Flying High Again
Loton Park Hill Climb hosted a packed programme of hill climb championships at the mid- June event: Avon Tyres/TTC Group MSA British Hillclimb and Hillclimb Leaders Championships running alongside the BMTR Midland Hillclimb Championship. Joining them were the Porche Club Speed and Porche Club National Hillclimb Championships.
Adding to the on track action was a fleeting glimpse of the Avro Vulcan, one of Britain’s most iconic aircraft. It passed overhead during Sunday’s event, the distinct roar of the engines gave her away as she flew low in the sky in full camouflage livery, just visible in the breaks between trees in the park. The Vulcan which was returned to the skies in 2007, was one of the main attractions at RAF Cosford Air Show taking place a few miles away, with a number of other show aircraft also seen flying overhead during Sunday afternoon.
A number of OMS drivers also ‘flew’ at the hillclimb on Sunday despite having had a wet Saturday practice. Simon Andrews took control of the 1100cc racing car class in the morning runs with a 50.29s climb. In the afternoon he consolidated his hold on the top spot by setting a new PB 49.44s to take the class win in the OMS 28 he shares with Bernie Kevill who finished 4th in class. The final Hillclimb Leaders Championship points scoring place in this class was taken by Steve Owen in 6th driving the new BMW S1000RR powered OMS 28. Steve’s best time of the weekend was 50.90s.
Three quarters of a second covered fourth down to tenth place, so fierce is the competition in this popular 1100c racing car class that fielded 22 drivers this weekend. Also in the top ten were Mark Goodyear and under 25’s championship competitor Matthew Ryder who shared the Goodyear’s OMS Hornet. Marks best time was 50.94s whilst Matthew set a very respectable 51.13s having only driven the car a handful of times.
Also running in class were husband and wife Jackie & Ricky Le Cheminant who came over from Guernsey with their OMS PR. Both drivers set exactly the same time on their second run 53.33s.
Lee Griffiths had another good result with the turbo charged Hayabusa OMS 25. This weekend he finished 3rd in class for racing cars up to 2 litres. He set a new PB at 48.37s that put him ahead of 4th in class Simon Moyse with his supercharged Hayabusa Gould GR59. Geoff Guille (OMS CF04) finished ahead of a somewhat circumspect Nev Rollason (OMS 28) who had an off here at Loton Park earlier this season. Ian Fidoe finished on 50.75s in his OMS CF09, just behind Nev Rollason. A quarter of a second separated these three OMS drivers.
Jason Mourant made his third visit to Loton Park this season to run his OMS 25 V8. The Jersey man also set a new PB in the car at 47.75s with his second run; fast enough to qualify him for the second of the two British Hillclimb Championship Top Twelve run offs.
Running alongside the OMS 25 V8 in the unlimited racing car class was the OMS 28 V8 of Trevor Willis who finished 3rd in class on 44.81s; with just fifteen hundredths of a second splitting the top three drivers in this class. Trevor’s class run times qualified him for each of the two Top Twelve run offs and his morning run set the fastest qualifying time. In each BHC run off he finished 3rd placing Trevor third overall in British Hillclimb Championship points table after round twelve of the 34 counting rounds.
A weekend of close competition, personal best times being set by many drivers and several championships scoring placing’s for OMS drivers: all this and the Avro Vulcan, flying high again.
To view the results click here and for Resultsman click here. British Hillclimb and Hillclimb Leaders Championship positions can be found here.
Date: 16/06/2015 | Author: L.Owen