A record entry of more than 70 vintage tractors, along with a vintage car and a former MacBrayne's bus made Bute Vintage Club's 2010 road run another spectacular success.. The weather helped with the promised rain holding off until after the event.

The road run's entrants were shoe horned into  Guildford Square Saturday morning, and were soon surrounded by a throng of admirers keen to get up close and personal with the machinery of yesteryear. Along with the healthy turnout from Bute-based tractor owners there were very many entries from the mainland; the furthest travelled was Bruce Clark from Ontario Canada (although he did not come all that way for the run) and a  group of four enthusiasts from Kirkcowan. Entrants and spectators were entertained in the Square by Bute Ceilidh Band.

There was a wide range of tractor makes on display this year (see photographs) older tractor on display included  RW Crawford’s 1942  Ford Ferguson; R Speirs’ 1947 Fordson E27 N  and many Grey Fergies from the 1950’s. The unusual included a 1970 Leyland 154 driven by W Lapsley from Girvan,who took a trailer-ful of passengers right round the route, a C Millar’s 1967 BMC Mini tractor and a Masssey Harris 203. It was good to see again an old friend of the rally, Lawrence Macduff with his 1967 AEC Reliance coach, which was originally owned by the David MacBrayne company and operated in the Highlands and Islands throughout its working life.

Throughout the time the fleet was parked in Guildford Square, visitors to the event were invited to make donations to Bute Vintage Club's two chosen charities - HM Coastguard’s Bute Team, and Crossroads (Caring for Carers) Band. To date £1500 has been collected from entry fees, sponsorship and donations from the public.

Soon, it was time for the fleet to splutter into life amid clouds of blue smoke, and Johnny Beattie took centre stage and waved all the participants off on their run around the island with a flourish of his chequered flag. The  run went round the town and out to Loch Fad, across Scoulag Moor with a stop at the Trig Point for a beak and to take in the beautiful view and then via Scalpsie and the north end loop, back to the Sailing Club in Rothesay, where refreshments were provided, courtesy’s of Club members wives, for all participants.

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