54 |AUTUMN 2019
Classatthe castle
WiththemagnificentDrumlanrigCastleasabackdrop,howcouldtheMXactionbeanythingbutclassic?T
hereislittle doubt thatGallowayMCC’sClassic
Grand National Scrambleof Scotland, held on
May16-19 thisyear,isapopular additionto
the racingcalendar.Withall so rts of classes for
allsortsofracers,the trac kislaidout in view of the
magnificent Drumlanrig Castle.
Using the combined knowledgeofthe club
members’ scramblesexperience,atrackofadecent
lengthwaslaidout with enough variation to test the
mettle of theasse mbled riders.
Classesranged fromtwinshocks toclassicswith
pre-78s,over 50s, under50s, pre- 75s andeventeam
races whichkeptthe spectators’interest up at
alltimes.
Theweatherwasinterestingattimes butdid
it dampentheenthusiasm fromallatthe track?
No it didn’t. Nordid it affect the track, whichseemedwell drained without creating dust.
Thestart areawasseparate fromthe trackand
ridersraced100 yardsorsotojointhe trackfor the
firstcorner –for those of us withcamerasthis wasa
prime position.
Once through thefirst corner the entryineach
race tendedto spreadout abit.Thereare always
races withinraces wherethe fast ladsareaway
duelling it out up the sharp end,while furtherback
the mates who arrivedtogether,campednext toeach
other andare...well...mates... tussle for 20th and
it’snolessexciting than the battleforfirst orsecond.
Thisevent, from tentative beginnings,has grown
to be anexperiencerather thanjust aclassic
scramble,asthereisnow aroadrun forthose
not participating inthe racing butstillwanting to
be involved.WordsTimBrittonPics:FionaWatson,TimBritton
Thankfullythe
ridersgetabit
morespace
betweenthem
astherace
progresses.