Man on a Mission

Instead of sitting in a seat clutching a set of Pace Notes or wandering around a Service Area as CLO answering inane queries and sorting out serious questions from competitors and bystanders, former national and international rally co-driver, Campbell Roy is going for a ramble in the countryside. A rather long ramble - the ‘Trek500’.

Unlike the Proclaimers who sang about walking 500 miles, but somehow didn’t get around to actually doing it, Campbell has set himself the task of walking not just a mere 500 miles, but to be more precise, 540 miles. And it’s not just any old meander this is a walk on the wildside. He’ll be following the ‘Scottish National Trail’ across moors, through glens, over rivers and round mountains.

Having been personally involved in many different charities and assisted on various charitable events over many years, Campbell is doing this one on his own initiative although he is inviting anyone to come along with him or join him on any ‘Stage’ of the hike or any part of it.

Starting from Kirk Yetholm in the south east corner of Scotland on the 11th July, the 540 mile route will take him north skirting Edinburgh to the south west and then heading westwards, skirting Glasgow to the north east before heading north through Aberfoyle and Callander into Perthshire. From there it’s on to Kingussie and Fort Augustus then onwards and upwards to Kinlochewe and over Assynt towards the final Finish Control at Cape Wrath on the north west tip of the Scottish mainland on the 26th September – hopefully!

And the big question- why? It’s all in aid of raising funds for ‘Prostate Cancer Research’. Full details of the route and timings, for this mammoth challenge and how to support it and donate to it, are on the website, see below.

And while TV, radio and the news media are full of stories of soap stars and celebrities, sporting stars and retired sportsmen and women undergoing arduous charitable fund raising tasks, there has been no acknowledgement of this challenge from any of the main media outlets. On that basis it is up to ordinary folk to do their bit to support, donate and sponsor this worthy cause.

Prostate cancer affects thousands of lives. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed in their life and that figure represents 1 death every 40 minutes. Just think about that for a minute or two.

Now I should add - and not to put it too politely - that Campbell has long since passed his ‘first flush of youth’. Indeed he may never see the number 5 or even 6 as the first figure of his age ever again! So unlike all these so-called fund-raising celebrities who enlist the help of ‘trainers’ and nutritonists, and who-knows, spirit-gurus or whatever, Campbell is just quietly preparing and getting on with it, so let’s all do our bit to help, support and sponsor his efforts.

Full details and route outline and timetable on the website:

https://www.prostate-cancer-research.org.uk/trek-500/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589500706454

#trek500

No show at the show

Unfortunately, the Book-tique will not be appearing at Drumlanrig today (Sun 31st) as the proprietor of said specialised mobile motor rallying books emporium is ever so slightly indisposed this fine fresh morning. To those who sought shelter under the canopy from the elements yesterday an apology is therefore offered that they will be unable to do so again today!

Normal service will therefore be resumed at the Book-tique’s next appearance at the ‘Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally’ on 19th June and the ‘Moffat Classic Car Show’ on June 28th. Otherwise, if ye cannae wait, all books are available here:

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

 

The Visit !

 A rather special visitor dropped by the book-tique this morning for a wee chat about the good old days.

Lombard Rally Festival at Drumlanrig

 Steady stream of rally cars arriving on trailers and inside wheeled boxes, lots of weel kent faces amongst them and the chuck wagons are busy already. Let's see what the day brings.

Rally Galloway

After the furious fighting frenzy of last weekend’s Jim Clark and Reivers Rallies at Duns, this weekend sees a more ‘gentle’ approach to the sport of rallying with Drumlanrig Castle hosting their first ever Lombard Rally Festival. That’s not to say that Drumlanrig knows nothing about rallying, because the estate has actually hosted some competitive single-venue rallies in the past.

However this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday 30th and 31st May, the organisers of the annual and hugely successful ‘Lombard Bath Rally Festival’, and other such festivals around the country, are coming to Dumfries & Galloway with their rally road show.

Mixing rally stars from past and present with rally cars from past and present, this exciting spectacle will feature a variety of front wheel, rear wheel and four wheel drive cars driven by current and past drivers on the specially designed ‘Rally Stage’ within the castle grounds.

The organisers of these festivals always have a few surprises up their sleeves and who knows what will be on the menu this weekend. From a three cylinder, one litre Volkswagen CitiGo to an eight cylinder, 6 litre Vauxhall Firenza – just don’t stand near the exhaust when the big beast gets fired up!

The big attraction of an event such as this is that spectators can get up close to the drivers and cars and find out what the sport is all about. Amongst the entry list are some Ecosse Junior 1000 rally cars. These cars are used in the 14 to 17 year old young driver category and provides the ideal first step into the sport even if the youngster isn’t yet old enough to hold a driving licence. Once the road licence age has been reached, the next step up might involve one of the various one-make challenges, like the more budget friendly MG3 Challenge, where modifications are limited and the competition is closer. And there should be a couple of these cars at Drumlanrig this weekend.

However, it is the ‘big bangers’ which will attract most attention from Ford Escorts and Subaru Imprezas, to an MG Metro 6R4 and Ford RS200, and keep a special eye out for one car in particular – it has two engines, one at the back and one at the front!

And although this isn’t a proper rally as such, just don’t try and tell any of the drivers that, once the green light signals ‘Go’ you can bet your little racing booties that it will be foot to the floor all the way. Just stand well back. And on that note, although spectators are welcome please listen to and adhere to the Marshals’ instructions.

And if you do want any more information on Scottish rallying you could always stop by the ‘Book-tique’ and buy a copy of the ‘Scottish Rally Championship’ books which will provide some entertaining and educational insight into the sport in Scotland, with info and photos on a young Colin McRae’s career amongst others.

For more information on the event, see Facebook page:

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580768099138

 

Rally - When men were boys

A few pics from the 1985 Jim Clark Rally. a lifetime ago, or to be more precise, 41 years since the roads were gravel ! And there's more such piccies in the books !!

Rally - Calm before the Storm

Although the Book-tique will be at the Jim Clark Reivers Rally this coming Sunday 24th, it won’t be there on Saturday 23rd and will only be there on Friday 22nd if some folk wish to avail themselves of some entertaining and informative reading! So if you are looking for books before heading home after the Friday/Saturday event best let me know beforehand - I can be contacted via DM on FB if interested.

This non-appearance on the Saturday is due to the refusal to issue a domestic Pass for Saturday as there is a holiday weekend shortage of the official Carers normally required to accompany a certain personage on extra curricular duties!

However, the reason this offer is being made for a Friday visit is that a couple of our visitors from the far south, even beyond Carlisle and Coldstream, have expressed interest in acquiring some copies of the ‘Scottish Rally Championship’ books as they believe these tomes of deeds past and gory forest descriptions have an educational value and will be helpful in knowing what awaits rally folks in the North East of Scotland in August later this year and for the WRC visitors next year.

Given the interest being expressed by our furrin cousins it is indeed fortuitous that these books feature a ‘Glossary’ at the back to help protect their Anglian innocence from the celtic candour of the Scottish vernacular. Apparently there are still some fresh and virtuous souls out there who don’t understand what glaur and stoor are, let alone cowped and gubbed, so this helpful addition to the books will prove a godsend no doubt.

The book-tique will therefore be open for business all day Sunday in the Reivers Rally Service Area, and if required, on Friday in the same place – look for the red-chequered flag!

And if you fail to make a personal visitation you can always buy the books on line:

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

Also available on Ebay – search for ‘Scottish Rally Championship’ Books

#rallyscotland

#motorsportbooks