Non-one expected the numbers which turned up that evening, some reckoned over a hundred. It was never intended to be a formal ‘book launch’ but that’s how it turned out, with folk from the far north and the deep south along with visitors from the east and the west. What that attendance showed, and subsequent sales have proved, is that there is a demand (need?) for the Scottish Rally Championship to be recorded for posterity. The internet is no guarantor of history whereas books have a better chance of long term survival. For instance, the National Library of Scotland has Scottish books dating back to the 1500s.
Anyway, fast forward a year and almost to the day Coltness Car Club will be hosting another ‘open night’ next Monday 4th November at which the first batch of ‘The Scottish Rally Championship 1990-1999’ books will be available for sale before being listed on the web-site later in the week.
The Bears have really excelled themselves this time with special thanks to Ally Shaw. On the same evening, Malcolm Wilson OBE will make a special presentation to club member Jim McRae to mark 50 years of rallying success following his class win with Gail Whyte (CCC member and M-Sport transmission technician!) on the recent Voyonic Grampian Rally in Aberdeenshire – exactly 50 years after Jim’s debut on the Arbroath Stages in 1974. Stewart ‘the Larkie Lip’ Weir, will also be on hand to have a public chat with Malcolm and Jim.
Meanwhile I’ll be at the back of the room behind a table and a pile of books. However, I have an admission to make, this book at £45 will be ten quid dearer than the last one, but blame the customers! The only complaint I had about the previous book was that it needed longer reports, more stories and more foties, and I have responded with more pages – over 350. So that has set the tone for the next book – the 2000s.
As last time, the venue will be the Dalserf Bowling Club in the village of Ashgill to the west of Larkhall just off Junction 8 on the M74 at Canderside Toll. Doors open at 7.15pm, and best be advised, the bar prefers cash, rather than card – we’re in Lanarkshire after all!
I’ll publish more details and directions later this week.
