Having saved up for weeks, we were very excited about competing on our first all-tulip event. We arrived on the Saturday evening and stayed in a B & B in Kinross ready for scruitineering and signing on Sunday morning. The first shock to us was the pile of route books, map books and test diagrams that we were supplied with as well as a fantastic rally jacket each and cap. So it was time to get colouring and go through all the instructions to make sure we understood everything.
Monday April 28th - Day 1. Gleneagles to Loch Lomond
The
route from Gleneagles started with a practice regularity, which gave us the
chance to get into the Tulip directions and timing, it went very well we only
dropped one second on the second timing point, a fantastic start although with
a result like that we were gutted that it didn’t count. The next regularity
started well, cleared the first timing point but then we met a car on a lane, I
reversed and pulled in, she would not pass, I reversed further and pulled in,
she still would not pass, 200 meters later and two minutes dropped we managed
to pass. Then came the almighty race to catch up time before seeing a marshal,
luckily the speed was set at 18mph for that section so we ended up just seven
seconds late at the timing point and five early for the last, not quite as good
as the practice. We then headed north to Crieff, the home of the “Famous
Grouse” distillery, which was a passage control, before turning west to travel
to the Trossachs National Park, another regularity saw us drop just four
seconds on the middle of the three timing points, then it was onto the first
test. It was quite a tight test with a 180 around a cone that we wouldn’t have
made round without reversing but we were just 17 seconds slower than the
fastest in our class, considering two of those are Porsches and a very fast
mgb, this wasn’t bad at all.
Two
more regularities got us closer on to Loch Lomond for the end of day one, we
picked up three seconds on the first and nine on the last. Finishing off with a
complex test on the shores of Loch Lomond, which we really enjoyed and came in
just 12 seconds slower than the MGB of Mark and Sue Godfrey and second fastest
in our class. Results came in with us 12th overall and 2nd
in class an amazing start to the rally.
Tuesday April 29th – Day 2. Loch Lomond to Isle of
Skye
A
repeat of yesterdays last test started the morning, which we completed two
seconds faster and then we headed north, although the first regularity was
cancelled due to herd of 40 cows wandering down the road. It was onto Rest and
Be Thankful the famous hill climb and a challenging test. It proved a bit too
challenging for me as I stalled off the start line, but got it back together
quickly to finish the rest of the test just 13 seconds over the fastest in our
class, being a hill climb the Porsches definitely had the upper hand.
From
the “Rest”, through Inveraray and passing just north of Oban, scenic roads
interspersed with regularities and driving tests took us to Fort William. The regularities
all went very well as we dropped 6 seconds, 5 seconds and 2 seconds over three
regs. Unfortunately we were getting thrashed on the tests, we had two airport
tests that afternoon the first we were 19 seconds slower and the second 16,
this caused us to loose our medal status and drop down the leaderboard. From
here the route continued NNE before turning WNW in the direction of Glenelg and
a wonderful ferry crossing onto the Isle of Skye via the last operational
turntable ferry in the world. That night we were 19th overall and 3rd
in class.
Wednesday April 30th – Day 3. Isle of Skye to
Strathpeffer
Wednesday
morning began with a test at Skye airport which contained some long straights so
the other cars in our class had the upper hand, I was very pleased with our 12
seconds penalty. Leaving the Isle of Skye behind we continued North via some
spectacular scenery and driving roads over the Kyle of Lochalsh before dropping
down into Plockton on Loch Carron for the second test of the day, we were only
9 seconds slower on this one and the marshals informed us that we did it in the
exact time of one of the Porsches, result! 
The
route then made its way up the west coast, with a regularity along my favourtie
road, the Pass of Cattle to Ullapool, we drove this road in the dark on LeJog
and it was definitely scarier this time round because you could see the drop
inches from the road. Knowing the road really helped us on this reg as we knew
that at the top there were loads hairpins, we took a gamble and ran early at
the beginning praying that there would be no marshals. It really paid off and
despite a campervan trying to scupper our plans we dropped just one second at
the first timing point and two seconds on the other two. No time to celebrate
though as it was straight onto the next regularity, this one went right along
the coast and would have been great if not for a Land Rover with a trailer
that we met just before a control, he cost us seven seconds and we picked up
another one at the last timing point.
A
code board section started the afternoon, we had five codes to collect along
the route which of course Elise navigated perfectly which led us to a lovely
coffee halt. All that remained was a long regularity with four timing points,
we picked up 11 seconds over all four.
It
was on to Strathpeffer and the much needed overnight halt. Results came in, and
we’d climbed up to 18th Overall and still 3rd in class.
Thursday May 1st – Day 4. Strathpeffer to
Strathpeffer (the Speyside Day)
Exploring
Speyside was on the agenda today; famous for whisky such as Macallan, Aberlour,
Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Glenlivit & many many more! First though a
regularity, which turned out to be our best to date, picked up one second at
each of the first two controls, then cleared the third and last controls. This
was followed by two tests, one at Leys Castle, a downhill test with stop
astrides, we were only 12 seconds over bogey and within gold standard. It was a
great feeling because it shows that we are improving all the time. Two more regularities
followed this, and we picked five seconds on both. The next test was at the
Macallan distillery, a great test venue, following a track with a slight
incline and a few stop astrides, I took a 90 degree bend slightly cautiously as
the surface was loose so we were 14 seconds over the fastest in our class.
Then
it went downhill, with a short regularity on private land, the track was sand
very windy and undulating, I pushed as hard as I dared but we were dropping
seconds by the meter, 18 seconds late we got the the only control. I need to
practice on loose surfaces so that I can keep up on these sections.
All
the regularities had been jogularties up to this point, where you get given set
distances and exact times, the marshals will always be at one of these points
although you never know where, but HERO set a practice regularity ready for a
difficult one on the last day. We were given speed tables and had to run off
the trip, Marshals could be at any kilometer marker. It was great fun and after
the practice Elise and I have had on the HRCR events we found it quite easy so
were really looking forward to completing the regularity on the Friday.
To
finish the day we had another Jogularity where we picked up just three seconds
over four timing points a great end to the penultimate day. Results showed we
had clawed back 17th overall and 3rd in class with just 27
penalties between us and 18th overall, 4th in class and
the 18 behind them is 19th overall and 5th in class. This
was to be the battle of our class!
Friday 2nd May – Day 5. Strathpeffer to Gleneagles
The
final day took us past Inverness through the Glenmore Forest Park to Braemer
and Glenshee before heading south to Gleaneagles. Of course it wouldn’t be a
rally without some drama, first regularity of the day 8.30 am on the lanes of
Scotland, we arrive behind the school bus, that stops picks up kids and then
drives onto the next house with no passing places! We were well and truly
stuck! Eventually we got past and although we were over a minute down we drove
as fast as we could but luck was not with us, the timing point was just a few
corners away so we dropped 31 seconds which would drop us below 18th
overall and 4th in class, disappointed we headed to the next timing
point, hit it bang on the second but it was little consolation.
A repeat
of yesterdays Leys Castle saw us one second faster than our previous attempt,
then a fantastic regularity which we picked up three seconds. To finish the day
and the event we had the regularity off speed tables and Marshals would be at any
half-kilometer or kilometer out of the 12 km length. I was very impressed with Elise’s navigation
as we hit the first timing point bang on, and then only dropped four seconds at
the two remaining controls, which brought us to Kinloch Rannoch.
From
there it was a straight forward drive back to Gleneagles, whilst we debated
over how many penalties we had picked up and although we were sure we had
dropped one place, had we done enough to stay in the top twenty?
A
gala black tie awards dinner finished off the whole event in spectacular
fashion and due to overall winners not being eligible for class awards we won 2nd
in our class and 17th overall. Turns out the last regularity had caught
a few competitors out.
As
always a huge thank you to everyone who made the event possible, marshals,
officials, mechanics, and competitors (for the entertaining competition)
Photographs
are credited to Tony Large and the video clip is by TV AC, Thank you all! x x
Seren x
x
No comments:
Post a Comment