By Whalelikefish - First Minister and MSP for Perthshire North, John Swinney, will officially open the annual Vintage Working Plant and Tractor Weekend and the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge taking place this weekend, 27th and 28th July, at Morris Leslie Ltd, Errol Airfield.
The event, which will raise money to support the ongoing work of TASH4Ukraine through donations at the gate, is expected to attract thousands of plant enthusiasts of all ages from all over the country, as well as local families, who can expect a great family weekend.
Ahead of the event, First Minister John Swinney said: “I am delighted to officially open this event, which has established itself as one of the most enjoyable and well-regarded of its kind.
“It’s fantastic to see an event that not only celebrates our rich agricultural heritage and history but also raises money for such a worthy cause. This weekend promises to be a great experience for enthusiasts and families alike, bringing together communities and showcasing both vintage and modern machinery.”
Vintage Working Plant and Tractor Weekend
Now in its sixth year, the Vintage Working Plant and Tractor Weekend is a well-established event attracting enthusiasts from near and far. Visitors can expect to see a variety of vintage machinery including an ex-RAF David Brown Tugmaster which was used to tow planes. Other highlights include Caterpillar D2s from the 1950s as well as JCBs from the 1960s.
Highlighting the proud agricultural heritage of Scotland, there will also be a display of vintage tractors, many of which were also manufactured in Scotland.
Morris Leslie, who has built a successful global business in plant hire, is the plant enthusiast behind the Vintage Working Plant and Tractor Weekend:
“I look forward to this weekend every year. For me, the evolution of the plant industry is inextricably linked with the development of post-war Scotland. During the Second World War, America sent a lot of machinery over to Scotland under the Land Lease Scheme, especially Caterpillar D2s which we will have on display at the weekend.
“The need for these machines increased as Scotland rebuilt after the war and Caterpillar chose to open its first ever manufacturing centre out with the US in Scotland, at Tannochside just outside Glasgow. This really kickstarted the construction of much needed major infrastructure projects in Scotland such as the hydro dams and led to a boom in people working in the plant and construction industry to work on these projects. In fact, some of those early machines from Tannochside will also be on display.
“The fabric of modern Scotland can really be traced back to that period. We had the infamous ‘Tunnel Tigers’ who came over to work from Ireland and started families and settled here.
“This weekend, we’ll see fellow plant enthusiasts come from all over Scotland and the rest of the UK, some will bring their machines and demonstrate them which is really something worth seeing.”
One such enthusiast is Alan Cross who has been working at Morris Leslie Ltd for almost 20 years and latterly has exclusively focused on restoring vintage machines. His favourite machine is the Whitlock 370, the first one he restored and in fact the sister to the first vintage machine that Morris Leslie bought.
Speaking about his passion for restoring vintage machines, Alan said: “I love doing it. It’s a challenge, even getting the parts never mind restoring the machines to working order. But the sense of pride and satisfaction when you finish the job and you see people admiring them at vintage displays, is just amazing.”
Scottish Plant Operator Challenge
Now in its second year, the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge will see 44 plant operators undertake eight challenges to be crowned Scottish Plant Operator Challenge Champion 2024. There is a prize fund of £17,500 up for grabs with prizes for individual challenges as well as the overall winner and runners up.
Not only is the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge a great opportunity to see the country’s top plant operators doing what they do best, it is also a chance to see some of the newest innovations and technology on the market. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to see vintage JCB and Caterpillar machines in the same venue as the newest JCBs and Caterpillars.
Here are some of the highlights to look out for at the Scottish Plant Operator Challenge:
- Plant and equipment exhibition: Leading manufacturers and local suppliers will showcase the very latest equipment and innovations.
- Dig zone: Put the newest machines to the test in the live dig zone.
- Kids’ zone: Remote control diggers, sand pit with ride on diggers, bulldozer bouncy castle and assault course.
- Women in Plant: The Women in Plant (WiP) working group from the Scottish Plant Owners Association will be attending to speak to women of all ages, backgrounds, skills and experience about a career in the plant industry. A Tenstar Simulator will also be at the stand. Similar to a flight simulator but for diggers and other machines, it allows users to try their hand at operating a machine in a safe, controlled, simulated environment. For those feeling confident after the simulator, there will also be a real machine to try out. Finally, WiP will be showcasing a range of fantastic workwear and PPE specifically designed for women by Leo Workwear.
- Food and drink stalls: Local food and drink suppliers will be at the event all weekend.
The Scottish Plant Operators Challenge is happening on Saturday 27th July and the Vintage Working Plant and Tractor Weekend is open Saturday and Sunday. The event is free to attend and car parking is also free. Those who wish to, can make a donation to support the ongoing work of TASH4Ukraine.