Pilgrimage planned to honour legend McRae

Jun 12 2008 by George Topp, Lanark & Carluke

HUNDREDS of Subaru owners from across Europe are planning a massive pilgrimage to Lanark to honour Scotland’s first World Rally Champion, the late Colin McRae.

The Lanark man tragically died last September when his helicopter crashed near his home, also killing his young son and two family friends.

Colin’s best known rally successes came at the wheel of a Subaru Impreza, and now enthusiasts of the car are planning their own tribute to their hero.

In August they are planning the McRae Gathering, a 320-mile pilgrimage from the rally legend’s home town to Banbury in Oxfordshire, base for Colin’s former Subaru team, Prodrive.

The organisers of the memorial event have no idea just how many cars will take part but are confident of beating the present British record for largest gathering of one make cars, of 385 Ferraris. They would also like to beat the world record, of 500 Fiats.

So far interest from the Subaru community has been “massive,” and the tribute has been given approval by the McRae family.

“This event has the potential to be the largest Subaru event ever in the UK and is for one purpose - to celebrate the life of the legend that was Colin Steele McRae MBE,” said one of the organisers.

They have been working hard to alleviate the concerns of police and local authorities on both sides of the Border and to reassure them this is not some “cruise” or “boy racer” event.

So far more than 335 people from Britain and Europe have registered an interest in the event, and sales of special stickers which must be carried by those taking part have already raised more than £3000 for the McRae charities.

Originally, the tribute organisers thought about celebrating Colin’s association with Subaru along similar lines to a commemorative convoy from John O’Groats to Lands End.

That event, held in memory of England’s late world rally champion Richard Burns, raised £17,000 for a foundation set up in his name.

But the support given by the McRae family and Prodrive has astounded the organisers, who said that “never in a million years” did they expect the co-operation they have been given.

Colin’s father, the former multiple British rally champion Jimmy McRae, will make the iconic Colin McRae World-beating Impreza L555 BAT and Colin's Subaru Legacy available at the start point at Lanark Market on August 30.

The convoy will travel from Lanark along the A73, to the M74, and head south to Banbury.

On the Sunday those taking part will be able to tour Prodrive’s workshops, before Colin’s car from the 1996 World Rally Championship – N1 WRC – will roll out of the gates from Banbury to lead the convoy to the Prodrive centre at Warwick.

The Essex Police Impreza Interceptor, which features in the Channel 5 TV Programme “Police Interceptors” will also be taking part.