Forrestburn Hillclimb – Highlights

Join us for a stormy but scintillating weekend at Forrestburn, the first purpose-built hillclimb in the UK since 1907! We fought the intense weather to capture the action from the Monklands Sporting Car Club event.

Despite the challenging conditions, drivers in every class pushed the limits to find personal bests. Including a mashup of Mx5s, classic Minis, an equally as thunderous Audi TTRS, and the glorious sound of a Ferrari F355 Challenge echoing through the hills.

Meet Euan Bruce, a trailblazer in UK motorsport as the first Junior Class competitor. Hear about his journey, what it takes to race before you even have a driving license, and how he’s beginning to show his Dad how it’s done!

Huge thanks to all the competitors, and the marshals, who braved the storm to give us a show.

Bruce Racing Just Giving – https://www.justgiving.com/page/brt-supporting-alz
Check out written content here – https://www.substack.com/@cassmaycrash

Timestamps:
Intro (0:00)
A1 – Saloon up to 1400cc (1:05)
J1 – Juniors – Euan Bruce (1:53)
A2 – Saloon 1400-2000cc (4:04)
A3 – Saloon over 2000cc (4:25)
A5 – Sports 1400-1700cc (6:18)
A6 – Sports over 1700cc (6:30)
A8 – Marque Road Sports (7:11)
A9 – Scottish Mx5s (7:46)
B1 – Modified Saloon up to 1400cc (8:24)
B2 – Modified Saloon 1400-2000cc (8:33)
B3 – Modified Saloon over 2000cc (8:46)
B4 – Modified Sports up to 1400cc (9:04)
B6 – Modified Sports over 1700cc (9:19)
C0 – Saloon Libre (9:37)
C1 – Sports Libre up to 1400cc (9:53)
C4 – Racing up to 1100cc (10:33)
C5 – Racing 1100-1600cc (11:29)
D1 – Classic and Thoroughbred Road (11:42)
D2 – Classic and Thoroughbred Modified (13:08)
D3 – Classic and Thoroughbred Competition (13:47)
Outro (14:23)

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[Music] [Music] Founded in 1991, Monklands Sporting Car 
Club opened Forrestburn shortly after. The first purpose-built Hillclimb track 
in the UK since Brooklands in 1907. Slinking up and over Lochside, back down to the Hairpin and past the scary wall on the way up to Summit The project was phase one of what was originally planned to include a large international circuit.
Unfortunately, these plans never came to fruition. The weekend got underway with both an 
incoming geomagnetic and thunderstorm. Heavy rain and wind belted the track, giving 
me an intense lesson in location filming. Sunday brought better but 
unpredictable weather to the track. Many still faced the odds using 
the dry spells to find personal bests. [Music] Class A1 had six competitors with 
Garry Dickon taking the top time. After a brilliant run early on 
Sunday, Garry decided it wasn’t worth the risk to carry on in the rain.
Enthusiastic as ever, he also gave me a new expression to use, although I’m 
not 100% sure I’ve heard it right… We’ve come seven hours, you know, 
when that little light goes green. Yeah, you’re sending it. Give it Hoober up the Hurly(?) Ian and Dan Wright gave the Jazz a 
Forrestburn-debut with Ian finding 2nd place, just a half a second ahead 
of Graham Shee and his Fiesta. John Hamilton rounded out the class with a 59.7. John Bruce was fifth, with a 
new personal best on Sunday, competing alongside son, Euan,
who runs in the junior class. The pair were only 7 hundredths apart a fine Father’s Day present
for John to finish fastest. Euan was the first junior to race in the 
UK, and is still the only one in Scotland. I had a chat with Euan on Sunday, and 
battled the wind to hear about his journey. I’m Euan Bruce, I started in September 2023. 
I’ve been in hillclimbing and sprint pretty much my whole life, through my dad doing it when 
he was younger and just growing up with it really. Doune Hillclimb’s probably my favourite one, 
just the the thrill you get going up the hill and around the track, it’s just – just great fun. 
It’s so tight and twisty and, just it’s exciting! This weekend’s been going good,
got a new class record yesterday quicker again today, so, going good! Much the story of Doune too, Euan continues 
to find time every day he’s on track. Costs aren’t low and so earlier this 
year, Euan went out to find some sponsors to help with the running.
Entries into the junior class are limited to stock cars of no more than 110 brake 
horsepower to help try and bring budgets down. It’s built to the junior class 
spec, so it’s a standard road car up to 110 brake horsepower. 
Like, no modifications at all, just safety stuff to keep the cost down and 
keep it safe for juniors for their first car. Do you wish there was more juniors? Definitely. I definitely wish there was 
more. Just it’s not very well known at all. Yeah. It’s not publicized enough for other juniors 
to know, you need to really know what you’re doing to be able to do it, you can’t just 
come in as a complete novice – you need to know things before you can do it 
really. How to drive is a big thing! Oh, of course, you won’t have an 
actual driving license will you? No, no driver’s license at all. At what point do you think 
you’ll be beating your dad? Well, at the moment already, was beating 
him yesterday and a couple other events. So, yeah, we’re about on par at the moment. Despite the high costs of running, Bruce 
Racing still finds time and energy to raise money for further causes. Currently 
running a just giving page for Alzheimer’s Scotland in the race against Dementia, with 
the paddock showing some fantastic support. [Music] [Music] And back to the results, Derek Rothnie was fastest 
in A2, followed by Grainger Robertson’s Fiesta, and Malcolm McDonald was here 
in his C2 for the first time. Grainger Robertson was only there 
Saturday, but interestingly, the whole class was actually fastest 
on Saturday in the wake of the storm. A3 was busy with 10 entries, over half 
of them finding personal bests. First in both regards was Tommy Rapson in his 
Impreza WRX, with a blistering 49.38. David Reid was only a tenth behind in the second Impreza and he was also only 
2 tenths off his own personal best. Next up was Neil Girdwood. It was great 
to see Neil after a hefty crash at the last event I visited in Doune. Since, 
Neil’s set a personal best at Fintray and followed it up with another in Forrestburn, 
showing absolutely no fear following the bash. And passing Tommy Rapson’s TTRS in 
the paddock, its usual thunderous crackle seemed to have summoned an almost 
supernatural response… A single crack of lightning was swiftly followed by the longest 
thunder I have ever heard at 26 seconds long. (Thunder) (Sounds like a plane crash!)
Tommy did a 51.13, curiously faster on Saturday. Simon Rothnie set 52.92 on his way to a personal best. And it was my first time seeing 
Michael Jenkins, or his GR Yaris, up a hill. Brian Hunter and Robert Cockling 
set PBs for seventh and eighth, whilst Jim Howarth followed them home 
ninth – as the third R53 in the class. Another couple of new faces, Alex Dunnet and 
his M3 CSL rounded out A3 for the weekend. Jamie and Guy gave another close battle through the weekend the pair separated by just over a tenth
in the Caterham 7. A6 was a similarly small class, with two 
very different cars. It was nice to see John Welsh’s XTR2 running after issues 
at Doune, setting a 53.2 on Sunday. And it was the first time I’ve seen Paul Rae and 
his Robin Hood 2B. The first time I’ve seen a 
Robin Hood at all for that matter! The series 3 Lotus 7 copy was made by a British company
that started out with Ferrari Daytona replicas. Robin Hood was since bought by Great British Sports Cars who went on to make the GBS Zero, like the 
one seen this weekend with Ross Sutherland. [Music] [Music] Neil Ross led the Marque Sports class, 
PDK gearbox snatching gears beautifully, as Neil managed a personal best 53.32.
Ronny McGregor was just three tenths behind in his yellow S2000, looking amazingly 
similar to the one I drove for hours in Need for Speed Underground, including 
the dents! Very cool to see on track. And following on with childhood gaming, this 
time Ferrari Challenge. I couldn’t believe my eyes seeing John Shirley’s F355 Challenge 
preparing for a run. It looked and sounded exactly as wonderful as you’d imagine 
as it twisted its way around the course. Next up came the MX5s. A large turnout with 12 
cars classified. Robert Yuill (Snr) set a PB to take the win, with a 52.96. Mike and Jim King were 
close behind with a 53.22 and 53.55 respectively. Ross Glenn, Alan Cuthbert, Kevin Hamilton, 
and Andrew Moir all set personal bests. And Fiona enjoyed her weekend, even if she 
was a little disappointed with her pace. Roland Skinner did a 52 dead in his Austin Mini while Peter Wearing did a personal 
best time on Sunday afternoon. Angus Buchan would ideally be in his Terrapin 
this weekend, but an unfortunate incident at the previous event left it missing a wheel or two.
A naff gear ratio on his 205 wasn’t much fun either, but still Angus was in great 
spirits, and he was glad to be out on track. B3 was a solo class, Henry Simmons, and his 
RS Megane 250. Henry was quick in the rain on his first Saturday run, but an error 
at the hairpin claimed some body work. Before long another solo 
class, B4, befell misfortune. Andrew Grover’s Silva Riot was having issues 
breathing immediately on Saturday. Hopeful a quick fix would work, Andrew tried again, but 
it was unfortunately game over for the weekend. B6 was built up of Ross Sutherland alone 
in his GBS Zero. Ross wasn’t too happy with his pace this weekend, but he 
was also unlucky with the weather. It was okay. The weather was all 
right. It could have been worse. How do you feel you were time-wise? About two seconds off my PB, which 
wasn’t great, but it was okay. Yeah – I mean, it’s damp, it’s soggy. Yeah, exactly. [Music] Mark Rennie’s Ford Fiesta was fast. His best 
run a 53.73, a new personal best on Sunday. C1 was another solo affair. The first time I’ve
seen Stuart Green, and his Austin Cooper Sprint. I’m not sure if it was Stuart’s first time here, but if so, I hope that a big moment at the hairpin 
hasn’t put him off too much for next time! [Music] [Music] C4 saw more familiar faces,
with Gary Warren fastest not too daunted by his spin
on Sunday Morning. Gary told me that the Hoosier tires are 
up to scratch when it’s hot, but do struggle to get anywhere near the Avon’s performance
in colder conditions. Andrew Paterson was on trend 
with a spin on Saturday, but was fast all weekend on his way to a 55.64 Scott Sheridan slid his way into third and Paul Rhodes’ Force TA
took him to a 47.72 in 4th Just a tenth behind came Leslie Sheridan, 
with a personal best around Forrestburn. Tom Graham was after in his 
ever-present Megapin K7. C5 had David Robertson in his Formula Ford on 
Saturday. After hours of seeing these in iRacing, it was pretty cool to get up close to one,
and comprehend just how dinky they actually are. Then came the classics, D1 headed by Steve 
Cooper and his Sprite – the class record holder. It went well earlier on, 
and then went badly after. Gary Maxwell’s Escort RS was second.
(very nice..!) And less than 2 tenths split 3rd, 4th, and 
5th. All three drivers setting personal bests. Colin McLatchie’s Gilbern was in 6th.
John More in his Fiesta set a PB on Saturday, curiously labelled as an Anglia on the entry list. And Jim Brown perhaps had as much fun 
admiring the competition, as he did driving. This is good. It’s good crack, it really is.
The people are lovely, the old cars are the best ones I always think, as 
well. They’ve got character. Alex beat Jenny by a tenth before 
the rain fell once again on Sunday, both setting new personal bests in their chase. We do Doune and here, but we live in Hampshire. Quite a way then! Yeah, opposite the Isle of White! You travel then! We just love Scotland! And the story was much the same [PB] 
for Tony Clark in his MG with a 64.69. Leslie Ann Scoular taking the class to a close. [Music] [Music] D2 decidedly went to Neil Hopkinson and his Austin Mini,
setting a 56.87 on Sunday. And possibly the best name for 
motorsport here this weekend, John Pace, came in second with a 
new personal best in his MG BGT. It was Simon Richards’ first ever Hillclimb, 
his VW-Porsche very much looking and sounding the part. I’m not sure what engine was in 
the Porsche, it was listed as a 2.2 L on the entry list, so it must be non-standard.
Simon seemed to have fun for his first try. Challenging, but enjoyable. Car’s still 
in one piece, so uh yeah, that’s good! David Chapman was only here on Saturday, though his MGB was looking at 
home on the stormy Scottish hills. And last but not least was D3, with Doug taking 
his first win of the year over John’s Brabham. Doug spent the week up to Forrestburn 
building a new gearbox for his Fisher Spyder, which seems to be working a treat! The 
dog-tooth gearbox skips synchronization, leaving that task up to the driver instead. So, get it wrong and you’re 
likely to cause damage. But get it right and well, you’ll have much faster 
shifts, and end up like Doug – in 1st place. Despite the fear from the rear in the 
rain, John was as welcoming as ever and still beaming off the back of a new 
PB in Golspie the week before. Importantly, this is going back in the 
trailer and I don’t have explanations to make when I get home as to why 
we need to go and raid the banks! All that drew a wet, windy, but wonderful 
weekend at Forrestburn to its finish. Thank you for watching, and 
if you enjoyed the video, check out this one that 
YouTube thinks you’ll like. [Music]