The National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu
saved an important photographic collection for the nation at a recent Bonhams
auction. The photographs by the event’s official photographer, Albert Argent
Archer, document the 1000 Mile Trial of 1900.
The event ran from London to Edinburgh and back and helped to
change the public’s negative perception of motor cars at the turn of the
century.
At a time when few motorists of the day would have attempted to
drive anything like a hundred miles in a single day, the big surprise is that
of the 65 starters, 35 cars made it all the way and back.
However, of particular importance to us lot up here is that one of
the pics shows the early days of pre-event ‘scrutineering’. Nothing new in
motor sport, eh? But rather more worryingly, one of the Scroots looks
remarkably like Rab MacDonald. Have a close look at the figure in the middle
with his hands on his hips and wearing a bowler hat. I’m sure it’s him.
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