|  | Blairgowrie Classic Car Tour:Drive it Day - Sunday 22 August Ian and Sarah Milford in their 1922 'Bullnose' Morris Oxford flagged off by Provost of Perth and Kinross, Dennis Melloy
 Around
80 classic and supercars assembled at Blairgowrie Golf Club for
the 2021
'Drive it Day, delayed by pandemic from April. Leading us away was the
oldest entrant, car that is, the 1922 Morris Oxford of Ian and
Sarah Millford. The odd shower had greeted us on arrival at the
Blairgowrie Golf Club start, but cleared to allow the convertibles to
get their soft tops down.
 From Blairgowrie we headed back to Perth, passing the famous Meikleour Beech Hedge, as we did on the recent Red Hackle Tour event. The hedge is the longest
hedge in Britain and the highest of its kind in the world. Planted in
1745 and is one third of a mile long (530 m) and 100 ft (30 m) high. It
is thought the men who planted it were called to fight in the Jacobite
Rebellion and none of them returned alive. In tribute the trees were
allowed to grow and the hedge acts as a living landmark to them.
Quite
a battle through Perth these days, what with roadworks and 20mph
congestion causing grid lock meant up to 20minutes for some crews to
get through the city.
 Once
clear it was open road to Bridge of Earn, before swinging east to
Newburgh on the southern bank of the River Tay. Some stopped for fuel,
other visited the Lindores Abbey Distillery next door. Ed Bit early for a swift dram, but maybe later?
Some
fine views along this little known of the beaten track road, passing
14th century Ballinbreich Castle, though it is narrow, can be a bit
twisty, with blind summits to keep crews awake. We have used this
road on CCHMSC events, so know what to look out for. We passed
Kilmany, birthplace of Jim Clark on our way to Wormit, swinging south
easterly to reach St. Andres our picnic lunch stop.
St.
Andrews is usually extremely busy, but thanks to the local Rotary
clubs, who had taped off an area for us to park on we were ok,
otherwise it would have been parking on the beach. Ed Not good for the bodywork, all that salt!
Departing
from St. Andrews was our first challenge. all that holiday traffic in
town made it easy to wrong slot. We retraced our route to escape the
town then headed for Cupar on the country lanes. Maintaining a westerly
direction we reached Milnathort and Kinross. At Rumbling Bridge it was
time to turn north, through Glendevon and passing Gleneagles hotel.
Time for afternoon tea anyone?
Refreshed, continuing north we
reached Crieff, using the backroads where possible. Into the 'Sma
Glen', and over the wonderful road to Amulree to Aberfeldy. We were now
on the home run, turning due east to Logierait to join the A9 north for
the final 5 mile sprint to our destination at Pitlochry, well it should
have been but the traffic was something else....
Arriving at
the Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry we were greeted by fellow crews
and their cars. A great finishers meal was welcome and the raffle and
auction raised the final £27000 total for the headline charities, Bowel Cancer UK,
and Alzheimer Scotland.
This would be the 4th and last time Blairgowrie will run the event, passing the baton on to another Rotary team next year.
Well
done to Rotary club member Colin Stewart and his wife Anne, the
“driving force” behind the events, and their team of
Rotarians, without whom this event would not be possible.
We look forward to whoever picks up the baton, continuing this annual magnificent tour of all cars classic and sporting.
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| Published 30 August 2021
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