The planning's already started for the Sunbeam's biggest outing (in distance terms) since I've been looking after it. Last year my mate Andy and I went over to Ireland to watch the first ever World Rally Championship event held there in November. We had a great time (once we'd worked out that you need to watch the closed road tarmac stages where the roads are wide so that the speeds are high and the cars can get a bit sideways - alternatively watch at yumps where the get serious air), so we're planning a visit to Mull in October 2008. For details of this classic non-championship rally, visit www.2300club.co.uk.
I started looking for accommodation for this October 2008 event in mid November 2007. 25 emails to bed and breakfast and self catering accommodation in the event town, Tobermory, led to absolutely no success. A further 30 emails to other accommodation across the rest of the island led to 3 possibilities. So we're in a B n B about 8 miles out of Tobermory. It looks good and is on the main road between the ferry port and Tobermory. You need to realise that "main road" means an A class road which has sections of single track with passing places! So it seems that everyone who competes on, organises or spectates on this event books their room for the following year as they leave - hence no availability. Such is the draw of this event. I've been twice before with my wife (BK - before kids!) and we would go every year if we could. It'll be great to take the kids up there when they're old enough for the schedule, and if they want to go of course. The format includes 8pm Friday to 2am Saturday, then 2pm Saturday to 5pm Saturday then 8pm Saturday to 2am Sunday, usually in wet October Scottish rain. It's still brilliant though - especially when Calum Duffy in his Mk2 Escort takes the fight to all the modern turbo 4wd Japanese rally cars.
So why is this relevant? Well, Andy has been brave enough to agree that we should go in the Sunbeam. I did notice that he plans to drive as far North up the M6 as possible before jumping into the 'beam. Perhaps he'll bring his ear defenders too! Given that it will take about 4 hours to get to Glasgow, then about 3-4 hours from Glasgow to the ferry at Oban, this will be the furthest that I've driven in the 'beam in one trip (but who's to say that this is more stress on the car than when we used to tow our caravan to the annual ASOC event for 120 miles, or even a mere 12 laps at Curborough with the rev counter permanently between 5000 and 6500 rpm?). Still, taking the 'beam to THE classic and best rally in the UK has to be the way to do it eh? Must get a new battery before then, and some rain capable tyres - probably Yoko A021Rs - that's what the road rally boys seem to go for. More later...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment