“The calendar needs to be rationalisd”

It was like a scene out of Braveheart. The rallying of the clans. They had come from the Highlands, the Lowlands and the Islands, and they had gathered in a great hall within sight of the 12th century Stirling Castle and in the shadow of the William Wallace Monument.

Of course, I make light of it, but this was an unheard of assembly. The ‘Save Scottish Rallying’ meeting was called by competitors themselves. Over 130 drivers, co-drivers, volunteers and officials answered the call. They sat and they listened, they questioned and discussed, while opinions were offered and either accepted or refuted. Surprisingly only two swear words were heard – and one of those was from the panel.

To formalise the affair, Roy Campbell chaired the mediating panel comprising the Forest Rally and Tarmack championship coordinators, Gordon Adam and David Hatrick, Motorsport UK rep

Iain Campbell and two of the instigators, Neil Shanks and Iain Wilson.

Proceedings got off to a slow start with two presentations lasting an hour and 20 minutes.

This showed a breakdown of where rallying is and how much it costs generally and per event specifically. To be fair to the throng, they did listen intently and much was learned.

Then it was on to the serious business – costs, calendar and complexity. The questions came thick and fast including the ongoing lifing of safety equipment subject. Control tyres were discussed and discarded, race fuel and pump fuel summarily dealt with, seeding for two-wheeldrive and four-wheel-drive cars, a ‘clubman’ category with restricted modifications, relaxation of the Cat2 rules on competition machinery, variable price entry fees depending on car size, and, of course, forestry charges which for the moment remain sacrosanct.

However, there was widespread acceptance that the calendar needs to be rationalised. This year, 18 stage rallies were scheduled and had to be fitted in with race meetings, hillclimbs and sprints, autosolos and autocross, navigational and Targa rallies, not to mention the proliferation of tours and historic meanderings.

What they all have in common is the need for organisers, officials and marshals. That is perhaps the most worrying concern in the sport – ‘personpower’ and the need to attract, retain and enthuse the volunteers who ensure that events can happen.

A detailed report on proceedings will be dispatched to Colnbrook where Motorsport

UK is already working on its own ideas. In the meantime, the Scottish championships and clubs have resolved to sort out the calendar, address costs and attract new competitors and volunteers. Not an easy task.

As an exercise in democracy this initiative is to be welcomed but, if nothing happens, then the natives may yet smear themselves with blue paint and reach for their claymores.

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