Reivers Rally cars in the wars

May 28 2008

THE latest round of the County Saab Scottish Rally Championship, the Jim Clark Reivers Rally, couldn't have gone much worse for many of the county crews.

The rally, the only event in mainland Britain run over closed public roads, has a reputation as being something of a car-breaker. And of the six Lanarkshire cars that started only two made it to the end in various states of disrepair.

First to fall by the wayside was Steven Smith (19). Before the start of the rally, he was quietly confident having cut his driving teeth on tarmac karting tracks. It all went pear-shaped on the opening stage, however.

“I misheard a note for a seventy-degree left-hand bend and came into it too fast,” admited Steven, who slid off and landed in a ditch to end his rally.

For the three-car Valley International Park team of father Colin Smith and his teenage sons Jonathan and Graeme problems started before they’d even crossed the start line. A timing mix-up meant the team left their Crossford base later than necessary on Saturday morning and incurred time penalties for a late start as a result.

Colin was hospitalised after a major accident on last year’s rally and the Jim Clark jinx struck again as he clattered a kerb early on and retired. Jonathan's gearbox gave out and Graeme ground to a halt not long afterwards.

Even for the two Lanarkshire crews that did make it to the finish, it wasn't a straightforward day.

Crossford's Luke McLaren and Anca Baltac made a steady start to the day, but landscape gardener McLaren had to tear the front bumper off his Peugeot 205 GTi to perform emergency surgery after a bolt came off. They finished 72nd overall and also collected 205 Challenge points.

Carluke’s Graeme Schoeneville spent a portion of the day digging about in the engine of his Peugeot 205GTi thanks to an engine problem on the opening Bothwell test. Despite the problems the teenager came home 70th overall and fifth in the Peugeot 205 Challenge, crossing the finish line with a flat exhaust and two defunct cylinders.

Bothwell’s Alick Kerr (19) got some tarmac miles under his belt and showed his pace in the Leaker Direct Rangemaster Fiesta ST until being forced out after getting stuck in a ditch on the penultimate stage.