Rally reports from the horses mouth

Charterhall Stages 2008 - from the officials:

Well it was that time of the year again, the event that some love and others hate because of the circuit conditions, but Border Ecosse Car Club picked what was the best tarmac areas available which meant the event was smoother than it has been in the past.
The biggest problem is always tyre choice some preferring tarmac tyres where other choose forest tyres, with no fewer than nine South of Scotland Car Club members entered for the event it was Billy Mc Lelland & Helen Brown that were on a charge from the word go in the first of the DW Construction /Palmerston Scooters sponsored Mitsubishi Evo 3 who finish 2nd Overall holding of a WRC Impreza.
Next up was Duncan Wardrop & Ian Crosbie in the second DW Construction Mitsubishi Evo 3, a year ago this was Duncan’s first event and this year it was his first retirement, when he was lying about seventh Overall when his clutch gave up so that was the end of the day , but will be back fighting fit for the Jim Clark Reivers rally.
Lee Hastings was out in John Gibson &sons Subaru Impreza, and had an early problem with catching a car he ended up with a large hole in his radiator, but he was soon back out
Again once he had sorted it with the white off an egg which he purchased from the burger van and finished a very good 9TH O/A
David Crosbie was navigating in a flying Peugeot 106 Gti ,it’s a pity there were not a best entertainer award as this is who I would be giving it to as this was the most committed car on the event ,but bad luck was to play its part with two broken drive-shafts and a broken gearbox mount to put them out on the second last stage and also David had to push it over the finishing line twice with the broken shafts ( So well done David for showing a navigators job is not always easy.)
Next up was Carl Poscha & Ellie Hunter who made the long trip up from Wales, and are also our newest members to the club, Carl was out in Niall Cowan’s MGZR which was looking good and Carl was no slouch either who finished 18th O/A and second in class1
Steven Broll was navigating in a 1598 cc wide track rear wheel drive Vauxhall nova and finished 29th O/A and 9th in class.

From the Competitors:

Iain Haining - Phil Shortt

With Phil Shortt in navigators seat (which I had to change to a slightly wider version) for 1st time, we set off into the 1st stage which was 3 laps of perimeter roads.

After 2nd stage split we caught a M3 BMW which broke the front lights & windscreen until we crashed into a chicane.

On the 3rd spit we were behind a nova and Niall Cowan's rover which was on hire for the day. We past theRover on 5th gear sweeping corner and I thought I could take the Nova around the outside also, but we got on the loose totally sideways, foot flat to the mat looking out driver's window with Phil looking out his window watching the Rover but thankfully we avoided the broadside which loomed.

Phil, being the Chairman of Queen of the South supporters club asked if I could go in goals for them after that save.

Stage 2 past without incident.

Stage 3 saw it reversed, a spot of brain fade and not listening saw us misjudge a chicane and fire over the banking into the field (wish Phil would stop laughing at me). We soon got back on track though and charged on to 15th overall and a slightly disappointing 5th in class but gained 2nd in class for the 5 of clubs which was what its about.

Overall the rally was in much better condition than last year.

Thanks to Phil & Dad for their help.

Iain

Billy McLelland/Helen Brown 2nd o/a

On SS1 the power steering pipe burst on the 3rd lap and we thought the day was over as only 10 minutes lateness allowed over the whole event. The day was saved by Jim Hunter who has numerous contacts in the agricultural world and managed to borrow a car and get a new pipe made at a local tractor distributer!

The rest of the day carried on with minor mishaps in most stages, catching cars and dodgy brakes but some great flat out stuff and mega drifts! The rain in stages 4 and 5 made things very interesting too! The last stage of the day was our best no probs at all.