Where Does the Time Go
As we reach the last rounds of the Nicholson McLaren British Hillclimb and the Leaders Hillclimb Championships visited Loton Park in Shropshire for the season finale. It was poised to be a great weekend of motorsort with a number of class and championship positions still undecided.
The meeting attracted a large number of entries, many of whom were OMS drivers. The Guille family made the journey over from Guernsey with Geoff driving the ex Trevor Willis OMS CF04 in class K. Son in law Ricky Le Cheminant drove the OMS PR 1100 he shares with wife Jackie who has not been driving this season, their first baby is due in a few weeks time. Best wishes to them for their imminent arrival.
Chris Aspinall shared the OMS 2000M 1100 with Clive Austin once again. Chris had an engine failure earlier in the season in his Jedi and has been out of action since then. Simon Andrews and Bernard Kevill drove their OMS 2000m along with the final OMS car in class I of Neville Thompson.
The usual OMS 25 1600's competed in class J. This was the final British Championship meeting that Tim Wilson will be driving in for some time. Tim and Jackie Wilson will be managing the British Hillclimb Championship in 2012 on behalf of the BARC. However Tim will continue to drive at Harewood events and club meetings at other venues. We would like to wish Tim & Jackie all the very best in their new position as championship co-ordinators. Lee Griffiths who shares with Tim missed the Doune event following an injury to his thumb & subsequent surgery. All was well for Loton and Lee rejoined Tim in their OMS 25.
Other class J competitors included Neville Rollason & Craig Bates. Neville has had a number of excellent results at his home hill recently including 2 FTD's.Tina Hawkes made contact with the banking in the esses at Shelsley Walsh the previous weekend, so repairs to her Hornet were completed by Steve on Friday evening with the assistance of headlights. Lindsay & Richard Summers in their OMSCF97, Lynn and Steve Owen in the 'works' OMS 25 and Tony Adams in the ex Neville Rollasson OMS 2000M rounded off the OMS drivers in class J.
Class L driver Trevor Willis rounded off the OMS contingent in his V8 powered OMS 25 finishing 3rd in class, following a rather fraught morning's performance.
Overnight rain that continued into the morning class runs saw many smaller capacity engined cars qualify for the first British Championship run off, including Tim Wilson and Steve Owen. On braking into Triangle bend Tim lost traction in the difficult conditions, leaving him outside the points in the final positions. Steve put in an inspired performance that left him ahead of Rob Turnbull, Tim Wilson, Tom New, John Bradburn and Deryk Young placing Steve in 7th position overall.
Conditions were significantly improved for the afternoon runs allowing some fast times. Lee Griffiths secured a sub 50 second time much to his delight. Steve coud not quite match his practice time of 48.77 seconds but a 49.15 placed him 5th in class ahead of Tim on a 49.23 in 6th. Both scored Leaders Championship class points. Following lack lustre runs in practice, Lynn Owen was delighted with her 51.75 second run a personal best time for her in the OMS 25.
The only OMS driver to qualify for the second run off was Trevor Willis. His time of 45.65 seconds secured 3rd place in the run off and number 3 in the final Nicholson McLaren British Hillclimb Championship positions. Congratulations Trevor on securing number 3 with your new OMS 25 V8 in only the first season with the car.
See you all in 2012, winter well.
Date: 26/09/2011 | Author: L.Owen