2001 Mull Gravel Sprint
Report on the 2001 Mull Gravel Sprint,
organised by Mull Car Club -
by Steve Davies
During one of those car club meetings when we were discussing the lack of
events due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak, someone came up with the idea of
running a Gravel Sprint on the same lines as the Malton Car Club "Dalby
Gravel Sprint". So the wheels were set in motion and an organising
committee formed.
As the club had never seen such an event, let alone organised one, many hours
were spent on the phone to Donna and Graham Harper and Tony Newsome from the MSA.
The date was set for the 21st July in Fishnish forest on Mull with promises
of help to marshal from our friends in Scotland as well as Malton and 2300 club
who also very kindly sponsored a stage.
The day arrived and with 29 entries from as far a field as the Isle of Lewis
to South Wales, the scene was set. The course was 1.95 miles long on a good
forest road. The leader after the first run was Andy Horne in his Metro 6R4 who
was to better his times through out the day to eventually finish with the
Fastest Time of The Day.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the proceedings, even the marshals who had to
contend with troublesome midges instead of the very many well-behaved
spectators. There were battles in all the classes with some very close times
being set and the final results not being decided until the very last runs. With
no major incidents except for a few cars visiting the Mull countryside, the
event ended at 5.30 after the 7 runs were completed. Most people retired to the
Mull Rugby Club for the usual refreshments and chat to discuss why they had not
been the fastest on the day.
Andy Horne in the Metro won F.T.D after stopping the clock on 2.17 leaving
the class honours to Stewart McQueen in the Mitsubishi on 2.19. Class 4 (cars
over 2000cc) was very closely fought between Willie (Flit) Bonniewell and Craig
Dykes both stopping the clock on 2.27, but the class honours eventually going to
Willie due to him having a faster second run. Class 3 (1601 - 2000cc) was also
hotly contested with Ronald Dunsmore stopping the clock on 2.27 which left the
second place spot to Gerry Kilmurray on 2.29. As you can see the under 2000
matching the over 2000. Class 2 (1301 - 1600) honours went to Steven Clark in a
Peugeot with a time of 2.28 Class 1 (up to 1300) was won by G.Alexander in his
Nova with a time of 2.35
On behalf of Mull Car Club I would like to thank all the people who travelled
all the way to Mull to lend us a hand in marshalling and help support the event.
Also, to all the competitors who took the trouble to dust off their cars and
trail them over to do the event. We have had many favourable comments on the
sprint, so plans are in hand to run the same again in 2002 on an earlier date.
Please do come up and enjoy the crack. (It's even a good opportunity to look at
the island in view of the Tour of Mull Rally later in October).
Steve Davies
September 2001
