The old hands won’t need any introduction but to those who don’t recognise the name, Vince was a front runner way back in the 1970s – in a Hillman Imp! This was an era when the Imps and Minis could still give the ‘new kid on the block’, the Ford Escort, a run for its money. In just his second season of stage rallying Vince finished third overall in the 1972 Shell Scottish Rally Challengers Championship and followed that up with a fifth place finish in the 1973 Challenger’s Championship.
Having scored a few top ten finishes in the 1973 season, Vince was promoted to the overall national Championship division, but by this time the Ford Escort was starting to dominate the world’s stages. Like so many others in this sport, budget and available time constrained his outings although he continued to set the pace in the one litre class whenever he appeared. Those appearances were also limited by geography.
Living and working in Kyle (polar bear territory!) meant he tended to concentrate on the more northern events as a trip further south necessitated using the ‘old drove road’ more commonly known as the A9. If you think that is slow these days the old road was much slower as it twisted and turned its way through the glens and through the towns and villages which are now by-passed! Back then, shovels and wellies, along with provisions, were always carried in the boot in case of being snowed-in, even in Summer!
Vince finally ‘retired’ in 1980 after a couple of seasons with a Talbot Sunbeam and although the fire still burned within, other priorities took over.
Back to the phone call. Apparently his wife had bought one of the books and like so many of you he wondered if there was, or would be, a book covering the earlier years, so he phoned, and probably wished he hadn’t because he got the full story. With three books out and the fourth now at the printers, the plan always was to go back to the early days and record those. As I explained, the trouble was no club or individual really kept records back then and so I was having difficulty in completing my research.
It turns out that Vince has a cupboard in a nearby cottage, which is rented out. The cupboard door is also behind years of stored stuff so it hasn’t been opened in a very long time. Guess what? He’s going to make a very small voyage of discovery on my behalf. Who knows what treasures lie within?
However, what I failed to ask him was the truth behind a story which has travelled through the mists of time and is still remembered in certain dark places to this day. Apparently, after some pre-rally prep work, Vince took the Imp out for a wee test to a nearby forest which he had used before. Having closed the gate behind him he drove up the length of the dead end road to make sure all was clear before turning the wee beast round and going hell for leather back down to the gate.
Unbeknownst to him an elderly couple had driven their car into the stage, parked it up, set up their picnic table and two chairs and then stepped back when they heard an awfy din heading their way. Hurtling round the corner came a somewhat blue-ish, yellow-ish coloured dervish heading right towards them. According to folklore, Vince had three choices, hit the car, hit the folk or take out the table. With a fearful clatter the table, cutlery and crockery went skywards and Vince headed for the gate! Whether there is any truth in that story or not, you’ll need to wait till the final book to find out!
So let that be a lesson to you all. I’m still looking for results and stuff from the early days, especially the 1960s, so dinnae throw anything out just yet. Over the next couple of months I’ll make a list of what I think is missing from what I have gathered so far and then we’ll all know what gaps have still to be plugged.
By the way the 1976 photo has been ‘borrowed’ from Bob Bruce. Thanks Bob.
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