Wednesday, 31 July 2024

Rally - Missed chances

Way back in 1981 the Forestry Commission rang a warning bell over rallying’s continued access to its forests. They decreed that Glentress Forest near Peebles would no longer echo to the sound of rally cars. Instead this was to become the first dedicated mountain biking centre in Scotland. It’s now part of the ‘7 Stanes’ mountain bike network and further restrictions and exclusions are planned.

In other words, the cyclists got their act together rather quicker than the rallyists.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the sport of rallying should have seen the dust trails blowing over the horizon and acted sooner to protect its interests. Indeed there were discussions at the time about the sport’s governing body buying forests, but these came to nought. The RAC MSA, as was, regarded itself as being in the business of governing and regulating not acquisition and organising.

Over the years, there have indeed been other attempts by private companies and individuals to invest in and buy forestry land not just to ‘farm’ the timber, but to create rally schools and even dedicated rally venues for all clubs to use, but very few of these have ever come to successful fruition. Whereas an entrepreneur can see where the investment goes in permanent track facilities, the nomadic nature of rallying with no permanent and centralised HQ does not offer the same attraction and security.

Another attempt was lost in 2003. Proposals and plans were submitted in the early 2000s to South Lanarkshire Council for the creation of a National Rally Sport Centre and Outdoor Pursuit Centre at a former open cast coal mine with good access to the nearby M74 motorway. The idea envisaged the creation of a forested complex which would provide a network of maintained gravel roads big enough to host single venue rallies. Like the current Sweet Lamb complex in Wales, only bigger.

To make the idea more appealing, other outdoor pursuits would have access to the site and its facilities, such as mountain biking and motor cycling, orienteering and cross country athletics, equine eventing and archery, plus hosting school groups and youth clubs. There were also additional commercial attractions with the planting of timber to populate what was a barren site and its ability to host outdoor shows and exhibitions. The project had attracted private financial support but the local Council matching cash injection was subject to the plan’s approval by the sport’s governing body.

Despite a site visit and tour by the then Chief Exec of the RAC MSA, that approval was not forthcoming. A body blow to the small team behind the idea and which left a bitter taste in the gut. All that was needed was a signed letter of approval, not cash, the financial support was already in place but conditional.

It was subsequently claimed that the RAC MSA had their own plans for such a centre in Wales, then they had plans for regional centres, and the final excuse, Scotland was too far away for a national centre of sporting excellence – try telling that to a certain international and hugely successful rallying enterprise in Cumbria.

Had this been successful it might well have paved the way to more such specialised sites.

The situation has now become even more complicated with the Forestry Commission being split up into ‘national’ regions, Forestry & Land Scotland, Forestry England, Natural Resources Wales and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Forest Service in Northern Ireland while on the political front Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland now have their own governments with responsibility for rural affairs.

Once again rallying found itself out of step as the British governing body is not devolved and is still tasked with managing the sport across the whole of the UK. That means they have to deal with four separate government ministers and departments, four separate Sports Councils and four separate forestry companies.

Fortunately, Wales got its act together rather more quickly than the other home nations with their ‘Rally 4 Wales’ initiative while Northern Ireland has a pretty pro-active motor sports council which therefore suggests that Scotland needs its own ‘devolved’ body to deal with sporting matters. There have been too many false starts here with the Scottish Motor Sports Federation, then the Scottish Motor Sport Development Group and most recently, Scottish Motor Sport but we don’t seem to be getting off the Start line. Surely a kick in the teeth for the nation which has produced four World Rally Champions.

In all fairness the Scottish Rally Championship Executive Committee have been busy building relationships with FLS but they need more clout and more support, otherwise the most forested region in the British Isles will be allowed to host the least number of stage rallies.

No one appears to have the answer, so we need a new (radical?) approach with some serious out of the box thinking. To engage with the civil servants who run FLS, the clubs will need some serious backing and influence. That means getting MSUK and the Scottish Sports Council on board, but more than that, we need a plan.

One possibility might involve a partnership approach or joint-management proposal. Perhaps allowing the sport to assume management rights for certain forests and be able to determine which sports could take place where and when, while at the same time allowing FLS to keep the timber rights. That’s a daunting task for an amateur sport to consider but within the sport there are a good number of entrepreneurial and highly successful business people who could bring their own commercial expertise to the negotiations.

At the moment we have no idea how much road building costs are, nor the cost of maintenance, nor the quality standards that have been determined by FLS. That also means we have no idea that the charges being levied by FLS for the use of these publicly owned forests are properly costed and fair. That’s why a sit-down face-to-face meeting with FLS on one side and a joint approach from the Scottish Car Clubs, the sport’s governing body, the Scottish Sports Council, one or two independent civil engineering contractors and the support of some influential, high profile business folk might just get some answers. Once we’ve got answers, we can make a plan.

Difficult yes, but doable? Why not? The expertise is out there.

Forty years ago, a certain championship co-ordinator arranged his own meeting with the Forestry Commission hierarchy at their HQ in Corstorphine in Edinburgh. It was a most interesting, illuminating, educational and enjoyable discussion with both sides listening to the other’s views, but ultimately nothing could be done as the FC could only deal with a nationally recognised sporting authority. There was one outcome though, the co-ordinator in question got a ticking-off from motor sport’s CEO for going behind their back! It makes one wonder if anything has changed.

On the other hand, over recent years Forest & Land Scotland have sold off a few forests, which means all we need now is a big EuroMillions Lottery winning rally fan. Sorted, eh?

Saturday, 27 July 2024

Rally - The finish line approaches

The news from the 2024 Galloway Hills Rally didn’t come as shock, just a surprise. The event is a long established forest stage rally in the south west of Scotland and run by a canny bunch of amateur car club enthusiasts. The key word here is ‘amateur’ but that doesn’t mean they lack competence, professionalism or experience in what they do, just that they don’t get paid for doing it!

And it’s the same right across Scotland and the wider UK. The organisation of the vast majority of competitive car rallies across the country is reliant on the goodwill, enthusiasm, willingness, fortitude, stubborn-ness, camaraderie and a deep seated love of the sport by a willing band of masochists who ignore the midges, glaur, sunburn, sodden feet and frostbite just to put on some challenging automotive entertainment for others. Not just the car club stalwarts, but also the volunteer officials and marshals who support their efforts.

But it looks like they are fighting a losing battle. Whilst many clubs enjoy the support of foresters and managers at local level, the high heid yins who sit in their air-conditioned offices surrounded by paperwork, computers and good intentions have a much narrower view of the ‘sport for all’ approach. They seem to prefer the much more gentle pursuits of picnickers, ramblers, dog-walkers, anglers, twitchers, botanists, naturalists, lepidopterists, entomologists and arborists with the only ‘motorised’ access being offered to mountain bikers.

It would also appear that four wheeled pursuits are facing a restricted and diminishing choice of suitable forest venues and roads while having to bear prohibitive escalating costs. Of course the counter-claim will be made that the public forests are open and available to all, but as far as rallies go, it is on their terms and at a cost which they determine.

The sport’s governing body must share some of the blame too. They may claim to be working with the various forest and land authorities in the four home nations but we see little evidence of that at ground level. It would be most welcome if they were a bit more open about their discussions and negotiations to ensure that the folk they represent are kept informed.

Admittedly their actions are limited by the ever increasing requirement for additional safety regulations and the constantly rising crippling insurance charges.

Faced with that rally organisers are up against it, and then there are the costs. To stage a 45 mile forest rally these days can cost in the region of £45,000 in forest road charges alone. The main trouble here is that, according to some of the ‘old guard’ in the forestry business, gravel roads are not being constructed to the same standard of quality as they were 50 years ago, despite all the advances in road building and grading machinery. That means they damage more easily and the resultant damage is worse. Admittedly that isn’t helped by modern four wheel drive rally cars and advancing tyre technology! The end result is the ‘hire’ charges go up.

Getting accurate figures and costings is as easy as extracting the teeth from wild haggis, but some independent contractors are extremely puzzled by how these ‘official’ figures and costings are calculated.

Then there are the other ‘hidden’ costs for arrows, stakes, tape, chicanes, printing both decals and paperwork, venues for scrutineering and Rally HQ, radio equipment, the creation of spectator areas plus fuel expenses for those who recce the route, the set-up crews and the Course Cars although it’s worth pointing out that many individuals are still out of pocket refusing to claim all their costs.

It's often a thankless under appreciated task and perhaps another reason why so many youngsters avoid being ‘called up’ to help out. Which is another problem facing the sport, the ageing generation of organisers, officials, marshals and helpers. There does appear to be a reluctance amongst youngsters to take on the commitment to organise and provide person-power.

Closed public roads are not the answer, if anything, such are the safety restrictions required by local Councils and the Police that these are becoming almost prohibitively more expensive too. The idea of participating in or attending outdoor events ‘at your own risk’ has long been banished from official documents as certain sections of society appear to live in a personal blame-free existence claiming ‘it’s someone else’s fault’ when things go wrong.

Perhaps the new British government could introduce a Bill to allow ‘Comon Sense’ to become law, rather than have this challenged and undermined by the unscrupulous types who frequent our courts of law. It could be argued that ‘compensation culture’ will kill off rallying quicker than those who manage our public forest estates.

Best enjoy it while we can, for as Private Frazer once said: “We’re all doomed!”


Sunday, 21 July 2024

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 2nd 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 13th 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 28th 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!”

Monday, 15 July 2024

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.





Saturday, 13 July 2024

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?

Tuesday, 9 July 2024

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




Thursday, 4 July 2024

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)