Motorsport by Tony Brunskill

Last updated 08:30, Friday, 02 May 2008

THERE is nothing that a lover of classic cars enjoys more than to drive them in company of fellow enthusiasts. If such a drive is through some of the most unspoiled parts of Scotland, then it is motoring heaven.

So it was good that Ron Palmer, President of the Wigton Motor Club, organised last weekend’s the Galloway Gallop and uses some virtually deserted by-roads of southern Scotland.

The bare facts were a start from Gretna with coffee at the Harestones Visitor Centre, Jedburgh, lunch at Traquair House, Innerleithen, afternoon tea at Wanlockhead Museum and an overnight in the delightful Abbotsford Hotel, Ayr where much wine flowed over dinner.

A civilised 9am start saw cars head off in warm sun to Creebridge House Hotel for coffee, lunch near the David Coulthard Museum with a finish and tea at Powfoot Golf Hotel. However what the facts miss are the fabulous roads, passes, the stunning beauty, the friendliness of everyone we met and the well maintained roads, a startling comparison with the state of our road south of the border.

Taking part were rally and racing drivers as well as enthusiasts in cars ranging from a 1923 Bentley and 1931s Alvis, 50s and 60s Jaguars to modern classic Triumph, Riley and MGBs with the late night revellers from West Cumbrian  being led by the famous rallying Cooks!

Fifteen cars took part and all agreed it was brilliant and needs repeating.

I had a call from Andy Richardson who co-drove three times British Champion, Jimmy McRae, in the Stobart Porsche 911 RS on the Pirelli Historic rally a fortnight ago which had a heavy accident resulting in them both being injured.

Andy told me that his back is getting better and gave me more details of the accident which was not a roll as I reported but happened on a high speed section when the back of the Porsche lifted over a small bridge, stepped out and despite Jimmy’s skill went off the track and hit a tree which how they both sustained their injuries. Andy also explained that his stage notes were standard ones available to all competitors and not from last year and they were accurate.

As I once co-drove I know only too well that co-drivers are often unfairly blamed for mishaps and rarely praised for the job they do, so I am only too glad to say that in no way was it Andy’s fault as some have assumed and was a rally incident pure and simple.

More cheering news came from Oliver Turvey’s dad, Andrew, who told me the second round of the F3 championship held at Croft Circuit was a great success for the 20 year-old despite stalling his engine in race one but skilfully clawed his way back into the points and in the second race ended up on the podium in 3rd place.

This means that Oliver is 3rd in the championship which bodes well for the rest of the season.

Great news too for M-Sport and Stobart Motorsport as seven Ford Focus RS cars filled the top nine places on the recent Jordan Rally which Mikko Hirvonen won and Matthew Wilson was fifth having lost a certain fourth place by a cruel puncture cost him three minutes.

Tomorrow and Sunday is the two-day Northern Phoenix Trials Club event at Gale How near Melmerby where Dave Martin will be out in his very successful Crossle which is powered by a 16 valve Honda engine with a Hewland rear transaxle.

  David is a past master and determined to defend his 2007 club championship, so the friendly competition should be intense but bring waterproofs as it does get claggy!