Report on The Kenny Allan Memorial Hill Climb
Doune
21st& 22nd May 2022
This event was a fitting memorial to Kenny who was 7 times Scottish Hill Climb Champion and a founder member of the Veterans of Scottish Motorsport Association.
He campaigned, with amongst others, a Mini, a Vision, a Ralt (single seater) and finished his long career in motorsport in his favourite Lotus Elan.
Kenny was born in Lanark in August 1937. The family was in the garage business started by his grandfather, continued by Kenny’s Father. Kenny joined the business in 1953 having completed his 5 year apprenticeship in a garage in Lanark so cars had been a large part of his life. After marrying in 1958 he received the call to national service in the army where he began his interest in motorsport. After national service he returned to the business in Crossford. His first competition car was a mini cooper, a road car, which quickly turned into a racer. Kenny’s involvement in motorsport was mostly in speed events competing throughout the UK. He competed into his 80’s in his Lotus Elan.
A few of his achievements are;
7 times Scottish Hill Climb Champion
Scottish Speed Champion
Top 10 British Hill Climb Championship Runoffs
This memorial Hill Climb had an approximate entry of 50 plus cars entered in twelve classes. The results should be posted on www.resultsman.co.uk. If you wish to see the entry list it is on www.dounehillclimb.co.uk, simply enter the date.
There were a few Classic cars on show on Saturday 21st May but many more on Sunday 22ndMay. It was decided by the organisers on Sunday to allow, for a small fee, classic cars to run up the hill under supervision by the Clerk of the Course vehicle leading the cars. This I thought was a very progressive decision because it could be done between the competition runs when all the marshals were still in post. The classic drivers had the opportunity to drive “the King of the Hill”. The only hill in Scotland used in the British Hill Climb Championship. Quite a few classics took part. I persuade my wife, Nancy, to drive her classic MGB roadster up the hill. She had spectated there on many occasions but was amazed by the Hill and I was very glad I had persuaded her to do so. It gave the drivers a taste of what the competitors did but at a safe speed. As far as I know it is intended to hold such a historic event every year.
If you have not been to the Doune Hill Climb you should do so, walk up the spectator track and watch the cars at speed, you will be impressed.
My apologies for the long time it has taken for me to write this report, reasons being my time in hospital and my efforts to locate the results.
Barry Crichton
September 2022.