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Argyll Classic Run - 7 April 2013
Report by jim Paterson
Photos - Alan Duncan, David Ross, Christoph Kulli, Maurice Millar
 Fifty
Classic and sporting cars started the Caledonian Classic and Historic
Motor Sport Club's (CCHMSC) Argyll Classic Run from the shores of
Loch Lomond on Sunday 7th April. Always a popular event, attracting
many owners bringing their classic out from the winter hibernation for
the first time. This year as a special treat the 130 mile route through
the Trossachs countryside would take in the Rest and be Thankful,
popular in the fifties and sixties as a hillclimb venue in the British
national championship. The Argyll would be the first classic event on
this private road  through
Glen Croe following a complete resurfacing of the badly deteriorated
surface by Traffic Scotland, which will now be used to bypass landslips
that close the nearby A83 road, as has happened several times in the
past two years, and meant a 90 mile diversion to reach parts of Argyll.
Hugh
Mackinnon brought along his 1951 Jaguar XK120 to lead off the starters,
local man Ollie Ross reading the tulip roadbook. Alan Gibb in his
green, now very rare 1954 Swallow Doretti, see above, followed the
Jaguar. MGA's, E Type Jaguars and Triumph TR's, and Stag followed
on,  chased
by a group of MGB roadsters, GT's and a beautiful V8 model. Margaret
and Donald Campbell were not to be out done in their 1955 Sunbeam
Talbot. It was a close thing after the head gasket let go earlier in
the week . David Allan in a 1968 Sunbeam Tiger was looking
forward to a spirited drive up the Rest as was Geoff Douglas in his
1961 Daimler Dart on its first outing since an extensive engine rebuild
over the winter. Alaister Muir in his 1966 Triumph TR4 was
enjoying the hairpin on the hillclimb, as you can see in the photo
above. Guy Pate was driving a pristine example of Ford's Corsair. His
1966 example has not been welded at all he told me. Quite a feat for
this age of car.
 Christoph Kulli brought his outstanding 1962 Jaguar E Type along, but that is not the co-driver on the roof. This is the mascot.
Natalie Cook was far more attractive and did a great
job reading the roadbook and steering Christoph to the
finish.
The group of Jaguar XK's would have been even
greater had William Fountain's XK150 not blown an exhaust gasket on the
way from home in London. The failure some 100 miles north of London
could have spelt diaster, but a slow trip home which as he described '
everyone three streets away could hear us' allowed a quick change
into his 1968 Mercedes. The car performed well and allowed he and
son Finlay to enjoy the Run.
 We
even had our own recovery vehicle should someone slip off the road into
a snow bank. Phil Hannah entered his 1961 Landrover Series 2A ,
and with Steven Blair navigating. With plaenty of tow rings on the big
steel bumpers, and strong ropes in the back, it would be no
problem to rescue anyone they cam across if they were stuck in a ditch.
Fortunately the crew were not put to the test.
We were well into the seventies now and
Alan Duncan had been working on the carbs of his 1974 Toyota Celica.
Some slight 'gassing' on the way up the Rest soon cleared. The 1974
Hillman Imp of Keith and Linda McCurrah looked straight from the
Linwood factory where it was built. We lost one of our crews, John and
Mary ducker in their 1971 MGB/GT. So close but so far, the MG started
to play up at Tyndrum. With home being Fort William the decision was to
head north and home to avoid a permanent stop.
Gordon
Anderson arrived in his 1979 Anderson Special which took part in the
clubs Ecosse to Monaco tour during the Monte Carlo Historique Rallye
from the Glasgow Start back in January. This time with wife Anne
on the roadbook the pair managed almost to the end with the top down,
but succumbed with the others on the road to Braco.
 Sporting
cars joined the tour and Toyota MR2, Mazda MX5's , and a Honda S2000
enjoyed the trip with us. Several Morgans of all ages were their,
Scotland having a good following for this manufacturer. We had not one
but two Marcos Mantarays from the late 1990's. These are great looking
cars but the single track roads the route covered proved a little bit
too low and reports of scraping undersides were heard at the finish.
The two TVR's, a Tuscan and S3, had similar tales to report. The odd
Porsche and MGF completed the entries.
 Following
some 'spirited' driving up the Rest and be Thankful the crews headed
through 'Hells Glen' a twisting single track, on their way to Inverary,
before heading north to Dalmally and into Glen Orchy,where we see
Donald Brown and Mike Gatshall brave the cold in their 1964 Lotus 7.
The mountains were still snow topped and the temperature was hovering
down toward zero but so far dry. That would soon turn as snow flurries
forcing the less hardy in the soft tops to raise their hoods, to stop
their faces turning blue!
Down through Tyndrum, Crianlarich, to
Comrie and over to Braco where more snow showers caught the crews on
the high ground. Not to worry nearly at the finish in Stirling where a
warm reception and meal awaited the finishers, along with awards to
remember the day.
 Margaret
Betteley drove in luxury in her 1988 Bentley with Andrew Green on
the road book. She told me that they had to hold their breath on some
of the narrow single track sections but enjoyed some roads they had
never driven before.
 The
club was raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support,and a raffle over
dinner collected £350 which, with donations  and a contribution
from the club, reached just over £500. Bill Murray should
have joined us in the only Triumph Spitfire on the list but a failed
fuel pump forced him to withdraw his entry at the last minute. However he very kindly
donated his entry fee to the Macmillan fund, for which they and we at
the club are very grateful.
Luckily the route avoided extremes
like this snow bank that Graham Cox and Maurice Millar drove through on
their way home after the event. Everyone breath in moment to
squeeze through. And this is spring in Scotland they tell me!
Huge
thanks to all who took part in both the event and raising funds for
Macmillan. A special thanks to all the marshals that helped out on the
day as well.
Visit the CCHMSC website to see what other classic events are being organised for 2013 at www.caledonianmsc.com.
See a whole load more photos of the day at Alan Duncans flickr site HERE
| Hugh McKinnon XK waits for his run up the Rest behind Alan Duncan's Celica | 
Archie Simmonds in MGF at top of the Rest |
Checkout the Events page for other exciting events being organised for Classic enthusiasts later this year
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| Updated 8 April 2013
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Keith McCurrah Imp 
