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Skoda Estelle
LH Drive
George Shand
delivers drivers
briefing
signing on & breakfast
Heading to the start line
 Departure queue
Quick check which way left or right?
McDiarmid Park home of
St. Johnston FC
and our start venue
The Route
Stage 1 -
Perth to Tillicoutry
Our
route took the main A9 to circle round Perth, so avoiding the city
centre and the traffic heading to the Scottish Game Fair at Scone
Palace, on the same day.
We picked up the B9112 taking
us south west to
Milltown of Aberdalgie up the Necessity Brae. A swift look for any rail
traffic as we crossed the level crossing near Forteviot, as we made our
way to Dunning. Climbing the Path of Condie gave us spectacular views
over the countryside, heading for Glenfarg, Yetts of Muckart, and
Dollar to reach Tillicoutry, our suggested lunch stop.
Stage
2 Tillicoutry to Perth
The
first of the rain showers coming from the west had caught up with us
but soon passed over as we headed out on the section. Organiser George
Shand had worked hard following an 11th hour discovery that three of
the roads in this section had been closed only days before the event.
We already had one earlier reroute following the houses in Coalnaughton
were evacuated due to slippage, closing roads around the area.
Jimmy Shand statue
 Falkland Palace
 Loch Leven Reserve
The
proposed re-route was turned into an addendum to the roadbook which Jan
Adam had printed up and explained to each crew as they signed on at the
start. Using blue paper helped co-drivers to easily identify the
revised route.
High
Tea selection
Entry
List
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Three Hills Tour
- 5 July 2026 Story &
photos Jim Paterson
Our triple hill hop across three hill ranges in Fife and Kinross,
Lomond, Ochils & Cleish ,starting and finishing at McDiarmid Park, attracted 26 starters,
enjoying great venue hospitality for both start and finish
celebrations. The forecast wild weather did not appear, apart from a
couple of showers on route. So for the most part the soft top cars kept
the tops down from the start.
George and Jean Shand found some exciting roads across this landscape,
and good work from fellow organisers Ron and Jan Adam helped make the
event a success. Once again places of interest were visited and
explored
Mclay / Mackie 1963 Sunbeam Alpine
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Bruce / Miller 1991 Lotus Elan SE
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Organiser George Shand did the
honours with the start flag, with first out the blocks was the 1963
Sunbeam Alpine of Bill McLay, this time in the co-driver seat, letting
Alan Mackie do the driving. Always great to see Colin Bruce in his
magnificent 1991 Lotus Elan SE, with William Miller joining him as
co-driver. Following on was Tony Fleming in his 1970 MG Midget with his
brother, doing the driving, taking the place of grandson Ruaridh who is
away on holiday. As always Tony kept the rag top up, just in case of a
shower!
Holmes / Isherwood 1970 Volvo Amazon
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Fleming / Fleming 1970 MG Midget
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Peter
Holmes is another regular, along with co-driver Andrew Isherwood in
Peter's fully rally prepared 1970 Volvo Amazon. The first of the
Houghton family team were next in line with John and Lillah in their
Triumph TR6 following recent fettling to overcome some gremlins.
Son Stuart Houghton followed in his now rare example of a Skoda 1051,
which many of us older types will recognise as the Estelle. Stuart got
this left hand drive example in Prague, driving it home. Unfortunately
the brakes failed on the trip, so handbrake only braking was employed
all the way home. As Stuart said 'with a top speed of 45- 50mph on the
trip handbraking worked fine!'It performed perfectly on our tour today.
Houghton 1974 Triumph TR6
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Graeme & Lesley Mays
2014 Jaguar F-Type V6S |
Graeme and Lesley Mays pulled
up in their immaculate 2014 Jaguar F-Type, now a collectors car with
production stopped some time ago. Graeme is a keen Kart competitor and
enthusiast so enjoys the Jaguars similar point an squirt performance.
Our third member of the Houghton family, Lewis set off in his gleaming
black 1990 Alfa Romeo 75. Lindsay Smith and Anne Johnston were to have
arrived in their 2010 Mini Cooper but a last minute change brought them
in a new day car, still with the Mini badge. This was to be its post
purchase shakedown run.
Houghton
Alfa GT1600
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Lewis Houghton
1990 Alfa 75
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Roddie and Sylvia Main are long time regulars in
their 1995 Mercedes SL which Roddie spends hours of tender care keeping
up with the cars propensity to throw the occasional 'wobbly' from time
to time.
Roddie & Sylvia Main 1995 Mercedes SL
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McKay / Turner 2024 Golf GTi
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Kirsty McKay is a often
seen on our events in her 2024 Golf GTi, this time with Adam Turner in
the left seat. Newcomers Neil and Jane Fraser arrived in a fine 2003
example of the MGTF. We hope they enjoyed the tour enough to encourage
their return for future events. Jan Adams 2013 VW Golf
convertible has returned following a refresh to the suspension, riding
on new spring etc, providing a new lease of life for this 14 year old
example. Gillian McKay was driving with Ellen McKay reading the road
book. |
Neil &
Jane Fraser 2003 MGTF
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Gillian & Ellen McKay 2013 Golf
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Graeme
& Beth Cargill 1992 Honda NSX
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Reuben
& Hope Phillips 2008 Defender |
Been some time since we have seen the 1992 Honda
NSX of Graeme and Beth Cargill. These much sought after cars
which are becoming rare these days, this one is a splendid
example that the pair have used on our continental tours across Europe
in past years. From supercar to utility truck!, Reuben and daughter
Hope Phillips set out in the recently aquired 2008 Landrover Defender.
Reuben has always sought to aquire one of these machines, but soon
found out the hardtop is not the quietest of the marque. I did suggest
ear defenders as a possible solution! However George did not need to
bend down to speak to the crew when waving them off.
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McGarrie / Paterson 2007 Audi TT
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Young / Hawke 2016
Audi TT
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Regular
crew Brian McGarrie and Emma Paterson in the 2007 Audi TT were next
off. The crew from Leuchars know the roads and features of Fife very
well and offered to setup a tour over some of the lesser known roads of
the region. Lookout for something in our 2027 events programme when we
start planning. Right behind Brian's blue TT came Charlie Young and
Eddie Hawke in a red 2016 Audi TT.
Back to Jaguar with Duncan Massie arriving in his 2007 XK variant, with
Bill Begg being a new face reading the route. Kevin and Anne Bax used
Anne's day car the 2004 Smart Roadster Coupé, a favourite on
our tours. Kevin still has some minor work on the Jensen Healey to
complete. Is there anything minor on the old Jensen, built fo rspeed
but not serviceability, the amount of dismantling required to even
change a light bulb!
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Bax 2004 Smart RoadsterCoupé
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Massie / Begg 2007 Jaguar XK
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Tom Rae / Justin Kennedy
1961 Lotus 7 |
Bill & Val Pollock 1957 Triumph TR3 |
If extreme open top motoring is
your passion then speak to Tom Rae. He pulled up at the last minute
after his co-driver Justin Kennedy had taken them to "Stirling" for the
start!The miniscule 1961 Lotus 7, where anything more than a light
breakfast makes comfort impossible looked good, with no foul weather
gear, just goggles if it gets bad Tom told
me.
Another open top regular is Bill and Val Pollock in their 1957 Triumph
TR3 looking fantastic in green with authentic yellow radiator 'mouth'.
The pair use the car on many tours across the country, but they do have
foul weather gear that works too.
Niven / Wilson 2003 MGF
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Ron & Jan Adam VW T-Roc R
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Enthusiast and committee member
Tom Niven brought his trusty 2005 MGF with Karen Wilson reading the
route. Like most classic cars Tom is always chasing various items to
repair, upgrade or fettle the car. He has a good mechanic that must
have the patience of a saint to keep working on the car. Last but not
least was co-organisers Ron & Jan Adam in their latest wheels a
new VW T-Roc R, with performance that brings a smile to Ron's face
every time he presses the accelerator.
All home to McDiarmid Park safely
A fine high tea meal had been prepared for our finishers, who also
received a certificate as a memento of the day.
Lookout
for our next
event Tour of the
Borders - 6 September
visiting other parts of our great country.
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Published
10 July 2026
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