A 1925 Bentley Supersports has taken the chequered flag in the gruelling 750-mile Flying Scotsman rally, with driver William Medcalf and navigator Tony Brookes lifting the winner’s trophy for the second year in a row.
“This is a really tough event where you have to push the car to its limits to manage your position,” said Medcalf. It’s full-on for the navigators and there’s stiff competition, because the event’s reputation for being expertly organised has resulted in serious rally entrants from all over the world.”
Bill Cleyndert and Dan Harrison took second position in their 1928 Ford Model A, winning their class in the process – but only with the assistance of the rally leaders, who risked their winning position to help the pair repair their car after its axle was damaged. The 1936 Talbot 105 Alpine of David Thomson and Alan Smith took third, while picking up fourth place was the all-female crew of Sue Shoosmith and Trina Harley, who took part in a 1926 Bentley and also won their class.
There were also category wins for Brad Mottier and William Hoff in the Riley Bigley Special, and Martin and Lesley Neal in their MG TA, while the Spirit of the Rally award was given to George Melville and Steve Gipson in their Ford Model A. A similar model belonging to Robin and Helen Rainsley scooped the top gong in the Concours d’Elegance.
“This is a full-on event that was made harder with the recent loss of Philip Young,” said the Endurance Rally Association’s Fred Gallagher. “The ERA did him proud and delivered on an exceptional event, as they will continue to do with the future rallies on the calendar.”
The next Flying Scotsman will take place from 14-17 April 2016, while the next ERA event will involve 45 crews driving from Halifax, Nova Scotia to San Francisco, California in the second TransAmerica Rally in June.
