State of the rally nation

confused!!

The weekend of the Sunseeker brought back lots of memories this year - the dreaded Foot and Mouth is around again. Unfortunately, I can remember 1967, the RAC Rally. That year was to have been my first big international rally - of course it didn't happen and rallycross was invented instead. Thanfully the Sunseeker survived, but very soon rallying was shut down, and at the time of writing (15th March) who knows when we shall be able to "play" again. As Chairman of the MSA Steering Group - I've been in the thick of the re-organisation of dates - but we don't know how long this piece of string is yet and I'm afraid some events will fall by the wayside. I was very pleased that without exception, everyone has acted very responsibly - for we need to be seen to be co-operating with this dreadful situation escalating on a daily basis. It maybe that for this year, championship points and titles may have to take a back seat to the furtherance of our sport in the long run.

I always feel a little guilty on my drive back up North on the Sunday morning after the Sunseeker Winter Rally - guilty - because I feel as if I've been down to sunny Bournemouth for a pleasant weekend under false pretences. As CLO (Cheif Liason Officer) I don't have to do much - the event is always excellent - the company is good, the hotel is free, food and wine - a great weekend doing what I'm told I'm good at . . . chatting!

There are a few downsides, I can't see any action as I'm stationed at the service area all day, I have to educate some co-drivers on the finer points of clock reading, rule interpretation and on certain occasions the difference between turning left and right on split stages, however. . . The only complaint I had this year was from one well known international co-driver who said there was far too much paperwork dished out by the organisers - road book, stage book, stage notes, time cards etc., - , but I did explain to him that Rick Smith is in the printing business!

Rally Radio worked well, bringing in the crowds and keeping me up to date on the day. Bradford waffled away as only he can and insisted on calling Roy Cambell (Harry Dodd's co-driver) Cambell Roy all day. Different chap Bradford - Cambell Roy is/was a driver of Sunbeam Lotus a long time ago, Roy Cambell is actually Chairman of the Scottish Championship and he is bigger than you, so watch out!

There are a lot of us rally types on gardening leave at the moment, I was to have stewarded the AGBO event two weeks ago and of course the Rally of Wales has been postponed. I should be helping BHP on the BRC/Formula Rally series this year, with driver interviews (they edit me out exceptionally well - good face for radio!). I have therefore been watching the World Rally Championship on Eurosport with a little more interest and it is getting better. The voice over by Jeremy Hart is an improvement, the camera positions are better, but I'm still disappointed with the interviews of drivers in the servive areas. Mark James does a great job for the BBC but I'm not sure who Eurosport use, but he's not a rallyman and it feels as if he's in awe of the drivers. The last stage of Portugal was epic, in the red corner Tommi, in the blue corner Carlos, no holds barred - go for it - and the questions at the finish were pathetic, I believe that it was probably the stage of Mäkinen's life, but nobody asked the question!!