Coltness Car Club was originally formed in 1954. In the 50s and 60s, the club specialised in road rallies, and in the later 70s and early 80s introduced a special stage event 'The Coltness Stages' utilising farm roads, private forest roads and quarries in Lanarkshire. Sadly, the fast developing rural landscape gradually reduced the available venues till there was nothing left.

The club then achieved UK-wide acclaim when it introduced the longest hillclimb course in the country at Strathclyde Park. For almost ten years, hillclimbers from all over the UK flocked to Lanarkshire for the 1 mile thrash through the public park. And therein lay the cause of its final demise. The club was unable to reach agreement with Park authorities on the adoption of required motor sports safety measures. The authorities would not allow us to remove trees which were too close to the track or install armco barrier. The club therefore had no option but to cease hillcliming at this super venue and challenging track.

In 1994 ( After trying to run an event in 1993 but being thwarted by non motorsport believers!) Coltness Car Club took over the running of the Old Border Counties Rally, a counter in the national Scottish Rally Championship. Thus was born the Colin McRae Forest Stages rally. Happiness was restored and reigned again, the Bears were back in their spiritual home - the woods!