Rally - Wedding sirens

For one bride and groom, it was a matter of “Don’t Panic!” when they heard that they would have to share their wedding venue with one of the biggest sporting events in Scotland, the Jim Clark Rally.

Georgie Moor and Eddie Bell are getting married at Kelso Racecourse tomorrow Saturday the 1^st of June, and it was only after they had booked the venue they found out the rally was coming to town that same weekend.

When Georgie heard she was sharing the Kelso Racecourse facility with the rally she did what any bride would do – she asked if she could have a run in a rally car, to fulfil a lifelong ambition!

On the day before her wedding she was duly zipped up into a racesuit, crash-hatted and belted into a rally car for the day of her life before the biggest day of her life.

Her reaction: “Wowww! That was fab. But I was too short to reach the normal co-driver’s footrest so I couldn’t brace myself, although I was well strapped in. But that was fab!”

Husband to be and long time rally fan Eddie Bell also got a run with rally driver Brian Kinghorn after Georgie: “I’ve watched the Jim Clark Rally for years but never been in a rally car,” said Eddie, “the g-forces under braking and during cornering are unbelievable.”

 

Originally from Wooler, Georgie works as a beautician in Kelso while Eddie is a gamekeeper with Lothian Estates at Jedburgh.

Rally - Almost underway

This is the Jim Clark Rally service park in Kelso earlier today. This time tomorrow it will be stoatin' with activity. The shakedown stage will be in use from 9.30 am till 1.30 pm on Friday with a further half hour 'guest session' to follow and all over by 2 pm.

Earlier this evening the Rally Forum was staged in Kelso and all 12 guests turned up and on time. All we needed was a bigger audience. Those who were there seemed to enjoy it and two folk who had never been to such an event before and didn't know what to expect came up and shook me by the hand after it. So was it worth the effort, who knows?

The quiz went down well and nearly everyone won a prize, and everyone went home happy.

Rally - Forum Guest List

Genesis once played here!

Crikey, what a line-up. That's 12 guests invited, accepted and confirmed for Thursday evening's Jim Clark Rally Forum - a night of banter, craic, gossip and idle chatter, and all with a rallying theme.

Not since the 'The Avengers Assemble' has such an all-star cast been assembled. The full guest list is: Jukka Korhonen, Tom Cave, Jonny Greer, Matthew Corby, Adam Spence, Garry Pearson, John MacCrone, Jonny Milner, Tony Harris, Aaron McClure, Euan Thorburn and Paul Beaton. And if any of them don't turn up, we'll just insult them in their absence!

All we need now is an MC who is up to the task and an audience who is up for a 'guid nicht oot'. So give the TV remote and the gamepad a rest for one night only, this will be live entertainment with the emphasis on 'live'!

Did you know that Genesis once played the Tait Hall? Admittedly it was a wee while ago, but the Hall ain't seen nothing like it since then - till now.

Doors open 7.00 pm for 7.30 and entry is FREE.

Tait Hall, Edenside Road, Kelso. TD5 7BS.

Rally - Tarmac terror

Hard to think that such an innocuous name and such a pretty village has the capacity to strike fear into rallyists, but this one does, and it will do so again this weekend.

Although the village can actually trace its roots back to the 11th century, the present picturesque hamlet is only 300 years old! And here we are in the 21st century and it is still the site of aerial jousts accompanied by the crashing of metal - and not a knight to be seen anywhere.

So if you are thinking of spectating there this year, park sensibly and reasonably far away (beyond shrapnel distance!), and please stand well back. Some rally drivers confuse the Swintonmill crossroads for the approach to Edinburgh airport

Rally - Beware the Bull

An interested bystander during yesterday's Jim Clark Rally recce was this chap, glowering at the cars as they slowly passed by his domain. He fairly scowled at the shiny cars with co-drivers feverishly writing down the calls made by their drivers.

But he did make a point. If any would-be spectator fancies a short-cut across the fields to a favoured viewing point, then he or she should look before they leap. So don't wear any red scarves or anoraks, and certainly no fluorescents or high heels, in case you upset the locals!

So be extra careful this weekend. Act sensibly and with consideration to others, and have regard for the locals, it's not only rally cars that go bump in the lanes!

Rally - Calm before Storm

The editorial Transit at rest just after the 'wheel wash' at a certain location somewhere near Duns in the Scottish Borders.

The recce for Jim Clark Rally competitors starts today, but come rally weekend, this particular location will look far different. For one thing, it will be lined with the serried ranks of cheering and yee-haaaing spectators all waiting to see how this pretty looking, but sneakily malevolent, stretch of water will be treated by those going about the seriously competitive business of rallying.

Underneath that clear and shimmering surface lurks a slimily slippery slab of concrete just waiting and ready to grab the unwary.

Road - Healey Gathering

Today, Healey owners and their cars from all over Europe are descending on Crieff, in Perthshire. The attraction is the fourth European gathering of the Healey Owners Club, following the first in Luxembourg in 1999, then Switzerland in 2004 and Sweden in 2008.

Owners and guests will be arriving at the Crieff Hydro Hotel from this afternoon ready for a whole week of events. Tomorrow there will be a Concours on the hotel lawn, on Tuesday a drive through the Trossachs and Loch Lomond, a Track Day and autotest at Knockhill on Wednesday, another drive into the Highlands on Thursday ending with a visit to Glenturret Distillery on Friday. On Saturday, it's pack up time and go home.

Apparently Scotland was chosen as this year's venue "for its spectacular scenery" - and rain is forecast tomorrow! A typical warm Scottish welcome, eh?