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Border Reivers - 7 April 2019 A
full line-up of forty classics turned out at Eddleston for the start of
the 2019 opening event in the club calendar. Though the skies were
heavy, as the scots would say 'dreich', it did nothing to spoil the
terrific route club members Ranald Bruce, and Louise Wall put together.
After
refuelling with tea, coffee and the obligatory bacon roll, after the signing on, the crews
set off from the Scots Pine Bistro toward Eddleston where the hung a
right over the Meldon Hills on their way to Stobo Castle.
First away was Ian Lindley and Alan France in a bright red
Lotus Elan S3, followed by the 1970 Volvo Amazon of Peter Holmes and
Andrew Isherwood. This car is a Monte Carlo historique veteran so
should be fine in the Scottish mist. Lindsay Smith and Anne Johnston
took of in their more modern Mini, with Ron and Jan Adam in a 2000 BMW
Z3 hot on their heels. Vaughn Taylor brought his latest 1972 Saab 96
acquisition. Co-driver Lewis Irwin told me it can hold its own even on
these slippy roads.
Craig McGibbon with Volvo Amazon. Ranald skulking behind start flag!
Time for another Volvo Amazon with Monte Historique provenance, this time with Craig McGibbon at the wheel and
Owen Ferry reading the route. Criag tells me that this car will be up
for sale soon, so if your interested drop me an email. Charlie Young
is usually at the wheel of his Mazda MX5, but yesterday the steering /
front suspension played up making it impossible to drive, so turned out
in the day car with wife Netta in the CRVr. Graham Morris and
John McDonald brought a 2014 Vuaxhall Corsa, chased by the '78 Triumph
Dolomite Sprint of John and Elzabeth Fergusson. This bright yellow
example is a regular at our events and certainly stands out.
Another
regular, David and Anne Scott in
their '85 VW Golf headed out, with Malcolm McLeod in his 2008 MX5 with
co-organiser Louise Wall on the maps. The bright orange '74 Mk1 Escort
RS2000 means it has to be John and Julia Mellon, another
regular at club events. We also had two Subaru Impreza's,
Gary and Angela Douglas in their '96 model, and Brian and Suzanne
Pringle in the 2000.
 A real trip back in time to
see the 1959 Porsche 356 of Simon and Paddy Whittley. Wonderful
to see this rare machine out on the road. Wheelspin galore as the '91
Honda NSX of Graeme and Beth Cargill took of on the damp surface. This car
and crew have driven all across Europe on the clubs continental tours,
so this is a short jaunt for them today. Sean and Derek Reynolds next
in their '85 Porsche 944, in red of course! You have to have an MGB,
and Reuben Phillips brought his '85m MGB/GT with John Smith in the left
seat. Maude Donkers with daughter Eleanor followed in thir '85 Mercedes
380SL The car would hit a pothole later on, throwing the car onto
some mud and into the ditch. Can report crew OK but car will need a fair bit
of TLC.
 Another red car, this time the 1967 Hillman
Imp of Colin Laird and Brian Shute, was followed by regular crew Ann and
George Head in their '96 BMW convertible, keeping the hood firmly up
today. Known to all our entries, Chris and Mary Paton in that
lovable but rapid Mini. Look under the bonnet next time you have a
chance. Fantastic.
 A favourite of mine, having one in the
garage, a '69 Austin Healey Sprite crewed by Keith Mainland and
John Baird. Bill and Val Pollock brought the '65 Triumph TR4A in
preference to their TR2. Good choice given the weather. Charles and
Catherine Donkers, the other half of our Dutch team, in the 2003 Porsche
911 Turbo, which did survive the run in one piece.
 Tom Niven and
Karen Wilson set off in Tom's new '05 MGF, recently acquired and
getting an early run. Craig and Rod Ritchie always cut a dash in their
2000 Porsche Boxster, complete with top down. They make them brave over
in the west. Hillman Avengers are becoming more scarce and it was great
to see Drew Struthers and Elizabeth Cooper in their example. Maureen
and Dave Spence, all the way from  Inverness, followed in their
Renailt Megane. Richard and Yvonne Bartniczek, also from Inverness,
normally arrive in their '68 Alfa but the day car BMW X1 was pressed
into service today. Duncan Massie and Jenny McKay drove in style in the
Jaguar XK, whilst Scott Clements and Liz Junor squeezed into the
smallest car on the event a '72 Clan Crusader. Another crew all the way from
Inverness were Donald and Mags Campbell in the affectionate 1955
Sunbeam Talbot 90, oldest car on the event.
From sedate
motoring to outright racer, in the shape of a 2016 Lotus Exige Club S
Racer, crewed by Peter Mackay and Lucinda Coomber. The Toyota-sourced,
supercharged, 3.5-liter V-6 engine, which Lotus claims the
track-ready sports car hits 62 mph in four seconds and has a top speed
of 170 mph. Soon be up the front then?
Maintaining
the sporting car class, Stuart Cobb brought his 2004 Toyota MR2 with
Rob Wood in the left seat. Tom and Marianne Dromgoole were in typical
top down mode, as always, in their 2001 MGF, with John Beattie and
Charles Galloway 1965 Ford Cortina Mk1 Estate chasing. Last but not
least Roddie Main and John Start in the Mercedes SL320, another car
often crossing Europe in the continental tours.
 Passing
Stobo we met the A701 turning toward moffat, but taking the Talla turn
at Tweedsmuir. From the tops this reservoir is a great view, but not
today perhaps. On the other side we head for Selkirk passing St. Mary's
Loch and the gordon Arms Inn recently re-opened. Climbing again, this
time over the 'swire' to the Ettrick Valley. We hugged Ettrick Water on
the way to Hawick, passing Alemoor Reservoir another great view on a
clear day, and Roberton.
line-up at Hawick
 We
arrived in Hawick at Johnstons of Elginn Hawick Mill for our lunch
stop, and for some refuelling the cars as well. Always a problem with
pre 1970's cars, small petrol tanks. 5 gallons with an average 30mpg
does not take you too far compared to today's 50mpg plus cars.
Johnstons girls
 Fully
refreshed we headed east out of Hawick crossing the A68 to reach
Roxburgh, and the market town of Kelso. Onward to Greenlaw on the A697,
cutting off toward Charterhall Airfield, where ex touring car champion
John Clelland was running the DriveWise programme for pre-drivers
14-17, young drivers 17-25, and older drivers over 65's elderly drivers
to improve their driving skills in a safe environment. drivewiseborders.co.uk
 Through
Hutton we were reaching the highlight of our visit, a visit to see the
Andrew Cowan collection of rally cars. We were met by Doug Niven, Ian
Calder and Ben Smith from the Jim Clark Trust jimclarktrust.com.
The collection is not open to the public, and only through the connect
with organiser Ranald Bruce was this once in a lifetime visit made
possible. We were delighted when the man himself, Andrew Cowan, came over to see and speak to some of our crews, often exchanging tall tales of glory days past.
Lotus Twins - Doug Niven with Lucinda Coomber and Peter MacKay with Lotus Exige S Club Racer beside Jim Clark's Lotus Elan
 We also saw on display the £100,000 Lotus Evora GT410 Sport. Officially the 100,000th Lotus ever built. Exclusive livery replicating
Jim Clark’s famous 1964 Lotus Elan. Jim Clark signature and Scottish
tartan cloth interior
(0-60 4s, top speed 190mph) Offered as a prize in a competition to
raise funds for the Jim Clark Museum build in Duns. Our crews bouight
48 tickets at £20 each, so adding £960 to the pot. You can
buy a ticket on line. jimclarklotus.com
The
club extends a their grateful thanks to Andrew, wife Linda and the Jim
Clark members for allowing and supporting us during this unique visit.
 As
our tour was taking place on the 7 April, the day in 1968 of that
fateful crash at Hockenheim that cost Jim Clark his life, the club laid
a wreath at the grave of Jim clark in Chirnside church. A poignant
moment for us as we remembered the memory of one of the
great racers of all time.
We were now on our final leg
heading north east toward Gifford. Heavy mist fell on the some of the
hilltops making progress somewhat slow over the narrow twisty roads on
our route.
The Goblin Ha Hotel put on a fine meal for us,
with each finisher receiving a certificate showing Andrew Cowan's
London Sydney Hillman Hunter in action in 1968. Ranald thanked all the
competitors for their support, which was rewarded with a thank you back
from the crews for a great day, one to be remembered for a long time.
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updated 11 April
2019
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