Craig King/ Russell Joseph Take on the Streets of Dunoon

The roads around Dunoon are some of the most demanding the country has to offer, with bumpy narrow tarmac, and is a tremendous test of crew and car.

Severn Minis and four category one cars had entered the event and as always were made welcome by the locals.

Recce was completed on Thursday with scrutineering and documentation done Friday before the rally started.

The event runs over two days and the championships score points for Friday and for Saturday.

Friday evening the event started with two stages around the town centre. Thousands of spectators turned out to watch as the weather was well into the 30s.

Stephen Hall Aggie Foster TR4 set the pace one second quicker than Clive King and Anton Birds Mini after two stages, the remaining cars were just behind.

 The Battling TR4 of Stephen Hall/Aggie Foster

The first stage Bealach Maim climbs up a mountain road over the top with a fast road down the other side to the finish.

Again, Stephen and Aggie set the bench mark with a time of 5.48, Craig King with Russell Joseph were second with 6.11. Shane Gamble and Julia Perry started to set good times with a 6.17 with Clive on 6.22.

The following stage Oyster Catcher runs along a lock and has crest after crest with a bumpy road that is very fast in places.

Stephens TR pulled away from the pack with Craig taking second and top Mini from Shane.

By the time crews got back it had passed 1.00 am with Craig and Russell taking maximum points for the mini cup from Shane with Clive a distant 3rd.

Andrew O’Hanlan with Kevin Hogan took 4th from Harvey Stevens and Lawrence Selly, both taking it safe in the dark picking up the remaining points.

Stephen and Aggie dominated Cat 1 to take maximum points.

Saturday crews were reseeded and were starting about 9am, the weather was still hot, but with the spot lights taken off, hopefully the cars could run a bit cooler.

First 2 stages were the same as the last two Friday evening on the first Baelack Main.

Clive and Anton set a time of 5.21, Stephen and Aggie were just behind with 5.24 and Craig just behind.

Harvey had the gear leaver break but made it to the end of the stage by holding the leaver in. They then turned on a link road to try and fix it, deciding to head for service, missing the remaining stages of this loop. After repairs were completed, the organisers refused to allow them to continue.

Andrew with Kevin sitting beside we’re pushing as hard as they could, but it was Andrews first time on these roads and was finding it difficult to get into a flow though the stages.

Shane and Julia had been pushing as hard as they could but the death rattle and low oil pressure forced them into retirement.

The next stage Clive set a quick time of 7.53, Craig set second best time 8.14 with Stephen on 8.16.

 The King/Bird Mini Leading the Mini Pack

The remaining stages in the loop continued in the same manor, with Clive taking the fastest with Craig and Stephen swapping times.

Back into service the cars had a quick check over for the final batch of stages.

The TR4 managed to pull 3 seconds back on the next and then 9 seconds on the following stage, but Clive had caught the car in front dropping a few seconds.

The rot stopped on the following stage where Clive pulled 5 seconds and then 3 seconds over Stephen, with just one stage left to run and Clive having nearly a minute they backed off dropping a few seconds to secure maximum points for Saturday.

Craig and Russell continued to take time off the following minis to take 2nd mini cup points for Saturday.

Andrew and Kevin played a waiting game to pounce if anyone altered and secured 3rd mini cup.

    The “Pouncing” O’Hanlan/Hogan Mini

 

The event continues to impress all competitors with the public welcoming the cars and the difficult roads, we all hope to be back next year.

 

Report: Clive King

Photos: Andy Crayford