2024 Awards Dinner Report
SMRC dinner and awards ceremony, November 2024, Glenbervie House, Stirlingshire
Drivers, supporters and club members gathered to celebrate the 2024 season with guest speakers Touring Car legends, double Champion John Cleland and triple Champion Gordon Shedden. Club President Hugh McCaig made a welcome return and addressed the diners later in the evening. Grace was said by the Dinner and Awards ceremony organiser Chief Marshall, Allan Barron. The evening was compared by Dr Robert Johnston, the well known Knockhill commentator.
SMRC Club Chairman Nic Boyes started the evening
“Good evening and Happy St Andrew’s Day!
Having stepped into the role of Chairman in October 2023, the 2024 racing season has been my first full season in the role. Now, they say that every day is a school day and I know what that means. The 2024 season has had SMRC working collaborating with Knockhill Motor Sports Club (KMSC) in running ‘Best of Scottish Championship meetings at Knockhill Racing Circuit.
Since making personnel changes in the Scrutineering Shed, the Scrutineering has been much more effective. I wish to pay thanks to Scrutineers, namely Colin Wallace, Gordon Hay and Stewart Pitcaithly for applying real rigour in Scrutineering in the pursuit of parity.
I know now much more about post season eligibility engine checks; how C1 engines do not respond well to having heads removed.
I also wish to pay thanks to our marshals, SMMC, all at Knockhill Racing Circuit, our colleagues at KMSC and all in Race Control.
I would like to thank our sponsors and supporters, namely Jonathan Gilbert of Edinburgh Watch Company, Daisy & Ronnie of WheelsAround & Yokohama.
I wish to thank SMRC committee for providing wise council, thanks to Championship Representatives who act as conduits for information from members to committee and vice versa.
Finally I wish to thank my fellow Directors.
Now, I would like to share my own ambitions for the 2025 Racing Season.
- To encourage greater inclusion, wider diversity and equality whatever your age, gender, race and bodily ability.
- To collect all trophies SMRC trophies in one place and create a secure presentation case in our Portacabin at Knockhill Racing Circuit for this display.
- Attempt to restore club identity wherever possible.
- Attempt to revive the social aspect of our racing community by creating food based social gatherings inspired by SMRC Classic Pizza Party.
- Review and refine championship regulations with particular reference to SMRC Classic Sports & Saloon Cars.
This work starts now!
Back to 2024 and we are here to celebrate your successes, and hearty congratulations from me to all Trophy winner.
Thank you”
SMRC Championship Awards
The top 3 of each championship in the Scottish Championships came upon stage together, to receive their awards or had a nominated recipient, plus appropriate class winners.
Scottish Fiesta ST Cup supported by Toyo Tyres
Champion Gerry Hendry, winning the Hamilton and Inches Trophy.
2nd Kieren Preedy
3rd James Dickie
ST Challenge Cup, Lorn Murray.
ST Newcomers, James Dickie
Becky Smith SMRC Director and Fiesta drivers representative, presented the trophies.
Gerry Hendry was 3rd overall in 2023 and has moved up to become ST Champion for the first time.
Lorn Murray retained the ST Challenge Cup.
Dr Robert Johnston spoke to Gerry after he received his award. He said “Gerry you had a stella season, 9 wins out of 12 starts”. Gerry replied, “It was a fantastic year, I had success when the car didn’t break and others were unfortunate. Everything I tried, I achieved.”
Scottish C1 Cup
Champion Murray Scott, winning the Mary Armstrong Trophy
2nd Dan Martin
3rdAyden Wilson
Newcomers Cup, Murray Scott
James Hitchen, SMRC committee member and C1 drivers representative, awarded the trophies on stage.
Dan Martin was the runner up for the 2nd year.
Murray was interviewed after receiving his trophy. Dr Robert said, “that was one of the closest run trophies of the year and won in the last few minutes”. Murray said, “I knew Ihad to be in the top 10 to secure both titles (championship and newcomers). It will be Legends next year for a new challenge”.
Scottish Mini Cooper Cup in association with Project 21 Detailing, supported by
Yokohama tyres
Mini Cooper Cup – Champion Oliver Mortimer and also winning the Knockhill Cup for the 2nd year running
2nd Robbie Dalgleish
3rd Daniel Paterson
Mini Cooper S R53 Cup class – winning the John Nicolson Trophy, Jamie Blake
Mini Cooper Newcomer – Martin Wijetunga (won the class on a count back of class wins after a points dead heat)
Mini Cooper S R53 Cup – winner Jamie Blake
Malcolm McNab, SMRC Committee member and Mini drivers representative presented the awards.
Robert Johnston spoke to Oly Mortimer, saying “This is an action replay of last year”. He went on to say “What a season and you won all three races in the last round [at Knockhill in October].”Oly said, “It started off not too great this year, had a few penalties and contact. Then it really took off. It’s my Mum, Dad, fiancé and Son, it’s a family thing.” Oly then spoke about him finishing racing and looking forward to seeing his son Jude in karts, “It’s the 3rd generation in our family racing”. Robert said, “Thank you for the entertainment and success you’ve had over the years.”
Scottish Classic Sports and Saloons Championship in association with Edinburgh Watch Company
Winner Class A and overall Champion winning the Doune Cup, Iain Mitchell (Vauxhall Nova)
Winner Class B Craig Houston(Lotus)
Winner Class E Andrew Graham (2nd O/A in Triumph TR8)
Winner Class G Jimmy Crow (Scimitar)
XR2 Championship Paul Green – Sandy Forrest trophy
Championship sponsor Jonathan Gilbert of the Edinburgh Watch Company presented the Classics awards.
Robert interviewed Iain and said, “Iain you had a fantastic season and won your class everytime you were out”. Iain thought it was just luck and then said, “In the last round John Kinmond [Mini] pushed me hard. Iain went on to say that you can’t win on your own and that he had his son helping him.
Notes on Championship Winners
Some of the 2024 Champions have retained their hard fought titles, which one driver had won in both 2022 and 2023, this was Mini Cooper S driver Jamie Blake. Other drivers have retained titles they won in 2023; Oliver Mortimer, Champion in the Mini Cooper Cup, Lorn Murray in the Fiesta ST Challenge class and Andrew Graham in Class E Classics with his TR8.
Special Awards
These awards, many of which are decades old and many have been won in the past by famous drivers or long standing club members, presenters are noted next to the winner.
Ollon Villars Quaich (Presented in memory of Mark Brennan)
Named after an international hillclimb in Switzerland and awarded for the best prepared Classic car at SMRC events.The winner was Jimmy Crow’s classic Scimitar sportscar. Presented by, Jonathan Gilbert of the Edinburgh Watch Company.
Duncan Fisher Award
This trophy is given in memory of Duncan who competed at Ingliston in the 70s and 80s and is awarded to an enthusiast, who is totally committed to his favourite sport of motor racing, and invariably does most of his work behind the scenes and is seen by few but appreciated by many.
Winner long time club member, track side photographer Jim Moir – John Cleland presented this award.
Sheila Whyte Trophy.
Originally supported by the Whyte and Mackay trust, awarded to the most promising up and coming driver.
Winner Ayden Wilson(Citroen C1) Presented by John Cleland
Claire and Nicholas Trophy – Marshal of the Year
Winner Andy Massie. Andy has marshalled for 42 years, presented by Chief Marshal Alan Barron.
SMRC Special Award – Special contribution to the sport in Scotland
Winner Lee Fisher in recognition of his social media coverage, presented by Gordon Shedden.
SMRC Driver of the Year – voted for by the Scottish Marshals
Presented by Chief Marshal Alan Barron
Winner for the 2nd year running, Oliver Mortimer (Mini Cooper Cup).
GUEST SPEAKERS
SMRC President, Hugh McCaig
Hugh is not only president of SMRC but also le patron of Ecurie Ecosse, the world renown race team. Hugh managed their international racing in the 80s and 90s (in World Sportscars the team were C2 class world champions in 1986, and became a top team in British Touring Cars in the early 90s).
He recounted his memories of the evening venue. He said “its great to see the Club surviving and doing well”. Hugh said it had been almost 60 years since he was here. He knew a family friend that lived here in this house, who had his race cars prepared by Ecurie Ecosse mechanics [Ecurie Ecosse was the famous race team based in Edinburgh, then managed by David Murray, that won the Le Mans 24 hour race with a D type Jaguar in both 1956 and 1957]. Hugh noted that sadly the friend died before Hugh’s 17th birthday.
Hugh then talked about the fact that the Club had a few difficult years, but he was pleased to see the garden had been weeded and hedges trimmed so that it broke even in 2024. He then spoke about the Royal Highland Society having appointed a new board, and there was talk about bringing motorsport back to Ingliston [this is a circuit that held races from 1965 to 1993 and is located in the Royal Highland showground by the airport, SMRC ran these race meetings].
Hugh then said, “SMRC relies largely on committed volunteers. It’s their unswerving loyalty and efforts that have ensured SMRC’s survival”. He then said, ”‘I had a phone call from Jackie [Club Patron Sir Jackie Stewart, three times Formula 1 Champion], and he asked me to send his best wishes”. Hugh then wished everyone success in the forthcoming season.
Special guest John Cleland (Twice BTCC Champion)
John was interviewed by Robert Johnston. Robert mentioned the famous “the mans an animal” quote, which John said on TV about BMW BTC driver Steve Soper, who took him off at Silverstone with a few laps to go in the final race of the year. This gifted the BTC Championship for 1992 to Soper’s team mate Tim Harvey, and took it away from John.
Robert asked John about his top BTC drivers. John said, “a few years ago it was Gordon [Shedden] and Colin Turkington, now I’d say Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton. Ash is the best I’ve seen in Touring Cars for many years”. John said in 2023 he was asked by Ash at Knockhill about the weather. He said that he told him if it was down the Valley it would be okay, then 15 minutes later it tipped it down. Robert noted that John started at club level in rallying, and asked what got him to Touring Cars. John said, “My first race was in Rallycross in 1975. I was a Mitsubishi Colt dealer in the Borders. I had rallied, but was the only person that the Scottish Forestry Commission wrote to, and asked them to stop. Because of that I started racing. I did Production saloons and badgered Vauxhall for support. They were good at supporting drivers at the time through their Dealer Support Team”. John went on to say, “In Touring Cars you’re in 2 car teams and that driver is your biggest competitor”. John noted that in motorsport you have to say the right things. He said that he remembered accusing a Clerk of the Course at Brands [Hatch] of being on drugs. He noted that it was after he’d won the race and said the official must have been on drugs, and that comment was all over the papers the next day.
John said that he’d raced at Bathurst in Australia 13 times, [this is the famous 1000km saloon car race on a 6.2km circuit that features a long straight known as Conrod straight]. The circuit is 200km west of Sydney. The race can take 6-7 hours to complete. It is often only run for V8 supercars, but in the 80s and 90s some Super Touring cars raced there, when the local rules were favourable. John recalled that in 1993 he was sharing a Holden car with Australian saloon car legend Peter Brock. John said, “he came in after 1½ hours for fuel and tyres, and said on the radio all was okay”. They changed driver and John recounted that on his first lap out of the pits he felt there was a vibration. But the car was miked up for interview / driver feedback and had a camera in car. The film crew went to the car when it was on Conrod straight on John’s 1st lap, with John doing around 300kmph in it and the TV company were broadcasting live. Then the propshaft broke loose and hit the floor. John said he then swore on live tv. John noted, “Aussies love bad language and sport, so from that day on I’ve never bought a drink in Australia”. He also said he got the car back to the pits and it was fixed. John then said his best result at Bathurst was in 2001 with 2nd by 1.5 seconds after 6 hours racing [this was in a Ford Falcon shared with Brad Jones and they had qualified 22nd]. John said “It’s the race that every Touring Car driver I know wants to race in”[for the record John also finished 5th in 1998 sharing a Vectra with Derek Warwick].
John then said that he still owned a BTC Vauxhall Vectra. He said, “my son has it looking better that when Triple 888 had it, and ran it in the BTC.” He noted it was in the garage and he hadn’t driven it for 2 years, but he was going to get it out and drive it at Knockhill in 2025. John said he’d won more races in that car in historics, than when it was run in Touring Cars.
Special guest Gordon Shedden (Three times BTCC Champion)
The compare for the evening Dr Robert Johnson said to Gordon, “You seem to be enjoying historic racing”. Gordon noted that when the BTCC doors closed as Team Dynamics his old team pulled out of Touring Cars, he raced classics. He said that he had raced E Type Jaguars, Listers and Cobras [all 60s sportscars], which Gordon said, “they’re all great to drive.” He then went on to say, “the soft spot lies with Lotus Cortina [saloon car from the 60’s] which Jim Clark won the Touring cars in1964, and I’ve shared one with my old teammate Matt Neal”. Robert then said, “you raced with Rory Butcher recently at Spa [Belgium GP track]in the classics 6 hours race”. Gordon replied, “yes we shared a Lotus Elan at Spa. There were 23 Ford GT40s in that race, but we finished 3rd in a Lotus Elan. It was a really cool thing to do and I’d love to do it again.”
(The Lotus Elan was a 1.6 litre road going sportscar, though quite a few racing versions were also made. The Ford GT40 was a 4.7 to 4.9 litre V8 mid engine GT made for racing, with over 100 manufactured between 1964 and 1968. It won the Le Mans 24 hour race 4 times in a row from 1966-69).
Robert asked Gordon about advice for young drivers on how to get into Touring Cars. Gordon said it is harder than when he started, but if a driver wanted it enough there are opportunities, and he said just don’t give up.
All the winners
At the end of the awards all winners present were united, with Photographer Jim Moir amongst them, rather than photographing them all as he normally does.
Kevin Pick