Deeside Way - 1 August
2009
Report - Jim Paterson.
Photographs & Video - David Ross, Alan Hobbs, Jim Paterson
For
the second outing of this event, Alan Gibb, normally seen in
his Swallow Doretti, and David Ross in his Mini Cooper S left
their cars in the garage and organised a superb event starting
from the
Four Mile House at Kingswells.
The 35 starters were treated to a 150 mile
tour around Royal Deeside, passing that most famous of Scottish
castles, Balmoral. The road book did ask crews to "doff their
caps" as they passed, but I'm not sure her if her majesty was
actually in residence at the time. But I am getting ahead of
myself. A PCT at Alford let
those who wanted an extra bit of fun to let their hair down (if
they had any!)
Graham Dalzell brought his rebuilt 1938 Morgan
4/4, when Morgan radiators were round topped, and with Alan
Richardson reading the maps. Before leading the tour away,
Graham told me that he had picked the car up only the day
before, after an 18 month rebuild. Managing only 20 miles from
the workshop before arriving at the Kingswells start meant the
tour would be the running in activity as well as a bit of fun.
He
secured the award for "Press on Regardless" having limited the
top speed to 40mph on the event.
The cars were waved off from Four Miles House Kingswells
by owner George Lion in a
steady Aberdonian drizzle, which very soon
stopped as we headed
west, allowing the soft toppers to fold them down and breath in
the pure Scottish highland air, or petrol fumes if you got to
close to the classic in front!.
Most of the soft top cars kept their tops up
for the start, but sponsor Dave Barnett from Classic AutoSports
came along with a truly magnificent 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, which does not
have any top at all! Dave and Co-driver Hazel Scott were
suitably attired in Stockmans full length coats and full face
crash helmets as the Jag was sporting Aero Screens. Now that is
what I call real motoring. Later Dave would entertain the crowd
at Alford as he threw the big Jag enthusiastically round the
test cones. Unfortunately it was not in the correct direction,
but never the less seeing these machines at full throttle, with
tyres smoking is a sight to behold.
Graeme and Beth Cargill, normally seen
together in the confines of a Frogeye Sprite arrived in a Honda NSX. For some reason the Frogeye refused to start the day before
the event. Probably had sight of the inclement weather and
decided to have non of it!
Lee and Lorna Robinson turned up in a 1959 Triumph
TR3A. Nothing unusual about that but this is his other TR3A,
rebuilt recently by his own fair hand. So that we could tell the
difference he has turned this one out in green, as against the
more popular red. I suspect the rack and pinion steering on this
car was much easier on the arms than the worm and peg of the red
car. Lorna also won the navigators prize "Spikkin Doric" by
Norman Harper, a great friend of David Ross.
Malcolm and Nicola Grant, members of the Aberdeen Racing
team, turned out in their resplendent 1967 MG Midget, concours
winner at this years Argyll Classic, and class 1 winners (small
cars) at the Alford PCT. I would have liked to have challenged
them in my son's 1970 Sprite, but managed to knock off the
exhaust on the way into the Alford site, and ended up underneath
the car effecting a repair. I must thank Graeme and Sandra
Henderson, driving his works replica Healey 3000, for the loan
of a mallet. Having packed most every tool I could think of I
forgot the most important, a hammer!
John and Steven Roberts 1969 Gilbern GT was fully refreshed
after its trip round Stobs Camp in the Stobs Classic on 14 June.
It must have been a dream to challenge the tests at Alford on a
firm surface, compared to the lumps and bumps of Stobs. So much
so they walked away with the Class 2 PCT award for medium cars.
Phil and Helen Hogben secured the PCT large car Class win in
their 1966 Triumph TR4, a mere 2 penalties less than joint
second place Raymond Rollo in his 1973 Ford Capri 3000GT, and
Duncan Massie and Ron Adams 1973 Triumph TR6. Duncan would later
end up with a modified shunted rear end, but as it is to have a
rear end rebuild anyway, it was not so hard to swallow. Duncan
is a real stalwart as several of the recent CCHMSC events has
seen his car suffer various mechanical problems. Long may we see
him in this very quick car.
First overall for the PCT was the Hillman Imp of Calum and
Ricky Gauld, which I followed on the tour for a time, noting
that they were keeping the revs up. Helps the water circulation
and reduces any tendency to overheat. Lucky it wasn't a hot
summers day...
The judges choice was chosen by the Four Miles House owner,
George Lion, based on the car he
would most like to drive home in. That turned out to be the 1966
Low Drag Jaguar E Type of Richard and Diane Campbell
For myself
and navigator Alan Hobbs, we picked up the Completely Exhausted
award, for our antics at Alford. After that stupendous meal at
the finish and the 140 mile drive home, we were completely
exhausted, but in the best possible way after a great day with
colleagues and friends. Classic Motorsport at its best.
If I missed your car out of the story it is only because with
so many entries I would have run out of webspace. A big thank you to all who turned out, and hope
to see you soon on another CCHMSC event
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For
the second outing of this event, Alan Gibb, normally seen in
his Swallow Doretti, and David Ross in his Mini Cooper S left
their cars in the garage and organised a superb event starting
from the