Small Blue Thing
OMS drivers Trevor Willis and Alex Summers qualified their cars for both rounds of the 2012 MSA Avon Tyres British Hillclimb Championship Top 12 Run Offs.
The morning Run Off saw Trevor Willis run wide at Orchard bend just clipping the offside grass verge which launched him into a 360 spin. Those who saw the spin said he was lucky to have missed the armco barrier that could have caused significant damage to the car. He managed to keep the engine running returned to the track & completed the run. A good point scoring tactic should other drivers not record a time. On this occasion it was not to be & Trevor finished out of the points in 11th place. When he returned to the paddock damage to the floor tray was noted with marshalls returning carbon fibre components during the lunch break.
Alex Summers had a more productive first Run Off. His OMS CF was the smallest capacity car with only 1000cc but this did not seem to phase him. He stormed up the hill in his diminuitive blue OMS with a time of 47.81 placing him 4th overall in the Run Off behind the big V8 engined cars of Wallace Menzies and 2011 British Hillclimb Champion Scott Moran and his father Roger Moran. A superb performance in such difficult conditions.
Following the afternoon class runs Trevor & Alex were again included in the Top 12 running order. This time Trevor made no mistakes & took a well deserved 2nd place despite running a damaged aero package. Slipping under the 44 second barrier along with run off winner Lee Adams, they were the only two drivers to run in the 43's all weekend.
Alex again put in a spirited drive setting his fastest time of the weekend with 46.16 seconds, whilst throwing down the gauntlet to those drivers who still had to run at that point. On this occassion it wasn't to be & he finished in 8th place, though still a tremendous result with a 1000cc engined car.
This achievement was recognised and Alex received the Midland Hillclimb Championship Man of the Meeting Award. Well done Alex.
Date: 29/04/2012 | Author: L.Owen