Car event returns to its roots in Highland Perthshire

Dozens of one of Britain’s most distinctive cars, the Hillman Imp, will take to the roads of Perthshire this weekend.

To mark the 20th anniversary of its rally weekend the Imp Club is returning to where it all started.

Based in Blair Atholl it is expected that examples of the Scottish-built car will come from as far afield as Europe.

The Imp Ecosse started in Blair Atholl 20 years ago in April 1997.

“At the time I was the area centre organiser for Edinburgh and Fife area and I decided that it would be great if we could get the Imps out of hibernation after the winter and get them ready for the show season and summer, so I decided to organise a camping weekend,” said Scott Skinner of Leven.

“With the help of my friend Jim Fraser we booked the rally field at Blair Atholl caravan site.

“The weekend went on for a few years at Blair Atholl, but with Imp numbers growing every year we decided that it would be nice to have it at different areas, so over the years we have been to various places in Scotland with other members taking the reins and organising the weekend.

“We have been to Killin, Aberdeen and Dumfries but with this being the 20th anniversary of Imp Ecosse we thought it would be brilliant to bring it back to Blair Atholl.”

The group will be based at the Atholl Arms Hotel from today until Monday.

“We are expecting around 35 Imp-based vehicles of all different variants from all over the UK and some from Holland,” said Mr Skinner.

Tomorrow they will head in convoy up to Glenshee while on Sunday the cars will be lined up at the hotel for voting.