TUESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2004
After a fabulous banquet the previous evening, which included pipers, haggis toasting and beef tasting by our own Chieftain McGrath, the competitors awoke to the most glorious morning with cloudless blue sky and brilliant sunshine. Even HQ began the day with their top off!
Casualties of day 1 were the Stinglhambers in their Austin Healey 3000, who suffered coil problems at Knockhill Racing Circuit during the lap consistency test. The problem was quickly resolved and they were able to rejoin the rally. Sheana Dryden, was the only other casualty, but it wasn't engine problem. She sprained her ankle, but after some TLC from our own 'Medic' Mike Johnson she was strapped up and raring to go this morning.
Day 2 has been 'Distillery Day'. Crews left Coylumbridge in bright sunshine to head straight to Glenfarclas Distillery for a special test, but because of overnight heavy rain there were areas that were rather wet. Car 4, Giuseppe and Gianandrea Redaelli, found a particularly deep patch causing water to come up over the bonnet 'filling the ship'.
The route then went onwards to Glenlivet for another test which Stuart Macleod and Jonny Allen in the Porsche 911E loved so much they asked if they could do it again. Stuart who is a virgin rallyist has had many Porsches' in his time but taking part in The Malts has finally given him justification for having one. Then on to the last of our Speyside distilleries, The Macallan.
What £20,000 buys at The Macallan these days!
Lunch today was courtesy of Johnston's of Elgin who, once again, provided wonderful hospitality for all of our crews.
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Ian and Margaret Coomber making a splash
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A gentle afternoon's run through rolling countryside saw crews visit the last distillery of the day at Dallas Dhu – closed as a commercial distillery in 1986, but now preserved as an ancient monument. Onwards, then to Findhorn to the first of the two regularities where Ian and Margaret Coomber in their Vauxhall PA Cresta met a huge timber lorry which would not reverse, leaving them to go back about half a mile to overcome the problem. This was then followed by the infamous Loch Ness Monster regularity around the beautiful lochs and glens above Inverness. Unfortunately, there were no reported sightings of Nessy today.
A short drive to Leys Castle for the days last special test rounded off the competitive proceedings, before crews headed into Inverness for the rally hotel, our home for the next two nights.
Overall leaders at the end of today are as follows;
1st Bennett/Bennett
2nd D Baird/J Baird
3rd Karlan/Moland
