The Indian summer held on for the 42 starters of the Classic Autosports sponsored Ecosse Classic Rally. After two days of touring and tests Archie and Richard Simmonds from Duns emerged as overall winners of the historic classes in their MG Midget whilst Grainger and David Robertson secured the Auto Ecosse Cup for the moderns, showing just what a Nissan Sunny is capable of in the right hands.

Angus MP Mike Weir flagged us off from Edzell, the third year we have used this venue, on Saturday 3rd November. Anne Howitt and Nola Meikle led the way in the oldest car of the event, Annes' 1953 MGTD. The crews headed north to Durris for the first hill climb venue before pushing on to Alford, home of the Grampian Motor Transport Museum, for two more tests round this popular venue. The event ventured into new territory when it then visited Huntly for four tests split between the old and new Marts. A final set of tests at the old Boyndie Aerodrome was completed under headlight power as the sun dropped over the horizon and the temperatures dropped toward 3 degrees, and not the singing kind either...

The overnight stop at Macduff, overlooking the harbour, saw Archie and Richard Simmonds taking the lead by a mere 5 seconds over the Northern Ireland team Paul McCulla and Michael Beattie in their big TVR 3000. Jim Hendry's TR2 threw co-driver Graham Couser around in a display of car-o-batics on the tests to secure third place. Grainger and David Robertson's Nissan Sunny led the moderns competing for the Auto Ecosse Cup, with two Peugeot 205's in the shape of Michael and David Law, and Robert and Bert Peattie chasing them for the top position. Six Hillman Imps were competing both individually and as two teams. Scott and Amy Clements were leading the pack, 8 seconds ahead of Callum and Ricky Gauld, whilst Team Linwood held top team place.

A bright sunny, but still coldish morning met the crews as they lined up on the harbour front for the re-start. The trip down the north east coast to Fraserburgh provided the crews with some fine views over this outstanding part of Scottish countryside, often missed by the casual traveller. The test at Fraserburgh was followed by a trip to Crimmond, for a further three tests. Following in the footsteps of people like Jim Clark who raced at Crimmond in his early years added to the nostalgia of this site. Some were so taken they had a non scoring re-run at one of the tests just for the fun of it, which is what Classic rallying is all about.

Pushing on toward Aberdeen and 2 tests at Viewfield before the cross country trek back to Alford for a further test before the final cruise back to Edzell for high tea and presentation of prizes.

A big thanks to Classic Autosports for their kind sponsorship, with David Barnett competing in a not so classic Volvo 240 estate, which normally serves as his wifes' transport. David still managed to make the tyres squeal, as with the C-Type he brought to the Trans Scottish earlier in the year.

Final Results:-

Full Results