The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Race and rally legendsback £25m vision
Heritage centre would be built at popular Rest and Be Thankful stop
Ambitious £25 million proposals to create a Scottish motorsport heritage centre in an iconic Argyll setting are being driven forward by the creation of a charitable trust to fund the project.
Greats including Formula One legends Sir Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark tackled the historic Rest and Be Thankful in its heyday as a hillclimb and international rally stage, racing up and down the twisty stretch of road near Arrochar.
Dundee man Douglas Anderson is spearheading the campaign to celebrate the nation’s motorsport heroes past and present in the multi-million-pound visitor attraction which would be set into the hillside near the old military road’s classic hairpin as a spectacular showroom for some of Scotland’s most famous racing cars.
Mr Anderson hopes his vision will breathe new life into the popular stopping place, generating a major tourism spend.
“The location at the Rest and Be Thankful has great significance in motorsport terms because of the famous hill climb races and international rallies,” he said. “It is therefore the ideal place to celebrate Scotland’s impressive motorsport heritage.”
The concept has already been given the backing of three-time F1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, multiple British Touring Car Champion John Cleland and veteran Scottish rally driver Jimmy McRae.
Jimmy said: “This project is a tremendous initiative which would acknowledge the important part Scotland has played in international motorsport over many years.”
A digital fly through of the project is also available at thelighthouse.co.uk/ visit/exhibition/rest-and-be-thankfulheritage-project.