After the welcome reception in 2010, the 2012 Scottish Malts Classic Reliability Trial and Classic Car Tour will once again start and finish at the Turnberry resort. In Western Scotland, and within easy reach of Glasgow and Prestwick airports, the resort will host the welcome and awards dinners, as well as the first and last driving tests.
Documentation and scrutineering will take place on Sunday 29th April at the Turnberry and once formalities are dealt with, competitors will be able to enjoy the resort — including golf for those entrants who would like to play on the course
Organized by the Historic Endurance Rally Organization (HERO), and sponsored by Avis, Hagerty and Octane magazine, the Reliability Trial and Classic Car Tour is one of the premier classic car events in the UK. It’s open to cars built before 31st December 1981, and the 2012 event will follow the format of past events, with driving tests on private land, regularities along stunning roads and transit sections, allowing both crew members to enjoy the roads and scenery. of Scotland. Lunch is provided on all days of competition, and the long-established tradition of siting main controls and tests at stately homes, castles, distilleries and places of interest will continue. The time schedule is never too demanding, and navigation is by means of a detailed Jogularity-style road book using easy to follow Tulip diagrams.
The ever-popular Scottish Malts Classic Car Tour will be run in conjunction with the Reliability Trial and is intended for crews looking for a less demanding motoring experience, without the need to undertake regularities and driving tests. Entrants on the Classic Car Tour can choose to follow the same route as the Trial but are provided with a specially printed map book giving a detailed but simpler set of route directions, together with touring notes of places of interest along the way. Tour entrants are free to visit places that interest them, whilst always aiming to arrive at the hotel in time for dinner!
Those of you aware of the history of the Turnberry will know that a Grand Prix took place on the old airfield in 1952 with such drivers as Sir Stiriling Moss and Mike Hawthorn. Part of the original runway still exists and Clerk of the Course Peter Nedin will determine if the surface is suitable for a test which will hopefully allow competitors to drive on part of the area once used for the Grand Prix.
Monday 30th April will see the cars flagged away before the first of two tests within the grounds of the resort. From there the event will follow the successful format of past Malts with competitors covering approximately 200-230 miles each day.
Crews new to the Malts should not be daunted by the prospect of driving tests. These are enjoyable manoeuvrability tests mainly on asphalt and set against the clock. You are pitted only against other cars in your class as vehicles will be divided into age categories from vintage to modern classics. Competitors vie for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, which are awarded to crews who do well against the standard set for cars in their classification, plus a variety of special awards including Marque, National, Enquire and Golden Oldie Team Prizes, the Veteran’s Prize and Concours awards, Absolute Beginner, Spirit of the Rally, the Test Pilot’s and Clock-watcher’s Trophies.
As always, accommodation will be at the best hotels available on route, and although we cannot guarantee that all hotels will match the Turnberry, each hotel selected will be clean, comfortable, offer good food and will have been checked by event officials.
