Amongst the customers were two guys who had a flick through the books and didn’t realise quite how comprehensive the rally reports were. For instance, although it is only the Reivers which is a round of the Scottish Championship, the books include reports on the international part of the event and other subsidiary rallies within the whole Jim Clark Rally weekend.
The way I look at it is, if the rally is in the Scottish Championship as well as other national and regional championships then the whole ‘event’ is reported, and that goes for the Border, RSAC, Granite, Park Systems and Jim Clark Memorial rallies. That interested the two chaps as they were of ‘furrin’ persuasion, in fact one was from the north east – England that is not Peterheid! So they were particularly interested in past JC rally reports.
Perhaps an item of more noteworthy news. On Friday last week I took the draft text of the next book (the 2000s) to the proof readers. Over lunch we discussed the front cover. The previous books each featured one photograph on the front cover and these were chosen on merit, but a problem arose with the cover for the next book because during the 2000 to 2009 decade two drivers each won the Scottish Championship title twice. So which one would go on the front cover? Or would there be two photographs? Well, the decision was made over steak pie and mash and a pint of draught Farm Yard alcohol free (surprisingly good) beer. The decision is not irreversible but I’ll discuss it with a few other interested parties first.
Now just the small problem of sorting through a few thousand photos, but as mentioned before I’ll keep the more embarrassing photos for a final book once I’ve got the serious stuff finished and out of the way.
Anyway, back to yesterday. Although it was primarily a racing crowd at Knockhill quite a few familiar faces and not so familiar faces – cos they were a lot older looking than they were when I first met them – stopped by for a natter! Amongst them was Cameron Binnie (Michael’s faither) who was a Scottish Formula Ford Champion back in the 1980s and a whole host of other Scottish racing champions over the past 50 years. Many of whom, sad to say, I hardly recognised. I used to report on motor races for ‘Motoring News’ back then, before concentrating on rallying, so many of the names were familiar but not the grizzled bewhiskered features!
Naturally double British Touring Car Champion John Cleland was also there, but it’s hard to forget the face of a chap who has tried to kill me thrice – but that’s another story, or three.
Also picked up a couple of snippets. Nick Runcie stopped by, at least an older and more mature (?) version of the chap who used to terrorise the trees. Apparently he has a ‘project’ in the garage which might just see the light of day later this year. At this news I can almost visualise the track side trees in the Scottish forests taking a hefty step backwards, but they needn’t bother, Nick fancies some tarmac rallying, so the timber is safe. Also with a bit of a project underway (when he’s got time) is the ‘Hebridean Hurricane’ who has acquired a Mk2 and bits, and wouldn’t it be nice to see Calum MacKenzie back in the woods?
See you in Duns?
