zeolite

Andy..I understand your point. It was a moving experience and I will never forget it. However I do believe that there should be a mention of the event in True Grip. This was an occasion noted by every motorsport fan in the world. It was attended by the largest number of Subaru owners since the Richard Burns memorial. It is SIDC news. There are provisos though. This was a tremendously sad event and should be reported as such. It did not have the usual happiness and life of a standard SIDC event. (Even the RB memorial was a happy event) the atmosphere was muted and it should not be reported as a "great day out". This was about respect and reverance for a man who was the driver we all aspired to be. I think the older folks probably felt this more than some of the younger guys and maybe that is the way it should be. personally I found the service both terribly sad and at the same time poignant and heartwarming. I say, let someone do a report but make sure it reflects the correct tone of respect and reverance. There are many who wanted to be there and with a well written report they can be in some way.

My pics from the day. pics here

EXTRAORDINARY! That is the only word to describe ysterday. The McRae family showed extraordinary compassion and strength to make yesterday happen. Yesterday wasn't for them it was for US. It was for the legions of friends and fans throughout Scotland (and beyond) who wanted to show their respect for Colin McRae and young Johnny. It is easy to see how Colin kept his feet on the ground when he was part of such an extensive and extraordinary family. They allowed him to be a superstar and yet still one of us. The organisers of yesterday did an EXTRAORDINARY job. Fifteen thousand people turned up yesterday and that could have been a major disaster for a small town like Lanark. however every detail was perfect! The police were superb, the car parkers efficient, the big screens and speakers well set up and evn the litter bins were properly placed. An event like that takes so many small details to run. 10 out of 10 folks! The Subaru community turned out in EXTRAORDINARY numbers yesterday. Grant was the figurehead but we all played our part. No-one forgot that yesterday was a sad and solemn occasion. There were smiles and laughs as we gathered at Happendon but we all knew that it was an event that should never have happened. Like Spooks I had mixed feelings about going there but now I am happy that I went to be part of the day. I met many old friends from the both the rallying world and the Subaru world and I felt among my ain folk. The same folk that Colin McRae lived and worked among. The convoy was heartwarming. 130+ scoobs snaking along that road. There were many smiles and waves from those we saw, even from those who had to wait for us to pass. I didn't want it to end. The service took us on 2 distinct journeys. The tragically short one of Johnny, (A wee man with a big personality.) and the extraordinary one of Colin McRae. In all the stories and speakers I found the thoughts of David Richards and Ari Vatanen to be the most poignant. These men have had extraordinary careers and always say things worth hearing. Richards is probably the only real authority figure that Colin McRae ever had and Vatanen was Colin's hero and mentor. I found myself alternating between deep sadness and fantastic memories. I suppose that is what memorials are for. Colin and Johnny have gone but the memories and the legend will live on for as long as people talk about rallying, scottish heroes or just the good ones that die too young.

OK guys Will get to Stirling for 11:00 and leave 11:30 is my plan. Will meet up with whoever is there. see you tomorrow.

Paul...Sorry about the delay. Just back in from the McRae stages. I will be going A90 to Rosyth and heading to the Kincardine Bridge. How about the petrol station in Rosyth about 10:15? Hopefully getting to Kincardine Bridge for 10:30 where we can pick up Andy. Then to Stirling services for 11:00. If all goes wrong get to Stirling services for the 11:30 departure. I will pm my mobile to Paul and Andy. Don't want to be too late as the roadworks on the A80 sounded bad today. Forfar athletic didn't make their game today because of it. See you tomorrow.

Can't add anything to the comments on here. link

How about 11:00 leaving at 11:30? That gives us 90 mins to get down to Happendon.

Paul..I was just going to meet the Aberdeen loons at the Stirling services but we could meet up on the way. Where in Fife are you?

You guys want to meet up at Stirling services?

I had thought of that and I will change at Happendon. Wool burn on the backside is to be avoided.

Kilt, white shirt and black tie wuth SIDC top. RESPECT

Heading down from Fife on Sunday and I wondered if the northern guys could meet up. I am not going anywhere near the Forth Road Bridge for obvious reasons but heading over Kincardine Bridge so maybe we could meet up at the Stirling services for 11:00. Then A80 and M73. Not the shortest but probably the easiest.

Grant...That was very well done. I don't think that can be bettered. I recognised IOM and Oz but where is the icy stuff from? 95 RAC?

Decided last night that I should really go because I would regret it if I didn't. My other great heroes were Henri Toivenen and Ayrton Senna and I didn't get an opportunity to send them off so I will be there with Mrs Z. I will be home tonight and maybe we could start a thread trynig to organise regional meet ups?

1. Ally-b 2. Richie Cross 3. Mac 4. Squiggle 5. Bogie 6. H4AFY 7. Gus the Bus 8. Neill54 9. nippySweeties 10. IainC (depending on babysitters and day off work... second part far easier to organise than the first) 11. st3ph3n 12. Jcscoob 13. ALI_ 14. STi_Bandit 15. Andy 16. Scooba 17. Thefastone 18. the blue dragon(had muy name up but it dissappeared ) 19. Wilky ( Need to ride shotgun, the merc doesnt count) 20. Frank C (got the day off) 21. JamesM (Depending on getting time off work) 22. Spaceman 23. CJK 24. Dougie C (if anyone can give me a lift that will be running by Penicuik) 25. Dtabbit77 26. Ed-209 (confirmed day off) 27. DAZ3658 (not back down in Englandshire till october) 28. J10 DLY 29. Paul_P1(on call but will come along anyway) 30. Rossibarr 31. Tosh 32 32. marky.t.s 33. CORSA 34. Oz *sti* + Lynda (if it's the Sunday we will be there) 35. Matt 36. Toby69 37. G.Mac 38. Alan-G + Fab 1 and wee Hollie. 39. DRAM300 + the wife (assuming I can get the time off) 40. B6JMY 41. Urban and the missus 42. BlueThunder (Gregor) 43. Imy 44. Seafar99 45. JohnS (happy to share a car with others from the Aberdeen/shire area to ease the potential parking problems). 46. Scoob Fae Ork + Turbo TuT if he can get off work. 47. ur.a.bus 48. James666 & Mrs666 hopefully in scoob if not will be in bmw 49. Miss Scooby STI (Jacqui) 50. scoobykev 51. sKunk 52. Gogsie 53. Cal ( Fark it !! Was supposed to be travelling to Holland but not now !) 54.Zeolite and Mrs Z

Respect Grant! Well done all you convoy folks!

It is now my deep regret never to have met Colin although I have met Jimmy and Alasdair. I have seen him many times including the old Sunbeam struggling up a steep hill in the forests of Aberdeenshire and lately in his 6R4 in the forests of Perthshire. There is almost 20 years between these 2 events and in that time I followed his career closely and celebrated the success and sympathised with the near misses and failures. Colin McRae took us all the way. What I liked most was how down to earth he remained despite becoming the superstar. His Lanarkshire family I am sure kept his feet on the ground and he didn't forget his roots. He was often at Scottish national events and resisted the lure to move out of the country for tax reasons. I am a very sad man and today I mourn his, his son Johnny's, Ben's and Graeme's passing. The worst feature of getting old is seeing the passing of your heroes. All you can do remember their lives and celebrate what they achieved.

I will be up for a bit of a yap.

Ah well change of plan. Off to the Kolskaya instead. You won't get the chance to bore me with tales of the new car now Duncan!

duffy

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Oh thanks for that Dunk! You really know how to cheer me up!

....as a rebuild!!! My trooper has seen better days and has just failed its MOT very badly. So while you moneybags are discussing spending £1000s on shiny cars my father and I got round to fixing the old warhorse. The big problem was the front crossmember being rusted out completely So new crossmember had to be made up and welded in. A brilliant job by my father BTW. Other rusty chassis pics. Front end now fixed and we wil get the rear done tomorrow

Gerry. Sent you an email about a prospective candidate.

I have to say that my experiences with Aird have been very good. I have bought 2 cars from them and if I lived nearer Beauly I would go there. I appreciate that Scooby-girl is aggreived about what she sees as poor service but I will always go back to where my experiences have been good. there is not a business out there without an irate customer or two.