Model T celebrations come to the Borders and Edinburgh
Friday, May 9 2008
The British centenary celebrations of the Ford Model T, first produced in 1908, take place in the Borders and Edinburgh this month.
Based at the Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, near St Boswells, this motoring extravaganza will be seen touring through the Scottish Borders during the week of the rally, taking in Kelso, Selkirk, Melrose, St Boswells, Peebles and Jedburgh.
The rally has attracted entries from Sweden, France, Holland, Poland, Ireland and, of course, the USA.
In April, Scottish Borders Council Convener Alasdair Hutton and rally organiser Mike Povey led the Tartan Day parade in New York,in a Model T draped in the Ford tartan, specially commissioned for the centenary by Selkirk-based weavers, Lochcarron.
The week-long rally starts at 12:30pm on Monday 19 May with a parade of the cars through Edinburgh from Bute House on Charlotte Square to the City Chambers on the Royal Mile. The Lord Provost George Grubb will then host a civic reception for those taking part before the cars head south towards the Borders. The week culminates in a display of the cars in the Square at Kelso on Friday 23 May. This event will be free to members of the public and will include a ceilidh band playing to add to the atmosphere. The event kicks off at midday on 23 May.
Councillor Vicky Davidson, SBC’s Executive Member for Economic Development said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to support the Kelso showcase as part of this high-profile Model T rally and congratulations to the Border organisers. It’s yet another great car event for the Borders and I’m sure that the Model T drivers will enjoy following the routes through our wonderful countryside. I hope there will be a big turn-out in Kelso to welcome them.”
Edinburgh Lord Provost George Grubb said: "I am delighted that this celebration of 100 years of the Model T is happening in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. The Model T is an iconic motorcar and having so many of them in one place is bound to be an amazing spectacle. I welcome to Edinburgh all of the people who are part of this celebration and those who come to watch."
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