Race- Sport for all

There are those who regard sprinting and hillclimbing as non-spectator sports. Fair enough, their choice. There are also those who don’t think football is a spectator sport, and that is understandable too, but yesterday proved to be a grand motor sporting day out for any petrolhead.

There was much to see and hear at Scottish Sporting Car Club’s sprint at East Ayrshire Car Club’s track at Kames in Muirkirk. In-line fours and flat sixes, mixed with the whoosh of turbos and the high revving wail of motor cycle engined specials. A treat for the mechanically minded as much as the aurally addicted. Even just a walk round the paddock is enough to sate the appetite as much as a ‘full Scottish’ at Cairn Lodge on the way there!

And then there is the on-track action, with its mixture of exotica and the ordinary and with just one car on the track (sometimes two) at any one time, the watching is enhanced by the listening.  There was quite a bit of heeling and toeing going on yesterday even amongst the road cars and even though the track is narrow, there is a variety of ‘racing lines’ through the corners not to mention braking points! There were around a dozen MX5s in action and every one of them seemed to have a different approach to and exit from corners! Great fun.

And given the very tricky, damp conditions yesterday there were a few bumps and thumps with adrenalin pumps working as hard as fuel pumps. Fortunately no serious crashes, and apart from some additional nights in the garage required, only bruises and injured pride to show for them. Motor sport can be dangerous.

As a warm up for next week’s Kames Spring Stages Rally on Sunday 12^th May, it was ideal. The organisers have received a full entry plus reserves for Sunday’s event including a full house of Junior 1000 drivers and their cars. In fact the only thing missing yesterday was Rhona’s tablet tin of sumptiousness, thank goodness for the traybakes in the Kames Caff!

Race - Sprint Weekend

There’s a two day Sprint on at Kames this weekend, Saturday (4th) and Sunday (5th). With classes from road cars to racing cars there are opportunities for all budgets and all abilities from newcomers to seasoned campaigners. If you want entry level motor sport, get yourself a Mazda MX5 and have a go at this.

I’m going to be there on the Sunday - and I’ll have some books with me, oddly enough! So if you haven't got one, or two yet, "stoppa me and a buya one", as they say in furrin parts.

Cash or card, but no cheques, Provi vouchers, Embassy tokens or Green Shield Stamps !!

Look for the red Transit.

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

Rally - First Draft

Schoolboy, or school bus driver?

Big problem. Last night the first draft of the book ‘The Scottish Rally Championship 1990-1999’ was completed. Phew! Job done.

Unfortunately not. The word count in the first book ‘1980-1989’ was around 86,000 words but subsequent requests from readers wanted longer reports and more stories.

Duly obliged, but gone too far. Far too far. The current word count stands at 144,000. Some serious editing will therefore have to ensue.

The trouble is, deciding what to leave out. If the 1980s Scottish rallying seasons planted the seeds of future success, then the 1990s bore fruit with three Scots becoming world champions and multiple national champions in this most exciting and thrilling of sports.

But those were the success stories. The sad fact is that so many more would-be stars never got the chance to compete on the world stage and those who did were unable to find a fulltime professional seat. Scotland was simply bursting with talent during that decade.

So the process of slashing and cutting will have to begin – and I haven‘t even started on the photograph selection process!!

As for the photo? Will that make the next book? Choosing what to leave out is going to be as difficult as reducing the word count.

On the other hand, it has been jokingly mentioned that there is scope for another book when the history series is complete and that final book will contain all the tales and pics that had to be left out. Maybe some serious consideration will need to be given to that idea too.

As for the photo – schoolboy or school bus driver? What do you think?

Chirnside pilgrimage

The weather matched the mood yesterday in Chirnside at noon. It was a grey, dreich and damp day with a large motley crowd sheltering under hoods, bunnets and brollies from the dampness. And yet there were smiles, handshakes and cheerful chatter. The occasion marked the unveiling of a small plaque which commemorated the late Ian Scott-Watson’s huge contribution to the life and career of one Jim Clark Esq, borders farmer and racing driver.

Folk had gathered from all across the country including one chap from Belgium and a healthy representation from even more ‘foreign’ lands, like England. There were even three ‘Hell’s Angels’ in attendance until the helmets were removed and grey hair revealed, more like three ‘Hell’s Rejects’ than angels!

After the pipes had called to cease the chatter and gather around a few words were spoken and the special guest was announced. Long past the first flush of youth, and yet with fierce determination, despite the dampness affecting the bones and joints of all those standing around, it was Ian’s brother George Scott-Watson who stepped gingerly up to the Jim Clark Memorial Clock tower in the village square to unveil the plaque.

After the ceremony the throng headed quickly towards the warmth and shelter of the village hall and community centre where the home baking and hot drinks offered a revival of their own. But gathered there in a very poignant display were many of the personal effects and mementos of Ian’s life in sport, and this was only a fraction of his archive. Mesmerising.

I must admit, I didn’t know Ian very well having only met him a few times and spoken briefly but there was another who was honoured yesterday and that was my prime reason for the visit. Eric Bryce also played an integral part of Jim Clark’s early and later career. Like Jim, Eric was a farmer first and foremost, but at weekends he was a photographer.

Eric passed away last November so yesterday’s memorial service was a joint commemoration of both Ian Scott-Watson and Eric’s lives and contributions. A wee tribute was published at the time on the Blog:

John Fife: Eric Bryce, 1937-2023

In addition to Ian’s memorabilia, there was a display of Eric’s photographs covering motor racing and rallying, equine sports and agricultural shows, and many, many more events in the Scottish Borders. Fortunately, he had made a point of ensuring that his photographic archive would be presented to the Jim Clark Trust, but given his photographic proliferation trying to sort out that lot will be a mammoth task for some poor archivist. At least this most valuable of archives has been saved.

And yes, I forked out the cash to buy a copy of Eric’s book – I couldn’t wait till Christmas!

https://jimclarktrust.com/product/clark-through-the-lens/

If ever there was a need to establish a proper and permanent Scottish motor sports museum, yesterday’s glimpse of just these two archives further confirms that need.

Scotland has a huge and proud world-wide heritage earned on two, three and four wheels which MUST be preserved and presented to the public for future enlightenment and entertainment.

Rally - Once upon a Speyside

Last weekend’s McDonald and Munro Speyside Stages Rally brought back memories. Long before stubble was classed as ‘designer stubble’ and beards became fashionable as opposed to an excuse for lazy b*gg*rs in the mornings, it was Sandy Dalgarno who created a new trend.

He had just won the first ever Speyside Stages Rally way back in 1997 but due to his hirsute and bristly presence on the day declared: “I’ll never shave before a rally again.”

Depending on which excuse you prefer to believe, Sandy either forgot to shave in the morning (likely), slept in and was running late (more likely) or he had put a shift in at work before going rallying and was already knackered (much less likely) or quite simply could not be *rs*d because it was the weekend (highly believable) but for whatever reason the usually swanky and ‘dandy’ Sandy’s chin was about as smooth as a jaggy thistle.

Regardless of that, Sandy and Martin Forrest won the inaugural Speyside Rally in a Ford Escort Cosworth which was sponsored by a local engineering firm – a highly respected engineering outfit by the name of Precision Engine Services. Indeed the proprietor of which was also taking part, one Andy Horne Esq, but his Metro lost the lead of the rally after two stages when its engine failed. His demise was followed by other well known local worthies including Graham Clark, Dave MacDonald and the Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire himself, the right honourable James Ingleby.

Dalgarno didn’t have things his own way though, Jim Carty had taken the Missus out for a ‘drive in the country’ in the family car, a wee Metro – with MG badges and a ‘6R4’ sticker. Anyway, Jim and Frances finished second managing to hold off the fervent attentions of Raymond Munro and Graham Brunton in another one of these Metro 6R4 jobs. Jon Burn and Stan Quirk had been in the mix in another Metro but an un-intended, exploratory diversion up one of the Speyside forest’s notorious firebreaks momentarily diverted their concentration from driving for victory, to fighting for survival! Anyway, their mis-adventure dropped them to fifth behind the Subaru Impreza of Peter Vassallo and Plug Pulleyn.

Duncan Jaffray and Andy McGowan finished sixth in another Escort while in seventh place was a young and impressionable rallying fledgeling by the name of Barry Groundwater with Brian Jamieson in a Mazda 323. John ‘The String Man’ Hamilton and David Noble were eighth in a Sierra Cosworth ahead of the top 2WD cars which were separated by just 10 seconds. And ‘No’, the name ‘The String Man’ is not a misprint or a spelling error for ‘The Strong Man’, Hammy’s business was actually manufacturing string which was an essential emergency tool in the days before gaffer tape and tie-wraps.

Andrew and Gordon Ritchie came off best in this battle in their Ford Escort Mk2 ahead of the Opel Manta of Paul Bova and Carol Christie.

Anyway, this modest five stage event provided Sandy ‘Whiskers’ Dalgarno with his first ever outright rally victory, and therefore one to be savoured, with a new good luck pre-event ritual initiated and a new fashion trend set for the rest of the world to follow. Happy days, eh?

Note: Back then the inaugural Speyside Rally wasn’t part of the Scottish Rally Championship but it was being observed that year for future inclusion. And guess what happened in 1998? It has been part of the national series ever since.

Another Note: I came across this entirely accurate, truthful and honest rally report whilst working on the book ‘The History of the Scottish Rally Championship 1990-1999’ which is well underway – I’m up to 1998 at present. Copies of the first book 1980-1989 are still available:

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

Rally - Dangerous thinking

Had a thoroughly enjoyable, and ultimately surprising, trip to the far south (Lancashire from Lanarkshire) on Thursday last to the home of 2300 Club, the instigators of the original Tour of Mull Rally. Ostensibly intended to flog them some copies of the book, they turned the tables on their unsuspecting visitor. Thank you one and all.

And yes, some books were sold, including a copy to the originator of the event title, ‘The Best Rally in the World’. This provided something of a surprise, nay, a shock to the system. The grinning potential purchaser flourished what looked like a cherished slip of paper dug out from the deepest recesses of a well worn wallet. He had obviously learned his craft of solemn thriftiness from a certain very well known rally driver in the past! Getting him to part with cash has been as easy as extracting a stripped nut from a wheel stud.

Anyway, when carefully unfolded it turned out to be a £20 note and as it was opened out I’m sure the Queen blinked at the light. It must have been an old 20 quid note as it still had the Queen’s picture on it, but not Elizabeth the second, it looked awfy like Victoria!

However, the trip itself brought back memories of the regular journalistic expeditions up and down the M6 to the magazine office in Leyland and the printer at Bamber Bridge, and brought back memories of some of the good times pre-retirement. 

And so it was the late trip home the other night over a mist shrouded Shap and rain slicked roads offered up its usual chance to contemplate wild thoughts and ideas unburdened by external interruptions.

The two books I have already written and now published (the third one is currently half completed) have been so well received that it has set me thinking and prompted yet another idea for another book. If the idea was ever to see the light of day, it would probably have a title something like – ‘The Lost Talents’.

Looking back on the 1970s, there were quite a few opportunities for aspiring and talented rally drivers and co-drivers to get the chance to drive for a manufacturer’s ‘works’ rally team or one of the many manufacturer supported private teams. Unfortunately, as manufacturer interest in the world series dwindled throughout the duration of the 1980s into the 1990s, these opportunities diminished in number and availability. Fast forward to today, and we have three ‘manufacturer’ teams competing in the World Championship and virtually no manufacturer supported private teams.

So what chance does an aspiring and talented youngster have today of ever becoming a professional rally driver or co-driver? Given the current cost and technical complexity of competing at the top level and the number of manufacturers deserting rallying and flocking to Formula 1 and Formula E, those chances are fast disappearing.

We need a simpler and more affordable formula to increase the level of competition to excite more competitors and attract more spectators whilst enticing more manufacturers and enthusing more sponsors. Make the cars more akin to what are driven on public roads, with less complexity and more easily maintained, along with more manageable events and costs and we might yet have a chance.

If there was to be a change, it would be too late for many i.e. ‘the lost talents’. Over recent years, the sport has produced many would-be champions, but only McRae, Ringer, Reid and Aitken-Walker have made it. Many more got a taste of ‘works drives’ but progressed no further due to a lack of opportunities and budgets and perhaps a book on such ‘lost talents’ as Andrew Wood, Dom Buckley Jnr, Robbie Head, Callum Guy, John MacCrone, Jock and Barbara Armstrong and Lorna Smith, as well as Stuart Loudon and Cameron Fair, to name but a few, might just be of interest. And those are just the Scots, think of the many English, Welsh and Northern Irish talents which shone so brightly but all too briefly.

It could be quite a book, couldn’t it?

Rally - In the Bears’ Den

There was a good crowd at the monthly Coltness CC meeting last night and the book was well received so a big personal sigh of relief. And if ‘the Bears’ head for home with a smile on their faces as opposed to a growl in their throats then it bodes well for the future.

The encouraging thing about such a gathering with the bears is you get the truth, either it’s good sh*t* or it’s bad sh*t*, and thankfully the general consensus was that the book is good sh*t*. So there you have it, a positive recommendation. Or is it?

Seriously, I was really pleased with the feedback. As almost everyone said, it brings back memories and that’s the whole point. As rally folk age so memories dim and we all need a wee trigger now and again.

Anyway, that’s this latest book on the wee marketing website that I have and it sits alongside the first of the planned books on the ‘Scottish Rally Championship’ which has already been published so make sure you click on the right title !!

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

And finally … One chap came up to me last night with a copy of the book opened at one page and earnestly asked: “Did I really do that? I don’t remember it.” Well, of course he must, it’s in the book, so it must be right. Mustn’t it?