RTG Highland Thistle Daily Dispatch - electronic - Flipbook - Page 3
RESCHEDULED TO 2021
2 to 7 September 2021
Day 1
St Andrews to Oban (222.5 miles)
3 September 2021
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
Fred Gallagher flags away Graham and Marina
Goodwin in their 1929 Bentley 4 ½ Le Mans
Reto Mebes and Hans-Jürgen Benze’s Bentley 3/4 ½ becomes the 100th car to be flagged away
from a Rally the Globe event
A slightly misty outlook greeted the rally as the
curtains were opened this morning but, as the
crews finished breakfast and made their way to
the car park, there was no hint of this dampness
affecting anybody’s spirits.
In fact, such was the enthusiasm to get on the road, some of
the cars were wiped down, warmed up and packed before
both crew members had even checked out of their rooms.
35 cars were soon teed up in front of the hotel ready for
their drive down the Fairmont fairway and, at 8.31am sharp
Rally Director, Fred Gallagher, wielded his Saltire and got
the show on the road. Out of consideration for the other
guests the Organisers had decided not to engage a piper
to send the crews on their way, leaving the more gentle
exhaust notes hanging in the air to mark the occasion.
Something of a milestone was also passed today. At
8.35am, Reto Mebes and Hans-Jürgen Benze’s Bentley
became the 100th car to be flagged away from a Rally
the Globe event and, as Fred Gallagher took a moment to
reflect on this achievement, he whipped out a carefully
crafted sign to signify the moment. There was little time
for sentiment however, as today was set to be busy and,
just as likely, tough.
Soon after the cars hit the road the first Regularity at
Cults Hill hoved into view. A typically narrow and twisty
single-track section gave the crews something to get their
teeth into, and perhaps iron out any last minute issues,
before tackling the first Test at the Driftland Circuit outside
of Kirkcaldy.
A quick stop for refreshments at the Loch Leven’s
Larder Time Control was a brief respite before the second
Regularity through the Ochil Hills and along the Path of
Condie. By now though, the roads were growing more
challenging, the corners becoming tighter, and the hairpins
steeper, some cars were finding it hard going.
On the run towards lunch Kurt and Diethild Bock’s Aston
Martin DB2/4 Mk II stalled briefly on one such turn just
before the Garrow Passage Control and had to be coaxed
back into life. Almost immediately afterwards Tim Eades
and Jim McLaren’s Escort broke a rear spring meaning the
car had to be towed, and then trucked, to the day’s end.
Others were luckier, the Kenyan crew of Rob Collinge and
Jan Thoenes - driving a Jaguar E-type - looked to be having
the time of their lives stalking the Beardshaw’s Sunbeam
Tiger up hill and down dale all the way into the lunch Time
Control in the Kenmore Hotel, Scotland’s oldest inn.
After such a satisfying morning there was plenty for
the crews to talk about, but anyone thinking of resting on
www.rallytheglobe.com