With thanks to Alford Speedfest.
Record crowds attended SpeedFest15 on Sunday 5 July. Over 5,000 enjoyed sunny weather at the GTM in Alford, and a show which was opened by Dai Heather Hayes’ aerobatic display.
Organised by James and Sarah Parker and Tony Yule and their team of marshals and assistants from Black Dog Events.
As well as the annual Pursuits, new to SpeedFest this year was the Kinghorn Alford Drag. Andrew Cowie’s 800bhp Nissan Skyline finished first and was awarded a prize kindly donated by RA Plates.
Crowds enjoyed the spectacle and sounds of the 24,000cc Napier Bentley.
Motoring Journalist Simon Taylor from the Hollywood film Rush demonstrated the Charlie Bang slingshot dragster and was joined by Scotland’s fastest accelerating car, Colin Millar’s Flying Fyfer.
James Parker wowed the crowds again with smoke, noise and speed from the Indianapolis 500 pole setting Jim Robbins Special (pictured above).
Grampian Kart Club demonstrated their exciting karts showcasing some champions of the future, and Blata UK provided entertainment with a mini moto race.
Joining our SpeedBirds were Julia Stewart and her team of catsuited-pit girls adding glamour to an impressive line up of trade sands including Park’s Motor Group, Sytners (Lamborghini Edinburgh), Leven Car Company, Murray Motor Company, Aberdeen Porsche centre and Glack Attack.
Stig’s Scottish cousin, the ‘Stag’ was seen wondering around the site and then ‘stole’ the 8 litre Dodge Ram pick up and started drifting and smoking it around the track until the Black Dog marshals red-flagged him to a stop and security were brought in to remove him. In true form the Stag was clearly not impressed at being manhandled off the site.
Organisers Tony and James said ‘The record crowds here enjoyed a day full of on-track excitement, high octane demonstrations and we were delighted that the slick timings gave non-stop thrills’. Tony was delighted to have a head-to-head with co-organiser James in the well-loved vintage Frazer Nashes, ‘As well as seeing all the modern supercars at the event, It was a great experience for me to see how the 80-year old car handles as speed, I real eye-opener – I tried my best but I was beaten by its owner (maybe he’ll let me drive it again …) Great fun’.
A great display of exotic and iconic sports cars was supplemented by GT Scotland who had an impressive line-up, including a Bugatti Veyron.