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Selkirk
Checkpoint
     Stobs Camp Time Trial
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Flying
Scotsman - 29 March 2009
Report - Endurance Rally
Association, Photographs - Maurice Millar , David Robson
The 1st Flying Scotsman rally exclusively reserved
for pre-war cars attracted an entry of 53 Vintageants, and was run in
two Categories, Pioneers for cars that first entered manufacture prior
to 1921, and a Vintageant Category for pre-1939 model-types.
Over three days the event drove a spectacular route through
remote countryside up the backbone of Britain, taking in the Cotswolds,
Derbyshire Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and into the Scottish Borders.The start was at Brooklands,
the scene of the World’s oldest motor racing track, and cars competed on the Test Hill |
Maurice Millar Checks in oldest competing car, the
1905 Star "Gordon Bennett" 10.1 litre (yes 10 litre plus) racer at
Selkirk |
and drove out onto the remains of the banking
before another timed test on the track at nearby Mercedes
World. From here cars drove through the Berkshire Downs, ending the day with a
time-trial on the track of Shakespeare Raceway at Long Marston before
the overnight halt at Warwick. The Dutch crew of Olaf Pothoven in a
Citroen “Maigret” saloon snatched a narrow early
lead.
| Crews then departed on Day Two for Harrogate,
opening the day with a test at Curborough circuit. One of the early
surprises was the performance of two Italians in the smallest car of
the event, an MG PA... breaking into the top ten with a fine opening
effort to hold 9th overall, a remarkable effort as this day had
included some demanding hills. At the end of the second day crews
relaxed amid the traditional charm of Harrogate's Old Swan hotel, made
famous as a favourite of Agatha Christie. Day Three to Edinburgh saw some
stunning scenery as we left the Yorkshire Dales and entered the
Scottish Borders, ending with a time trial at Stob’s Camp run
by the Hawick
and Border Car Club, and Lord Steel running a checkpoint at his
home near Ettrickbridge. |
 Big
Bentley checks in at Selkirk |
The leaderboard changed with Olaf’s flying Citroen
settling for second overall to Paul Carter and John Baylis in their
Bentley. With the retirement of John Abel's Bentley near Selkirk the
Frazer Nash of Robert Ellis and Cath Woodman clinched third spot.
Fourth overall went to the tiny MG PA of Guiseppe and Gianandrea
Redaelli, who won the class for cars up to 1100cc. The Aston Martin
International of Phillip and Yvonne Haslam won the class for cars up to
1500cc, with Gerry Acher and Bruce Young, also in an Aston, second.
Winner of the Pioneer Category was Paul Rogers and Annabel
Jones in a Vauxhall 30-98, with Nigel and Christine Gray in another
Vauxhall second. A Rolls Royce Silver Ghost of Jon Goodwin and David
Ayre was third.
Mickey Gabbett and Michael Jackson in an Alvis
12/60 won the class for cars up to two-litres, with Macko Laqueur
& Louis de Wilde from Holland second in a Lagonda ex-works
team-car.
The up to three litre class was taken
by the all-girl team of Trina Walsh and Sue Shoosmith in their three
litre Bentley, ahead of Robert and Marguerite Eyben - Sunbeam Super
Sport and Antonius Poelsma and Rudolf Metzelaar from Holland in a
Sunbeam 14/40. The over three litre class was a fierce battle,
settled by Jayne |
HBCC Team at start of Stobs Time Trial |
Wignall and Kevin Savage in a Sunbeam 20hp, from
David Thomson and Gareth Holding in a Talbot 105, with Bill Ainscough
and Vincent Fairclough third in an Alvis Speed 25.
Spirit of the Rally went
to Neil Tuckett and Peter Eldred in their venerable Model T Ford, and a
trophy for “Against All Odds” was collected by
Jonathan Turner, who drove a 1905 Star Gordon Bennet. The
Manufacturer’s Trophy was collected by the Alvis Team.
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| Updated
7 April 2009
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