A disappointing entry of only ten competitors were given a rather more tricky set of tests than is normal for this event, but they coped, mainly. Douglas Smith had dug out a set of tests from a previous Scottish Championship event that was called off because of bad weather, and he reckoned the test site was about the same shape, so it saved him starting from scratch with new ones.

Most of the drivers made a few mistakes, but maybe that is understandable in view of the date. The site wasn’t quite big enough, though, and it frustrated most attempts at a reverse flick on to the finish line. I think only one Rob Smith managed it, once.

Right, pleasant surprises first. Father and son team of Tommy and Gary Miller put up terrific performances, considering their relative inexperience, and Gary’s age, 16. Second and third overall is pretty good, I’d say.

Mark Lees belongs Hawick, but has been in Ireland for five years. I don’t know any more about him, but he seems to have done some autotesting before, judging by his driving, although I’ve been a member of the Club for approaching 15 years, and I don’t remember seeing him before. Maybe there is something in the Irish water after all. He turned up to spectate and decided to have a go. Worth his while, I’d say.

Now the other surprises. Ian Maxwell! Well, I suppose he has the same excuse as me, that he is rusty. But at least he has done a few autotests over the past few years, whereas I have not competed at all since this event in 1999. I would be extremely rusty now, so I don’t even try. But to be beaten by a novice was the ultimate ignominy. Thanks for the laugh, Ian. He was sharing Rob Smith’s car, by the way, bought specially for the event a few days previously, complete with bashed rear quarter – a lot of filler needed to make it showroom-pretty, Robert!

The other surprise was Niki Cleland, son of BTCC ex-champ John. Niki works in his dad’s garage and rallies a Puma. His driving technique in this event was not wanting, but his memory was. He got more WDs than correct tests, and only two runs without penalties. I tell a lie; I believe he disappeared after test 9, maybe thinking that was it all over! I watched him in the recent Halidean autocross and the Cleland DNA is obviously there. He told me he had never lifted off in the big 850 turbo auto, and I could see it in his face, and in the attitude of the car (slight oversteer almost permanently), which he sold after the event for £50. This time he was driving 469 GGG, borrowed from Jock Hislop. I suspect he won’t persevere with autotests, though, because he has bigger ambitions, but nevertheless it is good to see people coming down from bigger events to compete at club level. Another one that does this, albeit to a lesser extent, is Dave Black, who has recently gone up from autocross to rallycross, but has been a regular competitor in the Hangover, along with family and friends, for several years. This time the friends were missing, but his two daughters, Louise and Katie, were very much in evidence this time.

Finally, John Ewing. No surprises. He has been an occasional autotester for a long time. I suppose I was surprised to see him at all, as he hasn’t competed for several years, and he told me he had broken his left foot or something a couple of months ago, and is currently driving an automatic, so I suppose even his attendance, never mind performance was surprising.
 

Updated 12th January 2004
Webmaster - Jim Paterson