A wide selection of Classic cars graced the the forecourt of the Patio Hotel on Aberdeen's Beach Boulevard for the inaugural running of the Deeside Tour. Eighteen crews turned out in cars ranging from the 1954 Swallow Doretti and MG TF, to a 2005 Morgan, modern build but classic shape.

The route to the west of Aberdeen gave the crews their first challenge, namely getting out of Aberdeen!  Having given the Saturday shoppers on Union Street something unusual and nostalgic to see, the cars headed out to Blacktop. Graeme Henderson, driver of a superb 1959 works Healey 3000 who lives that way, advised on removing a loop in the route which was heavily "rubbled" which would have floored most cars. Once clear the westerly route touched the Loch of Skene before picking up the B9119 at Echt. Staying on the B9119 passes through the Hill of Fare on the way to Corse Castle where the road turned north toward Milton of Cushnie and Sinnahard to join the A97 near Boultenstone. Picking up the A944 to Colnabaichin led to a section of that famous A939 Cockbridge to Tomintoul road, often closed during the wild winter months. This time however we used it to reach the B976 to Crathie and Balmoral, and the half way point.

Not sure if any crews dropped into see if the Royals were on vacation, but wherever they refuelled themselves they restarted on the south side of the river Dee along the B976, passing Ballater and Aboyne, then due south to the Cairn O' Mount, where the organisers met some of the crews as they took in the outstanding view over the Strathmore plain. On a good day you can see Montrose and Arbroath, but today though sunny and warm, carried a slight scottish "harr" on the coastline robbing us of that delight. Famous in the early 1900's as a hillclimb, the Cairn O' Mount descent toward Fettercairn tests even modern braking systems. I hate to imagine attempting it  in a car with rear drum brakes only! At the foot of the Cairn the cars headed east at Clattering Brig, which has changed little since the early 1900's, toward Auchenblane and the Brae of Glenbervie, skipping to the west of Stonehaven, before the run in to Aberdeen and a return to the Patio Hotel for a well earned meal and prizes.

Clattering Brig as it is now and as it was in the 1900's when hillclimbs took to the Cairn

The Oldest Car award went to Dughall Leask with his 1954 MGTF, with the Best Dressed Crew going to the Healey 3000 crew of Graeme Henderson reminicent of a Bentley Boy in white overalls emblazoned with Goodwood badges, and bow tie; and co-driver David Ross with his matching chequerboard patterned bow tie, braces, and wait for it, shoes. Just the thing for a walk along Union Street! The Car of the Event had to be Graham Dalzell and Harry Milne in Grahams' TR3A. It takes a brave man to drive a car with Aero screens only, with protection only from a leather helmet and goggles. The trick is to keep your mouth shut to stop the flies getting caught in between your teeth. I was told that the wipers didn't work and would have meant an MOT failure. The Aero screens overcome the need for wipers QED. Graham commented that it was his first trophy in fourteen years of rallying. Well Done, about time too.

Dave Barnett, our rally sponsor, brought along a Jaguar XK150 and was joined by David Allan in a bright red version of the same. Davids' mighty machine appeared to suffer similar symptoms to the last outing on the Argyll when it got stuck in gear at the end. He was hoping a cool down while enjoying dinner would do the trick.

Richard and Diane Campbell brought their 1958 Peerless, a coupé bodied machine based on the Triumph TR2 running gear. At Cairn O' Mount they attempted to turn the heater off which was superheating the cabin on the trip. I don't think they managed and I am sure I saw Diane with one leg out of the side window on the run past Stonehaven!   As for Pete Babbs and the Volvo Amazon estate, he was on his third overdrive in as many months, and it wasn't working for the rally either!

The Grant family were out in force with Roy and Lorna crewing the 1973 Jaguar E Type and William and Nicola the pristine 1967 MG Midget, complete with hartop.

No rally is complete without a "frogeye" and Deeside was no exception. Graeme and Elizabeth Cargill brought their somewhat modified and very quick 1960 Austin Healey Sprite, which runs on a Ford engine and much modified running gear, with a fibre glass bonnet to drop the weight a bit.

Peter Young brought out a rarely seen 1960 Daimler SP250. Only 2645 were ever made between 1959 and 1964 and make a pleasant addition to the Triumph TR's, Sunbeam Tigers, and Big Healeys of the same period. The big V8 will power these machines forever, even though the transmission will probably fail long before then.

Mike Law and Diane Duffton crewed the 1967 MGB GT, and Tom and Marianne Dromgole led the pack, at least to start with, in their trusty black MGA roadster.

On the Morgan front, Phil and Audrey Hoggs 2005 Morgan was joined by Graham and Yvonne Cox in a 1992 Morgan Plus 4, Mike and Diane Brunton's 44, and Alex Green and Sophie Copeland in another Plus 4.

Next on the list is the Culzean Autoclassica near Ayr, on 23 & 24 August. Heralded as the "Goodwood of the North", it promises to be a great weekend out for all Classic owners, with tours and tests, plus a night navigational on offer. Download Regs now for more information