Co-driver has never been in rally car
Last updated 05:37, Friday, 12 September 2008
STEVEN Clark, son of my long-standing rally friend and fellow Avenger driver Ivor Clark, is lying fifth in the Scottish Rally Championship and second in Group N driving rather more modern machinery as his steed is Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4.
Unlike my Avenger, Rastus, which bit the dust against a very large rock in a quarry stage at the hands of its next owner, Ivor is still to be seen driving competitively on classic car rallies and the bug has obviously been well and truly caught by son Steven, who is to compete on this weekend’s Merrick Stages Rally based in Newton Stewart.
To add a touch of spice to the rally, Steven is giving a baptism of fire to a new co-driver, 27-year-old spray painter at Lloyds in Carlisle, Neil Mullen, who though he has been a keen rally spectator, has never been in a rally car in his life!
As the Mitsubishi will be careering though the southern Scotland stage at speeds up to 100 mph, Neil bravely said: “The speed and danger doesn’t worry me but my concern is to do my job properly. I didn’t realise Steven was doing so well in the championship, so the pressure is on to make sure he gets as many points as possible.”
The reason for the pairing is that Steven ran an online competition to guess how many miles he would cover whilst driving from Hyde Park to Cameroon in a small 660cc Daihatsu Mira.
With co-driver Mike Viola Steven covered 9,700 miles which Neil was the nearest to guessing to win the seat on the rally. I will report next week if his prize was enjoyable and successful.
The Spadeadam Motor Club give notice that the planned auto test tomorrow, September 9th, is yet another victim of this dreadful weather.
The ground is too sodden to hold it for which the club apologises, though hardly their fault. But as I haven’t heard to the contrary, the Wigton Motor Club Skiddaw PTC is still running that day.
Spadeadam also remind competitors and spectators that it is the Autumn Stage at Drumlanrigg next Sunday, September 14, details of which can be gained from Barry Lindsay, whose email is barry.lindsay@tiscali.co.uk.
I’m looking forward to my forced sojourn in Butlins holiday camp at Bognor, the only place I could find a bed for the Goodwood Revival taking place on September 19-21. I am practising my Hi De Hi impressions in advance.
However, there is so much more on this year to mark the 10th anniversary of the biggest event of its kind in the world as well as 50 years of the XK engine there are many more reasons to have yet another glass of champagne, so it’s hoped I will only need to sneak in to sleep!
Part of the celebrations will be pre-1966 aircraft displays on the ground and in the air with the appearance of the awesome Vulcan bomber and the Battle of Britain Memorial flight.
The latter is very appropriate as the perimeter track of WW2 RAF Westhampnett formed the track of the Goodwood race circuit which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
As Spitfires flew from Westampnett, there will be traditional display by these glorious Merlin-engined planes as well as Corsair and Mustangs.
On the track there will continuous racing of classic pre-1966 cars and the watching and cheering crowds will be in period dress, including yours truly, as part of the deal with the press is that we dress accordingly to create the atmosphere of the Golden Age of motor racing.
We press oiks do not get dangler passes as at modern events but rather tie-on arm bands of yesteryear which helps Goodwood to be the biggest garden party anywhere helped by period bands, Lyons Nippers serving tea and most spectators arriving in classic cars.
It is a truly splendid event but if want to part of the party, it is ticket only so if there are left and if you manage to get one, take a tent as the chances of getting an hotel within 50 miles are very slim.
