Crews arrived from across Scotland, some having braved thunderstorms and thick fog to arrive at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre for the start of our Grampian Gallop tour on
20 July. Good fortune favoured us as the good old 'Scottish drizzle' stopped long enough  to allow our crews to prepare their cars for the start. We were delighted to welcome members from Saltire Rally Club, named in the Regs, as well as Mull Rally Club. The first time we have opened the entries to members of any MSUK club, a feature that will continue.          

The threatened forecast thunderstorms never appeared on the 170 mile route and the skies cleared allowing the softops to be folded down (with the odd exceptional downpour on a couple of occasions leading to a run for cover!). Great banter over our high tea finalé back at the theatre celebrating another successful day visiting parts of the scottish highlands under clear skies with fine views.  

George Shand - drivers briefing

crews listen over breakfast before start

Clerk of Course and route organiser George Shand provided the Drivers Briefing offering crews the latest information on roadworks and other important updates to be aware of.

Departure
Flagging off the crews this year was George Shand.

One of our regular crews, Brian McGarrie and Emma Paterson led the way from the start in their Audi TT. Graham and Yvonne Cox in their much admired 1968 Morris Minor Traveller followed. One day soon we will see Kevin and Ann Bax arrive in their Jensen Healey again. This fine vehicle is great to see but like all 'classic' cars is a bit fragile and needs more work to make ready for a tour. Until that day Anne's 2004 Smart Roadster Coupé was pressed into service. The targa top would be opened later as the sun appeared across our route.

The first of our Mazda MX5 crews, Reuben and Hope Phillips in their recently acquired, tweaked 2005 MX5 which can be a challenge for 6 foot plus Reuben to fit in, especially with the soft top up.  Colin and Joanne Jamieson tucked up behind Phillips in their folding tin top 2007 MX5 variant.  

McGarrie / Paterson 2007 Audi TT	Cox 1968 Traveller
Bax 2004Smart Raodster	Phillips 2005 Mazda MX5
Jamieson 2007 MX5	Johnston / Baillie 2007 Mercedes SLK

Our latest members Wilma Johnston and Moira Baillie looked good in a bright red 2007 Mercedes SLK, prepared for any weather ahead.  Sandy Nicolson teamed up with Catriona Paterson in a pristine white 2010 F-Type Jaguar. wonder how long that will stay clean over the highland roads!   

McLay / Mackie 2005 Jaguar

Nicolson / Paterson 2010 F-Type

Bill McLay and Allan Mackie had hoped to arrive in their Jaguar XK150. Had the forecast been fine weather it would. However the driver windscreen wiper decided to sweep about 30 degrees before stopping so that put paid to that idea, with a forecast of heavy rain.  Bill brought his trusty Jaguar saloon for our run. As the forecast rain never appeared Bill felt robbed of his run in the XK150. Maybe next time.

Bringing up some of the old timer classics (the cars not the crews!) was the 1970 MG Midget of Tony and Ruairidh Fleming with soft top firmly up just in case. Committee member Jim with Norma Watson was giving his 1968 Riley Elf an airing. This little car is a regular on club events and a joy to see, there not being many left these days.  

Fleming 1970 MG Midget	Watson  1968 Riley Elf
Tom & Sue Hynd 2025 MX5	Graeme & Lesley Mays 2014 F-Type

Tom and Sue Hynd joined the Mazda MX5 crews, in the latest iteration of this long bloodline marque, the 2025 MkIV. Like the proverbial bus, you wait forever to see an F-Type then two come along together. Our second 2014 F-Type was crewed by Graeme and Lesley Mays. Feeling confident enough to drop the soft top and take in the fresh air!

Back to red cars, always popular for sporting machines. This one the 2016 Audi TT of Charlie Young with club committee member John Stuart reading the route map. The red MGF following the Audi was our stalwart crew Tom and Marianne Dromgoole in the well prepared 2001 MGF,     

Young / Stuart 2016 Audi TT	Dromgoole 2001 MGF
Hendry / West 1968 Triumph TR4	Paton 2000 Mercedes SLK

Another classic approached the start line, this time a 1963 Triumph TR4, with Jim Hendry at the wheel. Jim is a Triumph fan having competed in many events over the years in his TR3. Today Euan West was guiding him round the route. following the pair was Chris and Mary Paton in their 2000 Mercedes SLK, ready to drop the tin top as soon as the sun peeked through.

Main 1995 Mercedes SL

Pollock 1957 Triumph TR3

Mercedes were out in force with our third example another SL from 1995 crewed by the Inverness team Roddie and Sylvia Main, top down expecting the sun. This car and crew have seen many tours across Scotland, England and on the club's continental tours. Following them off the line was the Triumph TR3 of Bill and Val Pollock having a great outing in the car this year. Seen last on the RSAC Spring Run and the Red Hackle this 1957 example is working well this season.  

Leese Mk1 Mini

Monckton / Robertson 1997 Mercedes SL

Tony and Shona Leese swapped their Lotus Elan for the Mk1 Mini, a swap they used on the recent Red Hackle. We will see the elan I'm sure later this year perhaps. Yet another Mercedes SL folloing the Mini, this time a 1997 320SL with Helen Monckton behind the wheel and StuartRobertson on the maps. Crew also top down, gambling on the sun appearing soon.

Crombie/Mitchell 1970 Lotus Cortina

Wall/Smith 200t Audi TT

Pulling up the rear was the ever magnificent 1970 Lotus Cortina Mk2 of Ken Crombie, with Allan Mackie on the route instructions. A regular at our club events the car is always bright and shiny. As with the earlier white F-Type, will it return as clean?

Louise Wall in her 2007 Audi TT top down too, with Ruth Smith on the map, always enjoying a trip across the highland roads.

Saltire member Colin and Grace Wallace completed the classic crews in their  2000 Ford Puma, followed by the Campbells, fellow saltire members in a massive go anywhere in any weather Landrover Defender. Their Cortina had refused to play and was sulking in the garage awaiting some TLC!
We would see the Cortina eat the finish having got a rogue clutch to behave.

CCHMSC members Tom Niven and Karen Wilson, who had been helping withe running of the start activities managed to catch up the tail enders in their 2005 MGF, as they departed toward Kikrkmichael, the first town on our route.

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The Route