The event was based at the Queens Hotel, Lockerbie and the startline in the hotel’s car park was the scene of the event’s first retirement when Donald and Eilidh Urquhart’s well known Series 3 Land Rover expired on the start line. A short run took crews to the first test which used an unusual venue, underneath the M74 motorway, it was a bit short and inconclusive as numerous crews posted identical times.

The fast flowing test at Kingan Feeds was much better with plenty of room to fling the cars around. The Simmonds were quickest on this one, just a second up on the immaculate Chevette of Gordon Glendinning who had appeared, along with his brother Rob, in a pair of immaculately prepared DTV replica Chevettes. A slow road section, slack road timing was a feature of the event and irritated a lot of crews, brought the rally to the next test venue, Gretna’s greyhound racing track, competitors weren’t required to chase a little furry animal round track, but an interesting layout in the car park saw the Simmonds tie with the exuberantly driven MK1 Cortina of Dave Marsden/ Mike Garstang. Several crews picked up a maximum when they got lost on this one including both Glendinning brothers and the immaculate Datsun 240Z of Simon & Eunice McGlaughlin.

Next up was a run along the A 75 and up Annan’s High Street to a test at the town’s Academy where the “Star Pupils” was Simmonds, Glendinning G and Marsden. The short test at the Broom Fishery saw the Simmonds end the morning session with yet another quickest time although Marsden/ Garstang and the very sideways MK2 Escort of Dixon/ Lauder was close behind.

A very leisurely lunch at the Powfoot Golf Hotel brought the event back onto schedule and the well fed crews then headed to Dumfries and a test round the industrial complex at Oakbank Services, a venue with a real rallying pedigree as it is the home base of current British rally Champion David Bogie. The smooth concrete saw Gordon Glendinning make good use of the Chevette’s power to head the Simmonds Midget. Negotiating the many roundabouts on the Dumfries By-Pass, the event the arrived at the loose gravel test round the former Heathall Sawmill which saw Gordon Glendinning head the Simmonds and Garstang/Marsden while several crews made a mess of this one including the other Glendinning Chevette, David Heirs (Saab 96) and Keith Barnard (MGBGT).

Heathall’s vast open tarmac area, well known as the main service area on the Scottish International Rally, and indeed, numerous other events, was the venue for a couple of tests, both went to the Simmonds who showed just what an accomplished crew they are, hurling the little Midget around with considerable dexterity. The event’s finale was a very compact test at Lochmaben Cheese Factory where competitors were treated to refreshments including copious supplies of the factory’s product! The Simmonds signed off with yet another virtuoso demonstration while next quickest was the big Datsun of the McGluaghlin’s showing great dexterity on such a cramped test.

Back at the Queens Hotel, results were promptly produced showing a clear and decisive victory for Archie and Richard Simmonds, with yet another winner’s trophy heading back to Chirnside. Dave Marsden’s hard charging performance saw him take the runners-up spot, 12 seconds ahead of Ian Dixon’s Mk2 Escort although Gordon Glendinning must have been rueing a couple of wrong tests without which he would undoubtedly have taken a podium position. The Doonhamer was a bit like the proverbial “Curates Egg”, good in parts and while the competitors enjoyed the variety of the tests, the slow road sections and inevitable hanging about weren’t to everyone’s liking. It was, however, good to see a new event appearing on the historic scene and, with a bit of experience, it could well become a popular fixture on the calendar.

RESULTS ;

1. Archie Simmonds / Richard Simmonds         MG Midget                 484

2. Dave Marsden / Mike Garstang                   Cortina MK1               542

3. Ian Dixon / David Lauder                             Escort MK2                 554

4. Chris Kemp / Stephen Kemp                       Peugeot                       554

5. Joe Norman / Peter Littlefield                       Mini Cooper S             595

6. Andrew Swanston/ Mike Currie                   Escort MK1                 634

7. Gordon Glendinning / Paul Whyte               Chevette                     644

8. Neil Morrison / Tom Douglas                       BMW 2002ti                 653

9. Ian Wright/ Daniel Wright                             Honda                         676

10. Simon McGlaughlin / Eunice McGlaughlin Datsun 240Z               684