The final event of the year at Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb takes place on Sunday 9th September with two more rounds of the Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb Championship and the final round of the Cavendish Ships Stores BARC SW Top Ten Challenge. There is a full entry for Sunday’s event which should result in a full day of exciting and entertaining action.
Over 120 cars and drivers will compete in standard road cars, classic and modern cars and amazingly fast sport and single seat racing cars. All of them will pit their wits against the fast and twisty course at Wiltshire’s famous Speed Hill Climb Venue and each other to score valuable championship points.
Spectators have unrivalled access to the hill, paddock and facilities. The excellent catering and refreshments are available on site too.
You really can’t get closer to the action!
The overall Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb Championship has, on a mathematical basis, not been decided. Paul Dickinson in the Honda S2000 is in charge and leads the championship. However, Paul has not entered in the September meeting so things could easily change. There are a number of other drivers who could pip him to the title, the most likely on current form is Mark Crookall. He could take the lead if he were to repeat his performance at the Sunday of the July meetings, when he broke the championship target times and class record on both runs. Sunday’s timed runs will determine the ultimate champion!
The Cavendish Ships Stores BARC-SW Top Ten Challenge was won at the July meetings. Peter D Smith with the Force PC took an unassailable lead. However, the next three places are still up for grabs. But who will it be?
Our September meeting hosts a number of invited championships and classes. These championships are the Triumph Register Cars, MG Cars, Austin Healeys and the historic 500cc racing cars. The Fastest Time of the Day will win The Russell Challenge Trophy, but who will that be?
Preview in detail:
The Triumph Register Class
The TR Class will be first to come to the line. It’s another full entry here so it will probably be a close fought battle. The TR7 V8s of Roderick Warner won in 2017, his experience should help him with the rest of the class. But you can’t ignore any of the car and driver combinations in this class.
The MG Class
There are twelve cars and driver combinations running in this class. Last years event winner, Ben Rolls in his Sprite must start favourite. He has last years second and third placed men, Richard Withers and Paul Bernal-Ryan in addition to the rest of the class so it might not be as clear cut as it might seem.
The Austin Healey Class – Big Healey and Warwick Cars Class
There are eight Big Healey and Warwick cars entered in this class. With Paul Baker and Pat Cooper last years first and second place respectively entered, not only will it be competitive but close too. You can’t really ignore any other drivers here either.
The Austin Healey Class – Austin Healey Sprite Class
The Austin Healey Sprite Class has six drivers entered. The 2017 event was won by Robin Johnson in his Sprite. But the entry has a number of drivers who won’t let Robin take the win without a fight!
Regular Gurston Classes
The Gurston Down MX5 Class supported by the Window Doctor
The 2017 Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Champion, Mark Crookall, returns to the hill in his Mazda Roadster RS after breaking his own record twice at July’s Sunday meeting. Can he do it again? Or will Jason Richardson do the same? But there are a few others who will be pushing Mark and Jason and will take advantage of any errors either of them make.
Road Going Series Production Class up to 1400cc Class
There is a larger than normal entry in this class. John Davey, Managing Director of our Top Ten Challenge sponsor, Cavendish Ships Stores is sharing his MG Midget with Pete Hammock. John probably starts favourite but David Nutland has had better reliability as a result scored better in the championship.
Road Going Series Production Class up to 2000cc, supported by Record-Designs
Tim Forster in his Lotus Elan will be looking for some strong championship points to help with his class championship challenge. Dean Cubitt in the Mazda MX5 will be looking for the same. There are a couple of new car and driver combinations and some names coming back. Will Dave Newman and his MX5 or David Bellamy in the Peugeot 106 spice up the class a little bit!
Over 2000cc Road Going Series Production Class, supported by Turbo Dynamics
Shaun Fudge is in a strong position in the class championship and with his major competitor, Jon Maycock not entered, it would seem that Shaun might have an easier time. But he will have Simon Neve in the Mitsubishi Evo, providing the cars issues have been resolved, to content with as well as Mike Rudge in the Focus RS and Rodney Eyles in a Alfa Romeo 4C, the later two new to the class.
Road Going Specialist Production Class, supported by Fieldfare Trailer Centre
Clive Skipper’s 2.0 Caterham HPC, Adrian Lewis’ 1.4 Westfield Megabusa or Anthony Orchard, sharing the Lewis Westfield are the three to watch in this class. are the most likely winners in this class. Clive is ahead in the championship so Adrian will need a great performance to help with his title hopes.
The Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars upto 2000cc Class
This class has just two entrants, Martin Biggs and Andrew Hurle. Andrew’s 1962cc car might well dominate the class but it’s all about performance on the day.
The Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars over 2000cc Class
Phil Price in the Porsche 911 has been the man to beat in this class. He currently leads the class championship from Graham Beale in the Ginetta. There are some lovely cars in this class, Bob Mortimer’s Porsche and Paul Slades’ E Type, all will be looking for championship points.
The up to 1400cc Modified Series Production Car Class
Neil Turner, the class record holder starts this class as favourite. He needs two wins and the points to help his class championship position. If he can managed that, he will win the class. Derek Mullis and David Bean will make sure he works for the win but they are require points too.
Over 2000cc Modified Series Production Car Class, supported by Meadens Skoda
Steven Moore has been pretty dominant in the class this year. He won’t be looking for championship points but he will be looking for a class record. The gorgeous the Aston Martin Vantage of Tim Painter and Andrew Fraser and Mark Walker in his 4.0 Porsche Cayman S will be looking to keep Steven on his toes but they will all have an up hill battle.
The Modified Specialist Production Class, supported Gates of Brockenhurst
Martin Watson in his Westfield SEiW has the class championship sown-up but that doesn’t mean the rest of the class will let him take the class win at this meeting. Richie Gatt and Steve Holland will be making sure he works for the win.
The Historically Interesting Class, supported by Kelvin Jouhar
Sunday brings some beautifully presented historically interesting cars to Gurston Down. Sue Hayes bring her 1.6 Palliser WDF3, the Jensen C-V8 Mk1 driven by Richard Lovell-Butt and two Gilbern’s of Brian Gent and Ken Young. The class is a little difficult to call but Sue Hayes is the likely class winner here.
Hill Climb Super Sports Cars Class
There are just two cars entered in this class. Mark Mortimer and Richard Fry both in Mallocks. Mark has Gurston experience which is bound to help.
The Sports Libre up to 1400cc Class
This class has a great entry. Peter Steel in his Guille Mallock is the current class record holder and looks like he’ll be the one to beat.
The Sports Libre 1400cc to 2000cc, supported by Class Lewis Property Services
There are just two cars entered in this class. The WEV HCS-BDG of Keith Diggle and the Lancia Stratos of Malcolm Cole. Keith has been pretty dominant in this class and we expect Sunday to be no exception.
Sports Libre over 2000cc Class
Chris Cannell is the only entrant in his Force SR8. Chris will be looking for a fast time so he can add to his Top Ten Challenge points.
The 500 Owners Association – (2001 Rules) Class
The ‘500 Owners Association – 2001 Rules” historic 500cc racing cars will run next. There is just one entry, Stuart Barnes in the Lola P.101.
The 601cc to 1100cc Racing Car Class, supported by Drynham Project Management
There’s a small entry in this class and without James Moore entered, there will be some good championship points available to the entrants in this class. But who will take the class win?
The Formula Ford Class – Cars up to 1600cc
There is just one entrant in this class, David Matthews in his Zeus 163.
1101cc to 1600cc Racing Car Class, supported by SM AeRoTechniques with Brian and Adrian Moody
Peter D Smith and Richard Gayland are back in their Force. They will be both be looking for Top Ten Challenge points and be in the hunt for Fastest Time of the Day.
The 1601cc to 2000cc Racing Car Class – Normally Aspirated
There are just two entries in this class. Roger Cock has made a good return to Gurston Down this year in his Pilbeam MP54. But Dave Lord in the Quest has had better performances this season so it will probably be Dave’s day.
The Over 2000cc Racing Car Class
Paul Crute in the Jaguar powered OMS28 is the only entrant in this class but like Peter D Smith, he will be looking for Top Ten Challenge points and Fastest Time of the Day.
The Championship Finale will be a decider for the Top Ten Challenge and most of the Gurston Down Championship Class titles. It will be a specular day!
Why not come and join us?
Anthony Record – Press Officer BARC SW Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb
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: Sunday September 9th
Times: Competition from approx. 1300, practice from 0830 both days.
Admission: Only £10 for adults each day, accompanied under 15s free, free paddock entry, free parking.