 
Setting off
Talbot 90 convertible
Race from the start
Lagonda sets off too
Monte Mini takes in the morning sun.
Austin 7 on the Rest
Minor full throttle on the Rest.
Audi R8 chases Morris Minor. Erm I don't think.
V12 Jaguar XKE
Ferrari revs up at the start
Here comes the Stig
The burger van at the top of the Rest and be Thankful 2 days after the event.
Weren't they lucky !
See Alan Duncan's
photo shoot |
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Drive it Day Strathendrick 10th Anniversary- 24 April 2016
Story - Joe Norman, photos Alan Duncan
On the lawn at Culcreuth Castle
This year the Strathendrick Rotary Classic Car Tour was
were celebrating their tenth annual Classic Car Tour. The Charities
supported by the Tour this year are CHAS the Children’s Hospice
Association of Scotland and Mary’s Meals.
The entry numbers exceeded all previous tours. 87 cars took part and there were a few unfortunate people on the waiting list.
Veronica Buchanan from CHAS starts the cars at Stirling
The
weather forecast was not particularly inviting for those with open top
cars as showers, some with snow, were expected. Cars coming from the
south experienced snow on the M74. There were a few rain showers
locally but as the cars assembled once again at Dobbies car park near
Stirling the rain stayed away and the sun shone.
Registration and
distribution of route books and goody bags were in the capable and
cheery hands of Pamela Maxwell with assistance from husband Edward.
This added to an overall cheerful crowd at the start. The great
atmosphere persisted throughout the day.
As usual we had a
tremendous variety of cars from the 1932 Austin 7 Arrow to a 2015
Lamborghini Huracan. The cars were flagged off by Veronica Buchanan
from CHAS
The route took the crews past Doune then through the
Trossachs from Aberfoyle ,The Dukes Pass on to Brig O’ Turk then
to Strathyre. After Lochearnhead where as usual Scotland’s Finest
were stationed with their little radar gun and passing through Glen
Ogle and Glen Dochart, where more Boys in Blue had their cameras out,
the route continued to Crianlarich, down Loch Lomond to Tarbet across
to Arrochar and on to the lunch stop. This year again we were treated
royally by the staff of the Lochs and Glens Ardgartan Hotel with its
incredible view down Loch Long.
 Following
lunch the majority of the cars headed for the new “Old Rest and
Be Thankful” road. This was open for us once again through the
kind offices of Diane Davidson Kinghorn. Extra marshals were needed to
keep the road clear of livestock if not their calling cards! Some took
the hillclimb in a spirited manner others were more sedate. Mike Pell
in his 1932 Austin 7 assures me he was not responsible for the 20 yards
of black rubber left at the starting point! However rumour has it Mark
Ryan in his Audi R8 switched off traction control and may be the
culprit. Evidently he has a new set of tyres on order !
Then it
was back down Glen Croe to Arrochar and Tarbet and on down Loch Lomond
to Balloch. The route to the finish carried on the A811 to Arnprior
then to the “Top of The World” before ending once again at
Culcreuch Castle. The friendly atmosphere continued at Culcreuch the
weather had remained fine for the whole route and it appeared that no
one had their picture taken in Glen Dochart.
 Following
our meal our surprise guest appeared to assist Joe Norman our organiser
in chief present the awards, none other than the Stig. The award for
most sponsorship was supported by the Winnock Hotel, Drymen and was won
by Robin Johnston and Guy Deakin in a 1973 V12 E Type Jaguar.The oldest
car to complete the course award sponsored by Gibbon and Wilson was won
for the second time by Mike and Brenda Pell in their 1932 Austin
7Arrow. The car driven furthest to take part in the Tour was the 1998
BMW Z3M of Darren and Cameron McGuinness, from Rossendale, Lancs. This
award was sponsored by Brayon Classic Engineering
Culcreuch
Castle is the sponsor of the award for “Spirit of the
Tour”. This year it was won my John Bainbridge of Appleby who has
taken part in most of the Tours but also encouraged a team of seven
Rotarians from the Lake District to join the Tours.
The award
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Strathendrick was presented to the most
correct answer to Jim Bisset’s Quiz. This was won by a single
team this year instead of the usual draw from a number of correct
answers. The outright winners were Derek House and David Hetherington
in a 1988 Morgan 4+4.
Congratulations to Jim Bisset on setting a
challenge that defeated the majority and many thanks to him for all the
work he has put in over the years as our perennial quizmaster.
The
Concours d’Elegance was won this year by the 1961 Morris Minor
convertible of regular visitors from Muir of Ord Mike and Annie
Herivel. This prize sponsored by Stirling Council was a new book
regarding Stirling Moss signed by the man Himself
A new award
presented by Robert Dickie of Digital Video Team was a 10th Anniversary
Photographic Record of all the Tours and was presented to Hamish McLeod
and Irene Minto from Moffat in their 1949 Bentley Special.
In
celebration of the 10th Anniversary photographs and prints donated by
legends of motor sport including Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart,
John Surtees, Derek Bell and Susie Wolff from Oban were auctioned
before the raffle. The auction raised £450. The raffle with many
prizes donated by our principal sponsor as well as others raised
£830.
This year our principle sponsor was again Graham and
Janice Johnstone of SMS Tyres of Stirling. This year Graham and Janice
fared better in the run in a Porsche 911 Turbo as they completed the
Tour unlike last year when they had an early exit due oil loss when an
oil cooler pipe failed.
The sponsorship of Graham and Janice of
SMS tyres along with other sponsors Brayon Engineering, The Culcreuch
Castle, The Winnock Hotel, Gibbon and Wilson and Lindsays Solicitors
covers the expenses and so ensures that all money raised from entrants
and from the auction and raffle goes to our Charities.This year that
sum was over £7000.
The Rotary Club of Strathendrick is
deeply indebted to all our sponsors and advertisers in the Route Book.
Many thanks to Campbell’s Shortbread, Beatson’s Building
Supplies Ltd., Hagerty Classic Car Insurance, SMS Tyres Stirling,
Thomas Tunnock Ltd., CHAS and Mary’s Meals for providing items
for the Goody Bags.
We must also thank all those helpers and
assistants especially the non-Rotarians who contributed to the smooth
running of the event from start to finish.
Joe must be immensely
proud that over the 10 Tours over £60,000 has been raised for
Charities. Many have sent e-mails congratulating Strathendrick Rotary
for the success of the Tour.
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| Updated 5 May 2016
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