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Speedfair Rally -
21st & 22nd July 2007
Report by
Colin Wallace
The
Saltire Rally Club promoted the Speedfair Rally on behalf of NESCRO (North of
England and Scottish Classic Rally Organisers) at the recent Scottish Classic
Speedfair at Knockhill Circuit.
The 40 cars assembled for the Historic Rally theme saw a broad spectrum of rally
cars from the 50’s through to the 80’s compete over the 9 Tests on the Saturday
with the top 12 going forward to a Shoot out format on the Sunday.
The Saturday spectacle was enhanced by the slippery conditions but the sight and
sound of cars ranging from a Standard 10 through to a Stratos certainly gave
those hardy enough to brave the notorious Knockhill weather something to
celebrate.
The invited entrants carefully selected to promote cars of the period and their
differing driving styles provided a close challenge throughout the Saturday. Any
one of the top ten or so crews were in line for top honours but at the end the
steady skills of the Irish Crew of Noel Cochrane / Olly McCollum in their Midget
took the advantage to hold off the numerous challengers.
Sunday saw the Shoot out format with only the top 12 crews going forward to
challenge for a separate award. The format gave the large Sunday crowd something
to really cheer about and provided a superb demonstration of Historic Rallying
in Scotland and the North of England through tense competition and outstanding
driving.
The driving abilities of the likes of Ronnie Griffin, Paul McCulla, Archie
Simmonds, Noel Cochrane, and Stuart Carris et all enthralled the crowd,
particularly with their text book demonstrations of 360’s
It looked like an all Irish final until Chirnside’s Archie and Richard Simmonds
put in a stunning time to put a Scottish crew into the Final.
The final between the Simmonds in their Midget and Paul McCulla / Trevor McIlroy
in the unlikeliest of a rally cars, a TVR 3000M gave a wonderful finale to the
Rally theme. The partisan crowd clearly brought the best out of the Simmonds but
it was not quite enough with the TVR crew receiving generous applause from the
Scottish crowd who appreciated the fine skills demonstrated to secure the win.
Results
Speedfair Rally
1st Overall Noel Cochrane / Olly McCollum MG Midget
1st in Class H1 Mike Dent / Amanda Spavin Hillman Imp
1st in Class H2 H Jonathon Armstrong / Jayne Winship Triumph TR4a
1st in Class H3 Archie Simmonds / Richard Simmonds MG Midget
1st in Class H4 Paul McCulla / Trevor McIlroy TVR 3000M
1st in Class H5 John Bertram / Morag Thompson Escort RS 2000
Speedfair Shoot Out
Winners Paul McCulla / Trevor McIlroy TVR 300M
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