Welcome to the fourth running of the Classic Malts Scottish Reliability Trial, organised by HERO - the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation, and sponsored by the Classic Malts brand of fine whiskies. We hope you will enjoy watching this year's gathering of splendid classics, the oldest built nearly 80 years ago.
After leaving our Edinburgh Castle start we head for Aviemore and the Highlands. On Day Two we tour Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire and Speyside, then we travel cross-country via Loch Ness to take the modern bridge over to Skye. We have a rest day at Talikser, Skye's only distillery, then after enjoying the scenery and hospitality of that Isle, we head for the glories of Mull. Our participants are sure to enjoy the fabled roads of that famous rallying island, and a break to visit mystic Iona.
Leaving Mull, we take the ferry back to Oban, and thence return on roads passing Loch Awe, Loch Fyne and Loch Lomond to the finish at Edinburgh. En route, throughout their six days of gently competitive motoring, crews will pause at places of interest for refreshment and/or special driving tests on private land: at historic homes and motorsport venues, and more of the Classic Malts distilleries: Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore and Oban as well as Talisker itself. See the map overleaf for suggested viewpoints and timings.
As in previous years, crews come from all over Europe and from as far afield as New Zealand, the United States, Canada and Uruguay (designated by the country code ROU). They will be bringing a superb array of cars. Watch out for the 1953 C-Type Jaguar, one of the original Ecurie Ecosse team, raced in its heyday by Roy Salvadori and Jackie Stewart's brother, Jimmy. The trio of Sunbeam Tigers should make a stirring sight, and the 1954 AC Ace Ruddspeed is another rarity. But there are humbler cars, too: the entry includes a little Morris 8, a Sunbeam Rapier and a Rover P5B.
As in all HERO events, there is no overall winner. Crews will be competing for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals - awarded for outstanding individual performance, and for awards within their own class. There are team prizes, too, with the Talisker Trophy, the premier award of this event, going to the best Marque Team. Last year three Triumph TRs of the 1950s won it. Who will carry it off in 2001? To keep up to date with the progress of the rally, and for day by day results, call back here.
