The Meadens Skoda Championship Standings – by Class after Round Four

Jul 28, 2017

Round four of the Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Hill Climb Championship ran at the 22nd and 23rd July meeting.

Round four produced some interesting and surprise changes to both the overall championship and the class championships. Full details of the results.

Here are the top three in each class.

Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Hill Climb Championship – Class Results

The Mazda MX5 Class, supported by DoctorMX5

Road Going Series Production Class up to 2000cc, supported by Record-Designs

Over 2000cc Road Going Series Production Class, supported by Turbo Dynamics

Road Going Specialist Production Class, supported by Fieldfare Trailer Centre

The Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars up to 2000cc Class

Over 2000cc Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Car Class

Up to 1400cc Modified Series Production Class

Over 2000cc Modified Series Production Class, supported by Meadens Skoda

Over 2000cc Modified Specialist Production Class, supported Gates of Brockenhurst

Historically Interesting Class, supported by Kelvin Jouhar

Sports Libre up to 2000cc, supported by Class Lewis Property Services

Sports Libre over 2000cc Class, supported by Berazzi Wheels

601cc to 1100cc Racing Car Class, supported by Drynham Project Management Limited

1101cc to 1600cc Racing Car Class, supported by SM AeRoTechniques with Brian and Adrian Moody

Formula Ford Class

1601cc to 2000cc Racing Car – Normally Aspirated Class

1601cc to 2000cc Racing Car – Forced Induction Class

We would like to thank all of our sponsors for their support in our 50th Anniversary year!

Anthony Record – Press Officer – BARC SW, Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb

Meadens Skoda Championship and Cavendish Ships Stores Top Ten Challenge – After Round Four

Jul 28, 2017

Championship and Top Ten Challenge Standings after Round Four

The July 22nd and 23rd meeting was the fourth round of the Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Hill Climb Championship and The Cavendish Ships Stores Top Ten Challenge.

The result of the fourth round have decided the overall champions and some of the class champions. It also produced some interesting results, changes of fortune and perhaps even some surprises in the challenge!

The Cavendish Ships Stores Top Ten Challenge

Jonathan Gates’ lead in the challenge has evaporated after issues in June and July with the Force LM he shares with Peter Sexton, Managing Director of Gurston Down’s main championship sponsor, Meadens Skoda.

The current leader is now James Moore. He has 26 points from the four rounds.

Chris Cannell is second, Mike Rudge third and Andy McBeath is fourth. These four are now mathematically the only drivers able to win the Cavendish Ships Stores Top Ten Challenge.

The full table reads:

With all to play for at the September meeting. Here are details of the maximum and minimum points each of the top four can score.

The table assumes that each driver scores a maximum of ten points. Only one of which can.

September’s meeting will be the decider for the Challenge. But who will be the champion?

Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Hill Climb Championship – Overall

The Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Hill Climb Championship has been won by Mark Crookall from the Gurston Down Mazda MX5 class. He has broken the class record three times already this year and now has the championship in the bag! His lead is unassailable.

However, the places have yet to be decided.

The next two have 86.00 points, Stephen Moore, the 2015 and 2016 champion, and Neil Turner. Chris Cannell has 85.50 points. Next is Simon Purcell, the 2014 champion on 84.95 points.

Here are the top twelve.

With all to play for at the September meeting. Here are details of the maximum and minimum points each of the top four can score.

This assumes that each driver has a class record and is more than 1.5s ahead of second place in their respective classes.

The full class tables will be available online shortly.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors for their support in our 50th Anniversary year!

Anthony Record – Press Officer – BARC SW, Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb

July 22nd and 23rd Full Meeting Report

Jul 28, 2017

Our July meeting at Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb was a rather damp affair! The rain came and disrupted the meeting a few times. Hollow was awash for a while but the marshalling team and stuaf dug some extra drainage ditches to cope with the additional water. Thank you to them for their efforts. We would like to thank the marshals, officials and spectators who braved the weather too.

The July meeting had a number of championships visiting as well as hosting the fourth round of the Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Championship and the Cavendish Ships Store Top Ten Challenge. There will be separate reports on the last two later.

We also hosted our second Formula Ford Festival and two Top Twelve Run-Offs of the BMTR Championship.

Jason Mourant and his Gould GR55 won both of the run-offs and Fastest Time of the Day with a 28.08s run in the second run-off. This gave him some very useful practice for the British Hill Climb Championship event on 26th and 27th August.

Here’s the full class review.

The Record-Designs Road Going Series Production up to 2000cc classes.

The B Licence class drivers went first, they had a damp first run and a wet second. Dean Cubitt with his Mazda MX5, won the class with a 39.96s first timed run. But he was chased hard by Robert Brodie and his Renault Clio and Christopher Davies’ Honda Civic who finished on 40.26s and 40.38s respectively.

The A Licence class saw David West and the Peugeot 106 take the class win with a first timed run of 39.07s. Richard Brant and his Clio took second on 39.53s. Tim Forster and his Lotus Elan had a spin on the first timed run which put him out. There is a series of pictures on our Facebook page.

The Turbo Dynamics Over 2000cc Road Going Series Production Classes.

Sarah Fudge was the B Licence class’s only entrant and her class was merged with the A Licence Class.

The A Licence class has been dominated in the recent past by the class record holder and 2016 Gurston Down Champion, Stephen Moore and his Mitsubishi Evo. Stephen had a problem with his transfer box but still managed a 35s dead in the first timed run. Shaun Fudge took second with the Lewis Dean Motorsport Subaru Impreza stopping the clock on 36.69s, a personal best for Shaun.

The Fieldfare Trailer Centre Road Going Specialist Production Classes.

The B Licence class was Clive Skipper and his Caterham 7 HPC class from the very first run. He finished on 36.33s, over five seconds faster than his nearest competition.

The A Licence class was won by Allan Warburton and the Caterham 7. He stopped the clocks on 34.39s in the first timed run. The weather stepped in in the afternoon and there was little chance of bettering these times so first timed runs decided both the A and B Licence classes.

The up to 1400cc Modified Series Production Class was run by the current class record holder, Neil Turner. After the first timed run Derek Mullis, lead the class by just 0.02s. But Neil had an exceptional second run finishing on 39.50s, more than 1.5s faster than the first timed run and over three seconds faster than his nearest competitor in that run. A great performance and some good points in the Meadens Skoda Championship.

The Tipadel 1401cc to 2000cc Modified Series Production Classes.

Scott Hanham and his Ford Fiesta won the B Licence class with a first timed run time of 45.15s beating Laurence Colvin in his MG by just one second. The second timed runs where weather affected and neither improved their times.

Martyn Pike with his Ford Escort Mk1 won the A Licence class. His time of 38.42s on the first timed run, pushed Ralph Pinder and his Peugeot 205 into second. Ralph took a second timed run but couldn’t improve on the 39.52s he set in the first run.

The Meadens Skoda Over 2000cc Modified Series Production Car Classes.

Steve Elliott and Jeremy Bloor and the rear wheel drive BMW 325i were first and second in the B Licence class. They were close, Steve was ahead after the first timed run on 46.31s with Jeremy on 46.67s but Steve’s second timed run was faster, 46.05s.

The very quick Vauxhall VX220 of Mike Turpin won the A Licence class. But the Aston Martin Vantage of Andrew Fraser did not make it easy. They were separated by just 0.34s after the first timed run, 38.23s and 38.57s, respectively. Mike improved his time a little on his second run, finishing on 38.05s.

The Gates of Brokenhurst Over 2000cc Modified Specialist Production Classes.

The B Licence class was Martin Watson and his Westfield after the first timed run. With a four second lead and deteriorating weather, the class was decided by lunch-time. Martin finished on 39.52s.

The A Licence class was a completely different matter. This class is always competitive and July wasn’t an exception. The top four in this class, Ash Mason, Mike Rudge, Simon Jenks and Steve Day were all within 0.50s of each other. They finished on 37.18s, 37.29s, 37.56s and 37.64s respectively. Second timed runs deciding the second to fourth places.

The Kelvin Jouhar Historically Interesting Class brought out those beautiful cars. The victor was the Chevron B19 driven by Amanda George. Her time was 38.97s.

The Lewis Property Services Sports Libre up to 2000cc Class went next. Keith Diggle and his WEV HCS-BDG won this class finishing on 39.26s. Tim Pitfield was second with his first timed run time. Tim couldn’t improve this time after his a spin at Ashes. The Force LM shared by Jonathan Gates and championship sponsor Peter Sexton was a non starting, leaving them struggling in the Top Ten Challenge points as well as the championship.

The Berazzi Wheels Sports Libre over 2000cc Class saw Sue Hayes and Chris Cannell and the SR8 back after it’s seven cylinder issue in May. Chris took the class with the second timed run time of 42.15s.

The Drynham Project Management Limited 601cc to 1100cc Racing Car Classes

The B Licence class had just one entry, William Adams and his OMS 2000M. The weather wasn’t helping anyone at this time and William’s time was 49.85s.

The A Licence class was a very busy class indeed. With thirteen entries, this class was going to be close. It was! Ben Stephenson and his Empire Evo who took the win, pipping Mike Andrews and his Force PC by just 0.45s. Ben finished on 34.33s and Mike on 34.78s. James Moore and his Empire Evo 2 took third.

The SM AeRoTechniques with Brian and Adrian Moody 1101cc to 1600cc Racing Car Class was won by Tina Hawkes. Tina’s recent form continued, she finished on 33.81s. Pete Hammock, practice days fastest time of the day man, came second.

The Formula Ford Class went next. The weather seriously hampered this class, with a long delay due to rain when they came to the line. Just two seconds separated the top nine car / driver combinations. The current class record holder, Simon McBeath and his Swift SC92F took the class with a 39.96s run in the much improved conditions of the second timed run. Andrew Henson, Nev Rollason and Mark Alley were second (40.30s), third (40.51s) and fourth (40.99s) respectively.

The ex-BTCC driver and ITV BTCC commentator, Paul O’Neill put on a great show and finished 8th. Here’s Paul, sideways, at the exit of Ashes on what could only be described as very wet conditions.

The 1601cc to 2000cc Racing Car – Normally Aspirated Class

This classes first timed run went in what can only be described as a down-pour. Tim Davies and Jack Cotterill were the top two after the first run. But the weather turned and the track improved. Terry Davis (OMS CF09) had the best time in the second timed run, stopping the clocks on 32.09s. Tim Davis (Pilbeam MP88) and Johnathen Varley (March 772P) came second and third on 32.25 and 32.63s respectively.

Kelvin Broad and his Pilbeam MP101 was the only starter in the 1601cc to 2000cc Racing Car – Forced Induction Class. Kelvin finished on 31.52s.

The over 2000cc Racing Car Class went next. It was Graham Wynn’s day. He and the Gould GR55 were second after the first timed runs to Jason Mourant in his Gould GR55. Graham went quicker and Jason had a mini spin on the entry to Karousel in the second timed run but still managed to finish in the top twelve and qualify for the second run-off.

There were two small classes of Sports Racing and Racing Cars up to 1971 and 1985.

The up to 1971 class had just one entry, the Brabham BT29X of Richard Jones. Richard improved his time by some five seconds

The up to 1985 class was won by the Pilbeam MP53-4 of Rodney Eyles. Rodney dominated the class from the outset.

The DoctorMX5 Gurston Down Mazda MX5 Class went next. Mark Crookall, the current leader championship leader, class record holder and the winner of the 2017 Tony Marsh Memorial Trophy took the win. Although that was far from certain after the first timed run. Nick Revels, Gurston Down’s Competition Secretary was just 0.70s behind and John Davey, the MD of our Top Ten Challenge sponsor, Cavendish Ships Stores, who was sharing Mark’s car was third. Mark improved his time by over 1.5s to take the class win. Mark Jones took 3.5s out of his time to finish second on 43.00s and Nick Revels improved slightly, finishing on 44.30s. Here’s John Davey in Mark’s MX5.

Steve Butts, a former Gurston Down Champion, and his Lotus Elise won the Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars up to 2000cc Class.

The Over 2000cc Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Car Class saw Simon Purcell and his Lotus Elise take the win. But Simon had to work hard to keep Graham Beale and his Ginetta at bay. The former Gurston Down Champion, ended on 36.49s and Graham on 37.21s. This class really is starting to heat up!

Last class to run was the Dews Motor Club Championship. The Maguire Mini of Derek Kessell had this sown up from the start. He was three seconds faster than his nearest competitor, Marc Morris, in the first timed run. Mark just couldn’t claw back that sort of lead in the Renault Clio. Derek finished the day on 38.91s and Mark on 41.70s.

Then we had the BMTR Midland Championship Run-Offs. The fastest twelve cars registered in the championship went head to head after each timed run.

Jason Mourant and his Gould GR55 took both Run-Offs. His second run-off time was also the Fastest Timed of the Day – 28.08s.

We would like to thank everyone who made the day possible, the office staff, the marshals, timekeepers, scrutineers and officials without whom we couldn’t run the meeting. Thanks to Ashley Wood Recovery, TSL Timing, Insight Medical Services, Insight Security, Steve Lister for the great photographs and Peter Crutcher from Ringwood PA.

Anthony Record – Press Officer – BARC SW, Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb

Event Preview – 22nd and 23rd July – Midland Speed Championship

Jul 9, 2017

Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb hosts more fast and furious motorsport at our July meeting. There are over 130 cars and drivers facing the challenge of the legendary 12 feet wide, fast and twisty course at Wiltshire’s famous Speed Hill Climb Venue, Gurston Down.

The meeting on 22nd and 23rd July has a number of championships visiting as well as round four of the Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Championship and the Cavendish Ships Store Top Ten Challenge.

Saturday 22nd is practice day and Sunday 23rd is competition day.

The visiting championships are the highly competitive BMTR Midland Hill Climb Championship and the Dews Motor Club Championship.

The Formula Ford Festival has twenty four drivers entered. Paul O’Neill, ITV’s BTCC pundit, ex-touring car and British GT Championship driver is returning for his second hill climb event at Gurston Down. He will be sharing Mark Alley’s 1991 Swift.

With unrivalled access to the hill, paddock, cars, drivers and facilities available to our spectators, the weekend promises to be a veritable sceptical of sound and speed. We have excellent catering and refreshments on site too!

The weekend’s event gets underway with Saturday’s three practice runs and one practice and two timed runs on Sunday.

The BMTR Midland Hill Climb Championship has a different class structure to Gurston’s championship. The class a competitor runs in is dependant on the type of licence the driver has as well as the type of car. There are two main categories of licence, B and A. As a consequence, some of the usual class are separated into two.

Here’s the full class preview.

The Record-Designs Road Going Series Production Cars up to 2000cc classes runs first.

The B Licence drivers will go first. This class is a difficult class to predict. Gurston regulars, Russell and Christopher Davies are likely front runners, in the Honda Civic Type R they share but the Renault Clio 172 of Rob Brodie could be in with a shout.

The A Licence class has some very experienced drivers, in some very quick cars. With Gurston regulars, Tim Forster (Lotus Elan), Dean Cubitt (Mazda MX5) and Miles Horne (Peugeot 306) having a few have visitors, Nick and David West (Peugeot 106) and Richard Brant (Renault Clio Sport) looking for championship points and a class win.

The Turbo Dynamics Over 2000cc Road Going Series Production Cars Classes are next to come to the line.

Sarah Fudge has the B Licence class to her self. She’s been going quicker and quicker all season. There’s a great video of Sarah’s personal best on our Facebook page!

The A Licence class has been dominated in the recent past by the class record holder and 2016 Gurston Down Champion, Stephen Moore and his Mitsubishi Evo. Everyone in this class has Gurston experience so it will be as competitive as ever!

Up next is the Fieldfare Trailer Centre Road Going Specialist Production Car Classes.

The B Licence class will probably go to Clive Skipper and his Caterham 7 HPC. His Gurston experience could be the deciding factor in this class. There will be a great video of Clive in action at our June meeting on our Facebook soon.

The A Licence class runs next. Gurston regular, Adrian Lewis and his Westfield Superbusa, will have his work cut out in this class, this weekend. David and Allan Warburton and their Caterham 7 and Raymond Lohr’s Caterham Supersport join Adrian.

August 2016

The up to 1400cc Modified Series Production Cars Class has a good entry. The current class record holder, Neil Turner, won’t just have the Mini’s of Derek Mullis, David Bean and Julian Harber as competition. Andrew Russell and the lovely Imp engined Ginetta G15 is not going to make it easy. Neil is in a strong position in the Meadens Skoda Championship, so a good result is important.

Next to go will be the Tipadel 1401cc to 2000cc Modified Series Production Cars Classes.

The B Licence class has just two entrants, Scott Hanham and his Ford Fiesta and Laurence Colvin in his MG TF. These two will have a good battle for the class win.

The A Licence class has three entrants. On previous form Ralph Pinder (Peugeot 205) and Martyn Pike (Ford Escort) are likely to be the top two.

The Meadens Skoda Over 2000cc Modified Series Production Car Classes are next.

The B Licence class has two extremes of cars in the line up. The rear wheel drive BMW 325i of Steve Elliott and Jeremy Bloor and the front wheel drive, supercharged VW Polo of Giorgio Demetriou are an interesting match.

The A Licence class has some great sounding cars! The Aston Martin Vantage of Tim Painter and Andrew Fraser, the Porsche Caymans of Mark Walker and Duncan Andrews and the very quick Vauxhall VX220 of Mike Turpin. The winner? It will be the best car and driver combination on the day.

The Gates of Brokenhurst Over 2000cc Modified Specialist Production Cars Classes have good entries and run next.

The B Licence class sees a field of Westfields. With three roughly equal cars and three great drivers, this class will be close. On previous form, Ritchie Gatt and Martin Watson are the fastest two.

The A Licence class sees four Midland Championship contenders up against two Gurston regulars. Mike Rudge and Anthony Orchard usually fight each other for the class win so it will be interesting to see how our visitors add to the mix.

The beautifully presented cars of the Kelvin Jouhar Historically Interesting Cars class take to the hill next. There are two gorgeous cars entered, the Lotus 22 of Geoff Hunt and the Chevron B19 of Richard and Amanda George. Geoff and his black and white Lotus 22 will probably take the class win.

There is a good entry in the Lewis Property Services Sports Libre Cars up to 2000cc Class. The Force LM shared by Jonathan Gates and championship sponsor Peter Sexton will be back after the car’s oil leak has been sorted. Everyone will be looking for Top Ten Challenge points as well as championship points.

Next up will be the Berazzi Wheels Sports Libre over 2000cc Class. Geoff Twemlow brings the lovely Saker GT back to Gurston Down. The Force SR8 should be back after it being an SR7 in June. The value has been fixed so Chris Cannell and Sue Hayes will be a tough team to beat!

The Drynham Project Management Limited 601cc to 1100cc Racing Car Classes run next

The B Licence class has just one entry, William Adams and his OMS 2000M.

The A Licence class, on the other hand, has thirteen entries. James Moore and his Empire Evo 2 has been on sparkling form this year. With a class full of fast cars and really experienced drivers, it will be close. This class is often settled by hundredths of seconds!

As part of the Gurston Down Formula Ford Festival, we have a huge class of cars entered. This class seems to grow at almost every meeting and the class record is coming down too! Simon McBeath, the current class record holder has stiff competition. Not only from ex-BTCC driver Paul O’Neill but from every other driver and car in the class. This class will be won or lost on the day and by just a few hundredths of a second!

The SM AeRoTechniques with Brian and Adrian Moody 1101cc to 1600cc Racing Car Class has a good entry. On present form, Ed Hollier and his Empire Evo will probably take the win. It’s fair to say that the real battle here is probably for second. But Tina Hawks’ recent form has been great. She and her Force PC will be tough to beat.

The 1601cc to 2000cc Racing Car – Normally Aspirated Class has a great entry. There are so many drivers that could win this class. The top five are likely to be: Terry Davis (OMS CF09); Tim Elmer (Dallara F399); Johnathen Varley (March 772P); Roger Cook (Pilbeam MP58) and Tim Davis (Pilbeam MP88).

The 1601cc to 2000cc Racing Car – Forced Induction Class has a small but very fast entry list. If the Gould GR59 of Paul Haimes can behave itself then the class will surely be his. Andrew McBeath and his OMS25 and Kelvin Broad and his Pilbeam MP101 are the other two entrants and should not be discounted.

Then come the main contenders for Fastest Time of the Day, the over 2000cc Racing Car Class. Jason Mourant and his 4.0 litre Judd powered, Gould GR55 and the similarly powered Pilbeam MP97-03 of Sandra and Oliver Tomlin should all be in with a chance of the class win too!

There are two small classes of Sports Racing and Racing Cars up to 1971 and 1985.

The up to 1971 class has just one entry, the Brabham BT29X of Richard Jones. It’s a beautiful car!

Danny Dzenis www.dd-photography.co.uk

The up to 1985 class has three entries. The Pilbeam MP53-4 of Rodney Eyles will start favourite in this class.

The DoctorMX5 Gurston Down Mazda MX5 Class runs next. The current Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Championship leader, class record holder and the winner of the 2016 and 2017 Tony Marsh Memorial Trophy, Mark Crookall is favourite in this class. But Mark is sharing his car with John Davey, the MD of our Top Ten Challenge sponsor, Cavendish Ships Stores. His usual MG Midget dropped a valve whilst competing in France last month. With John, the regular competitors and some new faces too, Mark will be trying hard to score good championship points. He has a good lead in the championship at the moment, can he maintain that lead in a class that is getting more and more competitive as the weeks go by?

Steve Butts, a former Gurston Down Champion, and his Lotus Elise has the Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars up to 2000cc Class to himself.

The Over 2000cc Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Car Class has another good entry. Steve Holley and his TVRGriffith, Paul Slade and the Jaguar E Type as well as Graham Beale and his Ginetta. But former Gurston Down Champions, Simon Purcell bring his Lotus Elise which probably means it will be a race for second for the rest of the class!

Last of the classes to run will be the Dews Motor Club Championship. This class is likely to be dominated by the gorgeous Maguire Mini of Derek Kessell. It’s a class of eclectic cars so very difficult to predict. Robert Hiscock as his Caterham and Steve Harris with his Corsa could also be in with a chance.

Danny Dzenis www.dd-photography.co.uk

Then we will have the BMTR Midland Championship Run-Offs. The fastest ten cars registered in the champion, will go head to head from championship points. Fastest Time of the Day could also be had here.

Why not join us?

For more up to date information, check our Facebook link at the top of the page!

Key info
Location: 1 mile west of Broad Chalke, 9 miles SW of Salisbury, Wiltshire. Turn off the A354 at Coombe Bissett on the unclassified road to Broad Chalke, follow AA signs.
Dates: Saturday July 22nd – PRACTICE – 09:00 until 15:00 and Sunday July 23rd – COMPETITION – 09:00 to 17:00.
Admission: Saturday £6 and Sunday £10 for adults, accompanied under 14s free, free paddock entry, free parking.

Anthony Record – Press Officer – BARC SW, Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb

COMPETITOR INFORMATION:

Jul 7, 2017