Mercury Motorsport stages at crail.

[strcnova]

Just thought i would let you know the next rally i will be out on is the Mercury Motorsport stages at Crail in fife (scotland just in caselollol)
Its a 2 day event on the 16/17 june. About 100 cars are expected to enter, every thing from evo's to Imprezza's to Mk1 & 2 escorts and mini's and of course Nova's too ranging from 1400cc to 2ltr's
First car off on sat is 10.30am and sun is 8.30.
Each day will consist of 6 stages of about 8miles long and not the usual 1/4 mile up the straight that some of u go to! lollollol
Not sure what no we are running yet but will let u know when we do.

Also since a lot of work has been done to the car we are taking the car to kames near muirkirk in east ayrshire to test it on the weekend of the 9/10 of june.
Not decide yet weither do the rally sprint on the sat 9th or the track day on the 10th. again will let u know when i decide.:confused:

On either weekend you are more than welcome to come up and say hello.

[vaughanmc]

ideal i'll be at Kames that weekend mate

Hopefully see the car - mabye get a passenger lap :)

[strcnova]

Some how i thought u might be there!! its on your door step!

Will see what i can do on the track day as the rallysprint is driver only. we will be playing will spring and damper set up to get it ready for crail as we are aiming for a top 20 result.

[Mike]

bit to far for me lol but be sure to let us know how you get on mate! Best of luck to you too :thumb:

[Nick]

Took a Evo8 up to Keilder at easter and that was a good event. So if it's anything like that, i'l pop up !

Is crail South scotland ?

[strcnova]

Sorry it east coast up near st andrews.
There is camping avilable on site for a 10pounds a night and i know a lot of the crew are camping up there as there will be a bbq and horse racing night being done to entertain everyone along with a few light refreshments.

[strcnova]

Here is a copy of a report i did for the last event i did. warts and all as they say.

may give you idea of what it takes to prep and run a rally car for a season.

Event: - DCC Crail Stages Event: - DCC Crail Stages.
Driver: - Mark Runciman
Co-Driver:- Mitch McGrath
Car: - Vauxhall Nova GTE


Well what can I say? After the success of 2006, 2007 is going to be hard going to match that same level, let alone surpass it but that was the plan. The first thing I had to do was get a permenate co-driver for the year as swapping codriver?s every event was not helpful. So a few pleas were put out on the usual forums to see what would come back. Thankfully, Mitch McGrath put his name forward. After a few calls back and forth, we decided we should give it a go.
Mitch has been involved with rallying for some time with varying degrees of success. From just getting to the start of the Tour of Mull in 2004 to help run and build Rob Smith?s very successful Subaru Imprezza in the 2005 BTRDA, 2006 Ancro Group N and Subaru Cup winners. So I had a lot to live up to!!
So why in the hell did he want to sit with me in a Vauxhall Nova GTE!! Easy, he wanted to compete but with out the hassle of running his own car. Plus he never tried navigating on stage events, just 12 cars and road rallies.
Next up was to sort the car out for the coming year, so the car was taken to Stonehouse to start work on it as it was easier for the boys to work on it there than make a 50min drive over to my unit. The car was pretty much stripped back to a bare shell. Work being done to included seam welding the front end, strengthening plates fitted, brake and fuel lines replaced and placed inside the car, lose some weight and tidying up. With 6 weeks before the first event we had plenty of time! Oh how did that time disappear!!!
We were working on a couple of times a week but even that time was never enough. With Rod on holiday for 2 weeks we lost a good pair of hands to help get the work done. When the day before the event came and Mitch was on his way up to meet me I was still putting the car back together on my own! HELP!! Well, we got the car loaded on to the trailer about an hour later than we wanted to be away for and heading to Crail. The car had not been driven since last year, so nothing was tested properly and the brakes were decidedly iffy!!! So Mitch took the car up with Gareth, who had come up to help us, and I followed up shortly afterwards. Things had not got off to the best of starts. We arrived up the road, booked into the B&B and got some food down us closely followed by a few a beers with Ricky and Russell Wheeler.
The following morning we set up service and got on with getting the car finished and through scruitineering. Oh yeah the brakes were still not right when we got through scruitineering. Mitch I have to say was not impressed with all this and was very close to throwing the towel before things had even started!! Thank god for the service boys Kris, Sam and Gareth as they managed to get brakes back and working well.
Off to the first stage. This was the first time I had driven the car in anger since Crail in November and things did not feel right at all. The car went well and stopped ok but things just did not feel right and a spin did not help things either. Into service to see what was wrong. With lack of time and hands I had not gone ever all the suspension bolts prior to loading the car up and half of them were loose!!! Oh god could things get any worse???? With boys all over the car checking every thing was tight we were sent out for stage 2. Well what do you know?? Things worked and I was over 1min faster for the stage!! I felt more confident in the car and pushed more.
Stage 3 I decided to put new front tyres on to help things even more as I was still running older tyres. Again things were getting better. Starting to set reasonable stage times but the damage was done with such a bad first stage time so it was keep the damage to a minimum.
Stage 4 was really good as I had a good ding dong battle with Alan Clark in his old but very quick Avenger. We met up on my 2nd lap but it was so close between us that neither of us had the real edge over each other. Mitch was shouting at me to keep on it and stop worrying about Alan as if Alan wanted passed he need to find his own way round. It lasted 2 laps with Alan on my tail the whole time before he just got passed me before we split for different laps. When we got back to service I thought Alan was going to go nuts at me for holding him up. But when I saw him he turned round and said that was one of the best stage battles he has ever had as it was so close between us. Plus Alan could not believe the car was as standard as it is. E.g.:- standard engine and box with LSD. He even thought mine was a 16valver!! If only. Our stage times were only 6 secs of a difference. Alan being the faster.
Stage 5 and 6, we were now wanting to push hard but get a finish. Both stages went really well, the only thing we could tell that was not helping was the back tyres were now past there best so were letting go a bit when pushed hard. The other thing I noticed is what a difference is when you have a working LSD. I was getting the grip out Crail?s slippy corners far better now instead of wheels spinning and losing grip. Some how, through all the problems at the start of the day we got to the finish and a reasonable one at that too. We finished 27th overall and 5th in class. The last two stages we even equalled the stage times for Alan Clark! And he finished 21st overall and 2nd in class. And to make that first stage cost even more we lost out on 1st in championship class by 7sec!! But 2nd was still a good start but could have been even better.
After the event I decided that it would be a good idea if I skipped Ingilston and get the car sorted properly for Crail in June as the car needed a lot of things sorted before it goes out again. With that decision and buying new tyres and couple of other things Mitch decided to stay put with us and not walk away after one event but it was very close!

[Mike]

Top read mate! I trust you plan on bettering yourself this year then??

Hahaha, services guys are ace! Fecking lifesavers during stages sometimes too :D

[michael harbour]

you no doing jim clarke this week end?

[Mike]

you no doing jim clarke this week end?

Me? Was going to say, im not, but a freinds C2 VTS will be out :)

[strcnova]

Plan is to get top 3 in championship if we can.
As for jim clark no. good event but streching budget beyond my means.
Car goes for mot on sat if i get the time. maybe next year.??

[michael harbour]

al be there serving for my mate

[strcnova]

Me? Was going to say, im not, but a freinds C2 VTS will be out :)

Which event?? would that be ross marshall and vicky grant??

[Mike]

al be there serving for my mate

my ex missus will be there marshalling, i would normally go on service crew, but need to get my car built tbh (road not rally) lol

[Mike]

Which event?? would that be ross marshall and vicky grant??

Number 84, stars of the future: Mark Gamble (Dr) Stephen Link (Co)

[michael harbour]

no allan mcdowalls opel kadet coupe very quick car

[strcnova]

Well as i said it goes for mot at weekend, then still to be done on it is sump guard remounted properly, mitch's seat moved and remounted and all the side, rear glass and window winders removed and polycarbonate windows and sliders fitted.
And a big tcut and polish aswell.

[strcnova]

no allan mcdowalls opel kadet coupe very quick car

Yes very quick car, met them a few times. really nice guys. got fed up with scottish forrest and decided to go south for events.

[michael harbour]

thats them. just got six speed saskenshal in it

[vaughanmc]

Ahh I've seen your Nova at Crail DCC Stages -- I think I have some pics and videos of it...Leave it with me mate I'll dig them out :)

[strcnova]

yeah if have any of both would be good to see.

cheers

[strcnova]

Here is the entry list for the weekend. we are running car 58 so if you are there come over and say hello.
Sorry its abit disjointed. just the way it copied over:confused:

NO ENTRANT / DRIVERS NAME / CLUB / CO-DRIVERS NAME / CLUB / CAR / CLASS
1 PARKHEAD BUILDING SUPPLIES LTD / Tom Morris / DCC / Colin Harkness / MCC / MG Metro 6R4 / 5
/ John Rintoul / GMSC / Jim Rintoul / GMSC / Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 / 5
2 FCE GROUP
/ Bruce Edwards / DCC / Jim Smith / DCC / Darrian / 4
3 AQUACURE SCOTLAND LTD
/ Ricky Wheeler / DCC / Russell Wheeler / DCC / Ford Escort Mk2 / 4
4
/ Jamie Smith / DCC / Mark Hemingway / WIGTON / Subaru Impreza / 5
5 HYTORC
/ John Marshall / DCC / Paul Hughes / TBC / Subaru Impreza / 5
6 BEATSON'S GROUP
/ Bob Grant / DCC / TBC / BECC / Subaru Impreza / 5
7
/ Graham Redpath / BECC / Alasdair Young / BECC / Subaru Impreza / 5
8
/ Brett Mitton / WIGTON / Andrew Mason / WIGTON / Ford Escort Mk2 / 4
9 SWINDON RACING ENGINES, ENVIROTYRE
/ Ian Dixon / WHICKHAM / TBC / TBC / Ford Escort Mk2 / 5
10
/ Chris Abel / DCC / Will Philip / DCC / Renault Clio 172 / 4
11
/ Steven Ronaldson / HCC / David Falconer / HCC / Metro 6R4 / 5
12
14 / Sandy Arbuthnott / TBC / TBC / TBC / Metro 6R4 / 5
15 / Grahame Dodd / 63CC / Daniel Christie / 63CC / Subaru Impreza / 5
/ Nick Runcie / ADMC / TBC / ADMC / Peugeot 106 / 2
16
/ Alister Ross / DCC / Stewart Hurst / 63CC / Ford Escort Mk2 / 4
17
/ Gordon Winning / ALNWICK & DMC / Robin Laird / Alnwick & DMC / Ford Escort / 5
18
/ David Cochrane / DCC / Robert Durham / SSCC / Ford Escort G4 / 4
19
/ Richard Sutherland / DCC / Danny Sutherland / DCC / Opel Manta / 4
20
/ Danny Small / DCC / Fiona Allan / TBC / Subaru Impreza / 5
21
/ Cameron MacClean / MCC / TBC / TBC / Ford Escort Mk2 / 4
22
23 / David Killin / SSCC / Graeme Taylor / SSCC / Vauxhall Astra 400 / 5
24 / Michael Robertson / DCC / Ken Bell / DCC / Renault Clio / 4
/ Martin Murray / LCC / Peter Weall / LCC / Peugeot 205 Gti / 3
25
/ Stuart Morrison / DCC / Murdo Morrison / DCC / Toyota Starlet / 4
26
27 / Stuart Baillie / GMSC / Stuart Millar / GMSC / Ford Escort RS2000 / 4
/ Alan Gardiner / MCC / Alan Todd / TBC / Ford Escort Mk1 / 3
28
29 MERCURY MOTORSPORT / Ian Forgan / GMSC / Kathryn Forgan / GMSC / Ford Escort RS2000 / 4
/ Dave Dalgliesh / DCC / Ashleigh Morris / TBC / Subaru Impreza / 5
30 PARKHEAD BUILDING SUPPLIES LTD
/ Paul Miller / KLMC / Helen Davies / Eden Valley/KLMC / Ford Sierra Cosworth / 5
31
32 HIGHLAND OFFROAD, SCOTTISH AUTOTRADER / Graham Clark / DCC / Amy MacKinnon / DCC / Subaru Impreza / 5
/ Ross Marshall / DCC / Vicky Grant / DCC / Citroen C2 / 3
33 BEATSON'S GROUP, GRANT CONSTRUCTION
/ Drew Barker / DCC / TBC / TBC / Vauxhall Astra / 4
34
/ Ross Hunter / DCC/BECC / Martin Woodlock / TBC / Peugeot 205 Gti / 2
35
/ Andrew Smith / GRAMPIAN / Rowena Hay / HCC / Peugeot 1900Gti / 3
36
/ Allan MacKay / CCC / Gordon MacKay / CCC / Ford Anglia WRC / 2
37
/ Archie MacCallum / DCC / Douglas MacCallum / DCC / Vauxhall Nova / 1
38
/ Grant Carbry / DCC / Susan Fotheringham / DCC / Vauxwagon Golf Mk2 / 4
39
/ Garry MacKay / DCC / Ross MacKay / DCC / Vauxhall Astra Gsi / 4
40
/ Euan MacKay / CCC / Andrew Falconer / HCC / Ford Anglia JWRC / 2
41
/ Derek Masterton / DCC / Dave Lauder / DCC / Vauxhall Corsa / 4
42
/ Brian Pringle / DCC / Scott Warren / DCC / Vauxhall Astra / 3
43 WARREN FINANCIAL SERVICES
/ David Hunter Jnr / DCC / Michael Blair / DCC / Peugeot 205 Gti / 3
44 MARSHALL FARMS, MARSHALL CONSTRUCTION
/ Gary Keenan / DCC / Phil Coulby / TBC / Opel Manta / 4
45
/ Craig Smith / TYNEMOUTH / Michael Davidson / TYNEMOUTH / Vauxhall Astra / 4
46
47 / Haggis / TBC / TBC / TBC / Vauxhall Nova / 1
48 / Mark McCrudden / HBCC / Michael Gray / HBCC / Peugeot 205 Gti / 4
49 MARSHALL FARMS / David Hunter Snr / DCC / Ashleigh McGill / DCC / Peugeot 206 / 3
/ Ralph Barclay / DCC / Keiron Baillie / GMSC / Ford Escort Mk2 / 2
50
/ Ian MacKenzie / DCC / Angus MacKenzie / DCC / Peugeot 106 / 3
51
52 / Kevin Dunn / BECC / Alison Woodcock / BECC / Peugeot 206 3
/ Allan Clark / TBC / Ken Phillips / TBC / Hillman Avenger / 2
53
54 / John Lawson / CCC / Alan Maxwell / TBC / Ford Escort / 3
55 / Bruce Oag / CCC / Darren Oag / TBC / Ford Escort Mk1 / 4
/ Graeme Rintoul / GMSC / Dayle Bousie / GMSC / Ford Fiesta XR2i / 2
56
57 / Andrew Anderson / BECC / Liam McAllan / BECC/DCC / Peugeot 205 Gti / 2
58 / Mark Runciman / DCC / Mitch McGrath / WCMC / Vauxhall Nova GTE / 2

[strcnova]

Second half of entry as to many charactors for one post. oops


59 ALEXANDER TRAILERS / Mark Alexander / CCC / Carly MacDonald / CCC / Ford Sierra 4x4 / 5

60 / Tracey Louise Muir / DCC/ADMC / Garry Muir / DCC/ADMC / Citroen AX:CITE / 1
/ Roy Fraser / HCC / David Moodie / HCC / Vauxhall Astra / 4
61
62 / Gary Douglas / DCC / TBC / TBC / TBC / 3
63 / John Allen / TBC / Alan / TBC / Ford Escort Mk2 / 4
64 / Henry Ronaldson / HCC / Chris Ronaldson / HCC / Ford Escort Mk2 / 3
65 / Andrew Fry / SOSCC / Charles Blair / SOSCC / Volkswagon Polo / 1
/ Robert Prentice / HCC / Andy Thompson / BECC / Peugeot 205 Gti / 2
66
/ Paul Stuart / ADMC / Gary MacDonald / ADMC / Ford Escort RS2000 / 4
67
/ Kevin Clarke / GMSC / Lisa Watt / GMSC / Vauxhall Corsa / 3
68
/ Craig Corson / EACC / Stuart Loudon / CCC / Ford KA / 2
69
/ Scott Kerr / SDMC / Rod Manson / SDMC / Peugeot 309 Gti / 3
70
/ Stephen Lockhart / DCC / Kevin Lockhart / GMSC / Vauxhall Nova / 1
71
/ Eliza Alston / 750MC / Bruce Innes / 750MC / Peugeot 106 Rallye / 1
72
/ John Bryce / MCC / Campbell McColl / MCC / Talbot Sunbeam / 2
73
74 / Liam Harkness / SOSCC / TBC / TBC / Peugeot 106 Gti / 3
75 Scotlifts, Murray Homes / Scott Murray / DCC / TBA / TBC / Peugeot 3205 Gti / 2
/ Craig Fisher / MULL / Sarah Daly / MULL / Talbot Sunbeam / 2
76
/ / / / / /

[strcnova]

hi all

Well what can i say but a really tuff event over two days.
I hope to have some photo's and video from the event soon to show you how hard it was.
It was an event of two halfs. Day one wet and slippy, day two dry and fast.
Day one consited of loose front wheel nuts and two half spins on the first two stages and from then on it was just keep the car in piece and on the track.
Day two was fast and open and dry and what a difference it made. having spent time setting up the suspention properly we notice the car handle a whole lot better but what let me down was speed!!. With the car running a standard engine and about 96bhp we were well down and it showed.

In the end we finished 31st overall and 4th in class which was not two bad as all the other cars in class had from 20-100 bhp more!!! cars in class include a mk2 escort crossflow with 120, a xr2i with about the same and a 106gti with almost 196bhp!! so i think i did not to bad against that kind of opposition.

The other down side is that mitch has had to pull out the rest of the season with has left in a bit of a postion for the championship but may now give me a chance to set about the engine. time will tell and will keep you informed.

Cheers mark.

[dave.gsi]

hi all

I hope to have some photo's and video from the event soon to show you how hard it was.
It was an event of two halfs. Day one wet and slippy, day two dry and fast.


sounds like my sex life lmfaolol

[strcnova]

Very true!! lollol

Also had to buy 4 new tyres for the weekend too.!! 2 on each day but what a difference new tyres make! so much more grip in the corners and underbraking. i was even giving a super 1600 corsa a run for its money through the tight twisty stuff and underbraking but it left me for dead on acceleration:(:(

[draper]

congrats mate, well done :thumb: