The Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 was staged 15-17 April, starting in England and finishing in Scotland. The 110 crews faced rain, hail, sleet and snow as they journeyed from the starting line at Leicestershire’s Belvoir Castle, driving around 700 miles through Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Northumberland, and into Scotland for the finale at the Gleneagles Hotel.
The Talbot 105 Alpine of Gareth Burnett and Martyn Taylor put an end to Bentley’s winning streak as it crossed the finish line in what was the toughest Flying Scotsman rally in the event’s eight-year history.
After back-to-back wins by Bentley specialist William Medcalf for the past two years, Gareth reclaimed the trophy having previously won the event in the same 1931 vintage car back in 2013.
Burnett said, “As much as we are delighted to win and grateful to the Endurance Rally Association for organising such a fantastic event, I’d also like to thank all the other competitors for bringing out these amazing vintage cars out and doing with them what they were designed for. It’s a pleasure to be on the road with them.”
The winning crew finished with an overall total of 0:28:06 with second place going to John Abel and Leigh Powley in the 1937 Lagonda LG45 on 0:28:45, and the 1938 Bentley Derby 4 of Stuart Anderson and Andy Pullen on 0:29:38, finishing in third.
There was also a win for the oldest Pioneer car in the rally, the 1911 Knox Type R, bravely crewed by Michel Laarman and Maryon Grief who tackled every speed test, regularity, and challenging mountain climb alongside cars 30 years junior.
Fred Gallagher, Rally Director of the Endurance Rally Association (ERA), said, “Our competitors faced every type of weather condition imaginable over three days of intense driving in some very exposed terrain and remained in great spirits throughout. Our thanks go to every crew and marshal who once again made it a fantastic event for the vintage motorist.”
There were two special awards presented at the prize giving dinner at the Gleneagles Hotel and the Concours D’elegance went to Shane Houlihan and Richard Pain in the 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300.
The Spirit of the Rally award went to Matthew Abrey and Jasper Hulscher in the 1931 Ford Model A, who found themselves taking the engine out of the car on Saturday night after the clutch failed. A new clutch was driven from Norfolk to Scotland arriving in the early hours. It was ‘all hands on deck’ to get the clutch fitted and car reassembled but the crew managed it, even checking out of the first time control on time.
Class wins went to stunning mix of marques, with Paul Crosby and Ali Proctor in the 1939 MG TB Supercharged winning Class 2 for cars up to 1500cc, and Martin Hunt and Robert Mannix in the 1937 Frazer Nash BMW 328 winning Class 3 for cars 1501 to 2000cc.
Last year’s runners up Bill Cleyndert and Dan Harrison in the 1928 Ford Model A won Class 4 (Vintage cars 1920-1930 over 2000cc), while Shane Houlihan and Richard Pain in the 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 won Class 5 (Vintageant cars 1931-1948 2001 to 3000cc). Class 6 (Vintageant cars 1931-1948 over 3000cc) was won by Dirk and Nick Van Praag in the 1936 Delahaye 135M.
The ninth Flying Scotsman Rally will take place from Friday 31st March to Sunday 2nd April 2017, starting from Slaley Hall, in Hexham, Northumberland, in order for the crews to experience more of the Scottish terrain. Entries are now open.
For more details including all the results, visit EnduroRally.com.
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Similar to 2014 and 2015, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2016 Flying Scotsman Rally, with photographer Gerard Brown offering the following wonderful pictures highlighting the breathtaking views of the Scottish countryside. We split up pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery and rally results can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs.
Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery
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Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two
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Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three
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Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four
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Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five
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Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six
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Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven
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Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight
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Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Overall Award Winners
Pioneer Cars (pre-1920)
1st Michel Laarman / Maryan Greif Knox Type R – 7200cc
Vintage and Vintageant Cars (1920-1948)
1st Gareth Burnett / Martyn Taylor Talbot 105 Alpine – 3344cc
2nd John Abel / Leigh Powley Lagonda LG45 – 4500cc
3rd Stuart Anderson / Andy Pullan Bentley Derby 4¼ – 4257cc
Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Class Award Winners
Class 2 – All cars 1920-1948 up to 1500cc
1st Paul Crosby / Ali Procter MG TB Supercharged – 1466cc
2nd Andrew Davies / Jonathan Davies Riley 12/4 Special – 1495cc
3rd Julian Riley / Georgina Riley Riley Lynx Sprite 12/4 – 1498cc
Class 3 – All cars 1920-1948 1501 to 2000cc
1st Martin Hunt / Robert Mannix Frazer Nash BMW 328 – 1971cc
2nd Peter Lovett / Zoe Lovett Frazer Nash BMW 328 – 1991cc
3rd Thomas Maechler / Andrea Scherz Aston Martin MkII Comp. – 1950cc
Class 4 – Vintage Cars 1920-1930 over 2000cc
1st Bill Cleyndert / Dan Harrison Ford A – 3300cc
2nd George Melville / Steve Gipson Ford A Sports Coupe – 3300cc
3rd Richard Squire / Michael Squire Bentley 4½ Corsica – 4500cc
Class 5 – Vintageant Cars 1931-1948 2001 to 3000cc
1st Shane Houlihan / Richard Pain Alfa Romeo 8C – 2300cc
2nd Nicholas Ward / Clifford Auld Talbot AV 105 Alpine – 2956cc
3rd Jose Romao de Sousa / Manuel Romao de SousaAlvis Speed 20 SA – 2500cc
Class 6 – Vintageant Cars 1931-1948 over 3000cc
1st Dirk Van Praag / Nick Van Praag Delahaye 135M – 3558cc
2nd David Thomson / Alan Smith Talbot 105 Alpine – 3373cc
3rd Olaf Pothoven / Piet van Leusden Bentley Derby 3½ – 3500cc
Flying Scotsman Rally 2016 – Special Award Winners
Concourse d’Elegance
Shane Houlihan / Richard Pain Alfa Romeo 8C – 2300cc
Spirit of the Rally Award
Matthew Abrey / Jasper Hulscher Ford A – 3300cc
Marque Team Prize – Derby Dales
Rob Jeurissen / Jeanne Jeurissen-Scheefhals Bentley Derby Special – 3668cc
Olaf Pothoven / Piet van Leusden Bentley Derby 3½ – 3500cc
Stuart Anderson / Andy Pullan Bentley Derby 4¼ – 4257cc
Club Team Prize – Put Up With Pullan
John Abel / Leigh Powley Lagonda LG45
Stuart Anderson / Andy Pullan Bentley Derby 4¼
Paul Crosby / Ali Procter MG TB Supercharged
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[Source: Endurance Rally Association; photos: Gerard Brown]
Brilliant photo’s wished I’d been there……
Alvis captioned as Vauxhall 30/98. Don’t know who will be more offended!
At first glance I thought the photo of the 1926 Bentley SS was an oil painting. This is among the finest automotive photograph I have seen in my near seventy years of “autophilia”.
I had to find a warm jacket and scarf to enjoy these brilliant photographs. Great event, brave drivers, amazing cars and spectacular scenery. Well done to all including the intrepid photographer.