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The Maltings
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MONDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2004
A bright and breezy Edinburgh morning greeted competitors at Calton Hill for the flagging off of the seventh Scottish Malts Reliability Trial and second Classic Car Tour, in full view of Edinburgh Castle's majesty.
All but three crews from the Reliability Trial lined up and crossed the start. It was looking hopeful that despite Ulf and Christian Jacoby's dead 1932 Invicta S Type they may still have made it to the start after spending most of Sunday looking for a replacement vehicle. Unfortunately this hunt turned out to be fruitless.
It was good news however, for Mrs Martina Bossert and Hans-Dieter Rosmanith, whose 1952 Jaguar XK120 suffered a broken gearbox on the run up to Edinburgh. They informed the organisers at 21.30 last night that they had managed to hire a Jaguar E Type. After some last minute paperwork they were giving new timecards and were ready for the off this morning as amended Car no 51.
Windswept Knockhill Race Circuit was the first call for the Reliability Trial, as competitors took on a lap consistency test. Incredibly, and for the first time ever on a HERO event, one crew managed to complete the test with zero penalties! John and Susan Bennett, in their Alfa Romeo Giulia ti, managed to complete each lap in 2 minutes 16 seconds – our congratulations to them for this achievement.
A visit to the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum preceded a Regularity Section over the beautiful Ochil Hills before heading northwards to Perth, and glorious Scone Palace.
Tourers, Hugo Borremans and Ms Viviane van Roy, unfortunately didn't make it over the start having suffered a flat battery overnight, but appeared at Scone Palacein good spirits and looking forward to starting the route properly.
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John and Susan Bennett's Alfa Romeo Giulia ti
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Lunch was taken at a traditional game lodge in Glenshee followed by a wonderful climb high into the Cairngorms, before descending to Royal Lochnagar within the confines of The Balmoral Estate. Then it was on to the final Regularity Section of the day via The Lecht pass and Scotland's highest village, Tomintoul. Philip & Heather Milne -Taylor in their Frazer Nash managed to get their front wheel stuck in a ditch up to it's axle after avoiding an oncoming car just after this Regularity, using up 10 minutes of their precious time to reverse out.
And finally, a gentle run into the last control of the day at Coylumbridge for the overnight halt and a traditional Highland Banquet. It was not too gentle, however, for Peter Harris, who is co driver in Car 19. He found himself running the last mile or so to the control desperate not to miss his time after the Mini ran out of petrol just up the road.
Spirits are high with all looking forward to heading northward tomorrow.
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HERO - the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation The Town House - Leigh - Worcester - WR6 5LA - UK
tel (+44/0) 1886 833505 - fax (+44/0) 1886 833144 - e-mail [email protected]
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