Rally - RAC Rally of the Tests

This weekend …. Starting from Darlington today, the 22nd running of the HERO organised ‘RAC Rally of the Tests’ heads to Scotland. After a tour of County Durham and the Pennines the crews head north through Duns to overnight at Dalmahoy this evening. Tomorrow (Saturday 9th), the route takes them via Tests at Larkhall Kart Circuit (1st car 09.40 Hrs) and Kames Motorsport Circuit (1st car 11.30 Hrs) to a lunch halt at Drumlanrig Castle. Then it’s back to Cumbria via Lockerbie and Langholm, for the final Sunday loop.

But don’t go thinking this is a gentle tour of the countryside, the route incorporates 30 Tests and 22 Regularities. Of course the drivers have the easy bit, they just steer the thing and do as they are told whereas it’s the navigator who is really in charge of the navigation and timetable and no doubt have to put up with any ‘hissy-fits’ from the other side of the car when he/she messes up a timed test!

Of course the main attraction of this type of event is the competition machinery. The rally is for pre-1968 cars (although some others are allowed) and includes a wide variety of machines in the 80 car entry, from MGBs and Triumphs to Chevrolets and Buicks plus Volvos, Lotus Cortinas, Minis, Alfas, Lancias, Porsches and all sorts.

Of particular interest to us ‘locals’ is the number 22 Volvo Amazon 132S of George and Rosalind Topp. A once upon a time navigator for a certain James S McRae, George is now a committed historic rally driver and it’s Rosalind who keeps him on the road – most of the time. Prior to this second ‘career’ George was a real journalist and edited the weekly ‘Hamilton Advertiser’ newspaper in Lanarkshire and was a great friend to Coltness and Lanarkshire Car Clubs and Scottish motor sport in general following the careers and promoting the exploits of Lanarkshire rally and race drivers. Sadly the newspaper is mere shadow of its former self and wouldn’t know the difference between a rally car and a political rally with shouty people making a nuisance of themselves.

Also on the entry list is another refugee from Scottish stage rallying, Callum Guy is entered at number 14 in his Sunbeam Tiger with Amy Henchoz in the ‘hot’ seat. A former ‘works’ Volkswagen driver Callum has over recent years competed in a huge number of historic events right across Europeland with a variety of cars including a Vauxhall Chevette and now the Sunbeam, but he seems to keep changing cars more often than his socks.

By the way, if you do visit Kames tomorrow, I will be there and have books with me!! Look for the red Transit.

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