 We joined some 49 cars at the
former Argyll Motor Works factory in Alexandria. Running as Car No1 in my sons'
1969
Austin Healey Sprite meant being there on time, and we left home in Edinburgh
around 0700. With top down the morning looked great, but Kirk O’ Shotts is a
telling place and the clouds were rolling in, being punctured by the lofty TV
masts at Shotts and Blackhill, a bad sign! By the outskirts of Glasgow the
heavens opened, forcing a hasty stop under a welcoming bridge to put up the top.
By Great Western Road it had stopped, so down again as we topped up with fuel.
The early birds had arrived at Alexandria before us and the selection of cars
covered a wide spectrum from a 1924 Bugatti through to modern sporting cars. A
magnificent 1953 C type Jaguar racer in bare metal finish was a pleasure to
feast the eyes on as was the “cracker” of a 1931 Bentley, complete with co
driver in “Bentley Boy” attire! A 1930 Aston Martin was joined by a 1935 Aston
Martin Ulster, one of only 21 ever built to commemorate the success of the Team
Cars in the 1934 Ulster TT. It is believed that every single car is still in
existence.
The 1950’s was represented by a Jaguar XK120, a selection of Triumph TR’s, MGA’s of course, and a “big” Healey. The “sixties and seventies” included
Mini’s, Jaguar E type, Rover 2000, MGB’s and Midgets plus a Sunbeam Stilleto.
The modern sports covered TVR, Mazda, Porsche, Subaru, Peugeot and a beautiful
Lancia Delta Integrale, one of only 44000 odd cars built.
With the BBC there to film the event [click
for clip], and Jimmy McGregor doing the official start flag, we were away at 1000, just as the drizzle started. The route
up the side of Loch Lomond had the only black cloud over it and down came the
rain. Will we raise the top? No just put the foot down, that usually works! The
rain was short lived and once we headed up Glen Douglas the sun came out.
The first of two hillclimbs, used not only for competitive events, speed events,
rallies etc, but also by the Argyll Car Company for the testing of their
vehicles, took us on the old “rest and be thankful” road. Now a private stretch
it has succumbed to the elements and our low slung Sprite complained about
bottoming in the potholes. No damage done as we approached the actual climb
which is steep but an exciting drive. And the view from the top is simply
exhilarating. We watched some of the runners roaring up the Glen toward us
before pushing on to Loch Fyne and Inverary. We let some of the early runners
through, like the Aston Martin, and the C type which has a terrific exhaust
note, and smell to match, see the
video clip.
From Inverary we went up Glen Aray to Loch Awe. The view as you approach the
loch is awe inspiring (perhaps the reason for the lochs’ name?), especially in
the now summer sunshine. Crossing over the A85 we headed up Glen Orchy, down to
Tyndrum for lunch at Crianlarich. A few more runners passed us as we stuffed
sandwiches and juice down our throats, but hey this is a tour, not a race.
Time to head for the second hillclimb at Kenknock. A long and winding road
toward Loch Lyon leads to the start of this now private stretch of road. Again a
bit potholed so I took it a bit easy, not like some, e.g. the Hendrys' TR3 which
Jim managed to nearly spin off when a handbrake turn went all pear shaped! The
rain atop the hillclimb soon melted away as we dropped down into Glen Lyon,
though I had to look underneath to check the exhaust was still there. The
pounding it was taking on these “private” roads was a bit severe, and I wasn’t
the only one feeling the suspension bump stops!
The road into Glen Quaich out of Kenmore is a narrow, tricky and steep climb,
never made for modern cars. We met some tourists coming down as we were toiling
in first gear to get up. What fun on a hairpin trying to get three classics by a
couple of Ford Focus’! Temperature gauge showed an increasing movement towards
hot. I’ve never been so happy to get to the top of a climb, just in time to stop
a boiling over. The run to Amulree has some fine views especially past Loch
Freuchie. Down to the A9 at Dunkeld for the final sprint to Scone and a
welcoming party. Unfortunately the palace has installed a rather large sleeping
policeman, and while the Sprite survived the private roads and hillclimbs it
lost its exhaust at Scone. A quick repair when it cooled down fixed the problem.
A good old Scottish “High Tea” revived the crews in time for a few
presentations. Amongst those were a prize for the best dressed crew in the
period of their car, going to Elizabeth Swan and Suzanne Mitchell with their
1964 Renault 8. Spirit of the Rally to Bill Geddes, whose MGB blew an oil feed
pipe. Being only a mile from fellow member David Heirs home he managed to
"borrow" another MGB to complete the rally and
claim his steak pie! The Jaguar C type was voted by all entrants as the best car
of the event giving David and Eileen Barnett the trophy, which was donated by
David Barnett!!!! Cries of fix and foul were heard from the on looking crowd :-)
A great success on its first outing, but as this is a centennial run will we
have to wait another 100 years for a repeat. I hope not. We will all have to
“butter up” Douglas and June Anderson to put together another tour, perhaps for
next year?
|
That well known saying “If you don’t like the
weather in Scotland, just wait 5 minutes.” was oh so true on Sunday 27th August
for the Trans Scottish Challenge. Organised by the Caledonian Classic and
Historic Motor Sport Club, Douglas and June Anderson had put together a tour
with some jaw dropping views from roads little used by modern vehicles.
Starting at the former Argyll Motor Works in Alexandria, the route took us up
the west side of Loch Lomond on the A82 to Inverbeg, then left through Glen
Douglas to join the A814 to Arrochar. We continued west on the A83 to the
“original” Rest and be thankful hillclimb road, testing many of the low slung
sports cars!
Round Loch Fyne to Inverary and over the A819 through Glen Aray to Dalmally on
the A85. A quick run up Glen Orchy to pickup the A82 at Bridge of Orchy to turn
south to Tyndrum, on to the A82 and through Strathfillan to Crianlarich, got us
approximately half way.
Pushing east along Glen Dochart past Loch Lubhair on the A85 took us to Killin,
and on towards Kenmore on the A827. We turned off for the Kenknock hillclimb at
Moirlanich. The hillclimb is on the road to Loch Lyon, which is a dead end road!
However the private hillclimb does have a way out by way of Loch an Daimh and
Glen Lyon, back to Bridge of Balgie, Ben Lawers and the main A827 to reach
Kenmore
From Kenmore we took the pretty route over Glen Quaich to Amulree, and down
Strath Braan to Dunkeld.
Nearly home with a run down to Scone Palace on the A984 to Meiklour and the A93
to Scone for a well earned Scottish high tea in the palace.
The little Sprite |
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