Thanks for visiting!
Post date: Nov 4, 2014 3:38:57 PM
My 4th time to Mull and my 3rd time with Howard in the Lotus Elise. We were seeded car 91 out of around 140 entries so not such a bad placing for the 1400cc class A car!
My adventure started with the drive up to Oban on Wednesday night as a passenger in a green Ford Anglia, and boarded the early Thursday morning ferry. I was met in Salen by Howard in the X-Trail recce car and we drove around a few stages that we had not already done on our previous visit in August. All good :)
After a few car issues (it wouldn't start) on Friday, we made it through scrutineering and then after catching up with a few friends in Tobermory it was back to the digs for a rest before leg 1, starting at around 7:30pm. After 6 stages in the dark and rain, 2 services and around 55 stage miles, we got back to the digs at around 4am!
Up and ready to go at 11:30am on Saturday morning in Craignure, we set off for leg 2. All daylight this time, reseeded at 60 something and cars setting off at 30 second intervals with the sun shining! This was my favorite part of the rally by far and almost every stage we just about caught or 30 second man! After 9 more stages and 60 stage miles we finished at around 5:30pm and it was then a quick drive to the digs and dinner, ready for the final leg 3.
Starting at around 9 pm there was a special stage around Tobermory followed by a second loop which then continued up over Mishnish Locks. A remote service near Salen and then the 8 mile stage of Griburn Rocks followed by the 4.5 mile stage of Scridain. All good so far. Into final service and one stage to go - "The Long One" so called as it is 2 stages joined together Tuath and Calgary Bay- a 22.5 miler! It was wet and slippy, but Howard was driving to the conditions with the finish almost in sight. We went past the dreaded spot where he went off piste last year (I was not with him!) and at 1.5 miles to go it all went wrong. We lost the back end, it clipped a rock on a bridge and a second later we were off down a bank in the undergrowth!
Gutted is an understatement, to get so close to the finish after effectively 3 rallies back to back, but we were both OK and once the car was recovered, it drove out of the stage. We were not going to win an award or get a class position, but we were going to finish in the top 40! But this year it wasn't meant to be and we were the last crew to retire!
The Mull rally is the best road rally in the world - to compete on, to marshal on and to spectate on and I will definitely be back next year! I hope more from MMC will come and join the fun.
Attached is a map showing Leg 1 stages (all stages used in both directions on the rally over the 3 legs) and some pics!
Sasha
Car 91 Mull Rally 2014