Over the weekend August 30, U.K. Colin McRae fans will celebrate the life of the late rally hero by convoying 300 miles from Lanark to Banbury. More than 1300 Subarus are expected at the gathering, a trail of Fuji Heavy products that is expected to stretch some 20 miles.

Lanark, as you may recall, is the home of Prodrive, the renowned Subie fettling house. The convoy will be led by none other than McRae’s 1996 Impreza 555 WRC car to Prodrive’stest track in Warwickshire. The group will then attempt to break two Guinness World Records, one of which is the parade of 1300 Subarus, the other of which is to spell out ‘COLIN MCRAE’ in a nearly half-mile long display.

The event has already raised in excess of £25,000 for the McRae family’s charities of choice,and they hope to raise more money along the way. The organizers have now stated that the event is full and closed to further registration, although bystanders and well-wishers are encouraged to cheer them on.

If you happen to be in Blighty on August 31, check out the full press release and website URL below for predicted convoy positioning to join the celebration.

+ www.mcrae-gathering.co.uk

 
PRESS RELEASE

22 August 2008

McRae convoy to stretch 20 miles

Nearly 1300 Subarus will gather to celebrate the life of Colin McRae and create a convoy which will stretch nearly 20 miles.

Fans all the way from Scotland to the Midlands will be able to watch the convoy as it travels more than 300 miles from Lanark to Banbury along the motorway network on Saturday 30 August.  The convoy of Subarus departs Lanark at 10 am, led by Jimmy McRae in one of Colin’s original cars, before travelling south along the M74 and M6.  By the time it reaches Birmingham and heads down the M40, it will have grown to more than 700 cars and stretch over ten miles, creating the memorable note of the flat four boxer engine for ten minutes as the cars pass by.

On Sunday 31 August, 1300 cars will gather at Prodrive in Banbury before being led up the M40 by McRae’s 1996 Impreza 555 rally car in a convoy 20 miles long.  On arrival at Prodrive’s test track in Warwickshire, they aim to break two official Guinness World Records.  Firstly, the cars will write out ‘COLIN MCRAE’ in a sign nearly half a mile long and visible to passengers landing at Birmingham airport and then create a parade of 1300 Subarus.

While entry to the McRae Gathering is now closed, organisers are hoping fans will show their support  along the route.  “It would be great to see people cheering us along,” said Grant Hendry, one of the organisers of the McRae Gathering.  “When the idea of the convoy to commemorate the life of Colin was born, we never dreamt 1300 Subarus would be taking part.   We even have Subarus joining us from all over Europe, from Poland and the Ukraine to France and Spain, while some fans are flying in especially from Australia and Argentina to be part of this memorable occasion.”

The McRae Gathering has already raised more than £25,000 for the McRae family’s officially nominated charities and is hoping to raise more money along the route.

For more information please visit:  www.mcrae-gathering.co.uk.

Estimated position of the convoy:

Saturday 30 August
10:00 – Lanark town centre
10:20 - M74, J13
10:45 - M74, J16
11:05 - M74, J21 
11.30 - M6, J41 
11:55 - M6, J38 
12:10 - M6, J36 
12:40 - M6, J32 
13:00 - M6 -  arrive Charnock Richards services
14:00 – M6 - depart Charnock Richards services
14:25 - M6, J18 
14:30 - M6, J16       
14:45 - M6, J15 
15:00 - M6, J14 
15:30 - M5, J4
15:45 - M42 J2
16:20 – M40 J11 Prodrive Banbury.

Sunday 31 August
12:00 – 13:00  M40 J11 to J15