Subaru owners pay tribute to Colin McRae

Aug 28 2008 by George Topp, Lanark & Carluke

AN estimated 300 Subaru owners will descend on Lanark this weekend to pay tribute to one of international rallying’s favourite stars, the late World Rally Champion Colin McRae.

The 2008 McRae Gathering aims to break two world records and raise cash for charities associated with the star, who died in a helicopter crash near his Lanark home almost a year ago.

On Saturday, Subaru owners from across the UK will gather at Lanark Auction Market at the start of a marathon pilgrimage to Banbury and Warwick, bases for the Prodrive team which ran Colin’s WRC cars.

The organisers expected more than 300 cars to leave Lanark on Saturday morning, with others joining the convoy as it heads south. Abington Services is one of a handful of official convoy joining points, with cars expected there at 10.20am.

By the time they reach Warwick, more than 1000 Subarus are expected to have joined in.

The Colin McRae tribute convoy will depart from Lanark Market at 10am, led by Jimmy McRae behind the wheel of Colin’s personal Series McRae Impreza.

Colin’s 1995 World Championship-winning Impreza, L555 BAT and his Rothmans Legacy will be on static display at the market.

Colin’s father, an international driver and multiple British champion, will lead the convoy until they reach the M74 at Douglas Road End.

A spokesman for this weekend’s event explained: “This get-together is to celebrate the life of a gentleman, a true rally legend and the reason many of us are driving Subarus today.

“This weekend is the culmination of many months of work and whilst we want to remember Colin, it is not intended to be a sombre weekend. We want everyone to have fun and enjoy yourselves.”

The convoy will drive down the M74, M6, M5, M42 and M40, at a speed of 60-65mph, with all cars using dipped headlights to indicate they are part of the tribute.

In their instructions to the ‘Scooby’ enthusiasts taking part the organisers also warned: “If you have to pull out of the official convoys for any reason, you should re-join at the end of the convoy.

“You should not exceed the speed limit to “catch-up” or to rejoin your original place. The Colin McRae philosophy of “If in doubt, flat out” does not apply to this event!”

And they added: “We believe that everyone who has committed to this event genuinely appreciates what Colin McRae achieved and will enter into the spirit of this tribute.

“You are going to be part of something very special – a totally unique event and one which will never happen again.”

The event organisers have spent most of the year working with local authorities and police forces across the country to ensure the tribute event goes without a hitch, and with as little disruption to the public as possible.

Everyone planning to start from Lanark has been advised to approach the town from the south, and rather than drive into the town for food or breakfasts, they are being urged to stay at the auction market and use catering facilities there rather than risk congestion in the Royal Burgh.

TRIBUTE: popular rally champion Colin McRae.