Caledonian Classic and Historic Motorsport Club

Monte Carlo Glasgow Press Launch
Photos Alan Duncan

The Scottish Start for the Monte will be Clydebank, Starting from the All new Clydebank College. Beside the Collage bus terminal there will be a show of around 100 Pre 1980 Classic cars that would have taken part in past Monte Carlo Rallies. If your car fits the bill and you would like to take part Contact Jim Paterson
email jim.paterson@btinternet.com

Left to right Derek Palmer ( Manager of Speed Scotland,World 1,000cc land speed Record),Provost Denis Agnew and Douglas Anderson. Background are the West Dunbartonshire Councillors

Left to right Derek Palmer ( Manager of Speed Scotland,World 1,000cc land speed Record),Provost Denis Agnew and Douglas Anderson. Background are the West Dunbartonshire Councillors

At a press conference at the Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre on Wednesday 7 December, it was announced that classic Lancias, Triumphs and Porsches will start from Clydebank on January 29th on their 2000km journey to Monte Carlo.

Clydebank will join Barcelona, Oslo, Turin, Reims and Warsaw as the 2012 official starting locations for the rally, which is one of the most famous motor sport events in the world. It is hoped the occasion, which attracted over 6000 spectators in Glasgow in January this year, will be repeated at the new location, which has more space to accommodate spectators. 125 years of Burgh status

The 2012 Monte Carlo Classic Rally will begin in the shadow of the famous A-listed Titan Crane thanks to a partnership between The 2012 Monte Start Committee and West Dunbartonshire Council.

A special period Monte Carlo Show will be located on the site of the former John Brown shipyard and Monte cars will leave the start ramp in front of the £33 million Clydebank College campus. The Monte start falls on the Clydebank celebration of 125 years of Burgh status. West Dunbartonshire Provost Denis Agnew said: “We promote events that will bring added value to the area and this is a prestigious event for Clydebank.

Cars leaving Clydebank will depart on January 29th and drive through the night to Dover and over the English Channel. They will finish the event, if successful, on February 4th with a grand ceremony after participating in the famous concentration runs in the mountains above Monaco.

The man who brought the Monte back to Scotland last year, Douglas Anderson, is set to travel to Monte Carlo again in 2012, to deliver a bottle of local Auchentoshan whisky to Prince Albert from the people of Clydebank. “We are really looking forward to the 2012 event and joining in the great story Clydebank has to tell,” said Anderson of the 2012 Monte Start Committee.

Cars from America and Italy have entered the event, as has the crew of Speed Scotland, the team behind the world land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah last year. The Lesmahagow-based team will attempt to win the Monte Carlo rally in a 1979 Porsche before making another land speed record attempt in Utah later in 2012 with its streamliner, ‘Flower of Scotland’.

“Like breaking records, the Monte Carlo Classic rally is about boyhood dreams,” said team boss, Derek Palmer, who was pictured with the team’s Porsche and ‘The Flower of Scotland’ at yesterday’s conference. “I remember seeing the cars going off with my dad when I was young and wishing I would, one day, take part. Now that is happening. It it a big year for us but what we are doing with the land speed attempt and also with the Monte is about celebrating Scotland. We have so much to offer in this country.”

Blythswood Heritage Run

After the last car to Monte is flagged off to Monte Carlo , the Blythswood Heritage Run will once be flaged off the same Start Ramp, this year they will be heading to Drymen, Download Regs and Entry Form if you would like join the run.

The Blythswood Heritage Run will follow a similar format to the very successful event, in 2011. The finish will be in Drymen for supper. A Roadbook and Rally Plates will be provided. We are looking for cars to represent those that would have taken part in the Monte Carlo Rallies from the 1940’s through to the 1970’s. The event will be flagged off from the Start Ramp of the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique, once the Rally cars have been cheered on their way.
Link to all the info below