My Hometown
Following the excitement of the Jersey rounds of the MSA British Hillclimb championship, drivers and their teams made the crossing over to Guernsey for rounds 21 and 22.
Le Val des Terres hillclimb is held on a closed road of the same name, leading up from the sea front, through a wooded valley onto a meadow at the top of the hill. With the pits alongside the sea wall, the venue has a very Mediterranean feel to it, especially when the temperatures soar as they did for this event.
A number of the Guernsey OMS drivers were competing on this, their local hill. Most of them have a great deal of experience, though one driver was new to hillclimbing: Conor Le Cras. Son of The Wheel Doctor OMS SC1 driver Mark Le Cras, Conor is having his first season in hillclimbing.
Having recently graduated from karting into an OMS PR single seater, the national meeting was only his third event in the car. This ex Paul Priaulx OMS runs a 1200cc engine in the up to 1600cc racing car class. Despite its lack of cc's as compared with other runners in the class, Conor's best time 30.21s placed just behind the 1600cc OMS 25 of Guernsey man Justin Smith 30.14s.
OMS PR Conor Le Cras: Photo Tim Wilson
Jackie le Cheminant made a return to the national scene, having missed this event for the last two years following the birth of her second child. She has lost none of her speed, Jackie's fastest climb 30.60s placed her fourth overall in the 1100cc racing car class, ahead of national front runners Darren Gumbley and Richard Summers.
La Villette Garage OMS PR Jackie Le Cheminant: Photo Tim Wilson
Running in class alongside Jackie was Alan Prevel, another Guernsey driver who runs in an OMS PR chassis. This car is always beautifully turned out, as can be seen in the photograph below.
Auto Repair Centre OMS PR Alan Prevel: Photo Tim Wilson
Father and son pairing Geoff and Chris Guille, were once again running their La Villette Garage/Rubis 2 litre OMS CF04. Chris is no stranger to the British Hillclimb Championship run offs, having previously won a round at Le Val des Terres. He qualified for round 21 and round 22, unfortunately finishing outside of a point scoring position this year. Chris' fastest class run time 28.74s placed him third in class, 7/100ths adrift of BHC front runner Dave Uren 28.67s.
OMS CF04 Chris Guille: Photo Tim Wilson
Lady's hill record holder Sarah Gaudion was unable to take her timed runs, following an electrical problem during practice. Steve Owen managed to repair the car, but not in time for Sarah to take her runs. She was offered a drive in the Justin Smith OMS 25, but decided instead to retire from the meeting. Sarah was helping the Guernsey Motorcycle and Car Club to host a motorsport festival along the harbour on the Sunday and would drive her car at this event.
OMS 25 Justin Smith: Photo Tim Wilson
To view the results from the meeting click here and to view the BHC points table click here.
Date: 20/07/2016 | Author: L.Owen