SMRC Awards

5th December
Edinburgh

The SMRC Awards night was held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh and it was a fantastic night out once again. Burnett Motorsport were there to collect several honours and of course the cream of Scottish Motor Racing were present as well.

The great and good included Former Red Bull Grand Prix driver and now BBC TV man David Coulthard, Dario Franchitti, who won the famous Indy Car Championship in the United States for the second time and Allan McNish the two-time (Porsche and Audi) winner of the Le Mans 24 Hour Race and the possible new f1 driver Paul di Resta and Mark Stewart (Sir Jackie's youngest son).

Thanks to John Marshall for being a great host with a table of 12 - his full support with a bit more from Nick Brace. At our table: Colin, Angela, Nick and Julie, Steve and Lez, Ross and his sister Gemma (baby now a week late), partner Stewart and John Marshall of course.

A full house with 300 guests but it was for Legend Cars that burnettmotorsport were there. With Ross Marshall getting his trophy for what has turned out be a fantastic year dominating the Grattan and Hynds Scottish championship but as the night carried on the awards kept coming with 2nd equal in the overall points from all formulas (the SMRC Champion of Champions) Ross just missing out getting 37 points but of course that one's a bit harder to win in Legends Cars as the top guys have to start at the back! The eventual Champion of Champions, Morgan driver Russell Paterson won with 42 points which was a trmendous acheivement.

Recognition was not missing for Ross though as he was awared the Hartley White Trophy for the most promising young driver. Ross was both shocked and delighted. John Marshall was rightly very proud too. It was also great for me (Steve McCall) heading up the team. We need to thank good old uncle Robert ( the owner of Marshall Construction) for their help and support for Ross over the last two years.

Next up in the honours list is Nick Brace took a fard fought Rookie title in the Scottish Championship. It was not in the plan originally as the opening meeting was really just to get some seat time prior to the National Championship however it went so well that the opportunity to go for both Scottish and National Rookie titles was too good to miss. With the last round of the Scottish Championship clashing with the National Round in Wales (and pretty much at the other end of the UK) this meant that the title had to be sewn up with a round to spare but nonetheless Nick did the honours. By the way Nick is an honorary 'Jock' now as he spent so much time with us in Scotland this year.

For Steve McCall, the team manger, well they started talking about the Walter Robertson Trophy for services to the Scottish motor sport. Steve says "I could not understand that they were talking about me. What a surprise it is to get trophy for doing everything you enjoy."

The point is that Steve is well involved in the sport and helps out a great deal. As well as looking after his own cars he sees to the on board cameras for the Legends and Formula Ford for the TV coverage. He's organised the cherry picker (camera position) for the TV as well. Well done Steve on the award. "What a shock I got when they called my name to get this fantastic gold clock," he added.

It was so nice to see Alasdair Gauld getting his 2nd place trophy in the Grattan and Hynds legend car championship as he has worked so hard for this trophy with the help of Aly Hunter I have given Alasdair lots of support by chatting to him and keeping his dad out of his way! Lez has been keeping him in bacon!

He raced in his dad's car for us at Croft and also did a superb job at Spa which is of course even further to go than Pembrey. What a surprise and such a well deserved "Sheila White young driver of the year" award presented to him by his grandad. What a fantastic treat that was for him and well deserved as he has raced hard and also done well to stay out of trouble. Next up Frank Hynds got third place in the championship which was sponsored by Frank and his brother Pat's company Grattan and Hynds - a big thank you to them for their support in these tought times and also to be looking after four cars - they have certainly put a lot into the sport up here.

The SMRC Legends Cars championship is very competitive - as well as the drivers I have mentioned you also need to consider there are drivers such as Tony Caig, Alex Knight, Ben Mason and many others who are well capable of winning. There was also a SMRC driver of the year trophy which went to a guy who has probably driven the most ever Legends races (with his pig on the back) a very surprised and well deserved award going to Gerard McCosh - this one was chosen by most of the SMRC officials. Gerard is always smiling and always gets the 69 car to the end of the race - it was good to see all his efforts coming together (by the way it is a myth thatff he drives in flip flops!).

The Grattan and Hynds Team Award went to Ben and Elliot Mason so well done to the brother tag team - well deserved. How good that must feel to them both watched over by their big support from their mum and dad.