Talk Talk

In the face of much online rumour and heightened anxiety that cars would be stopped from running at events in light of the ongoing ROPS discussion, single seaters ran without any problems at the final rounds of the MSA British Hillclimb and Hillclimb Leaders Championship meeting at Loton Park over the weekend. The subject of ROPS and the MSA meeting pervaded paddock conversation during Saturday's practice, but abated once the action kicked off on Sunday: the finale of the BHC.

With final positions still unresolved in some of the classes, competition was fierce and the 'offs' a plenty. Sunday had umpteen red flag stoppages, leading to a very drawn out event. Very heavy rainfall overnight left a wet track for Sunday morning practice, though it dried in time for the first timed runs.

The now routine bumper entry in the 1100cc racing car class provided some close competition and excellent drives. The highest placed OMS driver was Harry Pick, who once again shared the OMS 2000M with Steve Owen. Harry's first timed run 50.25s gave him third in class at the end of the morning runs. Although slower in the afternoon Harry did retain third overall in class.

OMS 2000M 998cc Harry Pick: photo T Wilson

After lunch Steve Owen improved on his morning run with a 50.52s climb, ahead of Harry's 50.67s second run time, to finish sixth overall in class. Other 1100cc drivers included Simon Andrews and Bernie Kevill (OMS 28) and Will Ker in his turbo charged OMS CF09.

  

          Simon Andrews: photo T Wilson                                                    Will Ker: photo T Wilson

The 1600cc racing car class included Stuart Dow in the ex-Steve Spiers 1400cc OMS CF04. Having only recently acquired the car, this was Stuart's second event in a single seater: having previously competed in a Caterham. Sharing his car with Lynn Owen, who was without a drive since the 'works' OMS 28 was back in the workshop, they made changes to the set up and their times improved, with Stuart running well inside his Caterham best time, to set a new PB of 51.88 seconds.

Lynn Owen OMS CF04: photo T Wilson

Geoff Guille came over from Guernsey with his 2 litre OMS CF04. Running in the normally aspirated 2.0 ltr racing car class, his fastest run of the day was a 54.29s

Geoff Guille OMS CF04: photo T Wilson

This season has been Lee Griffiths most successful; he has scored his highest points tally in the BHC with the 1.3 ltr turbo charged OMS 25. On Sunday he finished third overall in class on a best time run of 48.09 seconds: that is possibly a PB. Next year Lee plans to compete at all of the BHC rounds.

Lee Griffiths OMS 25 1300t: photo T Wilson

Congratulations to Scott Moran on winning the 2016 MSA British Hillclimb Championship and to Colin Satchell the winner of the 2016 MSA Hillclimb Leaders Championship.

Many of the hillclimb fraternity were discussing the forthcoming FIA Masters Hill Climb in the Czech Republic. Eight drivers are representing Britain: Scott Moran, Trevor Willis, Wallace Menzies, Dave Uren, Will Hall, Darren Warwick, Colin Satchell and David Warburton. The event is being held at Sternberk on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October. Follow our news updates from Sternberk on Twitter and Facebook.

To view the Loton Park results click here and to see the final MSA BHC and HLC points tables click here.

Date: 26/09/2016 | Author: L.Owen