Mark is revved up ahead of rally bid
Bus driver all set for football stadium challenge
A Paisley bus driver is moving into the final stretch of preparations for his rally challenge.
Mark McKay, 38, of Foxbar, will visit every football stadium in Scotland in a single day, to raise cash for heroes.
The McGill’s driver will journey an incredible 862 miles in just 24 hours, visiting 42 stadia, to raise vital cash for soldiers’ charity Who Dares Cares.
He told how he has been burning the midnight oil to refurbish his 2001 Ford Focus, which emulates his rally hero Colin McRae, who triumphed in the 2001 World Rally Championship in a similar machine.
He said: “After a few heavy weeks of work, the build is now almost complete and work is now beginning on the paintwork.
“It is booked in for an MOT in June at Glenmuir Motors, in Barrhead. “I’m very confident it will pass. “10 days later it will be in the hands of McGill’s for its respray to make it plain white.
“Once released from there, it’s on to detailing. The rear section, a sweeping curve from sill to brake light, is the Colorado Red on Colin McRae’s car.
“However, as the Who Dares Cares charity has a military background, this section will be finished in camouflage.”
Mark, who lives with his partner, Shona, 45, in the town’s Foxbar, is relishing the stadia challenge, which he is embarking on with co-driver Sharon McNaughton this September.
The duo will kick- off the marathon journey at 4.15pm on September 15 at Ross County FC, in Dingwall, and drive through the evening, night, morning and afternoon, before making their grand finale at Hampden Park, in Glasgow’s southside, the following day at exactly 4.15pm.
He added: “It’s been a long, hard graft and I must admit that after eight months of working six days a week in my day job, and spending most of my spare time working on the car after work and on rest days, I am absolutely knackered.
“However, I know it will all be worth it and the car will be completely unique.”
Mark is hoping to exhibit the machine in Paisley in the run up to the challenge, to let the punters see his handiwork, and to raise vital cash for the Stadia Challenge.
Those wish to donate to the event are urged to visit www.totalgiving. co.uk/mypage/stadiachallenge