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Kelburn Castle June 2003
Winners

Scottish All Rover Rally 2002
Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 May 2002
Kelburn Castle & Country Centre

Report by Trevor Colebrook


The 2002 Scottish All Rover Rally was held at Kelburn Castle & Country Centre, the historic home of the Earls of Glasgow, overlooking the Clyde coast just south of Largs. A total entry of 115 Rover cars and Land Rovers enjoyed a sometimes wet but always enjoyable weekend.

         


The rally commenced for many of the car entrants with a road run to Dalgarvel Mill. This historic water mill now contains a costume and country life museum, and was a convenient lunch stop. Unfortunately a power cut prevented many of the visitors being able to view the collections.


The 4x4 contingent spent their Saturday afternoon at Blackshaw Farm in nearby West Kilbride, exploring the capabilities of their vehicles on a mixture of surfaces.

The Rally Dinner on Saturday evening was held at the famous Nardini's Restaurant in Largs, and was followed by a mindbending quiz devised by Chris Stearn. The good attendance here was possibly due to the Eurovision Song Contest being the main alternative on TV that evening!


Sunday started bright and clear, so much washing and polishing was evident back in the rally field. As a result of the previous day's rain the field was somewhat boggy, and the planned arena events had to be cancelled, leaving the day to be a static event only.

This Years Winners
Rally Award winners for 2002 were as follows:
"Car of the Show"........Neil Campbell, Rover P5B saloon

"Committee Choice".......David Moseley.......1936 Tourer

Running Board Cars.......Mary Peock, 1923 Rover 8

Rover P4..........Bob Young; P4 "90"

Rover P5......Neil Campbell, P5B saloon

Rover P6.....Jim Pryde; 1972 P6B

Rover SD1.... Brian McColm, Vitesse TP

Modern Rover Cars.....Hugh McLeod; Rover 216

Land Rover (pre 1990).....Robert Cairns (Series1)

Range Rover (Pre 1995).....Stephen Potter (LSE)

Modern 4x4......Edward Costello (Discovery)

"Commmittee Choice".......David Moseley.......1936 Tourer

Many thanks to Lord Glasgow and his staff for helping the event run as smoothly as it did, despite the adverse weather conditions.

Scottish All Rover Rally 2001

By Trevor Colebrook

The Scottish All Rover Rally returned to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune over the late May Bank Holiday weekend for a second year. The decision to return to this venue proved to be a smart one, as the lack of livestock on the site allowed the event to run almost as planned, whilst many other rallies fell foul of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak.

Possibly as a result of the F & M D problems the rally did not attract quite as many visitors from south of the border this year, but as so many other events had been cancelled the Scottish enthusiasts made up the numbers. On the day entrant numbers were very much on par with previous years, at around 130. Particular mention has to be made of the P5 contingent, with 16 entrants, all bar one of those being Scottish based.

After a string of perfect weekends through May it seemed inevitable that the weather would revert to "Bank Holiday normal", and indeed the forecast promised showers and a cool wind, not exactly ideal on an airfield venue. However, Saturday morning dawned fine and dry, and as the day wore on the temperature climbed and the clouds and winds stayed away.

The major change forced on the Rally this year was the cancellation of the Green Road run for the Land Rover participants. They have had a very lean time this spring, with nearly all their competitive events being cancelled, so a larger than usual 4x4 contingent lined up with the cars for the Observation run. This really showed up the rich variety of our event, where else would you see a hill rally special lined up next to a 1940 drophead coupe?

The route used was the same as last year, but with the major difference that this year the participants could actually see the countryside and enjoy the views. One of the great joys of motoring around Scotland is the scenery, and the route around East Lothian had this in plenty. From the foothills of the Lammermuir Hills one could see the whole of the Firth of Forth, from May Island to the Forth Bridges, and across to Fife and the East Neuk. On the return leg, though North Berwick, past the Bass Rock and Tantalon castle, this backdrop was seen in close up, with a sail boat regatta on the blue waters adding that finishing touch. Special mention has to be made to applaud Stewart Devlin, who completed the run in his P3 Tourer, no mean feat to drive, navigate, and solve clues and write down the answers as a solo effort.

After this most pleasant of afternoons the evening visit to the Kilspindie House Hotel in Aberlady for the traditional rally meal and quiz was a fitting finale to the first day. The quiz, with a combination of general knowledge and picture questions, stretched the brain cells after an excellent dinner. When all the marks were counted there was a five way dead heat for second place, and the winning team had a margin of only one point after seven hard fought rounds.

When Sunday's weather arrived bright and full of promise, and the early arrivals were soon parked up and preparing their cars for the concours. Gaps in the club line ups soon indicated a problem however, and soon word arrived that a major incident had closed the Edinburgh city bypass, leading to delays of several hours for those coming from the north and west. Those who gave up the struggle no doubt cursed Edinburgh's reputation as a city you cannot drive around, or through, or park in!

Judging continued through the morning, with entrants being asked to make their choices on the basis of originality and condition, no doubt to the dismay of the guy with the purple metalflake custom SD1. This was the first time that the rally organisers had set out specific criteria for the self judging, and it is one of life's mysteries to ponder upon as to whether this had a bearing on the controversial final outcome.

One of the unique items on the menu of the Scottish All Rover Rally is the opportunity for entrants and visitors to be driven around a short "test route" in examples of cars from the various classes. This year the cars offering these sample rides covered the spectrum from the 1923 8hp Rover of Mary Peock to the V8 powered Hill Rally 4X4 Bowler special.

The various class winners were announced, and as is customary, their entrants were asked to re assess each car to select an overall "car of the show". It was quite a surprise when this august jury announced that its choice was one of the "newer" cars, the 1996 800 Vitesse coupe of Hugh Harvey.

This was the first year that a competitive class had been included for the post SD1 Rover cars, as it was felt that if the event was open to Land Rover and Range Rover variants of any age, there should be no bar to entry to owners of current Rover cars. The fact that one of these cars was sufficiently well prepared and presented that it was able to compete and win took many by surprise, and no doubt offended some of the traditionalists. That it did win was a reflection on the effort put into the car by Hugh, it in no way indicates any lack of quality in the other class winners, all of which were of the usual high standard.

It would be true to say that the overall standard of the cars entered this year made choosing winners very hard indeed, as even the committee members had difficulty in selecting a winner for their award. After careful consideration Neil Campbell's P5B saloon was chosen, another deserving winner.

P5ers did especially well at this years event, as in addition to Neil's award James and Frances Walker won the Observation Run and Aidan Lewis-Smith won the Driving Test award. From a personal viewpoint it made all the hard work and sleepless nights which went into this years event all the more worthwhile, seeing such a healthy turn out of P5s on the road run and on the show field was reward indeed, so thanks to each and every one of you for your support.

Class & Award Winners

Class
Early Rovers Jim Pryde (South Gosforth) P3 "75" 1949 KPX 355
P4 Bruce Allen (Dunbar) P4 " 100" 1960 PSJ 746
P5 Douglas Reid (Dunfermline) 3 Litre Saloon 1965 GXC 815 C
P6 Thomas Cotterill (Morpeth) 3500S 1973 NHH 126 M
SD1 Robert Beattie (Dumfries) 3500 Auto 1977 SRM 871 R
Modern Rovers Hugh Harvey (Callendar) 800 Vitesse Coupe 1996 NON 7 X
Land Rovers Francis Kinloch (Houston) Series 2 Station Wagon 1960 HJS 301
Range Rover + Discovery Kim Payne (Stirling) Range Rover LSE 1983 L1 OHP
Award
Oldest Vehicle Entered Mary Peock (Madderty) Rover 8 hp 1923 SE 1542
Distance Bernard Bibby (Rochester) P4 "105S" 1958 DYX 650
Participation Stewart Devlin (Great Langdale) P3 1949 KUO 614
Observation Run James & Frances Walker (Livingston) P5B Saloon 1970 WNW 567 H
Driving Tests Aidan Lewis-Smith (Gifford) P5B Coupe 1969 UAY 274 H
Car of the Show Hugh Harvey (Callendar) 800 Vitesse Coupe 1996 NON 7 X
Committee Choice Neil Campbell (Strathblane) P5B Saloon 1971 LYG 280 K

Rally 2000 Report

By Trevor ColeBrook

In spite of a poor weather forecast, a good turn out of 55 Rovers, Land Rovers and Range Rovers arrived on Saturday for the on and off road events. The 4x4s soon disappeared into the driving rain and over the hills to play in the mud, leaving 9 cars, including 4 P5s, to tackle the 50-mile observation route around a soggy East Lothian.

In several places the roads were flooded to a depth of several inches, and Mark Korzinek & Alison Deas (1965 3 litre) ran into problems about half way around, with failure of the gear selection linkage and a blowing exhaust, but all returned safely to the Museum of Flight.

On their return to East Fortune, entrants had time to dry out before the evening festivities A 1960s classic double decker bus transported entrants to the Kilspindie House Hotel in Aberlady. 60 folk sat down to a splendid dinner, followed by the traditional general knowledge quiz, and this year's novelty, a picture quiz
.
Sunday morning was bright, dry, and with only the lightest of winds, a blessing indeed on an east coast airfield site!

Cars arrived from early morning until well into the afternoon, and a total of 107 cars were eventually counted in.

The superb weather encouraged everyone, and the club stands were soon being arranged and cars displayed and polished ready for the self-judging.

Paul Atkinson and Tim Melia set up their stalls to offer new old stock parts to the discerning hordes, whilst Millars Oils exhibition unit and A M Phillips Daily City Truck demonstrator also provided interest for our visitors. The Museum itself, with its exhibits of aircraft ancient and modern, from gliders to rockets, provided shade from the sun and an alternative from the cars.



During the afternoon, with the sun still shining, driving tests were held in the arena and visitors were able to take sample rides around the site in a selection of Rovers (and a Jensen CV8)!




At the end of the afternoon the raffle was drawn, and the prizes presented, and the event drew to a close for another year. As we departed, the clouds closed in and rain started to fall, but by that time we were well past caring !.

At the end of the afternoon the raffle was drawn, and the prizes presented, and the event drew to a close for another year. As we departed, the clouds closed in and rain started to fall, but by that time we were well past caring ! Roll on May 2001.


Awards Winners 2000.

Class / AwardWinner Early CarsMrs Mary Peock, 1923 Rover 8HPP4Bernard BibbyP5 (Cambodia Cup)Pete Stringfellow 1969 P5B SaloonP6Roddy McLeodSD1Robert BeattieLand RoverRichard DonaghyRange RoverMark KlimekChampion of Show (Logan Morrison Shield)Bernard Bibby 1958 P4 105 SCommittee Choice (Armorall Trophy)W J McCreath 1940 14hp Drophead
Tim and Chris Moore from Skye won the Taggarts Participation Award and the Observation Run in their immaculate 1947 P2 Export 16S .

The oldest vehicle entered was Mary Peock's 1923 8HP, and the Furthest Travelled entrants were Keith & Joy Roberts, who arrived in their SD1 via Lands End, John O' Groats, and the Isle of Skye!

Team Payne won the General Knowledge Quiz after a tiebreak , and Equipe McCreath won the picture quiz with a perfect score!

RALLY REPORTS

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

The Early Years coming sometime...

©Copyright Scotish All Rover Rally 2002