Issue 1 : 5 May 2000

Issue 2: Aviemore Sunday 7 May

Issue 3: Monday 8 May 2000

Issue 4: Tuesday 9 May 2000

Issue 1 : 5 May 2000

Welcome to Glenkinchie Introduction by Maltings Reporter Welcome to the Third Classic Malts Scottish Reliability Trial. Ahead lie six days of exciting and enjoyable rallying, visits to beautiful historic places and four of the Classic Malts distilleries, not forgetting the added enjoyment of the beautiful Isle of Skye. About Maltings Each day intrepid Maltings Reporter, Julie Eaglen, will be roving around picking up bits and pieces of information to fill these pages and give a car-by-car insight to the event. And on the Web - for Friends and Family around the world Each day there will be updates from the results team and a range of news stories - from bar room gossip to the hottest rallying news. Cunning … Want to avoid running at car 1? Well, a few weeks back, Colin Francis discovered he was going to be running at Car 1, and thus the first to find all of the marshals, and with no-one to follow on the Driving Tests. Worse still, driver John Blanckley (not known for getting out of bed early) rebelled at the thought of leaving Edinburgh Castle at 06.00. It is rumoured that a crisis meeting was held, and Francis suggested that the car be changed. The 1928 Rolls Royce was rapidly changed for John's wife's Lotus; HERO was informed that the Rolls couldn't be made ready in time, and - hey presto - with one bound they moved from Class 1, Car 1 to Class F4, Car 156, with a start time of 07.48! Sorry, Ken and Heather! Think you can keep things a secret? Well, beware, the HERO reporter has spies running in her wake! But if you're really desperate to keep those miscellaneous secrets to yourself, bribes will of course be readily accepted …

Scrutineering at Glenkinchie Distillery The five-crew Rolls Royce Phantom VI belonging to Brett Gage sets out from the Edinburgh start Chief Scrutineer, Peter Elliott, tests an Austin Healey's steering Denis & Penny Robson's MG ZB Magnet te (foreground) awaits the scrutineer Serious attention to a point of detail

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Issue 2: Aviemore Sunday 7 May

The Prologue by Maltings Reporter Well, it's been a busy few days! Even before we reached Glenkinchie we had been beset by an exceptional number of people with unexpected car problems, necessitating last-minute changes, or, in a handful of cases, withdrawal before even reaching the starting line. But after a cool grey start up the top of the Royal Mile in front of the imposing granite of Edinburgh Castle, finally all those months of preparation and expectation were ended - the Third Classic Malts - a Journey to Talisker had begun! Glenkinchie Dramas - Part I By now, everyone has their own story to tell, but one of our journalists covering the event from the competitor's eye view, Malcolm McKay, seems to spawn dramas to give himself something to write about every other month. After weeks of preparation, including removal of the gearbox and myriad other items, his Triumph TR2, carefully prepared to original 1955 specification, was presented to the scrutineers. They duly passed it with flying colours, and Malcolm and navigator Tony went off to the car park. Bang! One broken leaf spring. HERO is kind to competitors; we arrange scrutineering on a working day. Fortunately, the springs are not as rare as the proverbial hen's teeth, a new spring could be obtained not so many miles away, and was duly fitted. But imagine if we had scrutineered on a Sunday … Glenkinchie Dramas - Part II Carburettors breaking off were the order of the day for the "Double Dutch" duo of Sijpesteijn/Deynoor, with Volvo 123GT no. 97. Those carburettors just wouldn't behave - but finally they were tamed around 2.00am Saturday by Jan's son. Well done! DAY ONE ENDS ON A SUNNY NOTE Scotland delivers fine weather and great rallying. Peered up at the sky at the hotel as everyone was leaving and said, "Oh, it'll be bright enough later." At 6.45am, in the cool greyness with rain trying to set in, the Maltings reporter wasn't so sure. But lunchtime at Blair Castle was lovely and by the time first cars were arriving at Aviemore it was clearly fantastic. And the verdict on the first day's rally activity? Fantastic! Wow - you've really worked us hard today! A great day! Crews who have never done a day's rallying before who looked more than a little nervous up at Edinburgh looked cool, calm and collected by lunchtime, and many were positively radiant at Aviemore. We look forward to delivering more of the same for the next few days.

A selection of photographs from Day 1 Duncan and Barbara Arthur's Jaguar SS100 Replica passes spring colour at Dungarthill Philippe Burckhardt and Joseph Lambert in the 1939 BMW328 on the Lude House test The last Denzel SS1300 built, driven by Peter, the son of its designer, at Lude House Jayne Wignall and Fred Bent passing Ruthven Baracks en route to what Jayne hopes may be a hat-trick of Gold Classic Malts medals.

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Issue 3: Monday 8 May 2000

The Monster by Maltings Reporter Leaving behind the beautiful snow-clad Cairngroms we moved into Loch Ness Monster territory early yesterday. Competitors may have wondered why the first Timing Point on the Abernethy Regularity was so busy with parked cars and spectators. Not that they were here for the classic cars: the excitement was all about a bird. You might already have heard that the Loch Garten area is a prime area for the rare Osprey bird of prey. But in recent days word had got around among the "twitchers" (bird watchers) of an even rarer sighting, and they had flocked to the area with binoculars and sandwiches at the ready for a good day's twitch. According to Denis Cardell, on duty at that Timing Point, they were out of luck. Moving on about a mile, though, after his stint at TP1, Dennis had better luck. With no-one to spy on him, in all his glory, ahead of Denis, sat that rare fowl - the Capercailie. The strange Black Bird had decided to move on to view the Classic Malts' display of exotic vehicles in a degree of privacy and peace, it seems, fooling all the excited enthusiasts the while! Yesterday was Brake Day! Isn't it funny the way things seem to come in themes? Yesterday we had an outbreak of broken brake lines - Car 79 spent a longer time than intended at Skibo Castle with the affliction (well, there are plenty of worse places!) and the "Double Dutch" crew, recovered from their carburettor scare at Edinburgh, came down with a similar affliction three miles before Loch Ness. They were lucky enough to be found and rescued within two minutes by HERO rescue team Bill Price and Graham Rood, but were disappointed to have to miss out the Loch Ness regularity to make up time after a successful repair was completed. "What brilliant professionals" was Kaars-Sijpesteijn's verdict on the HERO rescue service. And electrics day! If it wasn't brakes, it was electrics. Hernan Cortes' Porsche 911 had suspected starter motor problems in the morning, and the TR3A of yesterday (car 88, not 97 - apologies from Maltings) was once again quietly dying from time to time through the day - a very frustrating situation for its crew. Meanwhile, Richard Fenhalls lost 2.5 hours with a puzzling and complex problem related to his Inca Trail-prepared Mercedes' distributor. "We're effectively out of the results, now", he said ruefully after making up for disappointment by a spirited display round the tarmac of Little Ferry Kart Circuit, "but we'll carry on and have a good time. That's what this is all about." Glen Ord was the venue for problems for a few crews. Competitor Liaison Officer, Ernst Krudop, spent much of the afternoon turning his multi-lingual liaison skills in a more mechanical direction, staying there far longer than intended as several cars coming in required fettling one way or another. But enough of the mechanical side of things - what was the rallying like? Regularity Roundup More than one crew will be relieved that the usual time allowance for regularity standards had been relaxed on the notorious Loch Ness Inverfarigaig Corkscrew regularity section. Tony Davies, navigating in the splendid Alvis 4.3 Charlesworth Saloon was rueing what he believed was his "lost gold" at Glen Ord - caused by the car getting stuck on the hairpins (ow!) But no matter, the relaxed standards meant after all that the Alvis is still "on Gold". More about Skibo … Wasn't it lovely there? Ann Locks, navigating for Pauline Harris in her Healey 3000, certainly thought so. She relaxed that little bit too much, and was hurried to get to the control for the next regularity. So much so that they made a wrong turning straight out of the control, sadly landing themselves with a 300 penalty. But they're still on target for the Ladies' award. "Why do I always do something this silly when things have been going so well all day?" was Ann's rueful refrain. Rolls takes it carefully The magnificent and stately Rolls Royce over from South Africa of Brett Gage very sensibly opted to avoid the Corkscrew and take the low road instead. If an Alvis can get stuck, what price a Rolls Royce? The crew are clearly enjoying themselves, though, and we couldn't fail to be impressed by the car's stately progress around Little Ferry Circuit, much to the delight of competitors and public alike. But is the rally proving too much? Apparently the clock is ticking louder than usual - it could actually be heard inside the car yesterday … Beginners settle in It may not have been quite what they expected, but… We currently have an incredible 38 crews who have no member with any previous rallying experience. According to Hywel Thomas, who led the novices' session at Glenkinchie on Friday, the room was far smaller than ideally needed, and he was delighted by the level of demand for rallies of this type from newcomers. Far more competitive … That was the verdict of Grete Keyser and Helgetveit, who had aimed to come to Scotland for a scenic drive in their TR3. "Maybe we weren't really ready for this", commented Grete at Glen Ord, "But we think we're really beginning to enjoy it now, today is just great!" And whyever not? The look of surprised delight on newcomers' faces is part of what makes rally organisation so worthwhile. And as we commented yesterday, some of you are doing incredibly well, seven crews still holding on to Silver medal standard, and more than that number again on Bronze. Keep up the good work! Little Ferry Very Fast indeed That was fun, wasn't it? To judge by the verve you all attacked this test with, you'd imagine this was a Kart event, rather than classic cars. We have a cache of splendid shots of doorhandle- like endeavours in the glorious afternoon sunshine, prime among them perhaps the Citröen 11BL of David and Jacqueline Baird. The TRs were waggling around well, too. Hands up those of you with a bag of cement in the boot of the car to help tie the back end down! Fastest time on the circuit was posted by three crews, just 61 seconds being taken by Jayne Wignall's Sunbeam Tiger, Graham Hilton's Morgan Plus 8, and Anthony Schrauen's Austin Healey 100M. No prizes for spotting that it was the higher capacity engines that produced the results here. Paul Minassian's Mini Cooper S entertained the afternoon crowds well, taking just 65 seconds, and it was clear that there was quite a bit of class rivalry coming into play as crews who had already performed hung back to see if others with similar cars could better their times. Colin Francis accused John Blankley of a gung-ho attitude once he'd caught his breath after signing out for the day. "We were behind the Ferrari in the queue and he was having a pretty good time. John just said"Anything a Ferrarri can do, I can do better in the Lotus - and off we went!" Word has it that the spectating public went away feeling well entertained yesterday (unlike the twitchers)...

Bentley at Staic Pollaidh   Graham Whittaker/Bill Currie's 1934 Wolseley Hornet Special at Inverpolly   Bentley arrives at Clynelish Distillery   David and Jacqueline Baird's 1954 Citroen 11BL at the Cape Wrath Test   Carl Eric and Carin Skold's Triumph TR4A at the Summer Isles.

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Issue 4: Tuesday 9 May 2000 Long way to post a letter! by "Maltings" Your scribe apologises if today things are a bit less organised in today's missive than previous editions. A need to send documents by mail to reach Glasgow by today led to a sixty mile round trip to catch the nearest 5.30pm collection after reaching Ullapool too late for the last collection there: which even on a weekday leaves at 11.45am. One of the two stalwarts of the event's course opening car, Stuart Collins, unhesitatingly volunteered as taxi service to drive the thirty miles in the direction of Inverness and back. Ullapool Post Office even phoned on ahead to check that this request for next day delivery posed no problem. "Maltings" appreciates the personal service that her efforts to keep the rally in touch with the world at large are receiving! Capercailie Capers - cont. For Morag Jones - the navigational half of a crew who nearly didn't make it to the start owing to last-minute electrical problems with their Volvo 123GT - yesterday's article about Denis Cardell's Capercailie sighting brought back old memories. "My Uncle Bob was gamekeeper to Lady Carnegie-Arbuthnot at Lour near Forfar in Angus, she remembers, and there was this family heirloom - an ancient stuffed Capercailie. Its eyes were popping out of its head, and it smelled awful - like rancid ferret." If anyone would like to explain the smell of a rancid ferret, (of which Morag maybe has first hand experience as a gamekeeper's niece), will they please save their efforts for Wednesday, which will be a day off from reportage. Many thanks to Morag for that bit of local Scottish colour … Another fantastic day The weather has been so kind: we British would never need to leave our own islands if this kind of weather could be counted on. Yesterday, marvelling at another new sight at every turn in the road, I couldn't help wondering what it would be like in the more characteristic mode of wind and near-horizontal rain. At the end of yesterday, crews were coming into the Ullapool MC, simply brimming over with enthusiasm for "yet another perfect day". Well, HERO can't control the weather (though the budget for prayer mats for this event is pretty massive), but we do take some credit for choosing yesterday's lunch halt. It gives LE JOG enthusiasts the opportunity to make up for passing it by when driving the length of Britain in four days in midwinter. John Bayliss for one was delighted to be able to stop and sample the home prepared seafood delights of Kylesku Hotel. Going for Gold!? Yesterday was a real day of sorting out, with one or two disasters for leading crews, despite the relatively straightforward appearance of the route, with most of the really competitive action in the morning. Carefully avoiding disaster in order to protect her Gold Medal standing, and so dropping four marks to the Ford Lotus Cortina of Mike Newman and Alec Newsham on the Cape Wrath test meant that the overall lowest cumulative penalties passed from Jayne to Mike, who now has a total of 46 against Jayne's 50 - so it could be tough to the end. "But the overall score doesn't matter if I can win that third Gold Medal, said Jayne as she arrived at yesterday evening's Ullapool control. Still in line for a third in a row Gold, too, is London - CapeTown Gold Medallist navigator Tony Davies, paired up with Stan Williams in his Alvis. As we noted yesterday, Tony's worst fears about the Corkscrew weren't realised, and so he is still on for Gold, currently on 251 penalties. Gold no longer Four crews weren't so lucky yesterday, though: McKay/Caldwell (TR2); Podger/Podger (Alvis Silver Eagle - see page 3); Baird/Baird (Citröen 11 BL) and Russell/Boyce (Triumph TR4A) might prefer to draw a veil over Day 3: from tomorrow they'll be competing for silver. Gated! Intrepid long distance rallyist Phil Surtees has been out helping competitors in distress. Motoring back to base from his day's marshalling duties, near Altnahara he came across a broken down Porsche crewed by a pair of visiting journalists from Germany. The problem was the gearbox jammed in second, but it was agreed that the car was driveable albeit in the one gear. Consulting the map, it seemed to Phil that there was a viable short cut on a gravel road, making the distance back to Ullapool less onerous. Phil agreed to escort the crew, and they made their way slowly along the good, but increasingly narrow, track for some ten miles. Until … the main road … and … a gate. Locked. Car stuck in second gear; no reverse; ten miles of track behind; one locked gate in front. Eventually a passing motorist on the main road was flagged down, and with his help some hunting around located the owner of the land and of the locked gate, who kindly agreed to come out and release the cars and crews. Thanks for looking after our visitors, Phil! To our readers: Day off tomorrow - enjoy Skye and Tallisker - normal service again on Thursday.   Out and about … A couple of splendid sights yesterday: Alberto Hodari's newest investment, a splendidly large Argentinian flag, positively billowing around at Little Ferry Kart circuit for attached to his roll cage on the Morgan before setting out for yeterday's activities. Alberto's proudest achievement on this rally? "By the third Regularity on Day One, we had found the stopwatch!" It can inly get better - but does it really need to when you obviously have as much fun as Alberto does? We can only speculate on this one! Assistant Clerk of the Course Mark Appleton reports driving early on past a sleeping camper van with a strange sheeted object positioned in front of it; while a competitor was waxing lyrical at lunchtime about the bizarre serenade the crews received a couple of hours later: with sheets removed, a solo drum kit welcomed competiors as they sped along the mobile resident's home. We assume he was fed up with the neighbours and/or his mother complaining, and opted for pastures (literally) new … Speaking of Gates and Pastures … Sunday was Gate Day, too. Having planned the route several months ago, Mark Appleton (the aforementioned Dep CoC) wanted to use a gated road for this year's event, and wrote to the landowner for permission. Perfectly all right to use the road and leave gates open, came the reply, provided there was no stock grazing there. On Sunday - sheep there were. With no spare marshals available, Mark and Chief Marshal John Wood volunteered themselves to be Gate Marshals, and thus ensure goodwill from crews ( who were saved having to stop to open and shut said obstacles) and the landowner, whose stock were assured a continuing gated existence the while. Last-Minute Jubbly Offered a last-minute place on this year's Classic Malts - a Journey to Talisker, when a crew pulled out with just three weeks to go, Andy Nash and Melanie Karanek had one problem - their Sunbeam Tiger was off the road for major engine work, and had no chance of making the start. Never mind, they wanted to do the event, and they went out and bought maybe the ultimate in "Cheap 'n Cheerful", a 1972 Austin 1300 GT, resplendent in that cheery shade of yellow ochre that was so popular back then. "We call her 'Jubbly'. She didn't cost too much, but handles really well, and the ride is so comfortable after what we're accustomed too!" Well, Jayne, fancy a change for next year? Competitors and cars Peter Denzel is driving a car that bears the same name as him. His father was the distinguished rally driver carrying off a string of major victories as well as being the founder of the Austrian sports car company. Memorably, he beat Stirling Moss to take victory on the 1954 Alpine Rally. The 1300ss that is out on this year's event was the last of only 300 Denzels built during the company's 10 year production history, which ended in 1959. "Team Tredwood" a family entry of three red sidescreen TRs is among those flying the flag for the Triumph marque this year. David and Annie Redwood are in their TR3A; as is son Nigel Redwood with navigator Gillian Chapman, on her first ever rally. Complete newcomers too are Niki Redwood and Jason Lord, paired up in a TR2. For David and Annie, though, it will be their third Classic Malts in a row, and they're be looking to improve on the bronze awards they picked up on both their previous outings! The Classic Malts is one of those events that attracts a large number of husband and wife crews. Among them, Chris and Connie Podger are out again in their 1930 Alvis Silver Eagle Special. They were looking to improve on their 1999 Silver Medal, but yesterday the Clynellish Test was their undoing. "The Green Car", as the Alvis is known, has a distinguished history in motor sport of its era. It made the first of its many appearances at Brooklands in 1930, raced by the Alvis company in the Double Twelve race. Subsequent owners were Dr Bobby Beaver, who pitched "The Green Car" against "Le Train Bleu" all the way to the French Riviera, later selling it on to the famous racing driver of the day, Michael W.B. May. The car's most outstanding performance in a distinguished career was winning the Irish Grand Prix Handicap race in 1938 at Phoenix Park, Ireland. Scotsmen Mike Taylor and John Cumming, both from Angus, bring out Mike's 3-owner from new 1967 Ford Corsair V4 DeLuxe. Neither has any previous rallying experience. Mike has owned the car for 7 years, and following a respray and minor restoration the car took first prize at the Corsair Owners' Club annual rally in 1999. Another Scots entry is Glynne Shackleton's Gilbern Invader Mk I, which has been in Glynne's possession for 29 years. It has an incredible 304,000 miles of daily use on the clock, and Glynne has chosen for his rallying début to team up with Don Armacost, who has flown in from Kansas, Missouri to navigate - again on his first ever rally. Quite a league of nations, given the Gilbern's impeccable Welsh heritage ...

Torres Hegre/Biorg Lindal/Odd Vagle in their Mercedes Benz 220 followed by the 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 of Hans Dieter Kronung Jaguar crew, Ronald and Sally Burns from the USA, having a great day!   Denzel SS 1300 decends Quiraing   Alberto Hodari proudly flying the Argentinian flag in his 1956 Morgan Plus Four   Rolls Royce Silver Dawn (Kurt and Roswitha Dichtl on the Pass of the Cattle)

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Last modified 16 May 2000