Caledonian Classic and Historic Motorsport Club

35 starters arrived for the Red Hackle on Sunday 4 May, our tribute tour to the Black Watch. Organiser Ron Adam delivered the drivers briefing before the crews lined up for the start. A bright sun lit blue sky allowed the soft tops to come down.

Houghton Triumph TR6

Campbell Bristol 412

Leading the starters was Don and Margaret Campbell in their 1978 Bristol 412, seen on many events and a veteran of club continental tours in past years. Raymond & Liz Rollo, foregoing their well known '72 Ford Capri 3L GT, for the day Audi estate, as Raymond nurses a troublesome but healing leg accident. John and Lillian Houghton followed in their magnificent Triumph TR6. Was touch and go as the TR was misbehaving with a misfire the day before. John traced it to a faulty injector on the 2.5PI engine.The car ran like a dream for the tour he reported.

Cobb Toyota MR2

McCluskie Jaguar XK

Kirsty McKay and Eiran McHugh in a VW Golf GTi headed off with Stuart and Mervyn Cobb following in their 2004 Toyota MR2 Red Edition. Stuart is selling this rare edition model, see advertisement in our for sale page, to focus on his other passion boats (the sailing type).

Continuing the tops down theme was David and Scott Lauder in their 2000 MGF. David is putting the final touches to the car before putting it up for sale too. When I hear more I ll put on our for sale page. This is a great car too.

Crombie / Mitchell 1970 Lotus Cortina	Petrie Bond Equipe
Cargill Sebring Sprite	Monckton / Robertson Alfa Romeo
The McKay family were well represented with Ellen and Gillian taking off in their BMW 1 Msport. Tony and Shone Leese had planned to bring their 1968 Lotus Elan but things did not work out and their trusty Mk1 mini appeared, a great fallback to see again. Ken Crombie brought his spectacular 1970 Lotus Cortina with Murray Mitchell reading the roadbook. Club committee member Tom Niven had his trusty 2005 MGF looking good after some recent tlc. Karen Wilson kept him on the right road. Lotus once again, this time Tom Rae in his 1961 model, looking suitably Spartan, with Justin Kennedy, another Lotus fan, in the left seat. Tom would be off to the continent in his other passion a Pembleton Grashopper, for a 3 day tour. Seen on our previous tours, the grasshopper originally fitted with a 2CV engine, now sports a Moto Guzzi motorcycle engine, so no slouch if he comes up behind you!
Spence / Bennett BMW Z3	Lauder 2000 MGTF
The well prepared 1999 BMW Z3 with Gordon Spence and Mark Bennett set off with Peter Holmes in his 1970 Volvo Amazon, with Monte Historique provenance, guided by Andrew Isherwood following the Z3. Bill and Val Pollock brought their 1957 Triumph TR3, last seen at the recent RSAC Spring Run, looking once again resplendent in green with a yellow mouth radiator grill.
Glenturrett line-up	Glenturret Distillery

The first of our two Jaguar F Types, a drop top 2014 model with Graeme and Lesley Mays taking in the fine weather, quickly followed by another 'top down' 2000 Mercedes SLK, this time with Chris and Mary Paton, recently seen in their stunning red Mk1 Mini. Graham Cox brought his outstanding 1968 Morris Traveller, not many have survived the dreaded woodworm and rust. The '72 Jensen Healey of Kevin and Anne Bax proved a bridge too far ponce again as work on the car remained unfinished, so Anne's Smart Roadster was pressed into service. Roddie Main teamed up with Maureen Spence in Roddie's 1995 Mercedes SL.

Stuart and Graeme Sheridan red '74 MGB Roadster joined the downed hoods a they were piped off. The 2014 Jaguar, this time a red XK, crewed by Brian and Jean McCluskie reflected the morning light on freshly polished metal. Red cars come in threes as Tony Fleming departed in his familiar red 1970 MG Midget, this time with Lilly Smith reading the roadbook, her first time on a motor tour rally. Our second Jaguar F Type, this 2021 fixed head Coup of Derek Clark and Iain Brown looked and sounded ready for anything. Brian McGarrie and Emma Paterson were due to take off in their Audi TT, but preparation efforts overtook them and Brian brought the day Astra car. A wheel wobble later on would force the pair to retire and hobble home beofre the car expired.
George Petrie and Janet Jones are a regular crew in the '69 Bond Equipe, which keeps putting in the miles each year. Based on the Triumph Herald, George has done many upgrades to keep the little car in top condition. The 2016 Audi TT of Charlie Young and Eddie Hawke did make it, and in red looked even more stunning. Jaguars were the car of choice this year, with Sandy Nicholson in his 2010 white XK convertible model. Back to Red and the 2007 Mercedes SLK with Josh Diaz-Smith and Alex Paterson were followed by another regular crew, Anne Howitt and Kathleen Thomson in Anne's 1954 MGTF. The MG was on its first outing of the season, and was a test for a forthcoming three day tour with the Octagon club.

Jock Millar and Linda Telford should have arrived in jock's 1965 MG Midget, but another car not quite ready forced a last minute change to Linda's Suzuki Celerio. It was red however so par tof this years 'Team Red'! Another returning crew, Helen Monkton and Stuart Robertson in a splendid 1972 white Alfa Romeo Spyder decided to keep the top up, no doubt remembering last years event when the heavens opened and near sunk the Alfa! Richard and Yvonne Bartniczek also brought the day car, the '68 Alfa not quite ready for action. Their '21 Kia Nero Hybrid would be a lot more comfortable too. Last but not least the superb Austin Healey Sebring Sprite of Graeme and Beth Cargill looked the business. Graeme has done a lot to bring the car up to working order, but tells me the todo list has a long way to go yet!

The Route

The cars headed out of the castle toward the A9 northbound and Luncarty. Turning northwest they drove up to Little Glenshee, crossing the ford across the Shochie Burn. Returning down the south side of the burn toward Almondbank crossed the River Almond, not once but twice as the crews turned to Logiealmond. Turning south through Keillour Fowlis Wester reached the remnants of the Ardunie Roman Signal Station, which dates to the first century AD. The construction of it and other Roman towers along Gask Ridge predates the Antonine Wall, which began construction in AD 142. It formed part of the Roman military system now known as the Gask Ridge frontier, regarded as the earliest Roman example of a frontier system of forts, roads and watchtowers. It stretches for 37km from Glenbank to Bertha on the Tay.

Looping around the north side of Crieff took us to Hosh and a visit to the Glenturrett Distillery. Going back to 1763 claims to be the oldest working distillery in Scotland. Our crews had the opportunity to purchase a bottle of The Glenturret C-Type whisky. In 1953 the Jaguar C-Type cemented its place in motorsport history by dominating the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car that introduced disc brakes to the world, finished 1st, 2nd, 4th and 9th and set a new average speed record of 105.84mph, the first time a 100mph average had ever been broken.

Crafted by Whisky Maker Bob Dalgarno, boasting whisky of 32 years of age minimum, selected from five casks to produce a limited release of only 220 bottles. At 2220 a bottle you may need deep pockets for this one. There are other more affordable bottles to choose from.

arriving castle courtyard

setting up for lunch

Leaving the distillery the route headed west to Comrie, where we switched to the B827 heading south toward Culloch, looking out for the Muthill turning. Ay Muthill we were approaching our lunch stop at Drummond Castle & Gardens.

Some of us parked up in the courtyard, next to the tower house of the castle, dating back to 1491. Access through the archway is quite tight ,and some of the wider cars decided to stay on the outside, in case the door / wing mirrors caught the side of the arch.

F Type's at castle

Cox Morris Traveller

Departing after our picnic lunch we headed south toward Auchterarder, cutting across country to Dunning and Path of Condie before going north to Forteviot, crossing the River Earn to head east to Aberdalgie, Craigend and on to Bridge of Earn. A loop round by Rhynd brought us back into the south side of Perth and back to Balhousie Castle.

A fine high tea awaited us to finish a great day over many little known roads around Perth and Crieff.

Lookout for our next event Grampian Gallop visiting other parts of our great country.