Forestry Memories

Car Rallying on Forest Road

Photograph taken by Don MacCaskill and image courtesy of Bridget MacCaskill, Strathyre. Don was based as Head Forester at Inverinan from about 1960 through to about 1968 before transferring initially to Allean Forest and then Strathyre Forest in1972.

Ford car registration number possibly REV126K and race Number 3 has R E HAMILTON and looks like BOWMAKER written in place of the number plate. Jim Christie, Crook of Devon, comments 'Bowmaker is the name of a large Construction Plant company who took over the Caterpillar agency by the purchasing of Caledonian Tractors (with whom I served my apprenticeship) in Scotland and Ward Plant in England. Back in these days is was common for Companies in this line of business to sponsor Rally cars, so I would guess that that explains to logo on the car. Again, my recollection of the time scale of the take-over ties in with this suggested time-frame.’

The use of long stretches of Forestry Commission roads was crucial to the development of the Car Rallying sport in UK. The events could and can cause significant damage to the roads particularly in wet weather but much less so in dry conditions. The local forest staff were always keen to get the road repair teams in as quickly as possible after the event to prevent damage to their forest vehicles particularly on the worn and dug out corners.

Note the fire brooms lying at the road bend. The site is unknown but appears to be a ridge or hilltop which has been planted and the forest road shows a dry and very stony soil. The only other identifying feature is what looks like a Forestry Commission radio hut and mast in the distant back ground.

Can anyone remember this site and radio mast or any details about the rally car?

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