Harewood Hillclimb - Race Reports

Mike Wilson Memorial 20th September, 2009

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:02 GMT

For Sunday's event, and keeping with what seemed to be the theme of the season, there were more familiarities at the top of the timing sheets. Saturday's quickest duo of Spedding and Jenkins gracefully traded places for Sunday, giving Jenkins the Fastest Time of the Day, with a 53.21 seconds.

There was an array of well-known names just behind, with Jason Mourant stealing third, having progressed on his fourth fastest time the previous day, heading John Chacksfield and Piers Thynne. Not far behind, Dave Banner, Sandra Tomlin, Iain Davidson, Len Amy and George Bleasdale recorded the remaining fastest times within the top ten, which they each achieved within their three times runs.

With the season now drawn to a close the championship scores are in, and, despite being provisional at the moment, Richard Spedding has risen to the forefront of the FTD Championship, while David Sturdy has provisionally secured the premium spot in the Harewood Championship.

All in all it was another successful weekend at Harewood Hillclimb, and a superlative way to end what has been an exciting season. We are all very much looking forward to 2010 already and we look forward to seeing you all out and about at the Hill.

Photograph: Full Frame Photographic

Greenwood Cup 19th September, 2009

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:53 GMT

With the final meeting of the year fast approaching, the penultimate round at the Yorkshire-based Harewood Hillclimb was soon upon us. The Greenwood Cup saw Richard Spedding soar to yet another Fastest time of the Day, with a time of 53.71 seconds, achieving the feat on his third timed run - just heading Morgan Jenkins to the top spot.

John Chacksfield rocketed to the third quickest time, just inches ahead of fourth placed Jason Mourant, while Colin Birkbeck completed the top five fastest competitors of the day. The remaining five spots in the ten fastest times of the day were filled by Harewood regular, Dave Banner, Piers Thynne, Drew Dawson, Len Amy and finally, Iain Davidson.

The Saturday of this final weekend of the 2009 season also saw the arrival of the Ferrari Owners Club, bringing with them some spectacular machines. Christian Mineeff topped the times out of the twenty Ferrari competitors, being the only driver in the class to tear down the 65 second barrier, with a time of 65.79 seconds, which he secured on his second timed run.

The MG Car Club was another feature of the Greenwood Cup meeting, with an impressive showing of various MG cars, from MGB GT models ZR machines, and everything in between. A popular addition to the programme was David Coulthard - not the F1 superstar, his namesake who, along with his Hillclimb outing is also an MG Trophy regular.

Coulthard powered to the top of the times in the MG Cars Group 1 Class, just ahead of another MG trophy regular, Helen Waddington. Meanwhile, it was John Payne and David Morrison who stole honours in the Group 2 & 3 Class and Group 4 & 5 Class, respectively.

Despite a few dramas during the sessions the Greenwood Cup was still as magnificent an event as ever, and a great way set-up to the final event of the year.

Photograph: Tom Rhodes Photographic

Summer Championship August 30th, 2009

Mon, 7 Sep 2009 15:28 GMT

The Summer Championship meeting at our very own Harewood Hillclimb saw a familiar name top the time sheets. After three timed runs each, Harewood regular Richard Spedding powered to top spot, with a time of 53.87 seconds, giving him the fastest time of the day. Colin Birkbeck secured the second fastest time, flying up the hill in 54.81 seconds. These times also gave the duo the two fastest times within Class J.

John Chacksfield managed the third fastest time of the day, with Dave Banner and George Bleasdale following with fourth and fifth times, respectively. Completing the top ten of fastest times were David Grey, Gary Thomas, Iain Davidson, Clive Lightburn and familiar face, Les Procter.

Lotus expert Chris Brooks managed to record the top time within Class 7's Modified Production Cars category. Starting off with a first timed run in 68.22 seconds, his times progressed from there, moving up to a third timed run of 66.91 seconds on his final attempt.

Another Harewood regular and Hillclimb specialist, Simon Green, put his KT Green Westfield through its paces, recording the quickest Class 5 time, just ahead of Richard Vaughan.

Richard Vaughan was all set to enjoy a rare outing, when his car failed to make a getaway from the start line. Luckily, being such a friendly bunch at the Leeds-based venue Dale Cordingley offered Richard the services of his Radical; an opportunity he jumped at. Despite the day not quite going to plan for Richard, he was still said to have an extremely enjoyable day, getting a taste of a spectacular racing car.

Our final weekend of Harewood competition this season is on the 19/20th September, with the Saturday playing host to the Greenwood Cup, while the Sunday will be dominated by the Mike Wilson Memorial meeting.

Montague Burton Trophy August 2nd, 2009

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:20 GMT

Sunday's Montague Burton Trophy meeting was dominated by three familiar faces, with Spedding, Blackmore and Chacksfield holding captive the top three positions once again - however this time Blackmore managed to pip Chacksfield for second. Spedding put in a fastest time of 54.07 seconds, with the pursuing duo not far behind.

Simon Green again beat his Class 5 opponents to top the time sheets in his class, while Karl Jackson was back on top in Class 3.

Following round five of the Harewood Hillclimb Championship, David Sturdy now leads with 79.71 points, ahead of Richard Vale, with 78.92, and Henry Moorhouse in third with 77.22 points.

The next round at Harewood Hillclimb is the Summer Championship meeting on Sunday 30th August.

Yorkshire Speed Trophy Meeting August 1st, 2009

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:16 GMT

The inaugural Yorkshire Speed Trophy Meeting was definitely well received, and despite the weather playing a vital part once again, everyone had an enjoyable time.

Richard Spedding shone once again, overcoming the difficult conditions to grasp the fastest time of the day, with a time of 61.72 seconds. John Chacksfield secured the second fastest time, recording a time of 63.90 seconds, while Class J record holder James Blackmore set a time of 64.67 seconds to take third.

Simon Green, of Class 5 sponsor KT Green, captured the fastest time in the class, ahead of Ken Green. Meanwhile, Henry Moorhouse took charge of Class 4, ahead of Michael Bellerby and Chris Gibbs.

Harewood Regular, Dale Cordingley, put his skills to the test, enabling him to steal the ninth fastest time of the day and also the best time in Class F, recording a 67.34, with just one run.

British Championship Report July 4th and 5th, 2009

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 14:29 GMT

The weather forecasters got it wrong again! In this event in our favour as the MSA Championship Weekend turned out to be a splendid affair in near idyllic summer conditions throughout the whole weekend.The fine weather brought out the crowds to witness the cream of British Hill Climbers at their very best.

Saturday focused on the usual practice runs, but Sunday turned out to be quite an eventful day. In the qualifying runs for the Top Twelve Run Offs, reigning British Champ Scott Moran honed his times down to a very respectable 49.73. The new traction control system fitted in his Gould GR61X still didn't get him near to his 3 year old outright hill record of 49.19 seconds, but it did bring him the new class record. Close on his heels was a hard charging Martin Groves, briefly taking the lead with a run of 49.54 at the same time eclipsing the class record for the second time in the day. The rest of the field of gladiatorial single seater drivers headed by Moran senior, Roger, were the wrong side of the 50 second mark.

In the first of the run offs, Scott had a miserable run when a traction control wheel caused problems and relegated him to the back of the field. Groves didn't need a better chance than this, comfortably taking the run off with a time four tenths ahead of second placed Trevor Willis in his unique twin Suzuki Hyabusa V8 based OMS.

Moran had the last laugh in the final run off with an FTD of 49.51 which stole the show from Groves by a mere two one hundredths of a second and at the same time lowering the class record for a third time.

The track conditions must have really come to the competitors as several records also fell in the lower powered classes. Andrew Griffiths Caterham took the Class win for up to 1400 cc modified production cars setting a new record at 57.32 seconds - almost half a second under the previous record. Other records to fall were in the lower echelons of the single seater classes where Mark Hemingway, Will Hall and Paul Haimes all took their respective class wins and new records.
Image by Fullframe Photographic