Paul Squires Memorial Trophy 2014
The Hillclimb and Sprint Association hosted their annual awards lunch at Prescott last weekend where the The Paul Squires Memorial Trophy was presented. Who better to tell us about this award than Jerry Sturman who was of course a top 1100cc competitor back in the day when he shared a car with Russ Ward. Jerry is also an HSA committee member and he looks out on behalf of the HSA for the best 1100cc performers at national events.
Some of you with long memories may remember that around thirty years ago, Cosworth engineers Paul Squires and Phil Kidsley (aka 'The Squidsleys!) competed in the 1100cc racing class with their Brabham BT28, a somewhat elderly chassis even then. Independently, without company backing, they ran a succession of self-developed Cosworth engines - at first normally aspirated, then turbocharged, supercharged and finally both - and were among the men to beat in what was then, and has become again, one of the most competitive classes in hillclimbing.
When Paul sadly died of a form of leukaemia, Phil's family donated a Memorial Trophy in his name, which has been awarded annually by the Hillclimb and Sprint Association for particularly meritorious performance within the 1100cc racing class. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards Phil died from the same disease, making the award doubly significant.
This year the trophy goes to a driver that has enjoyed a highly successful season nationwide in what was a new car this year. Among his many successes this season he has won the Man of the Meeting award at the British Hillclimb Championship and Midland Hillclimb Championship round at Loton Park in June. He also won the 1100cc racing car class within the MSA Hillclimb Leaders Championship and finished second in the Midland Hillclimb Championship 1100cc racing car class. He rounded off his season by winning the Loton Park FTD Championship at the final round in September.
The 2014 Paul Squires Memorial Trophy winner is Simon Andrews in his 1100cc OMS 28.
Simon in the OMS 28 coming out of Ashes at Gurston Down
Photo by ZIPP Photography
Date: 4/12/2014 | Author: L.Owen & J.Sturman