La Crofterra Pandemonia - 26/27 September
2009
Report & photographs - Jim Paterson.
Video - Charlie Donaldson,
David Spence, Jim Paterson
Douglas
Anderson and I spend a lot of time organising events, and this is
the one event that we let someone else do all the hard work for us
to enjoy. This is the second year we have entered Highland Car
Club's La
Crofterra Pandemonia, and being the events fifth anniversary was routing back
to Skye, destination of the first event.
This year I took my son Simon's 1970 Austin Healey Sprite. Having
rebuilt much of the mechanicals over the past months, this would be
the ideal shakedown test for the Trans Alpina trip to France in
October.
The drive up to Inverness from Edinburgh was fairly uneventful,
apart from only having one dipped headlight. Knocked off the wire to
the offside bulb when putting the auxiliary lamp bar on. Funny how
you discover these little issues when it gets dark!
After a well earned rest at a B&B in North Kessock, which had
magnificent views over the Beauly Firth back to Inverness, we headed
for the start
The
start at Fairways in Inverness on the Saturday morning was bright
and sunny. Following the obligatory signing on etc we headed off on
the route, which by pure coincidence headed north over the Kessock
bridge and passed within 10 yards of our previous nights B&B!
Now Douglas is not at his best navigating in the mornings, but a
wrong turn early on should have rung alarm bells for later in the
day. However we did manage the first point of interest at the Meig
Dam and met up with some of the other crews taking in the view. We
continued west on the A835 to Garve and the Kyle of Lochalsh
Railway. The A832 routed us to Achnasheen via the Ospreys nest and
the grave of Captain Bertram Dickson, credited with flying the first
army "sortie", on 21 September 1910, and impressing a then young
Winston Churchill.
Reaching Kinlochewe we headed down Glen Torridon to Shieldaig where
we turned right for the Applecross peninsula, and the rest halt at
Applecross. Well that was the plan, had my navigator not been asleep
at the maps. Our first recollection of the Applecross turning was at
the other end, at the foot of the Pass of the Cattle! I knew that
bad feeling in the water was coming true.
Undeterred we met up with some of the organisers and crews at
Lochcarron for lunch at the Waterside Tearoom. If you visit check
the time on the wallclock. You will be amazed.....
No wrong turns as we headed for Kyle and the Skye Bridge. Douglas
obviously found the fish and chips for lunch good for the brain. The
call of Plockton had us make a brief detour for a cup of tea and a
chance to meet fellow crews making the same pilgrimage to the home
of PC Hamish Macbeth, from the TV series.
It's at times like this you realise that Classic cars, and the
Healey in particular, were not equipped with large fuel tanks. The
Sprite's measly 5 gallon tank was showing close to empty as we tip
toed our way to Kyle, where I was sure there must be fuel. With the
needle showing less than empty we cruised into Kyle and managed to
force 21 litres into a 20 litre tank. Don't ask how, but enough to
say we would not be going much further without that filling station.
Unfortunately the sunshine had left us behind as we drove over the
sea to Skye, and the overhaul of the wipers on the Sprite would be
well tested by time we would leave the island. The thirty odd mile
trip up the coast to Portree for the overnight halt passes some
fantastic scenery, damp or dry.
Behaving ourselves in the bar we slept well for the restart on the
Sunday. The car started first time, despite overnight heavy rain.
But before getting out of the car park the engine spluttered to a
halt. Damp leads no doubt, but a wipe down of the leads and dizzy
cap brought no improvement. Colin Wilkinson, co-driving for Barry
Thomson in the Porsche engined Beetle approached and spotted my
Facet electric fuel pump, "I've got the same pump, but my one makes
a noise all the time" he quipped. Penny dropped, I had fitted a
security switch in the power line to the pump and switched it the
night before for the first time. "Wally" point to me, as the little
Sprite responded right away to a wholesome supply of petrol!
After being flagged off we headed north up the coast and then over
the tops after Staffin. Not sure if it was mist or low cloud, but my
license does not allow flying in clouds! With no cellphone signal
one could perish out there before any help passed by. I was never so
glad to se Uig as we descended out of those fearsome clouds.
By now the rain was coming in straight of Loch Snizort, and
maintaining a minimum of 40mph to stop the rain getting into the
cockpit of the open top Healey was becoming more difficult. We
persevered, and were rewarded with some stunning views of the
Cullins, if not all the way to the mist shrouded peaks. By Broadford
it was torrential rain, and like fellow open topper Tom & Marianne
Dromgoole we succumbed to putting the top back on, at least until
the weather improved a bit..
The hardy crews headed down Glen Arroch to the Kylerhea to Glenelg
ferry. Margaret and Donald Campbell who brought their Ferrari 328
GTS told me that they had the electric windows down when they
boarded the ferry but forgot to wind them up before killing the
engine. No ignition allowed on the crossing so suffered a soaking as
the rain drove its way into the cabin! Now one big Ferrari on an
event is a coup, but two! Adrian and Adam Harper crewed a 360 F1 and
I believe they had a bit of bother getting the car on board without
taking the spoilers off on the ramp. Adrian had treated us to a
Ferrari in full song at the Inverness start the previous day when he
raised the revs to an ear splitting scream. Music to the ears of any
petrolhead!
We opted for the easy route back over the bridge as having a
rather sumptuous lunch had put us pretty much at the back of the
field.
We picked up the crews at Eilean Donan Castle for a very damp photo
shoot. It was difficult to even see the castle from the car park,
but the tea was warm and refreshing in the tearoom.
Rally route aimed for Invergarry, and Fort Augustus, where the true
route headed up the south side of Loch Ness. I am told there is a
far better chance of spotting Nessie on that road, but we stuck to
the north side to Inverness as sleep was catching up on me as
driver. It did however stop raining and off came the top again.
Those who did the proper route, were treated to a climb over the
Garbole Road to Findhorn and the run back into Fairways at
Inverness.
A
grand buffet had been arranged and prizes presented. Douglas and I
were completely taken by surprise to be presented with the
Autovision Trophy, for the 2008 Crofterra video, which attracted
some 20 new entries to this years event. Lookout for the 2009 video,
after I return from the Trans Alpina in October.
A big thanks to all who organised this event, and I can't wait to
see what the 2010 event will bring. Superb uncluttered roads,
through magnificent highland scenery, with a collection of brilliant
people. Life just doesn't get much better than this.
Make sure you put you name down for the 2010 event. One of the best
tours of Highland Scotland you will ever do.
Home
| About | Events
| News | For Sale | Links 
Douglas
Anderson and I spend a lot of time organising events, and this is
the one event that we let someone else do all the hard work for us
to enjoy. This is the second year we have entered Highland Car
Club's La
Crofterra Pandemonia, and being the events fifth anniversary was routing back
to Skye, destination of the first event.
The
start at Fairways in Inverness on the Saturday morning was bright
and sunny. Following the obligatory signing on etc we headed off on
the route, which by pure coincidence headed north over the Kessock
bridge and passed within 10 yards of our previous nights B&B!
A
grand buffet had been arranged and prizes presented. Douglas and I
were completely taken by surprise to be presented with the
Autovision Trophy, for the 2008 Crofterra video, which attracted
some 20 new entries to this years event. Lookout for the 2009 video,
after I return from the Trans Alpina in October.