Rallying: Look out for Dom Buckley - the next generation

THE BUCKLEY name has become synonymous with motorsport across the world, but this weekend visitors to the Jim Clark Rally might wonder if they have gone back in time when Dominic Buckley appears behind the wheel.

Dom Buckley took part in the very first Jim Clark Rally, launched in 1970 as a tribute to the Berwickshire farmer who went from rallying to F1 world champion before being killed at Hockenheim in 1968.

Buckley won it in 1984 in an Escort RS, with Doug Redpath his navigator. Then, 14 years later, Dom Buckley jnr, his eldest son, followed in his tyre tracks and won. Neil Ewing was his co-driver then but it was a rare occasion that Redpath was not shouting directions.

On Sunday, in the Reivers Rally part of the event, the name Dominic Buckley will appear again, and again with Redpath on the notes, only now it is the third generation.

Young Buckley, who turns 21 on Tuesday, will be driving the same Subaru Impreza his father steered to victory 13 years ago. Grandad Buckley, now 73, told The Scotsman: "It was inevitable really - he has grown up with it and, when you get close to the excitement of rallying and it gets in your blood, it takes some shifting. He's a good lad and has ability, but it's early days for him. He took part in his first rally last year at Charterhall, and finished second, and burst an oil pipe while lying second in the Pendragon Stages in Wales. This year he was leading at Charterhall when he put the car on its side, so we'll see how he goes on Sunday."

Buckley was a leading Scottish driver in his day and, as well as his son Dom driving professionally for Volkswagen, his other son Neil won the Polo Challenge and British Rally Championship (Group N) in a Mitsubishi Lancer, again with Duns co-driver Redpath. However, their outings have become limited with the success of the family business Dom snr started a few miles north of Kelso in 1961, Dom Buckley Motorsport, which supplies cars to leading rally drivers around the globe.

"That's the way of things," he added. "Work comes first. My son Dominic returns from Holland on Sunday night and is off to Greece, and we have five cars and Neil on their way now to Barbados. Young Dominic is away to help in Barbados after he's competed this weekend.

"We've worked hard to build up the business, and use our experience as competitors. The best publicity we've had has been through competing and showing what they can do as drivers. Young Dominic has a bit of a way to go yet - he's up against big cars and drivers with ten or 20 years' more experience this weekend - but it would be great for him to have some fun as well." The Reivers Rally has 109 cars entered, but the spotlight falls first on the 35 International Rally cars that hare through Duns tonight at 7pm (ceremonial start 6pm), before tackling more than 100 miles en route to tomorrow's 6pm finish.

The men to catch are Dumfries's David Bogie and his Borders navigator Kevin Rae, who lead the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship and the MSA Scottish Rally Championship. Australians Molly Taylor and Rebecca Smart are the only all-female pairing.

Local hopes are headed by Euan Thorburn while Dale Robertson, Douglas Brydon and Mike Horne are more Duns talents out on Sunday in an event that also welcomes back Scottish Rally Champion-turned-TV presenter Robbie Head for the first time since he won the first Jim Clark Rally on closed public roads 15 years ago. Another 29 cars go in the Challenge Rally and 15 in the Historic Rally.