Filed under: Motorsports, Subaru, UK, Celebrities
20-mile-long convoy of Subarus to celebrate life of Colin McRae
The picture at right was taken a just a day after the rally legend was killed in a tragic helicopter crash near his home in Lanarkshire. Without prompting, rally fans from across the UK drove to Scotland to hold a memorial in the McRaes' hometown, which quickly filled up with Subarus, most of them WR blue.
One year on, they've gotten organized. Next Saturday, August 30, Colin's dad, Jimmy, will drive his son's famous 555 Impreza out of Lanark and head for Prodrive's factory in Banbury, southern England. By the time he reaches Birmingham he will have 700 Subarus in his mirrors forming an all-wheel-drive parade that's expected to stretch over 10 miles. Then, on Sunday the 31st, another 600 scoobies are set to join the tailback as it heads to Prodrive's test track in Warwickshire. Yep, that's 1,300 cars in a 20 -plus-mile snake, powered by 5,200 horizontally opposed cylinders.
Although official entry to the event is now closed, organizers expect even more Subarus to show up on the day. Details of the route can be found at http://www.mcrae-gathering.co.uk/
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
letstakeawalk 5:52PM (8/24/2008)
At fitting tribute for a great man. I wish I was able to be there - to hear the throttles blip, and smell the pungent exhaust...
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leviathan18 6:02PM (8/24/2008)
long life to the man that made me love WRC
wish i could go to UK this year :(
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Big John 6:29PM (8/24/2008)
That's a nice way to honor him.
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Allan 6:36PM (8/24/2008)
That's the kind of thing that would make me buy a Subaru just to be a part of for his honor. That's just crazy and awesome.
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why not the LS2LS7? 6:47PM (8/24/2008)
I wonder why we see this kind of thing for McRae and almost nothing for Richard Burns. I know McRae had a bigger impact, but why such disproportionate response?
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tankd0g 8:27PM (8/24/2008)
Unfortunate victim of the public's short attention span I guess. Burns had been sick and out of the spotlight for a while. McRae was healthy and still competing when he died. That and a lot of people bought Colin's games where as not too many tried Richard's. I bet a lot of people who think they know who McRae is would identify Nicky Grist's voice as Colin's.
robin 7:55PM (8/24/2008)
I loved Mr Burns too, he was a Great WRC driver...
Weve lost a few good WRC guys over the past few years.
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Rafael Illan 8:19PM (8/24/2008)
yes, but whats amazing is that both Mcrae and Burns didnt get killed driving their rally cars.
DustoMan 8:06PM (8/24/2008)
Wow. If they did this in the states, I would so be there with my WR Blue 2005 WRX.
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CEMaine 8:09PM (8/24/2008)
I sure wish I could be there. I will go screaming down my dirt road in Colin's honor. And be there in spirit.
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tankd0g 8:23PM (8/24/2008)
When I think of Colin McRae the image of a Ford Focus generally comes to mind. And JC wetting his pants.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AirYyQLnDFk
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broosewee 9:05PM (8/24/2008)
Makes me proud. I'll take a cruise next week in honor of McRae.
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seth 9:43PM (8/24/2008)
I too will be sure to drive mine, just for you Mr. McRae.
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Sharone 9:56PM (8/24/2008)
What a waste of fuel. These kind of activites that promote pollution and global warming needs to punished severly.
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Soulflare 10:18PM (8/24/2008)
What a waste of words. These kinds of pedestal climbing promote stupidity and unwelcome political correctness and need to be punished severely.
Oreoleo 10:38PM (8/24/2008)
hope you were kidding, or get the $%#@ off this website. damn hippies.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:38PM (8/24/2008)
Please don't feed the trolls.
Aki 12:41AM (8/25/2008)
You know what creates even more pollution and burns more fuel? Al Gore parading his opportunistic self about on a jet around the country to talk about reducing our carbon footprint.
Harrison 12:56AM (8/25/2008)
Oh. Just like you.
(sorry, but I couldn't help but feed the troll.)
stimr2 2:16AM (8/25/2008)
When I was in high school, I read about Colin McRae and his victories in various import magazines. Colin McRae and Richard Burns are the reasons why I love Subarus and why I have one.
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