As forecast in our December Newsletter, the Caledonian Classic and Historic Motor Sport Club arranged a very impressive commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the first Glasgow Start of the Monte Carlo Rally, at Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.

The occasion was of particular delight to one “honorary” member of the SRE, Dr Louis Whyte, father of Duncan and grandfather of Garry, who was involved on that winter’s day in 1949, when the participating cars were flagged off on their gruelling journey from Blythswood Square, the spectacular Adam setting in the city centre. And now, in the darkness and drizzle of January 2009, the SRE was there to take part, in the shape of the glorious green RMB of Peter and Donald Bryson, from Prestwick. The crew was just one of an excellent turnout of some 70 entries, comprising mainly an array of cars from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies. This commemorative run began at 7.00pm, the cars visiting Blythswood Square, before heading West towards Loch Lomond and their destination, the lochside village of Luss.

A goodly crowd of spectators clustered round the parc fermé and the CCHMSC arch, to watch the Bryson Riley, accompanied by a superb Bristol 401, a rally-stripped Jowett Javelin, Porsches from 356 to later 911s, a fine A30 and the ubiquitous Morris Minors, Mini Coopers galore, a Mk 2 Jaguar, Rovers (2200TC and 3500S), a Mk1 Lotus Cortina, MGBs and more, slip away into the glistening city.

West of Alexandria and across the Leven, the faster cars, among them the RMB, could open up and flex their undoubted muscles, though its arrival at the start had Been delayed by a failing fan belt at East Kilbride and the SRE crew remained anxious as to its staying power. To be fair to the Riley, it had only recently returned to the road after a 4-year lay-off and this event was its first outing - although strictly non-competitive, the occasion was understandably free-flowing and the RMB was well on the way to 80 road miles, by this stage.

Peter swung the Riley right, off the A82 and on to the old Loch Lomondside road, sensing Luss a short way ahead. In the twisting and undulating darkness, the flooded carriageway was invisible, and the RMB was just one of many entrants to plough into the deep water. At this, the already-perished fan belt announced that it had had enough. Destination reached, but what to do now? Call for a trailer from Prestwick?

No! By good luck, Gerrard and Dennis O’Hare had spotted the RMB on the road and were chasing it (with some difficulty!) in their modern. On-the-spot SRE discussion resulted in a call to David Robb, at home many miles away in Balfron, and the decision to motor there to fetch a replacement belt.

David being David, a belt was not all they got! Out in his garage, where lurks his own mighty RMB, currently under restoration, our rescue team received not only the correct belt, but a neat bundle of the required tools, prepared specially for the replacement - and a detailed, totally-professional lesson in How To Do It!

Back to Luss with alacrity and the removal and replacement procedures were carried out without difficulty. Phew!

Farewells exchanged and Peter’s and Donald’s gratitude expressed, the Bryson crew took its leave, heading home. With its new belt doing its job well, the RMB fairly flew, maintaining a good 60 mph on all the open road sections. The team arrived home safely just before midnight.

Quite an evening! An excellent event, indeed, offering a magnificent spectacle in Glasgow and en route, and (notwithstanding its temporary aberration) Magnificent RMB Motoring. And as circumstances transpired, the strength of our wee club was once again demonstrated by the ready comradeship which resolved the problem promptly and effectively. Well done, Gerrard, Dennis and David!

Congratulations to the CCHMSC on its vision and event management and more power to its efforts to win back the Glasgow start of “The Monte”. We look forward immensely to the ARC’s 100th Monte Celebration from Glasgow in 2011.

The Great North Winter Challenge