McRae ends up in hospital after notes mix-up
Last updated 19:38, Thursday, 24 April 2008
DARLINGTON’s Guy Wilks raced to his second win in the Pirelli Rally’s well-supported International section.
In the Historic we had the drama of three-times British Rally Champion, veteran Jimmy McRae, having a lurid roll after a crest and crashing out.
The accident was 200 yards before the end of stage six and it is thought Jimmy was using last year’s notes made for his Stobart Escort which it is assumed said ‘flat’ which means to be taken flat out.
However what is flat in an Escort is obviously not in a Porsche 911 RS, so the new Stobard-sponsored Porsche was a bit worse for wear and Jimmy had to have plates put in his broken wrist and work done on his broken sternum after he and co-driver were airlifted to Carlisle Infirmary.
Andy Richardson, from Kirkby Stephen, was the co-driver and he had a badly bruised back but both were discharged after treatment.
This weekend a couple of dozen of classic cars from the 1930s onwards set off tomorrow, for a tour of southern Scotland with an overnight stop in Ayr where there will doubtless be some small amount of beer taken in true classic rally tradition.
It is organised by one of Cumbria’s most famous rally navigators, Ron Palmer, the President of Wigton Motor Club. He is also the proud owner of a 1950s Jaguar XK 140fhc.
However, at the time of going to press, the threatened Grangemouth refinery strike is causing concern, so I and other entrants hope it will not take place and we will set off from Gretna tomorrow at 9am.
Also tomorrow, Oliver Turvey, from Langwathby, will be taking part in the second round the British F3 Championship, this time at Croft Circuit near Darlington.
Oliver is Cumbria’s F1 hope and his progress so far in karts, where he was a multiple champion, then in Formula Renault where lack of cash prevent him entering all races in the European series but he still came second.
His precision, consistency, calmness and courage is now being allowed full vent as he has secured sponsorship from the Racing Foundation and he hopes this season will end in another victory.
Like all sportsmen, encouragement is vital, so why not turn up tomorrow or Sunday and give him a cheer?
I did make an mistake last week when I stated that there was a Sunday run from Junction 40 Truckstop to celebrate 100 years of the Model T but that is actually in mid summer and the tour of the Eden Valley was for classic enthusiasts as part of Drive it Day.
There was a similar event run by Wigton Motor Club with various departure points which ended at Keswick Pencil factory where nearly 100 vintage, veteran and classic cars met up for some tale swapping.
For those of us who will attend the fabulous Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 11-13, there will be a huge turn out of Model T Fords as the Ford Motor Company are sponsors.
As 2008 is also the 40th anniversary of the Escort, there will a lot of Ford-engined F1 cars, rally cars and hillclimb specials, so visitors can expect a mammoth Ford presence.
Ford have had a major impact on motoring in general and motorsport in particular, a proud tradition right up to today and examples of this heritage will be seen and heard at Goodwood.
If you haven’t already booked, log on to www.goodwood.co.uk as tickets will soon be rare as hen’s teeth because it has been a sell out for 10 years and its popularity grows year on year.
Finally, to my shame, I haven’t yet been to the Solway Club grasstracking at Calthwaite this year and I will be away this weekend but do go on Sunday and support this family orientated motorsport.
I will let you know the next meeting which I promise to attend.
