He chose it as the starting point for an astonishing journey that ended with him winning one of the most prestigious car races in the world.
And now, 90 years on, John o’Groats will be the scene of a poignant family tribute to the first Briton to win the Monte Carlo Classic Rally.
Resplendent in overcoat, cap and sensible driving shoes, Victor Bruce left the snow-bound Caithness village in a British-made AC car costing £450 and astonished the motoring world by becoming the first UK driver to win the event.
Next week, the daughter and grandson of the Scots-born aristocrat will follow in his tyre tracks from John o’ Groats to start the 2016 rally.
Michael Grimmond, 44, from Guildford in Surrey, will will be driving the 1927 car in which his grandfather broke world records at Montlhery in France, shortly after winning the Monte.
Following behind in the support car will be mum Wendy, 67, Mr Bruce’s daughter, for what will be an emotional week-long journey to the French Riviera for the family of the motoring legend.
The trophy that Mr Bruce and co-driver, W.J Brunell, collected for their 1926 heroics will accompany the family north from Surrey for the event, which will precede the official UK start at Paisley Abbey.
Mr Grimmond said: “I was only seven when my Grandad died. He didn’t talk to me about his rallying days but all his cups were a feature of the lounge where he sat.
“The car in which he won the Monte no longer exists but the one myself and co-driver Robert Hescroff are piloting, a 1927 AC, contains the actual body of the one my grandad broke records in.
“There’s a family connection to him but through the car as well. It was amazing what he achieved and it will be nice to do this in his memory.”
Thanks to Mr Bruce’s diaries, Mrs Grimmond was able to piece together the route her dad took to Monaco in 1926.
She said: “It will be quite emotional, really, but I think my father would be immensely proud.
“He was quite shy and quiet and, when we were growing up, he had a young family and his racing and rallying days were like another lifetime for him. To us, he was just our father.”