This year I will be fulfilling a dream I have had since as long as I can remember. Every October for over 30 years the annual pilgrimage to a small windswept rugged island on the west coast of Scotland. Usually started by a 5 hour drive from home up to Oban for the ferry over to Mull. I think my love for the island comes from my dad my first memory being on his shoulders watching the rally on the old road before Salen with the likes of Beecroft,MacKinnon and Pattison
Escorts,Sunbeams and Mini's flying by. The sounds of bda's and lotus twincams echoing of the hills the Cibie Oscar's lighting up the darkness waiting for the cars on Loch na keal you can hear the stags up in the hills until you see the lights weaving in and out of the loch screaming engine notes as the drivers occasionally let off for the crests and bridges. I can remember being late to set up our control in Craignure and following the closing car down the Glen road my dad driving our old red Manta (GUM 289Y) by the end of the Glen with the brakes stinking and a half inch scrubbed off the bottom of the towbar I knew then that one day I will get on that entry list.
Mull is harsh and very Unforgiving on both machinery and people. Having grown up on the west coast on a little island called Seil I have a good understanding of what the weather can be like but to people who have never been to the west coast you are in for a shock! Mull in October has it all sun,rain, gale force winds and snow and that's just in a day.
One side of the island can be lovely and dry the other as wet as an otters pocket.
The roads are harsh at best with crests,rocks, bridges and don't forget the deer!
If you get it wrong on Mull you will be very luck if you don't get away without damage. Large drops from the edges of the newly laid tarmac, rocks close to edge of the stage can puncture a tyre in an instant or worse. Drops strait into the sea round half of the stages. Ditches, bogs Mull has it all.
Brian Molyneux wrote a book called The Best Rally In The World all about the rally, Colin McRae regularly visited Mull when the rally was on before his tragic accident.
Imagine a cup final at Wembley that's what Tobermory is like during rally week.
My little Puma has served me well over the years as a road/road rally car. She has dun over 50 events including road rally's, 12 cars,auto tests and auto solo's. With many outright wins and top 10 finishes. Now with over 165,000 miles it's time for Mull and a few upgrades!
So far the spec is a
Standard 1700 puma engine and box.
Alcon puma racing 4pot front brakes.
Focus rear disc conversation.
Team Dynamics pro rally 15".
Yokohama and Dunlop tyres.
Safety Device bolt in cage.
Lifeline plumbed in extinguishers.
Electric cut offs
Window film.
Sparco evo seats.
Hydraulic handbrake.
Bais valve.
Belt cutters.
S1600 light pod with pia lights.
Jobs left to do.
Wire light pod.
Finish sump guard.
Belts.
Cambelt.
New clutch.
Woo hoo just got confirmation that my entry has been accepted 64 days left to finish the car and get testing!
Escorts,Sunbeams and Mini's flying by. The sounds of bda's and lotus twincams echoing of the hills the Cibie Oscar's lighting up the darkness waiting for the cars on Loch na keal you can hear the stags up in the hills until you see the lights weaving in and out of the loch screaming engine notes as the drivers occasionally let off for the crests and bridges. I can remember being late to set up our control in Craignure and following the closing car down the Glen road my dad driving our old red Manta (GUM 289Y) by the end of the Glen with the brakes stinking and a half inch scrubbed off the bottom of the towbar I knew then that one day I will get on that entry list.
Mull is harsh and very Unforgiving on both machinery and people. Having grown up on the west coast on a little island called Seil I have a good understanding of what the weather can be like but to people who have never been to the west coast you are in for a shock! Mull in October has it all sun,rain, gale force winds and snow and that's just in a day.
One side of the island can be lovely and dry the other as wet as an otters pocket.
The roads are harsh at best with crests,rocks, bridges and don't forget the deer!
If you get it wrong on Mull you will be very luck if you don't get away without damage. Large drops from the edges of the newly laid tarmac, rocks close to edge of the stage can puncture a tyre in an instant or worse. Drops strait into the sea round half of the stages. Ditches, bogs Mull has it all.
Brian Molyneux wrote a book called The Best Rally In The World all about the rally, Colin McRae regularly visited Mull when the rally was on before his tragic accident.
Imagine a cup final at Wembley that's what Tobermory is like during rally week.
My little Puma has served me well over the years as a road/road rally car. She has dun over 50 events including road rally's, 12 cars,auto tests and auto solo's. With many outright wins and top 10 finishes. Now with over 165,000 miles it's time for Mull and a few upgrades!
So far the spec is a
Standard 1700 puma engine and box.
Alcon puma racing 4pot front brakes.
Focus rear disc conversation.
Team Dynamics pro rally 15".
Yokohama and Dunlop tyres.
Safety Device bolt in cage.
Lifeline plumbed in extinguishers.
Electric cut offs
Window film.
Sparco evo seats.
Hydraulic handbrake.
Bais valve.
Belt cutters.
S1600 light pod with pia lights.
Jobs left to do.
Wire light pod.
Finish sump guard.
Belts.
Cambelt.
New clutch.
Woo hoo just got confirmation that my entry has been accepted 64 days left to finish the car and get testing!