It's been a while since I last posted here. Good to see the successor Mull Rally seems to be doing OK - will be keeping an eye on it again in 6 weeks time. Good luck to the organisers and competitors.
Meanwhile, here's and excellent in-car video of Calum Duffy in the Escort along Gribun in 2010.
Some points to note:
- a big "moment" about 2 minutes in
- from 5:45 it gets really quick
- my favourite pacenote "flat to the phone box"
- from 6 minutes as we go flat to the phone box the car hits the rev limiter in 5th. Gulp!
- although the earlier part of the stage doesn't look that quick, the car must be in the air about 20 times in 5 minutes, the road is incredibly narrow and bumpy, and just check out those corners over blind brows where a slight off will put you into a cliff or down into the sea. Brave stuff, and clearly the car takes an enormous amount of punishment on this stage alone.
Love it!
Enjoy.
Showing posts with label duffy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label duffy. Show all posts
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Monday, 13 October 2008
13/10/08 - 21:30 - Back Home Again
What a fabulous weekend - Tour of Mull in a Sunbeam Lotus! Something I've wanted to do every since we got MEP just over 10 years ago.
Calmac Ferry at Craignure (click to enlarge)
Today was all about travel - getting to the ferry in good time, queuing with lots of bleary eyed rally fans and some of the competitor's cars - most in good shape, but Cope's Scooby missing a fair bit of the front end - some spanner and hammer work to be done there.
Damage, But It Could Have Been Much Worse! (click to enlarge)
The 'beam scraped its exhaust again on the ferry ramp, it's still attached but I suspect its a few mil thinner than it used to be. The twin 45s and the exhaust echoed really well inside the ferry, so a bit of immature revving there I'm afraid.
Ah, The Views Just Keep On Coming (click to enlarge)
In Oban, straight into the Esso station for a filling of Super Unleaded (didn't mention it earlier but we took a tank of unleaded in Salen on Saturday afternoon - used Nitrox additive and the motor seemed to be fine on that mixture). The A82 wasn't much fun - too many trucks,coaches and rain but progress was steady. More Tesco 99 in Glasgow and again in Carlisle.
The worst part of the journey was the 90 minute hold up around J10 on the M74. Here the Sunbeam hit its first problem of the whole weekend - the temperature gauge was rising rather high. We pulled over and quickly diagnosed a corroded cable connection for the fan over-ride switch. 5 minutes of freshening up of the joint and we were back underway with the over-ride switch on so the fan was running full time. No problems from then onwards.
Andy's encyclopedic memory for song lyrics meant much singing on the rest of the journey as we plundered the iPod's extensive choice of music. Having said that, we've been back 1.5 hours now and my ears are still ringing! We also shared some thoughts on the pros of the weekend and what we would like to be different if we did this another time.
Pros:
The whole atmosphere of the event on the island
The warm welcome
Marshalling at scruitineering - it might seem a menial job lining cars up to get into the scruit bay, but what better way to get up close to the cars and chat with the crews?
The Malcolm Davey Mk1 Escort crew - in the hotel, in the Mishnish and on the stages. The guys didn't finish, but were still grinning after their retirement
A Mk2 Escort at 150mph on a single track road in the dark and in the mist
A deafening Toyota Starlet
The Sunbeam taking us there and bringing us home again, in fine style and creating a talking point for anyone to chat with us
The blog making the news on the 2300 club home page
Meeting Calum Duffy
Paul MacKinnnon's maturity, humility and fabulous drive
The big welcome home from the kids - Callum's even done a welcome home picture of the Sunbeam - very sweet
Sunbeam By A Five Year Old (click to enlarge)
Cons
Errm, a tough one this, but probably the minor access problem at Loch Tuath - I hope the event can keep its good relationship with the locals
The Sunbeam's too stiff and too low for the roads on Mull - it needs smoother surfaces!
Just now, sleep is the main requirement!
Oh, and here's a picture just for Callum (Hallworth that is, not Duffy!).
Wheels, Details, Close-Ups (click to enlarge)
Calmac Ferry at Craignure (click to enlarge)
Today was all about travel - getting to the ferry in good time, queuing with lots of bleary eyed rally fans and some of the competitor's cars - most in good shape, but Cope's Scooby missing a fair bit of the front end - some spanner and hammer work to be done there.
Damage, But It Could Have Been Much Worse! (click to enlarge)
The 'beam scraped its exhaust again on the ferry ramp, it's still attached but I suspect its a few mil thinner than it used to be. The twin 45s and the exhaust echoed really well inside the ferry, so a bit of immature revving there I'm afraid.
Ah, The Views Just Keep On Coming (click to enlarge)
In Oban, straight into the Esso station for a filling of Super Unleaded (didn't mention it earlier but we took a tank of unleaded in Salen on Saturday afternoon - used Nitrox additive and the motor seemed to be fine on that mixture). The A82 wasn't much fun - too many trucks,coaches and rain but progress was steady. More Tesco 99 in Glasgow and again in Carlisle.
The worst part of the journey was the 90 minute hold up around J10 on the M74. Here the Sunbeam hit its first problem of the whole weekend - the temperature gauge was rising rather high. We pulled over and quickly diagnosed a corroded cable connection for the fan over-ride switch. 5 minutes of freshening up of the joint and we were back underway with the over-ride switch on so the fan was running full time. No problems from then onwards.
Andy's encyclopedic memory for song lyrics meant much singing on the rest of the journey as we plundered the iPod's extensive choice of music. Having said that, we've been back 1.5 hours now and my ears are still ringing! We also shared some thoughts on the pros of the weekend and what we would like to be different if we did this another time.
Pros:
The whole atmosphere of the event on the island
The warm welcome
Marshalling at scruitineering - it might seem a menial job lining cars up to get into the scruit bay, but what better way to get up close to the cars and chat with the crews?
The Malcolm Davey Mk1 Escort crew - in the hotel, in the Mishnish and on the stages. The guys didn't finish, but were still grinning after their retirement
A Mk2 Escort at 150mph on a single track road in the dark and in the mist
A deafening Toyota Starlet
The Sunbeam taking us there and bringing us home again, in fine style and creating a talking point for anyone to chat with us
The blog making the news on the 2300 club home page
Meeting Calum Duffy
Paul MacKinnnon's maturity, humility and fabulous drive
The big welcome home from the kids - Callum's even done a welcome home picture of the Sunbeam - very sweet
Sunbeam By A Five Year Old (click to enlarge)
Cons
Errm, a tough one this, but probably the minor access problem at Loch Tuath - I hope the event can keep its good relationship with the locals
The Sunbeam's too stiff and too low for the roads on Mull - it needs smoother surfaces!
Just now, sleep is the main requirement!
Oh, and here's a picture just for Callum (Hallworth that is, not Duffy!).
Wheels, Details, Close-Ups (click to enlarge)
Sunday, 12 October 2008
12/10/2008 - 21.30 - Trophies and Fireworks
Not really an early start today. Good breakfast again at the Glenforsa hotel, got us up and running, eventually.
Glenforsa (click to enlarge) Location
Coffee and cake in Tobermory (healthy lunch!) whilst we waited for the winners' parade.
Tobermory Main Street (click to enlarge) Location
It's official, Paul MacKinnon won the event from Callum Duffy. 9 seconds being the closest margin for many years and a testament to the battle at the front of the field.
MacKinnon, Duffy and Bonniwell parked the cars up in front of the Aros Hall and the whole of the harbour front was full of folk. Whilst all the cars attracted attention, it was Duffy's Mk2 Exocet that created the most interest. Carbon everywhere, sequential shift, JRE motor, perfectly crafted alloy components etc. When is a Mk2 no longer a Mk2? Don't care really, as long as it goes like stink and can take the fight to the Scoobies.
Duffy's Motor (click to enlarge)
Neil Molyneux (Chairman) Chats to Paul MacKinnon (Winner) (click to enlarge)
In traditional style, the cars were lead along the main street by a piper and the Tunnocks old fashioned van to the winners ramp in the car park.
Champagne followed in equally traditional fashion.
(click to enlarge) Location
Whilst waiting for the presentations we headed for the traditional meeting point - the Mishnish pub. It used to be the yellow building in the Tobermory / Balamory pictures, but its black now. Its a really traditional pub with a great atmosphere and always seems to be involved with sponsoring a few crews on the rally. There were plenty of motorsport fans in there so the big screen TVs were showing the F1 GP (why was Hamilton given a penalty for a fine overtaking move?) and the British Superbikes from Brands.
Big cheers for Duffy at the presentations, but louder and longer for the achievement of Paul MacKinnon - hopefully this is the start of a successful career for Paul - a really appreciative audience. Plenty of cheering for MacCrone in the 205 - a fantastic result in an the ageing car.
Following a healthy lunch, we celebrated the end of the event with a marginally more healthy (there were at least some vegetables involved) with a curry in Back Brae, just off Main Street. Very welcome.
Ending with the day with a bang, fireworks reflecting in the calm waters of the harbour bring the event to close for another year.
(click to enlarge)
Glenforsa (click to enlarge) Location
Coffee and cake in Tobermory (healthy lunch!) whilst we waited for the winners' parade.
Tobermory Main Street (click to enlarge) Location
It's official, Paul MacKinnon won the event from Callum Duffy. 9 seconds being the closest margin for many years and a testament to the battle at the front of the field.
MacKinnon, Duffy and Bonniwell parked the cars up in front of the Aros Hall and the whole of the harbour front was full of folk. Whilst all the cars attracted attention, it was Duffy's Mk2 Exocet that created the most interest. Carbon everywhere, sequential shift, JRE motor, perfectly crafted alloy components etc. When is a Mk2 no longer a Mk2? Don't care really, as long as it goes like stink and can take the fight to the Scoobies.
Duffy's Motor (click to enlarge)
Neil Molyneux (Chairman) Chats to Paul MacKinnon (Winner) (click to enlarge)
In traditional style, the cars were lead along the main street by a piper and the Tunnocks old fashioned van to the winners ramp in the car park.
Champagne followed in equally traditional fashion.
(click to enlarge) Location
Whilst waiting for the presentations we headed for the traditional meeting point - the Mishnish pub. It used to be the yellow building in the Tobermory / Balamory pictures, but its black now. Its a really traditional pub with a great atmosphere and always seems to be involved with sponsoring a few crews on the rally. There were plenty of motorsport fans in there so the big screen TVs were showing the F1 GP (why was Hamilton given a penalty for a fine overtaking move?) and the British Superbikes from Brands.
Big cheers for Duffy at the presentations, but louder and longer for the achievement of Paul MacKinnon - hopefully this is the start of a successful career for Paul - a really appreciative audience. Plenty of cheering for MacCrone in the 205 - a fantastic result in an the ageing car.
Following a healthy lunch, we celebrated the end of the event with a marginally more healthy (there were at least some vegetables involved) with a curry in Back Brae, just off Main Street. Very welcome.
Ending with the day with a bang, fireworks reflecting in the calm waters of the harbour bring the event to close for another year.
(click to enlarge)
12/10/2008 - 11:00 - Saturday Night/Sunday Morning - Andy
So Saturday afternoon ends and its now into the final 5 stages of the rally. There are one or two brief showers but not really enough to dampen either the roads or the spirits and by the time the cars are due through the first night stage the sky is clear and the landscape illuminated by the moon.
Fed and watered at the Balachroy in Dervaig, where we received a tradition Scottish welcome reserved only for the English, we headed out to the first stage of the evening. This was a very long stage and the record has been held for sometime by Neil MacKinnon. The stage record was smashed by a hard charging Duffy who, for the first time in the event, seemed to be pushing really hard to overcome Paul MacKinnon, beating the previous record by 12 seconds. Can you imagine his disappointment at the time control when he sees that Paul had also beaten his Dad's record.....but by 20 seconds.
With 3 stages to go then Paul leads Calum by 40 seconds and we are off to the last stage of the event, walking in to the stage from the finish for about a mile up the Glen Aros road. This is a fully flat out section with sweeping rights and lefts, crests and bumps. To make matters trickier for the drivers the temperature has dropped and a fog has decended through the forest making for a very mystical vista for the hardy few spectators.
MacKinnon is still first through, giving the Subaru everything through this last section and looking a little ragged.....and no wonder, he is closely followed by Duffy, no 1 minute interval here approaching the end of this 14 mile stage. Duffy is flat in his Escort, validating his claims of gearing to top out at 150mph!!!!.
Duffy at 150 in the Fog Heading Towards Salen on the Glen Road (click to play) Location
Many drivers are taking it fairly easily towards the end of this final stage as they nurse their cars to a finish. However, I have mentioned him before and he is getting a final mention now, McKenna in his Starlet is astonishing through this section, his exhaust note wailing throught the foggy valley and echoing off the trees like some sort of demented banshee. Its a fine end to the event.
As we walk from the stage we stop to find out the times of Mackinnon and Duffy from the final time control and find that Duffy has taken 31 seconds out of the youngster on that final stage.....but is it enough?
A couple of points of interest, the crew of car 103 that we have been following are already back at the hotel when we arrive at about 3am. Unfortunately they have broken their diff on the first stage of the night so were forced to retire...so thats bad luck.
Another shout goes out to the two lads stood with us on the last stage who were servicing for car 130, a white Astra GSI. The two of them and the driver and co-driver have been sleeping in the service barge all weekend makieng their achievement of getting to the finish even more remarkable.
Luxury Accommodation
So its Sunday lunchtime now and the sun is shining on Mull, we will be going into Tobermory tonight for a curry and to watch the fireworks.
What are my impressions of the Tour of Mull as a first timer?
This is rallying as it should be, enthusiasts spectating and competing and a real sense of community. Its the atmosphere that I remember from the halcyon days of the RAC rally when they toured England, Scotland and Wales in a marathon 5 days driving day and night and exactly what the current Rally GB can never be again. Its changed forever, not necessarily for the better. Its important that TOM doesn't get too big for its boots and retains its clubmans feel. It could, no doubt, be a much higher level event than it is but then it wouldn't be the 'Best Rally in the World'.
I would recommend anyone with a genuine interest to come to this event and experience the atmosphere. I will be back...certainly.
Fed and watered at the Balachroy in Dervaig, where we received a tradition Scottish welcome reserved only for the English, we headed out to the first stage of the evening. This was a very long stage and the record has been held for sometime by Neil MacKinnon. The stage record was smashed by a hard charging Duffy who, for the first time in the event, seemed to be pushing really hard to overcome Paul MacKinnon, beating the previous record by 12 seconds. Can you imagine his disappointment at the time control when he sees that Paul had also beaten his Dad's record.....but by 20 seconds.
With 3 stages to go then Paul leads Calum by 40 seconds and we are off to the last stage of the event, walking in to the stage from the finish for about a mile up the Glen Aros road. This is a fully flat out section with sweeping rights and lefts, crests and bumps. To make matters trickier for the drivers the temperature has dropped and a fog has decended through the forest making for a very mystical vista for the hardy few spectators.
MacKinnon is still first through, giving the Subaru everything through this last section and looking a little ragged.....and no wonder, he is closely followed by Duffy, no 1 minute interval here approaching the end of this 14 mile stage. Duffy is flat in his Escort, validating his claims of gearing to top out at 150mph!!!!.
Duffy at 150 in the Fog Heading Towards Salen on the Glen Road (click to play) Location
Many drivers are taking it fairly easily towards the end of this final stage as they nurse their cars to a finish. However, I have mentioned him before and he is getting a final mention now, McKenna in his Starlet is astonishing through this section, his exhaust note wailing throught the foggy valley and echoing off the trees like some sort of demented banshee. Its a fine end to the event.
As we walk from the stage we stop to find out the times of Mackinnon and Duffy from the final time control and find that Duffy has taken 31 seconds out of the youngster on that final stage.....but is it enough?
A couple of points of interest, the crew of car 103 that we have been following are already back at the hotel when we arrive at about 3am. Unfortunately they have broken their diff on the first stage of the night so were forced to retire...so thats bad luck.
Another shout goes out to the two lads stood with us on the last stage who were servicing for car 130, a white Astra GSI. The two of them and the driver and co-driver have been sleeping in the service barge all weekend makieng their achievement of getting to the finish even more remarkable.
Luxury Accommodation
So its Sunday lunchtime now and the sun is shining on Mull, we will be going into Tobermory tonight for a curry and to watch the fireworks.
What are my impressions of the Tour of Mull as a first timer?
This is rallying as it should be, enthusiasts spectating and competing and a real sense of community. Its the atmosphere that I remember from the halcyon days of the RAC rally when they toured England, Scotland and Wales in a marathon 5 days driving day and night and exactly what the current Rally GB can never be again. Its changed forever, not necessarily for the better. Its important that TOM doesn't get too big for its boots and retains its clubmans feel. It could, no doubt, be a much higher level event than it is but then it wouldn't be the 'Best Rally in the World'.
I would recommend anyone with a genuine interest to come to this event and experience the atmosphere. I will be back...certainly.
11/10/2008 - 15:53 - Gribun
Stunning coastal views highlighted by the sunshine. Breathtaking, even without Duffy on full chat.
(click to enlarge) Location
Here we can see about 1 mile of the stage as it skirts along the coast. Sweeping corners, blind crest, a narrow hump back bridge and constant crests and dips make for great viewing. MacKinnon had a moment on a crest just after the bridge, Duffy smooth and getting some air (with the Ecca looking a little under damped) but the flying Fiesta of Hall jnt took the yumping distance award. I guess you need to make up for less power by being a bit braver.
Duffy (click to enlarge)
Harper (click to enlarge)
Hall (click to enlarge)
A delay late in the running order delays us a bit, but it just means we'll be a bit later for dinner at the Bellachroy in Dervaig.
Basking 'beam (click to enlarge) Location
(click to enlarge) Location
Here we can see about 1 mile of the stage as it skirts along the coast. Sweeping corners, blind crest, a narrow hump back bridge and constant crests and dips make for great viewing. MacKinnon had a moment on a crest just after the bridge, Duffy smooth and getting some air (with the Ecca looking a little under damped) but the flying Fiesta of Hall jnt took the yumping distance award. I guess you need to make up for less power by being a bit braver.
Duffy (click to enlarge)
Harper (click to enlarge)
Hall (click to enlarge)
A delay late in the running order delays us a bit, but it just means we'll be a bit later for dinner at the Bellachroy in Dervaig.
Basking 'beam (click to enlarge) Location
Saturday, 11 October 2008
11/10/2008 - 10:00 - Saturday morning update - Andy
Just finishing breakfast after about 6 hours sleep. Eventually returned to hotel at about 03:30 last night following an action packed night of spectating in the Dervaig area. Unfortunately Dervaig was a wireless free zone...and I don't mean you didn't have to pay for it....there wasn't any, so we were unable to update directly from the stages.
The guys in car 103 failed us with the vatanen wave but they can be excused as they are progressing well and the car still looks mint in the hotel car park...keep it up fellas!
Forgive me a moment whilst I get a bit technical but prior to, but part of, scrutineering is the noise check. Rally cars are fired up and measured to make sure that they are within certain tolerances. Now I can only assume that the equipment wasn't working at noise when a certain Toyota Starlet turned up...either that or he had a block of wood under the accelerator to make sure he didn't give it full bifters. This car is quite the loudest rally car I have ever heard, even surpassing the halcyon days of the 6R4 through the forests. I imagine that living under the approach to Heathrow airport is preferrable to living next door to this guy. Whilst we can't accurately measure it we estimated we could hear this thing from 5 miles away....even though the Mull air is quite rarified. This is one loud motor.
This morning the weather is good, blue skies with aa bit of cloud but quite windy so should be a good day for spectating.The question is can young Paul McKinnon keep his lead with Calum Duffy breathing down his neck and drying roads. Should be a great battle.
Need to sign off now and get ready to brave the outside world and tour the island for a replenishment to our ever diminishing fuel level. Might struggle to find 99 octane here but I bet Duffy has some!!!
On the subject of the Sunbeam, it continues to go well but I don't think that the bumpy Mull roads agree with its low rear set up and the exhauist frequently bottoms out...but its hanging on in there.
Bye for now.
The guys in car 103 failed us with the vatanen wave but they can be excused as they are progressing well and the car still looks mint in the hotel car park...keep it up fellas!
Forgive me a moment whilst I get a bit technical but prior to, but part of, scrutineering is the noise check. Rally cars are fired up and measured to make sure that they are within certain tolerances. Now I can only assume that the equipment wasn't working at noise when a certain Toyota Starlet turned up...either that or he had a block of wood under the accelerator to make sure he didn't give it full bifters. This car is quite the loudest rally car I have ever heard, even surpassing the halcyon days of the 6R4 through the forests. I imagine that living under the approach to Heathrow airport is preferrable to living next door to this guy. Whilst we can't accurately measure it we estimated we could hear this thing from 5 miles away....even though the Mull air is quite rarified. This is one loud motor.
This morning the weather is good, blue skies with aa bit of cloud but quite windy so should be a good day for spectating.The question is can young Paul McKinnon keep his lead with Calum Duffy breathing down his neck and drying roads. Should be a great battle.
Need to sign off now and get ready to brave the outside world and tour the island for a replenishment to our ever diminishing fuel level. Might struggle to find 99 octane here but I bet Duffy has some!!!
On the subject of the Sunbeam, it continues to go well but I don't think that the bumpy Mull roads agree with its low rear set up and the exhauist frequently bottoms out...but its hanging on in there.
Bye for now.
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