Catering boss will cook with gas at Mach 1 Rally
A CAMPBELTOWN hospital supervisor will swap her apron for overalls as her driver son tries to avoid spills at this year’s Mach 1 Rally.
Lois Fell, 58, has worked in catering for many years and for relaxation likes nothing more than roaring round a rally course.
Lois has overcome two major health issues which would have stopped many in their tracks to navigate George, 29, in a high powered Ford puma rally car.
The family team, now sponsored by McFadyens and George’s employer Hubbard Systems, first took on Kintyre’s Mach 1 Rally in 2014 finishing 56th in their white Subaru.
And Lois should have been in the car again last year but on June 3 had her hip replaced for the third time.
The first operation was in 2006. Then it was replaced again in 2010 and it is now third time lucky. In addition, in 2007 Lois had a lumpectomy for breast cancer.
Lois said: ‘The Mach 1 has been a wonderful idea for Kintyre and was ideal for our first rally two years ago.’
Lois admits that petrol has flowed in her veins for a long time as she has followed rallies since the age of 14 and used to go marshalling with her brother.
He also rallied and did the Tour of Mull in 1981. Lois added: ‘Last year we planned to do the rally but my health issues got in the way.
‘Originally I wanted to drive but I would be unable to use the rally car clutch.
‘It is truly a family team. We go out there and try to have some fun together. My husband and other son James do the mechanics. When I am navigating on the first round George will say something about a corner and I will mark it as caution on the map for the next round.
‘I get a wee bit flustered sometimes and get shouted at but, for instance, at Ingliston we got quicker as things progressed.’
In the team’s most recent outing, last Saturday at Crail, a broken driveshaft caused retirement.
Hopefully, that problem is fixed and the machine is ready for its Mach 1 challenge on July 2 and 3.
Lois added: ‘We have just had the engine remapped by Falkland Performance which has added some power.’
A weekend spectator’s car pass for this year’s Mach 1 Rally is just £10, a reduction on the past two years.