HSA - for information on hillclimbs and sprints in the UK

HEADLINES

WILLIS SETS PRESCOTT PACE
30/06/2009

Defending Avon/BMTR Challenge champion Trevor Willis was in a class of his own at Prescott’s Midland Hillclimb Championship round on Sunday. Running a second and a quarter clear of the field, he won both run-offs to regain the lead in this year’s series from the absent Scott Moran. After gearbox problems stymied his opening qualifier, Deryk Young chased hard in the final shoot-out to consolidate his third place on the table. Once again it was Will Hall that provided the fireworks, his second run-off shot in the bike-engined Force just three tenths behind Young’s V8 Gould to set third FTD.

The event was also round 9 of the Richard Egger/HSA Speed series. Brian Ball set the outright pace among the HSA members, his 44.20 in the Force-Yamaha good enough for fourth place behind regular pacemaker Dave Oldridge in a competitive 600cc class that saw Eurosport Moto GP commentator Toby Moody finally wrest the win from constructor/co-driver Bill Chaplin. Star among the ‘A’ licence members was Andy Dunbar, the Westfield driver chasing home regular 2-litre racing ModProd winner Chris Child and holding off Kelvin Lee’s Lotus 7 in a top three covered by a mere four hundredths. In a sixteen-strong HSA ‘B’ licence class, Eric Morrey and the Clan took the win, with the only sub-50 run as Stuart Hill’s Westfield held off Neil Duncanson’s Quattro for second place.

Full report in Speedscene 155.

Something different.....
24/06/2009
Malta may be quite a small island but would you believe that it has seven speed venues?

You can find out more about their championship and the tracks at the Island Car Club's web site. So if you are planning a trip to Malta you may be able to combine it with a spot of spectating.

MORAN AND GROVES ON RECORD FORM AGAIN
21/06/2009

In a re-run of their duel at Loton Park’s season opener, Martin Groves and Scott Moran (pictured) each broke the hill record at Doune last weekend. Moran qualified top each time, ahead of Trevor Willis and Groves, but after an all-out charge by Groves had shaved five hundredths from his own record to beat his rival to the win in the opening run-off, Moran turned the tables later, a super-smooth shot carving another quarter-second off the new mark to win the second shoot-out.

Willis hurled the diminutive OMS-Powertec up the daunting, barrier-lined slopes for third place each time, drawing clear of Chris Merrick for third spot on the MCL Motorhomes series table. Merrick twice had to give best to his co-driver as Tom New rapidly dialled their Gould-Judd into the Scottish hill. With two strong fourth place run-off finishes, Roger Moran leapfrogged Paul Ranson by one point to take over fifth place in the series.

Chased hard by Will Hall, Scottish hillclimb champion Jonathan Rarity was one of several drivers on record-breaking form at Doune as he took the 1600 racing class win in his minimalist MH Ghost. Both drivers made the cut for the opening run-off but in the heat of battle during qualifying for the second shoot-out, both spun away a further chance for points at the notorious, blind brow East Brae!

A full report will follow in Speedscene.

Championship standings after Doune: 1 Scott Moran 137pts; 2 Martin Groves 132; 3 Trevor Willis 100; 4 Chris Merrick 92; 5 Roger Moran 80; 6 Paul Ranson 79; 7 Tom New 50; 8 Deryk Young 44; 9 Paul Haimes 24; 10 Jos Goodyear 21; etc.

TWO MORE FOR MORAN
14/06/2009

With two straight run-off wins at Loton Park on Sunday, Scott Moran made it five wins in a row and increased his MCL Motorhomes British Championship lead over Martin Groves to five points. Groves chased hard for second place each time but despite lowering Adam Fleetwood’s long-standing class record during the qualifying runs, with British points at stake he couldn’t match the smooth, unrelenting pace of hill record holder Moran.

The latest of a growing number of competitors to install a paddle gearshift, Trevor Willis dialled in the new system to run third each time and level with Chris Merrick in third place on the series table. Another superb performance from Will Hall brought his tiny bike-engined Force, the only 1600cc car to make the run-off cut, into the points each time.

Backed up by his father Roger (pictured) in the supercharged DJ Firehawk, ‘occasional driver’ Todd Fleetwood mirrored his brother Adam’s Easter class win over 2-litre ace Paul Haimes and would also have made second cut, had he been registered for the championship. Despite warm, dry weather, the only other class record of the day fell at the hands of Midland Man of the Meeting Andrew Griffiths, who lowered his previous record in the Caterham-Hayabusa by half a second.

Full report in Speedscene 154.

Championship positions after Loton Park: 1 Scott Moran 117pts; 2 Martin Groves 112; 3= Chris Merrick and Trevor Willis 84; 5 Paul Ranson 67; 6 Roger Moran 66; etc.

Wet Graham Hill Trophy Sprint doesn't deter REI/HSA competitors
11/06/2009
Despite a succession of early torrential downpours complete with thunder and lightning, the Owen Motoring Club ran the 2009 Graham Hill Trophy with their usual skill and spirit. Despite standing water on the course and a large puddle on the startline access/return road most competitors elected to take both practice runs, although it was too much for some!

With a great second run shot on a still greasy track, Gary Thomas in the ex.Phil Davies Force PT claimed his second Curborough FTD in as many months to take the prestigious wooden-rimmed 1960s F1 BRM steering wheel trophy. Former double winner, Jeremy Wilson in the larger engined PT, was unable to defend as he declined to take his second run following a high speed spin just after the finish line which caused some damage. Other potential FTD contenders Steve Day and Ash Mason were unable to take their timed runs with a gear selection problem in their newly acquired DJ Firehawk, whilst Lindsay Mercer's very rapid Radical was unfortunately a non-starter.

Despite the poor weather there were some similarly impressive Round 8 performances by other REI/HSA competitors. Michael Andrews contunues to impress on only his first competitive visit to the course with two solid runs. The unfortunate Jim Stevens understeered off at Fradley causing some minor damage, although co-driver Farid Ahmed got a respectable first run in to score some points. Upon inspection the damage was too great and the car was withdrawn. Michael Cowen ran under 40 secs on his second run and on only his second competitive visit to the venue.

John Gallagher, who is currently at the top of the table took the Mazda points with Tony Thomas taking second. Kevin Hamilton who made the trip down from Scotland pay dividends narrowly beat Barbara Fogden into fourth position to take third in the class.

Current champion, John Palmer was unable to get on terms with his own B1 record, being over two seconds adrift was followed home by Graham Boulter in the Kudos Coupe.

Ben Hamer took the small capacity mod-prod points after he and brother Wil elected to run the Mini turbo on slicks. Unfortunately, Wil threw away his initial lead with a high speed spin at Paddock on his second timed run. In the larger capacity mod-prod class initial leader Simon Andrews swapped places with Steve Filkin, with Filkin taking the points with a decisive second shot. An on-form Bernard Kevill took third on both runs closing to within two tenths of co-driver Andrews' time. Phil Skipp lost the Astra GSi following a long graceful slide through paddock leaving him unable to challenge Emerson Kent who claimed fourth from co-driver Chris Flavell in the Spoox Peugeot.

Brian Ball took the small capacity racing car class REI points although guest co.driver Simon Marsh took a n excellent class win on the day. Newcomer Robert Capper completed two solid runs whilst Peter Hubbard threw away his challenge with a spin. Paul Tinsley was very quick on the drying track, running just under 32 seconds despite a wet weather set up complete with the anti-roll bars disconnected in the class K Swift, whilst Chris Machell in the Mygale declined to take his second run.

Welcome returnee Graham Cashmore took the points in the Imp-engined Davrian from Michael TIndale in the Clan, whilst Eric Morrey who is still getting used to the new turbo installation in his Clan took the class P points. Geoff Stallard ran his Ginetta G12 to the class W points with a second run in the low 38 secs bracket.

Hugh Whitcombe took a good win in the treacherous track conditions over an exuberant Jonathan Plowe who was running his recently acquired 3.1 litre Gilbern for the first time.

See the results page for all the details and analysis.