Rally - Notes from an onlooker

Spotting Owen Paterson trying to fold himself up to get into the co-drivers’ seat of the Skodaru prompted the question, how does he fit? Apparently the better part of last week was spent trying to get the seat pushed back as far as it will go roll-cage permitting. The only other idea to come out of this is to adopt the Ford GT40 Le Mans response. When the Ford GT machine was designed, the floor and roof line were determined by the average sized racing driver of that time but it would appear that the designers forgot that racing drivers sometimes need to wear crash helmets, so for the taller than average drivers a bubble had to be inserted into the roof. Perhaps they’ll need to do the same to the Skodaru if they can’t get Owen to sit cross-legged in his favourite yoga pose.

The McKnight knightmare ahead of the Scottish commenced after Argyll when the engine detonated inside the Escort. Apparently it blew holes in both sides of the block before blowing all the bits out of the underside through the sump. Not much chance of a rebuild there then, so the car was dispatched across the water for a replacement motor and a Millington installed, but despite the instructions regarding the essential gearbox modifications required for such a change, these were somehow neglected or ignored and the car was returned supposedly ready to rally. It wasn’t. Hence much midnight and daylight oil being burned to take the engine out again, modify the gearbox and clutch, re-install it and get some miles on it before Friday Scrooting.

On a more controversial note, there was some criticism expressed of the need for a wider rallying re-think, in particular the idea of getting those who have retired early in an event back into the fray to tackle later stages. In the case of mechanical repairs this should be relatively straight forward and minor body work repairs treated similarly leniently. Of course more serious impact damage or breakages would have to be assessed more carefully and this is where the Scroots come in. They should make the decision. One can understand the nervousness of insurance companies who take fright when the words ‘damage’ or ‘breakage’ enter the conversation but really that’s why the motor industry and motorsports competitions have spare parts, mechanics, technicians and engineers. In the case of quick and simple repairs why not allow competitors to slot back in to the running order and run through the later stages? OK, having to miss a couple of stages won’t threaten the final results but it will allow those who would like a little more seat time to get a few more miles under their belts. After all, they have probably shelled out 7, 8, 9 hundred pounds or more to participate in a rally and with no chance of a partial refund, that’s a helluva dent in the wallet to bear if the gearbox or axle fails in the first stage. It’s all very well to say that such competitors may have exceeded their lateness allowance but by missing out one or two stags and re-slotting back in to the running order, why couldn’t that be allowed? If it is simply a matter of time limits then why not have a ‘trophy rally’ format as used by other events as a means of giving the competitors at least a little more value for money. Surely, in a bid to offer better value for money MSUK needs to have a serious discussion with rally organisers about such an idea? As things stand it would be all too easy to discourage newcomers and the regular club crews.

And finally ….

As for the cause of Martyn Erskine’s rally retirement, may I suggest that it was solely down to his choice of footwear. Any adult with that idea of sartorial elegance shouldn’t be allowed out unaccompanied, and certainly not in possession of a valid driving licence, let alone a competition licence! Really! His carers should know better.

Rally - In the ‘Fanzone’

 The RSAC Scottish Rally provided a novel experience this year thanks to Jas P Wilson & Sons, agriculture and forestry engineers, as numerous spectators and anxious service crews watched the forest drama unfold on the large screen in the on-site ’fanzone’. Perhaps fanzone is stretching it a bit, but as a sign of things to come it was indeed a most valuable addition to Scottish rallying.

A lot of behind the scenes planning by both Iain and Michael had gone into this year’s lay-out, starting with a plan to place the larger support trucks at the back of the enlarged service area with the ‘smaller’ units in the middle ground between them and the facing large screen TV. This ensured that very few awnings and poles ruined the view and most folks could catch a glimpse of the screen from right across the service park. Many folk might not have noticed that, but it took some original thought and planning, plus a fair bit of cajoling by the somewhat harassed service park marshals on the day to make sure it happened.

But ‘Wilson’s Wonders’ had gone further by creating an area for spectators to gather and which rightly could be called a fanzone. Some new gravel had been laid and rolled in the parking field opposite the service area creating a curved ‘D’ shaped gravel drive on the inside of which was a grassy area with picnic tables. Lined up around the outer edge of the new walkway were the Country Kitchen food emporium and ice cream van, a model car seller and a bookseller (and indeed quite a few books were sold – thankfully!)) with the large screen TV set up at the end.

In fact, the boys had planned a much larger artic mounted screen but during the week got ‘the phone call’. Apparently the truck had broken down, but for a ‘smaller fee’ would a smaller trailer mounted screen be acceptable? With little choice in the matter the ‘Wilsons’ agreed and it all worked out perfectly well. The screen showed adverts and past filmed clips from previous events before showing live coverage from the stages. The pictures were excellent and the on-stage commentary provided as usual by our very own ‘Jack and Victor’ who were joined by a new ‘Isa’. Thankfully Isa was able to offer a bit more knowledge and intelligent insight into the more usual garrulous flow of information, comments and ribaldry.

If this idea proved successful then Iain and Michael might well have bigger plans for next year. Gaun yersel boys, it was magic. The picnic tables were kept busy as were the food and ice cream vans as folk came and went from the service park all day. Really well worthwhile and worked a treat.

Not only that a couple of large mini-buses had been laid on for ‘park and ride’ spectators to use between the car park at Jas P Wilson and the Dalbeattie stage. Nice one.

Topping that all off was the closed off High Street in the town which hosted the rally finish. The only thing that spoiled the day was the rain, but then we’re used to it, are we not?

So those of us who were not able to visit the stages, for whatever reason, could watch and listen from Dalbeattie. The next best thing!

As it turned out, it wasn’t a day for the local crews with Mark McCulloch and Michael Hendry the ‘only’ crew finishing in the top ten in eighth place to provide the local fans with some good cheer. Top seeds Jock Armstrong and Owen Paterson were out in SS2 with a broken bottom arm in the Skodaru while the normally cool, calm and reliable Rory Young and Allan Cathers caused a surprise when their VW slid off the road in SS2. David Hardie and John McCulloch put the Escort off in there as well although Niall Cowan with Jack Morris got as far as the penultimate stage before driveshaft failure in the MG. Stuart and Alice Paterson went foraging in the undergrowth with the Subaru and had to be rescued by the Army Land Rover lads, while Martyn Erskine did a passable impression of Robin Hood escaping from the Sheriff of Nottingham when he and Chuck Blair sought refuge with the Mitsubishi in the trees!

Iain Wilson and Mark Roberts didn’t even get that far, the hired MG’s gearbox getting stuck in 2^nd gear and the car limped out of the stage into retirement. With no ‘trophy rally’ possibility that was their day done and dusted there and then. There ain’t no justice, eh?

I suppose there was some ‘local’ cheer after all because Kirsty Riddick co-drove the winning car, the VW Polo GTI R5 of David Bogie who comes from the far east – Dumfries! This was Bogie’s eighth win on his ‘home’ event but didn’t Jonathan Greer and Niall Burns do well with a strong second place in the Citroen C3 Rally2.

There was however one heckuva of a tussle going on for third place finally settled by ONE second in Euan Thorburn and Keith Beaton’s favour, the VW crew just pipping the Ford Fiesta crew of Finlay Retson and Paul Beaton. Scott Beattie and Peredur Davies drove well finishing fifth in the Fiesta just ahead of the Hyundai i20 of John Wink and Neil Shanks.

Top 2WD drive? Who else? Young Robert Proudlock with Steven Brown after an exemplary drive in the 1200cc Peugeot 208 finishing in a superb 13^th place overall half a minute clear of the Ford Escort Mk2 of Greg McKnight and Harry Marchbank, but Greg was lucky to be there after an unbelievable week prepping the car after its comprehensive engine blow up in Argyll.

Top 1600 (non ‘world’ car) runner was the MG ZR of Niall Cowan and Jnr and Charley Sayer Payne in 28^th place which was quite a feat, holding off the Peugeot 206 Cup car of the rapid Barry Lindsay and Caroline Lodge.

And so ended the 78th RSAC Scottish Rally, but amongst the winners, there was one other, the Jas P Wilson crew who created one of the best rally service park facilities and Rally HQ’s in the country, and if encouraged, will do even more next year. Here’s to them, and as Arnold Scotcheggnchips once said: “I’ll be back!”

Pop-Up Bookshop

The next outing for the mobile book boutique will be the RSAC Scottish Rally this Friday and Saturday (19/20 July). Apparently permission has been granted to set up shop at Scrutineering on the Friday and then a pitch at the Service Park on Saturday probably near the large TV screen – look for the red Transit. I will of course have copies of ‘The Scottish Rally Championship 1980-1989’ and ‘Murmurs on Mull 1993-2010’ for sale although there has been some talk about stocking some motor sport books by other Scottish authors – we’ll see!

Anyway, work is progressing on the next book in the ‘Scottish Rally Championship’ series covering the decade 1990 to 1999. The main text is more or less complete and the photograph selection process is well underway but there are difficulties here, not so much what to put in the book, but what to leave out.

The introduction to the book has also been completed, although in writing it, many memories resurfaced.

Rallying in the 1990s faced uncertainty and indecision as the sport’s direction came under scrutiny. Remember the handicaps? The sport’s governing body dithered over what to do with the rise of the 4WD ‘supercars’ so handicaps were suggested and then introduced to try and ‘equate’ the competition. With the MSA unsure, the various clubs and championships took it upon themselves to introduce a penalty of 1.5, 2 or 2.5 seconds per stage mile depending on the event and the championship.

That was ultimately dropped as unworkable and the MSA introduced a 2.5 litre cap on engine size and tried to restrict power output to under 300 bhp. They also banned many of the ‘home-brewed’ specials like Allan McCleary’s 4WD Quastra, Duncan Jaffray’s Rover S20  and Andy Burton’s Peugeot Cosworth. Looking back surely that was an ill-considered move frustrating the creativity and inventiveness of private individuals as many of these ‘specials’ were perfectly designed engineering triumphs in their own right. Perhaps the trouble was that some of these cost effective ‘shed built’ one-offs were capable of beating the financial muscle and engineering might of the manufacturers’ own attempts to build rally winners! We couldn’t have that, could we?

Another ploy to replace the Group A 4WD machinery in the British Championship with Formula 2 machinery failed too although it has to be said that the blame cannot be laid totally at the door of the sport’s governors. Much of that was down to the engineering ingenuity of manufacturers, private preparation companies and talented individuals who could ‘exploit’ the rules and maximise the limitations to their advantage. Remember the F2 ‘screamers’ with their Maxi, Super and Kit car evolutions?

As a result costs escalated as automotive development advanced and the demand for more usable power and better handling cars created ever faster cars.

As in all forms of motor sport, as soon as new regulations are introduced to try and ‘level up’ or down (to borrow a political phrase) the competition, the designers and engineers are poised and ready with their slide rules, computers and innovations to create the next world-beater.

I suppose it’s called progress. It’s also called competition – but that’s why we love it, eh?

As for the photos, here’s some which won’t make the next book !!

Rally -The RSAC comes to town

The news that next Saturday’s RSAC Scottish Rally will have a ceremonial finish in Dalbeattie town centre is most welcome. Whereas such affairs can get a bit lost in bigger towns and cities, Dalbeattie is not a big town by any means so the rally and its entourage will have a wee bit of an impact on daily local life this coming Friday and Saturday. The fact that the rally will finish in the High Street will therefore give the local folks a better idea of what the invasion is all about.

Adding to the atmosphere will be the nearby location of the Service Park which is right on the southern outskirts of the town at James P Wilson’s agricultural emporium and yard. This also means that the service crews will be able to see the formal Finish for themselves as the town centre is just a short daunder away. Take a left out of the yard and the High Street starts from the first junction on the right.

And if all the plans come to fruition there will be a large screen TV in the field next to the service area showing live action from the stages. Modern technology is wunnerful, ain’t it?

Town centre finishes are of course nothing new for ‘the Scottish’ from the high jinks of Grantown on Spey and Aviemore in the distant past to the rather more sober shenanigans of Ayr, Glasgow, Perth and Dumfries in more recent times, and now Dalbeattie.

Unlike many other towns these days, Dalbeattie still has a ‘proper’ High Street with ‘proper’ shops and not just rows of blank lots and boarded up windows. It also has an award winning - personally sampled and approved - ‘chippy’ in Alpine Street just off the Cross!

Timetable and spectator info here:

https://www.scottishrally.co.uk/spectator-viewing-areas/

Thirty years ago, the rally finished in Perth and provided Chris Wagner and Alan Stark with their first ever outright win on a Scottish Championship rally. After 16 Special Stages, the Audi 90 quattro was followed home into second place less than a minute behind by the Opel Manta 400 of Andy Horne and Jim Howie. Sam Mullen and Gerry Bryden won the 2 litre class in fifth place in their Escort Mk2 with the 1600 class winning Vauxhall Nova of George McDonald and Murdoch Campbell in sixth place. 

As for the 25 stage international part of the rally Malcolm Wilson and Bryan Thomas dominated that with 22 fastest stage times on their way to victory over Ford team mates Stephen Finlay and Campbell in Roy in the second Escort Cosworth. Marcus Gronholm and Voitto Silander were third in a Toyota. Coincidentally, Dalbeattie’s own Murray Grierson with Stewart Merry finished fourth overall and top Scottish crew in their Subaru Legacy – the only all-Scottish crew in the top ten!

And finally, a certain ‘pop-up’ bookshop may well make an appearance in the service area at Dalbeattie with a huge choice – of two books! More news to follow.

A national injustice

If it has done little else, the ongoing 'European Shirt-Tuggers and Shin-Kickers Championship' has once again highlighted a great injustice within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Whilst Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own BBC Scotland, BBC Wales and BBC Northern Ireland radio and television services, England doesn't. And that surely is unfair to the English. They should indeed have their own channels.

It is because they don't that the BBC continues to broadcast items of English news and current affairs to the whole of the UK, whether the rest of us want it or not. And while it would be nice for our neighbours to win this 'Euro kickabout' it will mean that the rest of us will be subjected to never-ending reminders, re-runs and replays, and ongoing punditry for days, weeks and possibly months to come. And gawd forbid they should lose, as the ongoing insights, comments, criticism and blame would add to this purgatory for the rest of us. 

So let's hope that this oversight by the BRITISH Broadcasting Corporation will be corrected as a matter of urgency before the tears/blood start running out of the nation's tellies, whether through joy or despair.

Surely it is time that the English had their very own TV and radio channels just like the rest of us and allow them to wallow in their own personal joy/grief to their hearts content. Why should they be deprived of such a service?

Perhaps we should organise a petition so that they can join the rest of the home nations with their own media outlets and let the BRITISH Broadcasting Company concentrate on BRITISH news for all of us. 

It's only fair, isn't it?

Jock’s Run - Update

As of this morning, the Biggar Young Farmers Club charity road run held two weekends ago has raised £27,210.03 for the ‘CJD Support Network’ and money is still coming in to the ‘Just Giving’ page which will remain open till March next year. In fact, the CJD Network is Biggar YFC’s chosen charity for this year and they will continue to fund raise till their AGM in 8 months’ time. They are a credit to their vocation and the nation.

Just Giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/biggaryoungfarmerscjdfundraising

Jock's Run

Jock’s Run …. It was a day of mixed emotions, with delight and wonder at the numbers who turned up but having to be set against the reason why so many had done so. It did indeed provide a fitting tribute to one of the nicest guys in Scottish rallying and someone who deserves a wee bit of help in very trying times. There is no cure for CJD, so something needs to be done now to help those who may need help in future.

The turnout was bigger than expected with folk on motor cycles, cars, rally cars, vans, trucks and tractors coming from all over Scotland. From Inverness and Fort William in the north to Duns, Dumfries and Dalbeattie in the south, and even the Isle of Mull, the hordes descended on Biggar showground for the gathering and the Road Run.

If anyone thought that organising hundreds of visitors in over 260 vehicles was a task too far for a bunch of amateur organisers they had sorely miscalculated the abilities and enthusiasm of Biggar Young Farmers Club. What a team, what an organisation and what an inspiration.

From getting the vehicles in off the public road and arranging them into groups and ranks to marshalling the convoy on the run itself, the young men and women had it all in hand. As for the run itself they had even managed to over-ride the temporary traffic lights at the roadworks in Carnwath to reduce inconvenience to other road users and also minimise disruption to the convoy itself. It was also surely coincidental that at every junction which the convoy had to negotiate there was a strategically placed ‘incapacitated’ tractor blocking the roads and holding up regular motorists while the convoy passed. At least I thought it was coincidental that an awfy big 8 tonne tractor was inadvertently delaying other road users. Nobody dared argue with that amount of ironmongery on wheels!

Leading the convoy were Jordan and Cameron in Jock’s self built Quantum Xtreme two-seater which returned to the showground minus its petrol filler cap. Some ‘numpty’ forgot to twist it back on having filled the small fuel tank en route! But at least they made it back in one piece without having to call out the AA.

On their return to the showground, the smell of cooking wafted across the field attracting drivers and passengers to the barbecue where food was being served. And what food it was, fresh baker’s rolls with Covington beef burgers followed by Taylors of Biggar ice cream. In fact the Hillhead of Covington farm is renowned not just for its dairy herd but its cross-bred Holstein and Jersey beef which was used for the burgers. There was also a ‘vegetarian’ option, the burgers came from a grass-fed herd!! And all finished off with a Taylors ice cream made from locally sourced fresh farm milk. To be sure, there wasn’t a tastier menu to be had on the day anywhere in Scotland.

Fortunately, Jock was just about well enough on the day to visit the showground at the finish of the run having seen everyone passing through Libberton, a fact that the local villagers couldn’t have missed as some of the ‘less experienced drivers’ suffered a bit of clutch-foot slip and left some parallel black lines on the public road while the truck drivers appeared to have missed the Road Traffic Act regulation that musical air horns are illegal - and by heck they were loud, they would have blown the soot oot o’ a coal fired factory lum! I think the folk in Lanark heard them.

There was support too from hundreds (thousands?) of locals lining the route, waving and cheering with some youngster holding up self painted signs to the truckers urging them to ‘Peep Peep’ and formations of tractors lined up in fields as the entourage passed.

The lumps in the throat just got bigger and bigger and there was barely a dry eye in the hoose.

And so ended a most memorable day topped off with raising thousands for the ‘CJD Support Network’ charity. The rugby shirt auction raised £3,600, the ‘Just Giving’ page added another £10,000 plus and the main event bolstered that with thousands more. The full figure raised will be announced when they have finished counting! And every penny will be put to good use.

And thanks again to the wonderful bunch of young men and women from Biggar YFC, stars each and every one of you, and here’s a thought, if the car clubs of Scotland need a hand for marshalling duties at special stage rallies, the YFC and their tractors could solve an awfy lot of route problems!

And finally, our thoughts and best wishes must be with Susan and the boys with their ongoing struggle in these heart breaking times.

Address for Just Giving page:

Abbie Baillie is fundraising for The CJD Support Network (justgiving.com)

Moffat Classic Car Show

Following its inaugural introduction at the recent Thirlestane show, the ‘Bunnet Book Bazaar’ pop-up shopping experience will make its next appearance at the Moffat Classic Car Show this coming Sunday the 30th June.

On display and for sale will be the complete range of self-published books by one J Fife Esq – all two of them! If anyone wishes to purchase a copy of ‘The Scottish Rally Championship 1980-1989’ and/or a copy of ‘Murmurs on Mull 1993-2010’ for themselves, their family or friends then here is the ideal opperchancity to enrich their Scottish motor rallying knowledge.

Cash or card accepted, but no trade-ins or bartering will be entered into and no Embassy vouchers, Provi cheques, Green Shield stamps, major store loyalty cards or empty ginger bottles will be accepted either!

Obviously cash will be preferred as experience at Thirlestane suggests that on-line card payments from all the on-site stalls and activities can sometimes overload the mobile communications signal system. Having said that, only a few transactions were disrupted last time out.

The appearance at Thirlestane was also beneficial in another respect in that some long-lost sets of rally results from the 1960s and 70s were sourced which will help to plug the gaps in research for ongoing book projects. So if anyone has anything especially from the very early days, your help will be most appreciated.

Anyway, the next book in the series covering the 1990s is well underway, text is written and photographs are being selected.

Look out for the red Transit.

If you can’t make it to the show, the books are still available on-line:

https://fife-motor-sports-agency.square.site/

Rally - Jock's Run - added extra

Three weeks ago, the Gray family were guests of Scottish Rugby at Murrayfield and were given the grand tour. As a result of that, a signed Scottish rugby shirt was delivered to the family earlier this week for auction on Saturday. A thoughtful gesture, but Jock's visit had touched the whole team. The whole sport of rugby is only too well aware of the impact that 'wasting diseases' can have on individuals and families following their own recent experiences with MND. It is their hope that the sale of this shirt can make a contribution to the 'CJD Support Network' charity which has been so helpful to the Gray family. So listen out for news of that on Saturday, and if anyone fancies a rather unique display for their own  home, here's your chance.

Rally - Jock’s Run - Bulletin 3

It looks as though 200 or more cars and their human contents are expected to turn up this Saturday 29th June for the Biggar Young Farmers Club organised fund raiser for the ‘CJD Support Network’ which is doing so much to help support Jock and the Gray family at this desperate time.

It also looks as though the ‘entry list’ will include a five-time British Rally Champion and a former World Champion Co-driver in some old banger with its own heritage. That is, if it starts! There might well be a nice red, although somewhat elderly, box van full of caramel wafers and tea cakes in the parade too.

Given the expected numbers, if anyone else is thinking of attending and haven’t yet advised the BYFC team then it would indeed be most helpful if you let them know. All you have to do is send a Text to 07708 343 889 with a note of your name, vehicle reg and vehicle make/type.

As previously stated this is not a competition, just a gathering of family and friends to generate a bit of funding for a most worthwhile cause. The route is a little over 20 miles in length and it actually runs close by Jock’s family home, so if he can’t make the showground, hopefully he’ll be fit enough to sit in the garden and wave!

Starting from Biggar showground, the entourage should exit the field and turn left down Biggar High Street, turning right on to the B7016 ‘Carnwath’ road. A mile out of town take the right fork on to the unclassified road to Elsrickle, and continue 3 miles or so to go straight over the cross-roads with the A721 - but give way to oncoming traffic on the main road! Just over a mile from there it’s a sharp left turn, back on to the Oggscastle Road to the junction with the A721 where you must take care joining the main road and turn right.

Then it’s onwards through Newbigging to Carnwath turning left at the traffic lights in the ‘town centre’ on to the B7016 passing the Apple Pie Bakery on your left and continue south on the Biggar road. Just beyond the ‘hamlet’ of Libberton (Jock’s home town) make a right on to the unclassified road towards Quothquan, then turn left at the T junction on to the Shieldhill Road passing the old haunted Shieldhill House Hotel to pick up the B7016 again and turn right towards Biggar. Then it’s back up the High Street to the Showground for burgers and ice cream - but not necessarily on the same roll!

Simples, eh? Having said that, the BYFC stalwarts are intending to affix some ‘stage arrows’ along the way to help those who manage to get themselves lost. Either that or just follow the motor bike, car, van, lorry, tractor in front.

Please note that some of these roads are quite narrow so please drive with due care and attention and be courteous to other road users who may be unaware of what’s going on and might get caught up in this procession through no fault of their own.

The ‘entry fee’ is £20 per car and £5 per passenger to be paid on the day. Cash is preferable although cards will be accepted – dependent on the phone signal at the Showground, hence the preference for cash.

For those that would like to attend but can’t make it, donations can still be made via a ‘Just Giving’ page which the BYFC have created:

Abbie Baillie is fundraising for The CJD Support Network (justgiving.com)

See you there!

Rally - Jock's Run - Bulletin 2

Biggar Young Farmers Club have plans well in hand for Jock’s Run on Saturday 29th June and so far over 80 vehicles have been signed up, albeit with an unknown number of drivers and passengers so hopefully they won’t run out of burgers and ice cream!

On that note it would be really helpful to know how many are planning on attending. There is now a new method of registering your attendance without the need for Facebook – send a Text to 07708 343 889 – all they need to know is your name, vehicle reg and what vehicle. So far, the automotive ‘entry list’ includes just about every type of automotive conveyance from motor bikes and quads to cars, vans and trucks, not to mention tractors!!

As for the route, it is a little over 20 miles in length and it actually runs close by Jock’s family home, so if he can’t make the showground, hopefully he’ll be fit enough to sit in the garden and wave!

Biggar YFC will have ‘volunteer helpers’ on the day registering folk and their vehicles on arrival and taking the money. Cash is preferred as the phone signal at Biggar Showground can’t be relied on for the card machines, although such machines will be on hand! There will also be a supply of buckets where any spare cash can be deposited. The idea of course is to generate as much in the way of cash donations for the CJD Support Network as possible. CJD is a horrible disease with many similarities to MND and we all know how bad that is. Your support is vital.

After the run, burgers will be available at £3.50, so no rip-off prices like we often see at some other outdoor events and the ice cream is from Taylor’s of Biggar. This has been sampled at length (at much personal cost) to ensure taste and succulence on the day.

Naturally this tasting and testing process will be ongoing. As for the burgers, they haven’t been tested yet, so that’s yet another arduous chore for the organisers!

Race - Sir Jackie Stewart OBE

To mark Jackie Stewart’s 85^th birthday (11^th June) Scots born (Motherwell) motoring and motor sports journalist and author Eric Dymock has redesigned and republished a book he wrote over 50 years ago, entitled: “Jackie Stewart World Champion, Ten Years To A Title”.

It was quite a book then, it’s a better book now. Eric was already a well known and highly respected journalist when he wrote this book in conjunction with Jackie himself. In fact Eric knew Jackie before Jackie started motor racing as he had already reported on Jackie’s older brother Jimmy’s career and was also closely following Jim Clark’s career. 

This updated book gives a remarkable and personal insight into Jackie’s early career which commenced in 1959 and ten years later he was world champion in 1969. In both his own words and those of an ever observant Eric Dymock, the book describes Jackie’s progress from amateur to professional and from saloon and sports cars to Formula 1.

Also, a contribution from every sale is going to ‘Race Against Dementia’, a cause which is particularly dear to Sir Jackie’s heart.

The book is on sale now: https://ericdymockmotorbooks.co.uk/

The 'Buy Now' button goes to Amazon, which prints and sends copies for £23.75.

On a personal note, I’m no fan of Amazon, but in this case I’ll just have to over-rule my principles and fork out the dosh.

However, I do have my own personal and early memory of JYS. Way back in 1971, and long before he was knighted, Jackie Stewart organised the ‘Jackie Stewart Speed Show’ in the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow which ran from March 27^th to April 4^th. It cost adults 4 shillings to get in while children were charged 2 shillings, and it was quite a show. I should know, I was in there before the doors opened to the public assisting with the photographic displays.

And you know what? To this day my efforts have never been financially rewarded, although I did receive a gift. I was given a ‘Jackie Stewart set’ which came in a presentation box. Underneath the cellophane cover was a black corduroy bunnet, a pair of thick stemmed JYS sun glasses, a pair of JYS driving gloves and a key ring. And yes, I did wear them and use them!

In all fairness, later commissions were rather more adequately rewarded.

Aye, them were’t days, eh?

Rally - Jock’s Run

On Saturday the 29^th of this month (June), Biggar Young Farmers Club are organising and hosting a road run in aid of the CJD Support Network. As many of you already know, Jock Gray has CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) which is a horrible, cruel, wasting disease and the road run is being organised to generate funds for the CJD support network which is providing the vital care and support which Jock and his family needs at this most trying of times.

Biggar YFC are therefore issuing an open invitation to one and all to ‘run what you brung’ on the 29^th, and whilst it would be nice to see some rally cars in the mix, the ‘entry’ is open to anything on two, three, four or more wheels. The ‘Entry Fee’ is £20 per vehicle and £10 per head for each participant in, or on, said vehicle. However, it has been rumoured that some folk are contemplating the hire of something exotic or different and whilst that is a nice gesture, the organisers would rather that such money spent on hiring something be put in the pot, and folk just turn up in their daily runner or domestic runabout. Even the ‘works van’ would be preferable!

The main objective of the exercise is to raise funds for this most worthwhile cause for the care and support of those suffering this rare and complicated disease and which also needs financial support to continue research into a disease about which little is known.

At the conclusion of the run there will be burgers and ice cream on offer, so don’t have a breakfast before you come. Instead have a bite to eat and a chat with likeminded friends and folk. However, a word of caution, if you happen to drop your burger out of your roll be careful what you pick up, Biggar Showfield is regularly used for grazing cows!

The run itself will incorporate local roads around Biggar and Carnwath, to Elsrickle, and back to Biggar, so only around 20 miles or so and should take about 40 minutes. It’s not competitive and not arduous, so just come along and enjoy the camaraderie for a most worthwhile cause.

Participants are asked to gather in Biggar Showfield which is situated on the A702 (T) on the north eastern edge of the town - where the annual Biggar Vintage Rally is held.

Arrive at 10:00 am for an 11:00 am start and return to the field on or after 12 noon.

Road Run in aid of CJD support network | Facebook

Show - A busy day

Had a great day out at the weekend at the annual Border Vintage Automobile Club’s ‘Festival of Motoring’ at Thirlestane Castle with lots to see and drool over.

Admittedly I was there for altogether different reasons, I had taken a wee ‘pitch’ in the ‘trade’ area to try and sell my books. I have only written two, so I took along a few other titles which I had gathered over the years. These included some ‘doublers’ of Martin Holmes’ ‘World of Rallying’ and ‘Rallycourse’ annuals plus other titles just to try and have a bit of a red-oot. It certainly helped, drawing in passers by curious to know who this unknown author was with only two books to promote!

The show represented a new market for me, and I had no idea how books with such a niche market appeal would go down with a crowd that was there to see and hear auld caurs, but I was pleasantly surprised. Suffice to say I managed to cover my pitch cost and fuel and had enough to buy a haggis supper at Franchitti’s chippy in Harthill on the way home.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the number of ex and current rally drivers and co-drivers (and racers!) who were there with family members, weans, wives, girlfriends, partners, pals and their dugs. I suppose it’s just the fascination for all things automotive that attracts even hardened competition enthusiasts to the ordinary and mundane. I met up with folk I hadn’t seen for 30 or 40 years, and aye, some a bit before then too!

I seemed to spend more time catching up and chatting than I did selling books, but that experience has served up a most valuable lesson – next time, cut the chat and sell more books!

So I’m already looking forward to Moffat, Blast from the Past, Biggar and the Cumbria Classic, and who knows maybe a few others.

The attached aerial view of Thirlestane gives some idea of the scale of the show and depending on who you speak to, it’s either the biggest of its type in Scotland or the second biggest – the other one is Glamis. Oddly enough, I did speak to the Glamis folk about a pitch, but I couldn’t justify the investment or maybe they just didn’t want any riff-raff at such a posh event!

Anyway, the arrow shows the red Transit and the Scottish rally bookstall. Kind of puts me in my place, a wee dot in the great landscape of life. The other picture shows the view I had looking straight ahead from my pitch. Nice, eh?

Rally - The Book Roadshow

Open for business .... At the Border Vintage Automobile Club classic car show at Thirlestane Castle just outside Lauder today. 

Allegedly SurrAlan Sugar started his career with a market stall. I have no plans yet to appeal to the Dragons either.

Onwards and upwards, eh?

Books - Career change?

From globetrotting motoring journalist (!) to autojumble stall holder. Having missed the Jim Clark Rally last weekend, the intention is to be fully fit for a trip to the Borders this weekend.

I have taken a pitch at the Borders Vintage Automobile Club ‘Festival of Motoring’ at Thirlestane Castle on Sunday 2^nd of June. The idea is to sell some books, primarily my own self published titles ‘The Scottish Rally Championship 1980-1989’ and ‘Murmurs on Mull 1993-2010’. If you haven’t yet availed yourself of one of these historically interesting and illuminating publications, here’s your chance.

Both books have already gone down well with buyers, especially the photographic section in the Scottish Championship book which features over 350 photographs, the majority of which have never before been published, while the Mull book is compiled from the FULL and complete set of on-event rally bulletins issued during an 18 year period and provides a unique insight into the annual Mull Rally.

And just for a bit of variety I will have some additional books and memorabilia which might just be of interest to Land Rover, Porsche and Jaguar enthusiasts.

Look out for the red Ford Transit Custom. Apparently my pitch is under ‘the tree’ – so hopefully no lightning strikes on Sunday!

I have no idea what to expect but hugely looking forward to it. As ever, cash or card welcome, but no trade-ins or bartering, and no Embassy vouchers, Provi cheques, Green Shield Stamps or empty ginger bottles.

Rally - Jim Clark weather prediction

The weather forecast for this weekend’s Jim Clark Memorial Rally is looking typically Scottish and is a concern not just for competitors, but to rally officials and marshals alike who will have to brave whatever is thrown at them in order to stage an event of this size and scope. There is however one surefire, well proven, reliable method of predicting the weather this far north – on the day of the rally just stick your hand out of any window for a few seconds then draw it back in. If your hand is wet then it’s raining, if your hand is dry then it’s about to rain.

But it could be worse, and not that I want to worry anyone, but these photos were actually taken on the Jim Clark Memorial Rally, although it was a wee while ago – way back in 1986 to be precise.

Richard Mawson and Geordie Tindall won the rally in their Ford Escort RS from the 1300cc Ford Escort of Gordon Boyd and Kenneth Crombie. And the winning margin? Just 4 seconds. In third place was the Opel Manta of Jim Fleming and Adam Duff ahead of the Talbot Sunbeam of George ‘Galloping’ Gillespie and George Black while Ivor the Driver finished fifth in a most unlikely choice of rally machine!

So with all that in mind, and in addition to all the safety advice which will be dished out to spectators in advance of the rally, here’s some more advice. Make sure you pack the wellies and sou’wester, tee shirts and sandals, furry boots and woolly bunnets, sun cream and chilblain salve and you’ll be ready for anything. Oh, and perhaps just put a tube of midge repellent cream in the pack while you’re at it. You never know.

Stay safe, stay dry and enjoy yourselves.

Rally - Say it with flowers

In case you hadn’t noticed, the Chelsea Flower Show opened its garden gates in London this week for the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual extravaganza of all things gardening, and of course I was there in my official capacity as Head Haggis Herder and Groundskeeper for the royal estates in Scotland.

The opening day is reserved for VIPs and members of the Press, and of course, for an event which enjoys royal patronage it also attracts celebrities, nonentities and selfie-seekers plus folk of all shapes and sizes who read the weather or appear in adverts with spurious claims to fame and notoriety. And in order to help justify the forty quid per head entry tickets the RHS also likes to entice some famous celebrities to their show to give the ordinary punters something to look out for in addition to the floral abundance and enticements.

Unfortunately their budget, bolstered by the eye watering entry prices, doesn’t quite run to genuine A-listers and despite suggestions that the stars of ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ would be the main attraction there wasn’t a single wrinkled stocking in sight, let alone a Foggy, Cleggy or Compo. However, this hugely popular television soap series was represented by some of the other ‘stars’ of the show and I managed to beat off the excitable massed throng to get close enough to take a photo of the twosome through the exotic shrubbery.

Of course, even if you’re not a fan of the show you will recognise these two instantly. One of them played the part of a Hell’s Angel riding his vintage Davidson around the village. I say vintage Davidson because his bike is so old, Davidson hadn’t even met Harley at the time. The other character enjoys an equally high profile in the show as he is the ‘meals on wheels’ delivery driver in his Ford Model A box van light commercial vehicle.

Naturally both of these esteemed star guests were invited to cut the tape to open the show much to the disappointment of His Royal Himness and Her Royal Herness who were relegated to the role of cheerleaders for the ceremony. And in my strenuous, but ever so humble, efforts to rub shoulders with such famous personalities I was delighted to receive two accolades to commemorate this momentous occasion. Sadly, not the autographs I was seeking – but a fat lip and a boot up the erse.

Rally - Spot the weans

Yesterday’s post about the Jim Clark Memorial Rally 35 years ago seemed to be well appreciated so here’s a few more, but this time – no captions. You’ll just have to look for yourselves and scratch the old thatch box above your neck, that is if you have any ‘thatch’ left like some of those in the photos who look very different today to what they did back then.

The top four finishers will be easily recognisable but perhaps not the class contenders. Yes, some haven’t changed that much whereas others might require a bit more thought. Least well known will be the ‘Little and Large’ duo but they were quick in their day although no longer involved, while the ‘tyre’ man, the ‘Pace Note’ man and the FIA man are still pretty much recognisable. Anyway, all these pics were taken at the outdoor prizegiving in Kelso Town Square after the rally.

Apologies also for some of the marks on the photos but the negatives have suffered a wee bit due to age, much like most of the rest of us, and that’s why some of these pics did not make the Scottish Championship 1980s book! In fact quite a lot of pics didn’t make the final edit of that book so maybe I’ll post a few more in the run up to this week’s rallyfest in Duns.

Still it makes a change from pictures of rally cars, seeing pictures of those inside the cars and inside the helmets. On the other hand some might say a few of this motley collection might just look better with their helmets on.

It’s also surprising just how many of them are still rallying and still involved.