Jim Clark Memorial Rally - 27/29th May

[madmatt]

Hi All,

Instead of cluttering the WRC thread, I figured I'd start another thread for the Jim Clark.

It's the only (legal) Closed Road tarmac rally event in the UK mainland and is held every year in Kelso and the surrounding areas.

This year marks the return of the Irish Rally Championship and the return of Tim McNulty and Co (Irish Rallying is usually covered on Motors TV for those that want to catch up).

There's a great mix between WRC, Historic, Nationals, Clubman and even Land Rovers (if you are so way inclined).
There's a lot of championships on this year so it should be a damn good show.

I've Marshalled the event for the last 4 years now and it's always a great way to see some ****ing great motorsport, get upclose (sometimes, tooooo fecking close) and personal to the machines and put something back into the Motorsport community.....all free of charge.

The marshalls are always well looked after and the camping at the Racecourse/Service area (because the Hotels in Kelso are booked out a year in advance) always has a great atmosphere and good banter.

Anyone fancy finding out a bit more about the event, try here: https://www.jimclarkrally.com/

Could get a meet going on....the week before FCS.....come on guys!

M

 

[Anonymous]

sounds good. would love to enter one of the those. or get a RallyB Lie, really gutted i didnt go to WRC Wales last year so might turn up at this or WRC in winter

 

[madmatt]

You can get into the Reivers on a Nat B licence, all you need for a road rally too.
The entry fees are steep for what I've heard, amazing stages though.

M

 

[madmatt]

Anyone thinking of coming along?

Starts tomorrow

I'm Marshalling Abbey St Bathans on Friday night, Swinton Crossroads on Saturday and Sun and Moon (or Blackadder, not sure) on Sunday

I think I'll speak to Autosport MK and ask them for some spares :lol:

M

 

[madmatt]

Ahhh, good to be back!

Great Weekend out.

We Marshalled the Legendary Hogs Back on the Abbey St Bathans Stage on Friday night.

The stages ran into late Friday Night, with the glow of Sports Cats and Bright red discs clashing with getting your retinas burnt out by HID Spotlights!

The Twingo R2s of Mikko Pajunen/Co Driver, Jani Salo and Siim Plangi/Marek Sarapuu were well on song, more than keeping up with the big boys in Evos and Scoobs.

Only one slight Incident on the approach to Hogs Back when Alex Parpottas/John Connor's Fiesta ST hit a bank and slid on its side into the middle of the stage. The crew was unhurt but the car suffered from a bent rear beam, buckled Reiger Shocks, Broken Steering arms and major bodywork damage. They worked through the night to get the car sorted for the next day.

We marshalled the Swinton 1 and 2 Stages on Saturday, with the usual arrogant Spectators as well as the thankful ones, no real incidences to report other than Damian Cole/James Morgan's Focus WRC taking a wide line after a 90 Right and taking half the verge with him.

At the End of Saturday's Stages the Results were as follows:
International Rally:
David Bogie/Kevin Rae - Evo 9 Overall Winner, 1st in Class R4
Peter Taylor/Andrew Roughead - Clio R3, 7th Overall, 2nd in R2 Class
Mikko Pajunen/Jani Salo - Twingo R2, 9th Overall, 1st in R2 Class
Siim Plangi/Marek Sarapuu: Retired, Broken Driveshaft

National Rally: Damian Cole/James Morgan, Overall Winner, 1st In Class

Sundays Stages continued with the Reivers, with David Bogie making a second outing, this time, taking the stages in his Dad's Metro 6R4. He won the Reivers overall but the success of the Rally was marred by the tragedy of a Fatality on Sundays Stage.

A Competitor hit a rock midstage, coming over a brow, bouncing him onto an embankment, hitting a spectator.

The stage was stopped immediately and the spectator was airlifted to Edinburgh Hospital with Critical Head Injuries, where they sadly died of their injuries.


That Said...
I managed to get some contact details for Autosport Technologies, the Twingo R2 Rally Team, if I ever want to get a hold of some parts.

Pics and some (bad quality) Videos to Follow.

 

[Ollie133cup]

Omg I go to this every year , couldn't make this tho . So sad to hear about the spectator dieing. Is such a great rally too.


Edit . Retarded spelling.

 

[madmatt]

I've been for the past 4 years Ollie.

I'm sorry to say that this has been 3 Fatalities on the Jim Clark in a row.
I worry about the future of the event

 

[madmatt]

Jim Clark Pictures

Some of them are digital, others are from a 35mm Development

First, The Twingos

A Very Nice Clio R3

Parc Ferme - Where the Stage Cars are kept overnight, once service time is over.

Various Others

Evos

Escorts

Darrian

AE86s

Fiat Prototipo

Triumph TR4

Slow Shutter Speed Shots

Hope you Enjoyed them

 

[Ollie133cup]

Great pictures , just puts a downer on the event tho when some one dies

 

[madmatt]

Cheers Dude, all the 35mm shots are my mates

Yeah, It's gutting man, was a really somber drive on the way home.
I've found out that the Spectator was standing in a boxed off area, access prohibited and there were no Marshalls posted on that section

Gutting...