Stop and Go
August Bank Holiday weekend saw the MSA British Hillclimb and Hillclimb Leaders Championships visit Gurston Down in Wiltshire. As these championships move into the final rounds the competition is fierce and cars are being stretched to their limit. As a consequence there were a number of mechanical failures across the weekend.
Gurston Down first timer John McKenzie soon got to grips with the hill. He had travelled from Scotland to compete at Shelsley Walsh two weekends previously and stayed in the south of England for a holiday before going to Gurston. His opening practice run was a respectable 32.30s in his 1600cc OMS 2000M and his best time of the weekend 31.33s placing him fifth overall in class.
Running in the same class as John, Ian Tucker only took one timed run in his 1600cc OMS CF07. Rain fell before the racing cars took to the hill leaving a wet and slippery surface which prevented drivers from making any improvement on their first timed runs.
Racing cars up to 1100cc had eleven non-starters for afternoon runs. Although OMS drivers Simon Andrews and Bernie Kevill both took their second runs they finish 3rd and 5th overall in class, based on their times set earlier in the day 31.22s and 31.41s respectively.
Murray Wakeham spent much of Saturday morning chasing a wiring problem on his recently acquired OMS CF1100. It was resolved by Steve and Murray completed all but one of his practice runs.
Lynn and Steve Owen should have been running in class with Simon and Bernie, but an engine problem forced them to stop running the OMS 28 BMW after first practice on Saturday. Andy McBeath and Neville Rollason kindly offered Lynn and Steve a go in their cars as share drivers, so they transferred to the 2 litre racing car class.
Lynn and Steve refuel the OMS 28 BMW: photo Tim Wilson
Andy was the fastest of the four OMS drivers in the 2 litre class, his best run 30.05s in his OMS 25 1300s snatched 6th in class to score a Hillclimb Leaders Championship point. Steve was only five hundredths adrift of Andy. Driving the Rollason OMS 28 1300s, Steve's best time 30.10s and Nev's best time 31.77s meant both drivers finished out of the class points.
The South West Centre national B licence class was won by Peter Hammock. The OMS CF04 driver also set a new personal best time 31.98 seconds.
Competition in the unlimited capacity racing car class was as close as ever. Top honours went to Scott Moran 26.73, Alex Summers 27.01s and Trevor Willis (OMS 28 V8) 27.22s. Trevor qualified for both British Hillclimb Championship run offs and finished 5th in the first and 2nd in run off two.
As the two national championships move to the next round at Prescott Hill Climb on 5th & 6th September, drop scores come into play making it all very interesting at the top of the leader boards.
To view the final results click here and to see the championship tables click here.
Date: 7/09/2015 | Author: L.Owen