18th May 12 
Classic cars in region
PICTURES: Bob Little, Powfoot Photography
CLASSIC cars roared through the region as part of a rally from Glasgow to Monte Carlo in the south of France.
The historic car event for pre-1974 vehicles, hosted by the Automobile Club de Monaco, saw competitors start from locations including Glasgow, Barcelona, Warsaw and Oslo on Sunday before converging on Monaco.
With the South of Scotland Car Club marshalling the Dumfries ‘welcome point’, Roland Proudlock from the club said: “This is the Historic Monte Carlo Rally to celebrate the fact that the Monte Carlo is now 101 years old.
“Back in the old days, before the World Rally Championship came along, it would start off in places like Warsaw, Turin and Glasgow, and several people who used to take part in the event back in the 50s, 60s and 70s went to the Automobile Club of Monaco and asked if they would resurrect these starting points.”
Last year marked the first running of the Monte Carlo Historique, marking the 100th anniversary. And while Roland believed it would be a one-off, Dumfries found itself hosting a welcome point for the second time on Sunday.
But while 48 cars left Glasgow last year -- just 12 set off this year.
And Roland said: “I think due to lack of money and the cost of fuel, a lot less elected to leave from Glasgow.”
However, while just six vehicles stopped off in Dumfries, they were joined by an additional 21 cars which were taking part in a Heritage Run from Glasgow to Dumfries.
Roland said: “They stopped, had a meal, and then headed back home.”
Crowds turned out to welcome the visiting vehicles, and then wave off the six Monte Carlo Historique competitors as they continued on their way to complete the full 2190 mile journey to Monaco, taking them through Dover, into France and over the Alps.
And while Roland hopes that the event will be repeated next year, he said: “We’d be happy to support, but I think the economic pressures and the low number of cars that supported the start this year might suggest this is probably the last time we‘ll see it.”
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