Perthshire 2011

I've been musing plans for the Perthshire for a while now - working out what to do in 2011.

There are a number of alternatives, each with Pros & Cons, and each deserving serious consideration.

1. Run a standard Perthshire: 100 competitive miles over two days - basically re-impliment what we had planned for 2010.
2. Go for broke: Go larger - try to find enough land to run 150 miles, over three days, under a National A Permit.
   
3. Try to emulate the Borders: find the space to run 100 competitive miles in a single venue (or possibly spread over two venues.... but with no road-miles between the sites
4. Do something completely different..... like an AutoCross or an AutoTest
5. Do nothing.... just let the whole thing rest for a year (or two)

Even after three months, I really don't know which way to jump.

Number (1) is dead easy, but lets be honest - are there really enough cars out there? (and the Hill Rally club cannot afford another expense like we took in July 2010)

Number (2) is the preferred option for a couple of people I know.... but this does require us finding new land.... something we struggle with even for the standard Perthshire

Number (3) has the merit that it avoids the whole "road-legal" issue, but (to me) it avoids one of the major tests a Hill Rally throws at you: the Navigators role in keeping Time and Distance under control.

Number (4) is interesting, and something I've already put out some feelers for.... but is it right for us?

Number (5) worries me most: will we be able to come back? Will the land be there? Will the competitors want to come back? Will Cross Country move into a whole new area?

What's needed in the next wee while

Looks like there's a fair amount to do in the next few weeks (apart from the usual fettling of cars & sorting out the shed):

• I need to head down to Forrest Estate to do the road-book, and confirm the stages with Kilty... and talk to the estate about where I would like to do a couple of bits of work
• I need to then go back down again, with my digger-man, to do the work (there's a paper-work trail like you wouldn't believe)
• I need to go into Fanny Hill to do some work I agreed to do post Perthshire, except I need to have copies of tickets (recognised certificates of competence) for anyone who's going to use any form of machine on Forestry Commission ground - and finding someone with a Dumper Truck ticket was really hard...
• I need to go and do a recce for the Comp Safari down at Galashiels, and probably go back to clear some broom/gorse bushes out the way.

No rest for the wicked, eh? :chuckle: