All geared up for motoring event
Perth gets ready for a weekend of classic vehicles
It’s going to be a great weekend for car enthusiasts with three unique motor events in Perthshire.
On Saturday, wheels will be turning all over the Fair City when the much anticipated City of Perth Classic Car Parade rolls out a display of some of the UK’s best classic cars.
As if that wasn’t enough to get car fans purring, Blairgowrie Rotary Club holds its Drive-It Day on Sunday.
Bodywork shining, the parade of 150 classic motors dating from 1900 onwards will leave from Scone Palace on April 21, heading for Perth City Centre via the old Perth Bridge. There will be a number of special one-off cars, including the Jaguar XK120 LWK 707 raced by Stirling Moss’s team in 1952, a Model T Ford and the Lamborghini Huracan Performante Super Car.
The 1930 Rolls Royce tourer car, driven in 1948 on the day Winston Churchill was given the Freedom of Perth will also be on show. The same car was used by HM the Queen when she toured Shetland in 1960.
The cars will be displayed at Tay Street from mid morning (expected to be 10am) for two hours, so there will be plenty of opportunity to see the vintage beauties up close.
Giving the driving gloves a royal seal of approval, HRH Prince Michael of Kent will view the cars in Tay Street and salute the cars at the City Chambers.
He also plans to take the wheel in Sunday’s Drive-It Day tour.
The spectacle gets even better as led by the Model T Ford, the parading vehicles are being preceded by a red flag as they pass over Smeaton’s Bridge - as called for by the original 1879 sign located on the bridge.
In Perth’s King Edward Street there will be a continental market so no classic car fan need leave without something tasty to nibble on.
Back at Scone Palace, the parade cars join an estimated 300 vehicles from Scottish car clubs, so there will be a fine lineup to look over.
Highlights from 9am to 5pm will be car displays by Ecurie Ecosse and Knockhill Racing Circuit including the World Rally Winning Suburu Impreza raced by Colin McRae.
The Class Car Day entertainment at Scone Palace includes vintage buses, brass bands, a Spitfire air display, trade stands and competitions for all the family including stilt walkers a trampoline, climbing wall and Laser Tag.
On Sunday, the action is all at Blairgowrie. Around 80 classic cars from yesteryear to the present day will descend on the town as part of the charity DriveIt Day put on by Blairgowrie Rotary.
Vintage cars are taking part in a 120-mile tour of Perthshire to raise funds for Cancer Research UK and Alzheimer Scotland, leaving from Blairgowrie Golf Club at 10am before driving through the Wellmeadow at the start of their journey.
Chairman of the organising committee for Blairgowrie Rotary, Colin Stewart said of the Drive-It Day on Sunday: “We really hope that everyone will come along and support the event.
“We’re expecting literally thousands of people to be at the display in Tay Street and at Scone Palace and would appreciate any help from volunteers to collect donations for our very worthwhile charities.”
See the festival website, www. blairgowrieclassiccartour.co.uk and for the parade in Perth, www. perthcity.co.uk