Classic Cars Return For Jaguar Showcase

 Aberdeenshire, Information  No Responses »
Jul 252017
 

With thanks to Eoin Smith, Senior Account Executive, Tricker PR

The Jaguar Classic Show returns to Drum Castle on 30 July.

The annual Jaguar Classic Show returns to the National Trust for Scotland’s Drum Castle for the eighteenth time this July, and is sure to delight motoring enthusiasts across the north east of Scotland. The castle’s expansive south lawn will become home to some of the finest examples of Jaguar engineering and design in the country, courtesy of the Grampian arm of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club.

This year the JEC will also be showcasing classic Daimler vehicles, which became part of the Jaguar family after the brand was bought in the early 1960s.

The motoring showcase will also feature performances by Inverurie Pipe Band and a raffle, with every penny raised going towards charity Friends of Anchor.

Entry to this popular event costs £4 for adults or £2 for concessions. Booking is not required, and National Trust for Scotland and National Trust members go free.

Visit www.nts.org.uk/Event/20013516345/jaguarclassicshow for more information.

For more information about summer events at Drum Castle, Garden & Estate – and other National Trust for Scotland properties – visit www.nts.org.uk

Event:   Jaguar Classic Show at Drum Castle
Date:    Sunday 30 July 2017
Time:    12noon-4.00pm
Venue:   Drum Castle, Garden & Estate,
Drumoak, By Banchory,
Aberdeenshire,
AB31 5EY

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SuperCLAN Event Returns For The Seventh Year

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Jul 062017
 

With thanks to Ross Anderson, Senior Account Manager, Citrus:Mix

A popular event which sees some of the most prestigious supercars flock to the north-east to raise funds for a leading cancer charity is set to return.

SuperCLAN, which first took place in 2011, returns to the north-east on Sat, July 8 and is set to be the biggest yet, with all proceeds going to CLAN Cancer Support.

Organiser and Founder Ross Gatt will welcome more than 40 vehicles to the exclusive event with an array of prestigious cars already secured including a Lamborghini Huracan and McLaren 650s.

Attracting car enthusiasts from across Scotland, supercar owners are invited to take part in the drive which will set off from Aberdeen, before touring the north-east and finishing at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, Pitfodels, in the afternoon.

The cars will then be on display at the Marcliffe from 3.30pm until 4.30pm, with members of the public welcome to come along, make donations and view the very special collection.

Mr Gatt is proud to again be supporting CLAN Cancer Support through the SuperCLAN event.

He said:

“Upon creating SuperCLAN, we really had no idea how popular this event would become. Consecutively returning for its seventh event, we now attract prestigious vehicle owners from across Scotland who relish the chance to take part in this drive while helping to raise vital funds for such a worthwhile charity.

“During the past seven years of the event, we have raised in excess of £50,000 for CLAN and with this year looking bigger and better than ever, we are considerably adding to that running total.

“The support we receive from those taking part and local business sponsors is fantastic. This year I am delighted to welcome Aston Martin as the events headline sponsor, with Aberdein Considine, Cavitas Energy, Jamieson & Carry, Baird’s Pharmacy, Poor Boys World and Asset Integrity Group as proud sponsors of the event.”

Steph Dowling, CLAN Cancer Support Senior Fundraising Coordinator, said:

“We are delighted to again be the chosen charity for the SuperCLAN event. It’s fantastic to see how much the event has grown over the years and it really is an amazing sight to see so many high calibre supercars in one place.

“The organisers are already forecasting a bumper event this year and we look forward to joining members of the public to welcome the cars home to the Marcliffe Hotel at 3:30pm.”

For more information about SuperCLAN, please visit www.superclan.co.uk or join the event’s Facebook page.

CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer. CLAN aims to support people to reduce anxiety, stress and to increase their ability to cope with the effects of a serious illness.

Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of north-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland. CLAN has a presence in Ballater, Banchory, Elgin, Buckie, Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Lossiemouth, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Turriff, Kirkwall and Lerwick.

For further information about CLAN please contact (01224) 647000, or email enquiries@clanhouse.org

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An Old Star In A Car

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Mar 202015
 

Plebgate may be over for now, but Clarksongate is just on a cusp. By Duncan Harley.

the_car_is_the_star2Sickipedia comments such as “I would like to point out to Jeremy Clarkson that not all lorry drivers murder prostitutes. Some of us are too busy mowing down Pakis” and “Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended. He must have done something that even the BBC find inexcusable. So that rules out child abuse then” now haunt the internet.

What can the man have been thinking? Even if the press comments about him striking a fellow worker turn out to be untrue, his comment about going to the Job Centre is unlikely to gain much sympathy amongst the unemployed of Woking.

He is after all a multi-millionaire.

Marina Hyde’s piece about Clarksonia in this weeks Guardian resonates. In fact it rings bells if truth be tolled.

“Peter Morgan, screenwriter of The Queen” she says is “already working on a dramatisation.”

Rumours abound that US president Barack Obama is on a watching brief as is Cobra, the nation’s emergency response committee.

The BBC is of course, yet again, verging on being completely out of public control.

The dated Corporation has funding issues and sells the likes of Top Gear globally. Sometimes, cash makes more sense than ideological values. Money, to fund the next round of payoff payments, is king. A long-drawn-out Savile enquiry looks unlikely, but Clarkson-wise a shortly to-be-announced reinstatement might be in view, lest the man attract the likes of Channel 4 or Sky.

Despite the proposed digital licence fee ‘poll tax’ designed to ensnare anyone with a tablet, the accountants, producers and bankers at Auntie Beeb are running scared and in fear of their jobs, and who could blame them. They have families to feed and careers to protect after all. Hitler’s Germany was built on such foundations.

Even the Fat Controller has this week appeared powerless in the face of a public petition signed by half a million TV fans to bring Jeremy Clarkson back on stream.

An old star in a car brings Beeb-corp to its knees, and the nation votes to have him reinstated. Savile is no doubt laughing from the grave.

The scandal-ridden national broadcasting resource has of course funded some brilliant entertainment. Fawlty Towers and those Likely Lads spring immediately to mind. That popular Corrie drama and those two old scrap merchants with a knackered horse come a close second.

As for Clarkson, he is of course the butt of many jokes up and down the land.

Prime Minister David Cameron joked:

“I don’t know exactly what happened. He’s a constituent of mine, a friend of mine. He’s a huge talent.”

BBC Director-General Tony Hall quipped that an investigation was going on to “gather the facts” about the incident.

“We do not have the facts at the moment,” he said. “I am a fan of Jeremy Clarkson but this is a serious thing that is alleged to have taken place.”

“I think he’s been involved in a bit of a dust-up and I don’t think it’s that serious” joked co-presenter James May.

Hedging his bets, former BBC Trust chairman Michael Lyons said:

“I think the BBC’s learnt that actually it can replace even the biggest names, even if needs to, and I’m not saying it needs to.”

Joking aside, Top Gear is one of the BBC’s most popular and profitable TV shows, with Clarkson appearing on it since 1988. The programme has an estimated global audience of 350 million; except, of course, in Argentina.

A lawyer for Mr Tymon, the workmate who Mr Clarkson allegedly assaulted following a possible but so far unfounded allegation of a food dispute, said his client:

“intends to await the outcome of the BBC investigation and will make no comment until that investigation is complete”.

In the Savile days, Auntie Beeb made a complete fool of us all. Let’s not allow it to happen again.

By Duncan Harley ©, Images Duncan Harley ©

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SpeedFest 2014 Draws In The Crowds

 Aberdeenshire, News  No Responses »
Jul 042014
 

DragsterGTMWith thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing & Events Organiser, Grampian Transport Museum.

Alford SpeedFest 2014 took place at the Grampian Transport Museum on Sunday 29th June with nearly 4,000 people flocking to the outdoor arena to see the largest gathering of rare supercars, performance cars and historic racing cars in the North East of Scotland.

Now in its fifth year, highlights for the 2014 event included displays of the ‘Jim Robbins Special’ Indy car plus the ‘Charles Bang Special’ dragster – a record holder, having set the US ‘D’  class quarter mile record.

The ‘Early Bird Rides’ began on the circuit at 11am, giving members of the public the opportunity to jump into the passenger seat of some of the days participating vehicles.

The event was officially opened at 12.30pm by Joel Sande, father of UK pop star Emeli Sande.

The cutting of a fantastic Packard Bentley inspired cake confirmed that the event was officially underway before Richard Pargetter took to the sky in his Pitts Special to wow the crowds with the first of the day’s displays.

The traditional pursuits took place in the afternoon, with regular demonstrations from the   guest vehicles including the Packard Bentley driven by Chris Williams, taking to the track complete with white boiler suit and bowler hat. Spitting flames out of the exhausts of its 1500bhp, 42 litre engine the vehicle was a real crowd pleaser.

IndycarGTMStatic paddocks were complimented by the appearance of not one but two of the classic McRae Rally Cars, including Y4 FMC (one of the Ford Focus rally cars driven by the late Colin McRae) This complimented perfectly the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth rally car which was also in attendance.

As the day came to a conclusion a ‘Best of British’ parade took to the circuit, featuring some of the vehicles which had taken part in the track events. They were then joined by a rare McLaren P1 for the final few laps.

Museum curator, Mike Ward, enjoyed the day’s proceedings.

“SpeedFest 2014 was a really great event and I’m sure people will long remember the three special guest cars we had – it’s the first time we’ve had a dragster on our circuit, the first time we’ve had an Indy racer on our circuit and certainly the first time we’ve had a 42 litre aero engined Packard Bentley on our circuit. These vehicles captured the imagination of the crowds and it was great to see so much track activity on the day.”

The event organisers would like to express their thanks to the many supporters who helped make the event possible, including John Clark Motors, Parks Motor Group, Revolutions UK, Fennel Inverurie and Peter Vardy Porsche. Special thanks also to the many drivers and volunteer marshals and not forgetting the North East public, whose continued support helped ensure a great event in 2014.

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‘Big Stuff Rides’ At GTM Thursday 10th July 2pm – 4pm

 Aberdeenshire, Events, Featured  No Responses »
Jul 042014
 

The Grampian Transport Museum in Alford is preparing to host its first Rides session of the School summer holidays when representatives from the world of commercial vehicles take to the circuit on Thursday 10th July.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA‘Big Stuff Rides’ will give museum visitors the chance to jump in the passenger seats of some interesting and unusual commercial vehicles – including vintage buses from the Aberdeen & District Transport Preservation Trust, recovery vehicles from S.S Walker in Aberdeen and a 1975 Commer Fire Engine which is privately owned by an enthusiast from Aultmore, near Keith.

These ‘rides’ sessions are unique to the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford and offer museum visitors the chance to take to the passenger seat and enjoy laps around the dedicated road circuit at no additional cost, being included in the museums standard admission.

Curator, Mike Ward, is looking forward to summer at the museum.

 “It’s always a great feeling when we reach the summer season. Our unique events programme gets into full swing with events just like these  ‘rides’ sessions, which are always popular with families and youngsters.

“July and August are among our busiest months and once the Big Stuff event has passed we still have the Classic & Vintage Gathering and Fast Car Rides events to look forward to before the end of the July!”

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Alford SpeedFest: Sun 29 June

 Aberdeenshire, Featured, History  No Responses »
Jun 242014
 

XJ220With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing and Events Organiser, Grampian Transport Museum.

Enthusiasts will be heading to Aberdeenshire for the annual Alford SpeedFest, to be thrilled by the largest gathering of rare supercars, exciting performance cars, and historic racing cars in the north east of Scotland.

We are delighted to announce that Park’s Motor Group of Hamilton will be providing a collection of McLaren sports cars, to join the McLaren P1 supercar on display.

These will join iconic names such as Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Frazer Nash, Aston Martin, TVR.

SpeedFest is an established flagship event at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford. SpeedFest generates a lot of excitement and will showcase 120 specially selected and invited cars to make up the best entry list ever seen in the north east. The cars themselves participating actively in the event are made as accessible as possible to the public.

The event is based around the oval road circuit which incorporates the famous Alford Pursuits. As well as seeing the cars put through their paces, families have the chance to join in with fast car rides for the first 150 through the gate before the event gets fully underway.

Organisers James Parker and Nick Livingstone comment ‘With 39 days to go, preparations for Alford SpeedFest14 are well underway. We are beginning collect and prepare some of our exhibits. The ‘Jim Robbins Special’, a 1951 Offenhauser engined Indycar, which was on pole position for the 1955 Indianapolis 500 has arrived, and is currently undergoing its final preparation for the event, where it will be running on track.

The car has kindly been lent to the event by Mr E. Dean. Butler. The car was last seen in public at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it was driven by the US Formula 1 driver, Eddie Cheever.’

the JIM-ROBBINS-SPECIAL indy carAnother EDB racing car on our track will be the ‘Charles Bang special’ slingshot dragster, which set the US ‘D’ class quarter mile record at 10.35 seconds.

Powered by a flathead V8, this car wowed the crowds at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed, running in a display of vintage dragsters.

Most of the cars were shipped over from the USA, and, although the US has particularly rich pickings as far as drag cars go, the C.B. special made it into the show on its own merits.

Historic racer Chris Williams brings his unique Packard Bentley directly from the Cholmondeley of Power, this beast spits frames from the exhausts of the 1500bhp 42-litre supercharged engine and is more powerful than a Bugatti Veyron. Other key attractions this year include Jimmy McRae’s rally cars, and Richard Pargetter’s fantastic aerobatic display in his Pitts Special.

We are planning a great day for enthusiasts and families with exciting non-stop action on the circuit, and a range of sidestands and activities for families.

Local and national companies are providing support for the event, including Park’s Motor Group, John Clark BMW, Revolutions of Perth, Glack Attack mud run, EDB Racing, Storm Windows, Crosshill Garage.

We thank these companies for their charitable funding contribution for the Grampian Transport Museum.

Alford SpeedFest14
Sun 29 June 2014:  11:00am- 5:00pm
Grampian Transport Museum, Alford, Aberdeenshire AB33 8AE

Adult £10, Child £5, OAP £7, Family £25.
Tickets on the gate: Advance sales (inc. Early Bird fast car rides from May 26; tel GTM 01975 562292)

For further information please email James Parker or Nick Livingstone.
Web: alfordspeedfest.co.uk

Diorama Of Great Train Robbery Arrives At Alford

 Aberdeenshire, History  No Responses »
Jun 132014
 

Show stopping Model completes Great Train Robbery Exhibit. With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing & Events Organise

Train Robbery 2b1

Scale model of the scene at the Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn

A new arrival to the collection at the Grampian Transport Museum has completed the line up of a topical new exhibition on the events of the Great Train Robbery.
Still billed as the ‘crime of the century’ the events which took place in the early hours of 8th Aug 1963 were only ever photographed in the hours after, when the authorities arrived to begin their investigation.

The Son et Lumiere model, which is now on show at the museum, is an absolutely accurate scale model of the scene at the Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn.

Recently built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the infamous raid, it is on loan from the Luton Model Railway Club until the end of August and helps to bring together the first serious exhibition of its kind on the subject.

Having already reunited two of the actual vehicles used in the raid, Curator Mike Ward is delighted to have secured the Diorama.

“It’s great to have this show-stopping model as part of our Great Train Robbery exhibition. This has been painstakingly built, from scratch, working from the Police photographs which were taken in the hours after the raid – the only visual record of the scene of the crime which was captured.

“There was a lot of mis-information reported following the incident and the Luton Model Railway Club have done a fantastic job of peeling back the layers to get to the truth and recreate the scene of the crime. We’re very grateful to the Luton Club for allowing us to borrow the model until August. It really does put the finishing touches to our exhibition!”

 Along with the Diorama, Grampian Transport Museum was also to locate and secure on loan the actual Austin Loadstar truck which was used to flee the scene of the crime with the loot. An ex army Land Rover Series 1 was also tracked down and is also on display until the end of August.

GTM Classic And Vintage Gathering: Entries Sought

 Aberdeenshire, Information  No Responses »
May 232014
 

Grampian Transport Museum is accepting entries for its Classic and Vintage Afternoon Gathering 2014. With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing and Events Organiser, Grampian Transport Museum.

Classics2The Grampian Transport Museum is now accepting entries for its annual Classic and Vintage Afternoon Gathering on Sunday 20th July.
A traditional, relaxed meeting for owners of all pre-1990 cars, commercials and motorcycles, the gathering represents an excellent opportunity for enthusiasts to meet and display their cherished classic.

The event is also open to museum visitors as part of the standard admission price.

Pre-booked entry for car owners is £10; this is a donation which will be used to fund educational visits to the Grampian Transport Museum for local schools. Included in the price are admission to the museum itself and light refreshments – tremendous value considering the standard admission rate of £9.50 or £7.50 concessions.

Entry forms can be downloaded from the museum website at www.gtm.org.uk and should be completed and returned by Monday 7th July.

The Grampian Transport Museum features a number of exciting and exclusive additions for 2014, including a Great Train Robbery exhibit – featuring real vehicles used in the raid – and a multi-million pound HGV simulator. The event is sure to add another dimension to the museum experience for visitors.

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