PC’s Caribbean adventure
Neil ‘luckyboy’ Campbell joins the intrepid Oxford Universities Motorsports Foundation in their bid to win the 2010 Sol Rally of Barbados. Well someone had to do it...
Ok, so I know it may sound like a bit of an easy assignment – boo hoo, Neil is in Barbados, woe is me etc, but the Sol Rally is a serious event with serious competitors and a serious amount of hard graft required to prepare for the event.
What i’m saying is that it’s not all been swimming with turtles, catamaran cruises, rum punch, sunburn and dining at Just Grillin’, although I will admit to having done a little of each of these things.
Despite running on a budget and relying in some cases on the goodwill of others, the students from the OUMF and their 1965 Riley 1.5 are up against some stiff competition. The Barbados Rally is a pretty unique event - where else could you see a 45 year old BMC product and a pro-WRC car competing on the same stages together? Pretty much nowhere I’d imagine.
So far we’ve competed in the Shell V-Power King of the Hill competition, the result of which went towards our starting position in last Saturday’s rally. I really can’t say too much about it all as you’ll have to wait for the feature for that, but I can tell you that we’re not last.
I’ve also found two Triumphs rusting in peace, the first one within an hour of landing at Grantley Adams Airport which has to be some sort of record. I’ve met several PC readers, been out in a beautifully restored Spitfire 1500, indulged in a little off-roading, done donuts on a immaculate Plantation lawn in a Ford RS1600 and met some colourful characters with names like Sluggie, Hottie, Fooperman, Keyboo and Graham.
I also almost killed the entire support crew in what I still maintain was a freak opposite lock Land Rover vs physics, vs steep hill situation that was absolutely not my fault at all. No-one else agrees, and i think the Police may be after me. Apart from that it’s all hunky dorey. Pass the rum...
For more information about OUMF and their extremely worthy activities please visit www.oumf.org
You can also donate on the website help them encourage more people to get into historic motorsport, restoration, and car preparation. Even the smallest of sums will help them immensely so please be as generous as you can.
Sol Barbados scrutineering was passed without a hitch
The OUMF students, Hannah Byrd, Alex Champion, Adam Scott and Chris Roberts.
PC support has been invaluable so far. Highlights include cutting fruit with inappropriate tools and nearly killing everyone.
Just some of the radical machines on the rally; this is a Vauxhall 2 litre red top powered Mini. It’s not as quick as the twin turbo twin cam powered group B Datsun 120Y though...
Posted: 12:06pm, 3 June 2010
Words: Neil Campbell
Images: Neil Campbell
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