ABSOLUTE
Almost a hundred classic and modern supercars set off on the 10th Anniversary Strathendrick Rotary Charity Drive It Day Tour from Dobbies Garden Centre in Stirling on Sunday.
The 120 mile route included going over the Dukes Pass, Aberfoyle through the Trossachs to Crianlarich.
After lunch at the Ardgartan Hotel looking down Loch Long, the entrants revelled at the opportunity to drive up the famous Rest and Be Thankful Hill Climb before returning to Culcreuch Castle in Fintry for high tea and the prizegiving.
A surprise “VIP visitor” dropped in to hand out the Awards – none other than the famous “Stig” - to end off a fantastic day of fun and fellowship which raised more than £7000 for CHAS, Mary’s Meals and Rotary.
Organiser Joe Norman said: “We are fortunate to have continued sponsorship for our Strathendrick Drive It Day Classic Car Tour from Graham and Janice Johnstone, who own SMS Tyres in Stirling who also donated a large quantity of clothing which enabled us to raise £830 from the raffle and a selection of signed framed photographs/prints raised an extra £450.
“The photographs/prints were donated by motor sport legends including Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Derek Bell and Susie Wolff (originally from Oban). Additional generous raffle prizes were provided by members and other sponsors included Brayon Classic Engineering, Gibbon & Wilson, Culcreuch Castle, Lindsays Solicitors, Winnock Hotel.
“Stirling Council continued to sponsor the Concours d’Elegance Award – a signed Sir Stirling Moss book. A new award sponsored by Robert Dickie of Digital Video Team was a 10th Anniversary Photographic Album covering all the tours 2007 to 2016 – won by Hamish MacLeod and Irene Minto in their 1949 Bentley Special.
“Overall the revenue will be in the region of £7,000 with some monies still to be collected.”
On the day the event attracted a record entry of 88 cars.
Joe added: “This year we started from Dobbies, Stirling and headed towards Callander and onwards to Aberfoyle and the Trossachs – over the Dukes Pass. Hopefully we all passed the police checks safely on the way to Crianlarich. Lunch was taken at the Lochs and Glens Ardgartan Hotel and then to the challenge of the day – the opportunity to drive up the original Rest and Be Thankful Hill Climb – thanks to the owner Diane Davidson Kinghorn. We returned to Culcreuch Castle for the high tea and prizegiving.”
The car raising most sponsorship was Robin Johnston and Guy Deakin in a 1973 Jaguar E Type V12 from Balfron Station. The Concours d’Elegance Award went to tour regulars Mike and Annie Herivel in their 1961 Morris Minor Convertible, and the oldest car to complete the tour was Michael and Brenda Pell’s 1932 Austin 7 Arrow from Killearn.