Tyred Out

12th April 2002

Billy Hamilton and Suzanne Hossack contested the DCC Ingliston Single Stage Tarmac Rally last weekend in the MSIS Opel Kadett. They travelled down the 250 mile journey with their service crew consisting of Kevin Hamilton, Jackie McNeill, Davie Chisholm and June McNeill on Catering.

Saturday morning started cold and frosty but that soon ended with Billy setting a blistering pace on the first 5 stages leaving more powerful and expensive machinery in his wake. Moving up from 19th to 10th overall out of 66 competitors. Due to the very warm weather and speeds tyres were always going to be a factor and by stage 5 Billy's Michelin tyres were gone. With only having the less grippy Colway tyres to put on the team knew that they were unlikely to keep up their pace. Suzanne shouting encouragement and Billy giving it all out they managed to keep the losses down to between 2 and 6 seconds a stage but even this was not enough. With the chasing pack closing in they managed to finish the rally 14th overall, 6th in class and fastest through the speed trap at 91mph beating even the ex-works Nissan Almera Kit Car at 88mph. Now all that was left to do was to pack up and drive the 250 miles back home.