Snowman Rally 2010

[Jay_7]

Who's all heading along? Anyone know where the stages are this year yet?

[tm4tj]

I'll be taking in the mornings stages before the Queens game. Not checked for the stages yet.

[caley100]

Anyone know where the stages will be this weekend, seems to be very little info in the press.

[tm4tj]

The car club don't like anyone to know in advance as they sell programmes on the day, but check out these exemption orders................surely a clue in there.

linky poo

[Charles Bannerman]

Anyone know where the stages will be this weekend, seems to be very little info in the press.

First car leaves The Thistle Hotel at 9am.

Stage 1 - Daviot.

Stage 2 - Mulbuie (Black Isle)

Stage 3 - Near Strathpeffer.

Stages 4 and 5 - Tain.

First cars expected back at The Thistle Hotel around 3:50.

So it seems Mannie's detective work is spot on.

I am aware that the organisers will want to sell as many programmes as possible, but I wouldn't imagine this information is classified. Otherwise how would an expected 20,000 spectators know where to go? I was certainly given it very freely earlier this evening.

Interestingly 13 of the top 16 seeds among 123 entries are Mitsubishis this year and the top seed Reay MacKay of Fort Augustus has actually switched from a Metro to a Mitsubishi since he won last year's event.

Here's a largely unrelated thought.

Citadel Inn - CLOSED

Clachnacuddin Social Club - CLOSED EXCEPT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

Caledonian Hotel - NO LONGER EXISTS. NOW THE RAMADA JARVIS.

Thistle Hotel - THE NAME LIVES ON!

Edited February 16, 2010 by Charles Bannerman

[Jay_7]

Looks like I'll be heading to SS1 Meall Mor and SS4 Strathrory this year. Hopefully get some good snaps like last year!

[tm4tj]

Ice ice baby at stage two.

One or two in the ditch where we stood but some driving more reserved, or was it reversed.

[WYNESS101]

Who won it?

[tm4tj]

Looks like Armstrong in his Subaru will be declared the winner once all the results are in.

Snowman Results

[WYNESS101]

subaru :(

[Jay_7]

Just back from SS4 Strathrory. Stage cancelled after car 24 spun out at the flying finish and injured his co-driver. IIRC, only 22 cars actually ran on SS4.

[Charles Bannerman]

subaru :021:

Yes, it's interesting that despite 13 of the top 16 seeds being Mitsubishis, Subarus took the top two places and four of the top 8 places. I'm not long back from the Thistle Hotel where I was doing a couple of interviews. Jock Armstrong was really pleased with his drive. He won all five stages today, having finished third overall last time in what was his first Snowman for 20 years. Andy Horne was also pleased with his effort for 5th place and was reminding me that this was only the 2nd time in 12 outings that he's finished the Snowman. The stages were, predictably, very icy. Seems to have been a very good day overall.

Mind you, Snowman day also has its hilarious side. What's the first thing I see when I go into Tesco's car park before 9am this morning? Two separate wee neds in beaten up old bangers with the obligatory aerofoil, ***** substitutes roaring, zooming round the place like there was no tomorrow. It happens every year! Out come the wannabes in their dozens.

EDIT - the filtering system on this site appears to replace the correct medical and anatomical term for the male genital member with *s.

Edited February 20, 2010 by Charles Bannerman

[Jay_7]

Thought I'd share a couple of my photo's with you all:

Car 15 (Morrison) on SS1 Meall Mor

Car 23 (Ronaldson) on SS1 Meall Mor

Car 2 (Armstrong) on SS4 Strathrory

Car 34 (Fairburn) on SS4 Strathrory

If anyone has any picture requests, I caught just about every car that came through SS1 and the few cars that made it through SS4 - just give me a shout.

Edited February 22, 2010 by Jay_7