Culzean Castle in Ayrshire hosted its second year of the "Autoclassica", with its display of historic, classic, exotic and modern vehicles. CCHMSC joined the extravaganza to show the spectators what historic rallying was all about.

The crews who joined the event performed for an enthusiastic crowd on the Saturday with an autotest display that had tyres squealing and smoke rising, in main from Archie Simmonds in his Midget guided by William Thompson, and Bryan Mutch from the Emerald Isle in his BMW2002, with fellow Irishman Ken McEntee. It was however the smaller cars that led the field at this point with Archie in the lead followed by Nairn Brown one second behind in his Sebring modified "Frogeye" Sprite, with Peter Sandground pointing him the right direction. Johnny Graham threw his rare Porsche 356 round the course, making co-driver Brendan Mullan pull his seat belt a bit tighter to come home within 2 seconds of Archie's Midget.

After lunch a couple of tests in the fields within the castle estate followed, though we were concerned that recent heavy rainfall would bog the cars down. The grass though wet and slippery to start with did not deter our intrepid competitors, determined to beat the elements. Though the times were slower Archie still pulled out more of a lead, whilst Nairn's Sprite was being equalled by Bryan's BMW2002 which seemed to favour the wet. Johnny and Brendan in the 356, complete in summer linens and straw panamas, were still only one second behind the Sprite, BMW duo.

From there we motored to the old Turnberry airfield, home to the only Grand Prix circuit in Scotland, back in the forties and fifties. The open flowing site was perfect for a series of tests which threw up much dust, or as the Scots would say "stoor", and gave organisers and spectators and interesting time trying to dodge the dust clouds as they blew over the site. It's amazing that even a simple slalom can confuse a crew in full flight. It all appears so easy on paper but in the heat of competition when the red mist comes down it can all go to pot. The top runners stay cool, or so they tell me. A good memory and sense of direction also helps!

Once again Archie was showing quick times, but after a fluffed first run Bob Gillespie directed driver Jonathan Campbell in the MGB roadster round in the fastest time, one second quicker than the midget crew. Goes to show that sure and steady can win the day. The Irish BMW duo were only a couple of seconds behind, a testament to their determination, as the alternator had failed on the car and the battery was going down fast.

Airfields tend to be built in wide open spaces, and Turnberry is no exception. We could see the clouds gathering and before the day was finished the rain joined us just to remind us what miserable weather this summer has thrown at us. However the crews battled on, some like Alan Gibb in his 1954 Doretti with Richard Larter kept the top down and the wipers on. Not sure if that was foolhardy or the top is just a pain to erect!

The final test was a cracker, made up of no less than three joined together. More a test of memory and clarity of the co-driver, to lead his driver in the right direction. A few 360 turns can throw even the most experienced co-driver off balance. Not Willie Thompson who kept his cool and guided Archie to top spot in the Midget. The Irish were right behind them in the BMW, only one second again, and the Nairn Brown / Peter Sandground Sprite, similarly topless, maintaining their place near the top.

For those who simply love wet weather we had put on a navigational rally on the Saturday night round the roads of east Ayrshire. The BMW crew with the dead alternator had bought a new battery and charged the existing one to hopefully make the fifty mile dash before both went flat. The twisty route was not for the faint hearted with at least one navigator, who will remain nameless, retching up his tea at the side of the road. Clean sheeting the event were Andy Murdoch in his Mini Cooper S navigated by David Noble. As local Kilmarnock and Ayr lads they probably had a little bit of an edge on the others. The panama's of Johnny Graham and Brendan Mullan were bringing them luck with only 9 penalties whilst Mike Gastall kept Donald Browns' MGA Coupe on the right road to take third spot.

A welcome overnight rest was greeted by warm sunshine and a beckoning road over to Kames hillclimb for a series of tests and a chance to drive the track of this popular venue. Archie Simmonds Midget was leading the event after the Saturday events with Nairn Browns' Sprite only 22 points behind. Bryan Mutch had survived the night in his BMW, though I reckon he was frugal with the headlights.... Still he kept their place into the tests at Kames.

Four tests at Kames were split by a run on the track. Once again Archie and Willie extended their lead, heading to win the Autoclassica Shield,  Whilst the Irish crewed BMW kept their quick times to take the Autoclassica Trophy. Local crew Andy and David in the Cooper S secured the Autoclassica Cup, whilst Nairn in the Sebring modified Frogeye had to be content with a class win, along with Johnny Graham in the Porsche 356, Ian and Peter Ritchie in the Clan Crusader, Jonathan Campbell and Bob Gillespie in the MGB, and the Morgan of Graham Dalzell with Sandy Rowan. Graham fought with an always switched on starter motor at Kames, resorting to ripping out the wiring from under the dash to cut the circuit. Drastic events call for drastic action!

Tom and Marianne Dromgoole in their MGA roadster survived the weather whilst Alan Gibb with the Doretti blagged his way into the procession of rare cars back at Culzean Castle.

Apart from an organisational mix-up on the part of the Culzean Autoclassica team on the Sunday afternoon, where we were inhibited from running several more programmed tests in the castle grounds, to the disappointment of competitors and spectators, the event provided a wide selection of disciplines, and a chance to visit the "Goodwood" of the North thrown in for free.