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 | Museum Tour - 24 July 2022 Report by Jim Paterson
Line-up growing at Dundee museum of Transport under warm sunshine
This
new
event in the calendar was based on visits to classic car and
motorsporting museums. Starting off under sun filled skies at the
Dundee Museum of Transport on
Sunday 24 July, the route headed north
into the Scottish highlands. Though we experienced a few heavy showers
most of the soft tops managed to keep tops down most of the time.
The
crews arrived at the Dundee Museum of Transport to sign on refuel
themselves with a spread of Danish pastries, brownies and cookies, all
washed down with tea or coffee. There was time to walk around the
museum halls to see the exhibits on display.
 Roddie
Main provided the Drivers Briefing, explaining speed limits, other road
users, walkers, cyclists, motor cyclists and farm machinery.
With the clock
striking 10am it was first car away, with all eyes watching to see if
they turned the right direction as they left the museum. Even if
your a good navigator it is important to get the first few
instruction correct, if only to display you know what your doing.....
Duncan
Massie & Jenny Mackay in their BMW convertible headed off
early as Opening Car, to make sure all was well ahead. Craig McGibbon
in his '72 Lancia Fulvia Coupé with Anne Meek reading the
route, were first out of the blocks. Craig told me a recent brake
problem had been fixed the previous day, so this was the car's
'shakedown' event. As our first away I watched keenly to see if they
turned left at the museum exit. They did, so Anne had read the book
correctly 10/10. Committee member Tom Niven in the '05 MGTF with
top down was next off with Karen Wilson in the navigator seat. Another
top down followed, the '07 Mazda MX5 of Charlie young, with committee
member John Stuart guiding the crew.
It was good to see Jim
and Irene Hendry in their '63 Triumph TR4. Jim was just back from a
continental tour with Graham Couser in Jim's TR3. The TR4 looked good
and seemed to have plenty torques as it moved off the start line.
Richard Bartniczek in his '88 Alfa Romeo Spider had Norman MacFarlane
reading the route. A change from wife Yvonne, so I watched closely as
they departed. Norman is an old hand at navigational relies so no fear
he would make any mistake! Graeme and Jean Burns joined in
with their splendid 2002 Morgan Aero 8. Reuben and Hope Phillips
appeared in their new '04 Audi A3 cabriolet, only purchased a few days
before. So another 'shakedown' entry. Graham Couser brought his '06
Porsche Carrera S, covering both driver and navigator roles. Our first
Jaguar, the 1957 XK150 of Bill McLay with Allan Mackie sounded in top
form as they left the start line.
Taking drop top to extremes
was the almost neon green 2018 Caterham of Blair Thomson with George
Gibb. The noise from the side exit exhaust pipe was wonderful to hear.
When it rains you just go faster...... Our second Jaguar, a
1953 XK120, with proud crew and owner Colin and Anne Stewart had
morphed into an Audi A3 cabriolet. At first I thought it was a double
take of Reuben and Hope Phillips. Anne had read the forecast and as
their XK120 never has the hood up, they thought we will get wet. A wise
decision given a sprinkling of heavy showers were on the cards. Another
morphed car was Gordon Spence and Mark Bennett in a BMW Z3, not the A4
Avant.
The final few were ready to go, led by Stuart and
Mervyn Cobb in the 2004 Toyota MR2, seen on many of the club tours.
George and Jean Shand brought their day car to the event, ready to
enjoy the day. Jim and Norma Watson started in their trusty little
1968 Riley Elf, a favourite on club events. Last away but not
least Chris and Mary Paton in a 2000 Mercedes SLK, top down to start
with.
The route took us around the Dundee ring route, where
counting roundabouts was key to finding the exit on to the A923 to
Coupar Angus. We peeled off at Muirhead to follow the B954 north west
toward Meigle and Alyth. Into Glenisla,where some of us caught the
black clouds and the heavy rain shower that forced most 'tops down' to
go quickly 'tops up'. fortunately the downpour did not last long and
soon the tops were down in the sunshine again. We were heading due
west to the Old Military Road, a General Wade road, though built in the late 18th century by Major Caulfeild.
Now known as the A93, heading to Braemar, we crossed the Spittal of
Glenshee, thankfully no snow today at this popular ski resort.
Some
met the downpours again at Braemar, but as before it soon passed. At
Braemar we swung back to a north easterly direction, passing Balmoral,
where the flag was flying, so HM Queen was in residence. (Ed should
have booked tea in the garden with her majesty!). Swinging
onto the infamous A939 at Crathie Kirk which we followed to
Colnabaichin where we cut off onto the A944 heading east to our
lunch stop at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford. Our crews
parked up on the circuit at the back of the museum.
Trackside line up at Grampian Transport Museum
An
amazing place with a fine display of exhibits to wow the crews,
and friendly staff to help and provide the included lunch for
everyone.
Outside
was a road layout for kids ,complete with junctions, traffic lights
cars, and a police chase car. Great way to teach youngsters the rules
of the road.
Leaving Alford we turned south on the A944, turning off to the B993 at Millbank &  Tillfourie
(Ed wonderful place names) which took us over to Torphins, with
spectacular views on the way. More spectacular views were provided as
we reached Cairn O' Mount, before descending to Clatterin Brig,
crossing the Devilly burn. Built in 1961 it replaced the original from
1790. Soon we reached Fettercairn on to the final leg of our tour.
The
organisers had put a 'teaser loop' in this final section but a fallen
tree part way through stumped (pun intended) many as the single track
road proved tricky for the larger cars to 3 point turn! The early
arrivals found a woman walking her dog flagging them down before
reaching the falling tree. Luck them!
Safely back in the Panmure Arms at our destination in Edzell, the crews refuelling themselves on a good Scottish High Tea.
A great day out was reported by all the crews, with some staying over in the Panmure Arms, to make a full weekend of it.
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| Published 21 June 2022
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