Results

Event: 24-Aug-2014

Note: BPLD = Best Performance by a Lady Driver, BPYD = Best Performance by a Young Driver, Max = Maximum penalty for incomplete test(s), DNF = Did Not Finish

Report

After a protracted summer break the Motor Club members met at the Caldale Camp site on Sunday to contest the fifth Autotest of the season. With dry and bright weather conditions and two new challenging test routes, seven competitors attempted to complete them at maximum attack. Each test is attempted twice and, as usual, penalty points are awarded for touching course markers or going the wrong way. Any penalties are then added to the time in seconds and the smaller the total points the higher the final position.

Colin McAllister brought out his regular mount, a Mazda MX5, which he hustled round in promising style until the third test when he added unspecified spin turns of his own invention. The resulting sixty penalties scuppered any chance of a podium finish for Colin on this occasion.

Andrew Moar entered the Subaru Justy that he shares with brother Aaron and he set of with his usual fast pace. However he was another competitor to wrong-route, this time on the first test to which he added too many spins. Despite a brave attempt to make up his score by some 'on the edge' driving in the remaining tests, he could do no better than sixth place.

It bears mentioning that the Subaru that both brothers were flogging so mercilessly throughout the afternoon started emitting the most frightful clatter. Urgent inspection showed the culprit to be a torn transmission mount. Never known to easily give up when confronted by a challenge the car was soon up on jacks and within ten minutes the drive shafts were re-configured and what had been a rear wheel drive car morphed into a front wheel drive variant.A quick test drive and the car was ready for action once more.

Alan Tait, sharing the drive of his son Steven's Citroen Saxo, put in his usual penalty free drive but was clearly not ragging the little car as much as Steven resulting in a final place of fifth.

Johnny Mackay once more fielded his attractive MG ZR that he hustled around the course using his unique style of throttle feathering. Regrettably, Johnny was another to misread the first test and pick up crippling penalties. His final position in fourth did not however adequately reflect his rapid pace and the fact that he was fastest in both tests two and four.

Colin McAllister enters his Mazda MX5 in both the Production Car and Special categories depending upon whether the car' hood is up or down. Normally one would expect the later case to produce the better result but his errors mentioned earlier changed this. With the hood up and the hammers down Colin drifted his way to a well deserved third place on the podium.

Aaron Moar's luck with the shared Justy was a deal better than his brother's and with his usual brand of 'all or nothing' attack he missed the top step of the podium by just five points, having to settle for second spot.

The man to deny Aaron the win was Steven Tait in his shared Citroen Saxo. Steven's driving style was impeccable and penalty free whilst still being highly entertaining to watch. The question now is can Steven carry this performance through to the next and final round of the 2014 Autotest season on 28th September

JMS