This weekend marks Knockhill’s 50th anniversary as a motor racing circuit and the gang have made ambitious plans to celebrate the occasion in style over Saturday and Sunday the 17th and 18th of May. On display will be many championship and race winning cars from the past while in the Paddock (and on track) will be many past stars and champions from the early days of motor racing at Knockhill. Full details and timetable on the Knockhill website.
https://www.knockhill.com/events/#fullSchedule
There will be other attractions on and around the circuit and a number of display and stands amongst which will be a certain rally ‘booktique’! Rally books might be an odd choice for a motor racing anniversary but Knockhill has hosted many other sporting events over the years including rallies and hosting special stages of bigger rallies. But that will come later in the year.
There is another connection. I used to report on autotests,
sprints, hillclimbs and motor races as well as rallies and as such was a frequent
visitor at Knockhill in the early days. I don’t have many photos from back then
because race reporters had to record their own lap charts which meant sitting
high on the banking overlooking the Start/Finish line and seeing who got the
best start and then who led each lap – and who didn’t. As the on-track timing system
became more sophisticated through Derek Butcher’s ongoing enthusiasm there was
less reliance on self-made lap charts and a few photographs could be taken
around the circuit.
I have chosen the selection here not so much for their racing action as for highlighting the background which shows in graphic detail the huge changes and improvements that have been made to the circuit since Derek first set foot. See how many parts you recognise. These photos were from the 1984 season, that’s 41 years ago when Derek’s beard matched his hair!
Anyway, I will be there on Sunday and if you haven’t yet got a copy of the ‘Scottish Rally Championship 1990-1999’, I’ll have plenty with me. I’ll also have some of the 1980s book and the ‘Mull Murmurs’ books. Cash or card acceptable, but no Euros or Dollars!
https://fife-motor-sports-agency.square.site/
