Crieffwas buzzing again at the weekend as the Vintage Motor Cycle Club brought more than 100 vintage and classic motor cycles and three-wheelers into town for its annual rally.
The impressive machines gathered at the Braidhaugh rugby and cricket grounds on Saturday before taking to the roads around west Perthshire.
They spanned a production period beginning around 1913 and were all working examples of the evolutionary period of motor cycle development, maintained to the very highest standards by their owners.
Each year they look forward to a challenging ride on Perthshire’s country roads through some of the finest scenery Scotland has to offer and every year organisers have to limit numbers, such is the interest in taking part.
The bikes and riders were set on their way this year by guest starter Barbara Haworth, wife of former club chairman Ted Haworth of Crieff, who died last year.
Rally secretary Dougie Cowie from Crieff said, “We are all very grateful that Barbara agreed to attend the rally as it helped us to remember the excellent leadership we benefited from during the period her late husband was our chairman.
“It was Ted’s vision that the rally should become one of the premier events in the country for old motorcycles and, following the move to Crieff and the greatly increased number of entries over the years, that vision has turned into a reality.”Returning in the drizzleThe participants headed out into Perthshire where they could be seen in the Sma’ Glen, Aberfeldy and Kenmore in the morning and then east of Crieff in the afternoon.
Spectators on route were able to view some of the biggest names in motorcycle manufacturing, with respected British names such as Vincent, Raleigh, Velocette, OEC, Sunbeam, AJS, Matchless, Morgan, Scott and BSA all represented, alongside a number of Italian, German and American marques.
Riders included skilled and competitive men and women from across Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belgium and Holland.
Around half of the bikes were back at the start point in Crieff on Sunday in the drizzle for the organised social run of around 80 miles.
The route this time was a complete mystery, with the riders only informed shortly before the start of the run.
Enthusiast Ian Thomson from Muthill was on standby throughout the weekend to assist any elderly motorcycle that came to an unintended stop.
Photo Phil Hannah.