CCHMSC dipped its toes in the International rally scene when it ran the International Autoecosse on Saturday September 19th. Over 60 competitors from Holland joined the UK entries for a day of tour, tests and regularities around some of the best scenery in the west of Scotland.

We met the flying Dutchmen a day earlier at Kames as they travelled north from Newcastle toward the overnight halt at Drymen. CCHMSC had organised an introductory series of tests at the famous sprint track, which included the chance to take to the track for a quick spin. The machinery they brought was impressive. No less than 28 big Austin Healey's of all types trooped up to the start line, along with a variety of Porsche 911's, Alfa Guilia, Fiat 124 Spyders, Volvo and Volkswagen, and a selection of classic British metal in the shape of Aston Martin, MGA, MGB, Jaguar, Triumph TR, Ford Zephyr, Triumph Vitesse, Morris 1000, and even an Austin A50 pickup! One very quick MGA was in Le Mans style with the large spotlight replacing half the radiator grille. One of the Porsche's and a Fiat Spyder were also very quick, and I could see the trio of crews were anxious to take the top spot.

After an hour of fun under a dry and sometimes sun drenched sky we headed north round Glasgow to Drymen where we entertained by a few Dutch jokes. It's a tricky language but I managed to pick up one or two phrases.

We started Saturday bright and early with scrutineering opening at 0700. Raymond Rollo left home in Aberdeen around 0530 in his 3 litre Ford Capri to run as opening car. As always signing on and the marshals and drivers briefings were hectic, but West Dumbartonshire put on a good start venue for us at Balloch Castle once again.

With the first car due off at 0901 I headed down to Test 1 at Lomond Shores with Richard Welsh to welcome the first car, Nan Beers and Frank Bogtman in a 1958 Ford Zephyr. They managed around the route, which had some slippy sections due to the moss on the ground and damp overnight dew. We had the CCHMSC members joining us for the days fun, and Grainger Robertson in his 1988 Nissan Sunny was out to make a good start, and would have secured a good time, had he not wrong tested near the start. He was not a happy man, but he must have redoubled his efforts on later tests as he secured the overall win in the modern category

The dutch trio from Kames once again fought hard to outdo each other, all of them clocking good times, but it was the Porsche 911s crew of Martin Slagt and Tom Drost who took the fastest time. The Fiat 124 Spyder of Leendert de Haan and Inez van de Poll were right behind him, and our very own Joe Norman and Doug Ashworth in Joes' yellow Minitook third place. Joe would go on to show that Mini's are hard to beat on special tests, and coupled with low penalties on the regularities, secured the overall historic prize by the end of the day.

The route than took the crews up to Glen Fruin for the first regularity where Betty van den Bosch was navigated by Ald Meijer in the 1959 Morris 1000 cabriolet to reach the end of the Glen with only one penalty. Joe Norman picked up 9 penalties but was still up there in the running.

From Glen Fruin the cars headed up the side of Loch Long to return to Loch Lomond via Glen Douglas. No less than five crews managed the section on a clean sheet, with John Roberts in his Gilbern GT being guided by Oliver Tomkins who had flown in form Azerbaijan especially to join the event.

Time for another test and where else more fitting than the Rest and be Thankful. With the recent landslip the main A83 had yet again been closed and it would have been ironic for our crews to use the old road to bypass the closure. As it was the main road was once again open, but for how long this time? The Porsche 911S of Martin Slagt once again showed its colours with fastest time, equalled by the Healey Mk1 of Rob and Hans van der Leeuw. They were hotly pursued by Grainger Robertson in third place and Joe Norman taking fourth.

Hells Glen led the way to Inverary Castle where a stop for refreshments and a couple of tests in the grounds were scheduled. This time Rud Sliepenbeek and Michael van Thiel in a big Healey 3000 took the lead on the first test, followed by Grainger and David Robertson in the Sunny. But the roles were reversed on Test 4 with Grainger taking the upper hand. Joe Norman and Steve Lee in his Triumph TR4 were also up there with the top crews.

A run up Glen Aray to Dalmally and up through Glen Orchy before Lunch at Tyndrum. A further regularity near Killin, on the old road by Auchlyne saw Joe Normans Mini, Harry den Elzen Healey 100-6, and Laurent Le Guével Frogeye Sprite score a clean sheet.

Well on the route home to Drymen down the A85, but not before a regularity up toward Balquhidder, which had Pim and Hein Brinkmann in a Healey 3000 Mk3, Leendert de Han and Inez van de Poll in the Fiat 124 Sport Spyder and our own John Roberts and Oliver Tomkins in the Gilbern GT finish the section with no penalties.

A quick run up the Dukes Pass and Brig O' Turk to a final regularity at Dalmary which Paul Fechner and Joost Bindels in a Healey 3000 Mk2 and Patrick van Thiel with Tjeerd Wichers in a Healey 3000 Mk1, cleared with no penalties, led to the Winnock Hotel finish in Drymen.

Dineer and a few beers and tall stories with prizegiving to follow, completed the days fun as the sun finally settled on a day to remember as CCHMSC first international rally came to a close.

The Dutchmen headed of on their tour on the Sunday, ending back at Newcastle for their ferry back to Amsterdam. I hope, like us,  they take back fond memories of this slightly different event home with them.