, etc. Give him a ring for a quote.
Also included in this newsletter are some '94 Mull Murmurs, these are put out during the event by "Yer old pal Jaggy Bunnet" -- RallySports' John Fife.
Finally, Mull steward Ian Grindrod threatened to give Alan and I a "Fail", for not stopping at the standing give way (old road rally rules) in Dervaig... I would have hung my head in shame if he had.
Bye for now
Rod
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After signing on, all fifty of us were given a short chat on what is required of a modern racing driver by Tim Sugden of BTCC fame. It was a good atmosphere without any real bad feeling which was surpriing as the prize for winning was a full season in the Scottish Mutual Vento VR6 Challenge Cup worth approx. £70,000. As is becoming the norm these days, the selection was on fitness, promotability, and driving ability. So what they really wanted was a cross between Daley Thompson, Danny Baker and Alain Prost. I received my number for the day, which was seven, toyed with the idea of adding a number 2 in front of the seven but figured I better behave myself for once in my life. I started off with the fitness tests and it was now I wished I'd had a more substantial breakfast, instead of the Marlboro variety I'd had. I surprised myself by finishing within the top 10. I now know why we have adrenalin.
Next was the interview. I felt that my ability to lose jobs on a regular basis would assist me here, as I must have attended umpteen job interviews. It was quite an informal do, as my interviewer had not bothered to shave her moustache that morning, which had me transfixed. I received 70% for the interview which was joint second with another five finalists. So perhaps my stars were right. Next up was lunch, which was free so I had two!
At 2:00pm we all had a few laps to get used to the circuit and karts, it was an outdoor RAC registered Pro-Kart circuit. The Duragrip Asphalt surface being quite smooth (apart from the numerous patchwork of repairs) and more grippy than those indoor jobs. The karts were Honda 170cc, with a top speed of 60mph and looked quite substantial, albeit tailor made for Willie Carson. My first race was in heat 2 and I was starting 3rd on the grid. After leading initially I finished third, so 8 points in the bag, so far so good. My next race was heat 7, this time I was on pole and figured I should win this one to get a maximum 12 points. Due to being over cautious again I lost my early lead to finish 3rd yet again. I was beginning to think that no matter what the bronze medal had my name on it.
My third race (heat 13) I started 8th and last on the grid. After the first two laps I was up to sixth and really going for it. Unfortunately too much so, which resulted in a spin, due to me forgetting that the rear track was some ten inches wider than the front and would clip the raised kerbs, not advisable in a rock solid unsprung kart. So with only four laps in total I was unable to get back the places I had lost. So only one point for last this time.
For the fourth (heat 18) and my final race I was to start 6th on the grid. I realised if I could finish somewhere in the middle I would be in the semi's. Fourth was best I could manage, bnngmg my total score to 23 or 30 with the morning tests included. Yippee!! I'm in to the semi-finals (3rd on the grid), where all I have to do is finish in the top 4 and then I'm into the finals, the grid position for which would be decided on a timed lap, and up until then I held second fastest lap. After that it would be down to Silverstone with nine others to battle it out in a Polo G40 and Formula First car, no problem. Win the Vento Cup, then with Volkswagen's Formula 3 ties win that and all, then Formula one.
Then the first of the problems. The seven points I had from the interview did not get included till right at the very end, ho-hum, still that had me at 16th out of fifty, which got me onto the back row of the grid for the semi's. So it was harder but still possible, so don't get too smug Schumacher. Then horror of horrors it turned out I was joint 16th, and he had a win to his credit. So that was that, to use football speak 'I was sick as a parrot". So near yet so far, I managed to get my in the Telegraph and Argus and along with the other 49, we're meant to be in a later edition of Carweek. All wearing our "Fruit of the Loom" T-shirts and Nigel Mansell Yank style baseball hats.
I was very disappointed and very black and blue, but I still thoroughly enjoyed my day out. It just goes to show that these Astrologers are clue-less.
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Speaking of "nips in the air", Richard Thompson's Nissan (72) was up in the air the other night when he had to take avoiding action to miss a deer and hit a rock. The wee car required some major surgery to get it ready for the rally and parts had to be sent up overnight. A spokesman for the deer (who is distantly related to Rudolf) swore on a stack of hay bales that his client had not been drinking prior to wandering out it front of the Nissan.
Definitely non-starting is Tony Davies, the Metro driver having had to return home due to business commitments before the rally started.
The locals are looking good, eh? Neil MacKinnon (1) is at the wheel of the same car he drove to victory last year. He had a run on the recent Tyneside Stages and finished 5th, 6 seconds off the third place fella. As for Andy Knight (4), no new technology here, he has borrowed the Weldex 2.6 Vauxhall Chevette HSR for the weekend. He had a shot the other night and said things were happening so quick he didn't know what pedal to press next. I bet the spectators enjoy this one.
Chris Griffiths (3) has a new co-driver for the weekend, John Morgan (not Tony as in prog.) due to the fact that Stephen Griffiths damaged a vertebrae in his neck on the Wexford Stages. The new team have at least done a recce together and are just praying for dry weather for the Opel Manta which set some surprising times last year.
Derek Carless (14) said he was definitely retiring two years ago then borrowed a Talbot Sunbeam for his "definitely the very last run" last year. Guess who's back and he's actually bought the 2 litre Escort he's using. Looks like he'll be around for a while yet.
Roy Honeywell (61) is making some modifications to his elbow. He's going to pad it up so that he doesn't keep banging it against the door like he did last year. According to one Ian Grindrod Esq, the pad he is using is a silicon implant from a failed operation! Other modifications include fixing the clutch. When he and Bill arrived on the island on Tuesday they went to take the car off the trailer and the clutch broke, now it's the starter motor's turn!
Have you seen the colour scheme on Matt Schuman's Astra 9830? I asked a perfectly legitimate question when I saw it, like were you drinking before you painted the car? He told me it was artistic. A Brazilian artist called Louis Ferrera designed the four leaf clover, so now you know. Even so, it's better than his last colour job. He had two gigantic pairs of lips on front and rear of the car prior to this - well kiss my aaarrrmpit.
The VROOM Rally Team is back. They retired on the far side of the island last year when the back axle broke. Even so Peter Monkhouse (114) has stuck with the same Mazda 323 with its Montrose 2 litre engine and gearbox mated up to a TR7 back axle!
Philips have quite a few employees involved on this event. Chris Paton (48) works for Philips Lighting in Hamilton and both Peter Nixon and Paul Bartlett (103) are from Philips Communications and Processing at Croydon. In fact the service crew all work there too. It will be the first event in this car for Peter and Paul's first ever. Nice one, Paul (Poor sod!!)
Pat Johnson (97) has deviated from the authenticity of his really smart looking Ford Cortina GT. He had tried fitting a standard set of authentic spotlights but couldn't see a damn, oops sorry, I mean a reservoir, thing and borrowed a light pod from a Nova. Rather than damage his pristine original bonnet he got one out of a scrappie, painted it matt black and stuck the pod on with elastoplast. At least he can see now.
Oh, and by the way, all the proceeds from the sale of goods at the Philips Car Systems exhibition unit are going to the Mull Lions charity. So if you fancy buying a skip hat, pen, clipboard, bug or mug then you'll be doing two folks a good turn, yourself and somebody else.
And finally, a plea to all spectators, please take care out there over the weekend. Pick your spots carefully and get there early. Please don't do anything stupid or jeopardise our relationship with the good folks of Mull.
Over the past 25 years, Fred Blundell has done some amazing things with computerised results long before folk knew what computers were. Fred retired from "Chief in Charge of Results" last year and has handed over to the new whizz kid on the block, Mark Goosens. Fred is now the "boy" and Mark the "gaffer" but what they are planning to do with modems and faxes this year is mind boggling. Apparently they are going to try and squirt results along phone lines around the island throughout the event with photocopiers handily placed to issue results sheets to competitors. If it all works it will be magic, if it doesn't then at least it will make all the wee budgies tootsies tingle when they're perched on the phone lines.
Well, that's it for now, the next "Mullmurmurs" will be produced at Craignure 1st service to-night. So if you're going out spectating, take care and act sensibly. If you're taking part, then have a safe and successful rally.
If lan Gemmell (39) makes it to the top of the hill after the start this year, that'll be further than last year!! Gaun yersel Ian.
That's all from me meantime,
Yer auld pal, Jaggy Bunnet.
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Four crews turned out for this event held on a fine night. A compact route went via Earby over Elsack Moor to Carlton then south of Lowthersdale to Colne Edge with a loop around Bank End and a short run up the red then across to Barnoldswick and back to "Fanny Grey" for a quick pint (navigators only). Ist K. McMurlrie / N. Bye 12 points 2nd J~ Holland / S. Wilson 11 points 3rd R. Barker / R. Marsden 10 points
October 26th
Only three crews braved the weather for this very wet and slippery night. The route started just north of Barnoldswick and turned west across Lidgett Flatt to Howgill then south over Downham Moor to Newchurch in Pendle back up the map to Sabden and over Pendleton Moor to Four Lane Ends. A Code board located at a spot height on a white was missed by everybody. On to Chatburn and a set of Tulips which took the crews through Bolton by Bowland and down to Gisburn and on to Bracewell and then back to the "Fanny Grey" for the results.
Ist R. Barker / R. Marsden 12 22 points 2nd P. Arnold / R. Murtha 11 11 points 3rd J. Holland / S. Wilson I 0 21 points
The next event will be on 13th December at the same venue.
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Alan and Rod finish an event without trauma, They were 8th o/all and 2nd in class, beaten by two Escort Cossies, a Lancia Intergale and a Sierra at Wigan's Flookborough.