Attendees:-
Austins:-
1929 Austin Burnham - Peter & Katie Duncan
1933 Austin 10/4 Paddy & Trish McDermott
1934 Austin Ascot Light 12/4 - Bob & Joan Archer
1950 Austin Devon - Alex & Wilma Fender
1937 Austin Seven Ruby - Colin & Jane Shepherd
1952 Austin Sheerline - George Russell & Hilary

Austin Friends:-
1947 Chrysler Windsor - Dave & Gynith Young/Bill & Maggie Brown
1960 Wolseley 1500 - Peter Mitchell/Arthur Scott/Leslie Schultz
1958 Rover P4 - Archie & Mary Binnie.
1963 Rover P4 - Ian & Isla Headrick

Modern:- Iain and June Smart

Due to work commitments, Joan and I joined the Austin Club weekend party on the Saturday morning, the weekend having begun 24 hours earlier.
Having driven from St Andrews to Pitlochry in bright sunglasses sunshine we a arrived to find all parties were enjoying a 'rest day'. This meaning everyone was doing 'their own thing'! There were reports of a car being polished, some visiting a neighbouring event, some swimming in the hotel's complex and a few joined us in town for chips and beer! The lovely ladies of course took full advantage searching the many bright shops for that bargain (and quite a few must have found it going by the bags quietly packed in the back of the cars!)
The evening was as usual a friendly gourmet meal followed by a get-together in the lounge. Ms Katie ("I am 4 next Saturday") Duncan was the entertainment treat of the night, taking full advantage of the only child in sight, a nice brightness to everyone's evening as Katie was so well turned out and of course, on her best behaviour!
A very warm Sunday morning saw all the cars and everyone congregate outside the hotel for the annual club presentations (Not often these are held outdoors!) Our 2011 organisers, Peter Mitchell, Iain Smart and Peter Duncan thanked all for their attendance and the awards went as follows:-
Best Austin - George Russell's 1952 Austin Sheerline.
Best non Austin - Dave Young's 1947 Chrysler Windsor
Breakdown Trophy - Bob Archer's 1934 Austin Ascot!
As usual an explanation is due re the 'Breakdown Trophy'! - this in the past has always been a very difficult award to present, as all the cars predominately behave themselves! However, a trophy has to be awarded - this year, ye scribe was the recipient (not really the car!) in as much whereas the Ascot did refuse initially to fire up on the Saturday morning, this was deemed to be because of the low level of petrol in the tank! A MERE HUMAN ERROR? Oh well, as pointed out, someone actually won this trophy in the past just for merely topping the radiator up, so no disgrace really.
To follow such a friendly presentation, eventually it was in to the cars and off. Some made direct for other Sunday events whilst the remainder drove the route once again immaculately organised by Iain and June Smart. This took as through the fantastic scenery of Loch Tummell via "The Queens View", Tummel Bridge, Aberfeldy for a lunch/coffee at the House of Menzies, a diversified farm outlet. After this human fuel stop (like we needed it after the full Scottish Breakfasts consumed!) it was onward through Crieff, and a series of wonderfully named places such as 'Highlandman Loan', fantastic. Kinkell Bridge and Auchterarder, Dunning were all traversed prior to the end point at The Brig Farm, Bridge of Earn where a final feed and farewells took place.
Once again, all the cars that started did indeed complete a fairly hard working weekend, and although there were a few 'incidents', all the cars made it home under their own steam, a fantastic accolade to these hardy machines.