April 17th Meeting Report

Sunday saw a sharp frost at Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb but the sun was out and it promised to be a glorious day. The meeting was the first round of the Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Championship and the Cavendish Ships Stores BARC SW Top Ten Challenge.

Practice was soon under-way. The track and temperature were both warming raising the expectation for another fine day’s competition….

The Volvos started the day’s action. Practice went Richard Conway’s way in the PV544 but that wasn’t to be in the competition runs. Chris Davies’ Amazon edged Kevin Diamond’s Amazon out but just 0.10s.

The TR’s were next up. Practice saw Steve Small in his TR7 V8 shine and the competition runs were no different. Roderick Warner (TR7 V8) took second from the TR6 of Nick Smith.

The ‘Big Healey’ Class was won by Richard Mason (3000 Mk 2) with a 39.72s. But it wasn’t an easy win. John Tewson had one timed run and produced a 39.80s only to miss his second timed run. There was less than one second between the top four!

The Austin Healey Sprite Class lost a few after practice. Although Julian Wakeham was fastest in both practice and the timed runs with a convincing 39.19s.

Sunday’s ‘Classic Marques Speed Championship’ Class was close, just like Saturdays. Steve Cox in his TVR V8S (37.51s) took the win. Graham Millar (Mk2 Ford Escort) turned the tables on Matthew Eady in his beautiful Ginetta G4 and earned a second, Matthew having to settle for third by just 0.36s..

The second day of the Mazda MX-5 Class gave Mark Crookall another win in his MK1 RS with a 42.18s run, Dean Cubitt came in just 0.24s behind. There were a few regulars missing from this class this weekend. The class will be one to watch!

Paul Webster (his Mazda MX-5 – Stripy) gave the Greenen brothers, Andy and Adam (Honda Civic Type R) a real run for their money today in the Road Going Series Production Class up to 2000cc. Adam, who ran in an earlier batch, posted a 37.99s which gave Andy a tough target, unfortunately he couldn’t beat his brothers time so ended up second. Adam scores 20.36 points in the Championship.

The over 2 litre Road Going Series Production Class, Stephen Moore’s, the 2015 Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Champion, time of 34.61s was enough to fend off the Stangle’s Audi TT. Shaun and Sarah Fudge switch classes and ran their Honda Civic in the up to 2000cc class after the Subaru developed an engine problem. Stephen Moore, joint leader in the championship with 21.50 points.

Andrew Forsyth in his 1.3 Westfield Megabusa took another class win in the Road Going Specialist Production Class bettering yesterday’s time by 1.5s with a 34.51s.

Graham Beale’s Ginetta G20 took the honours in the Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars up to 2000cc Class. Graham scores 21.00 points with his win.

The over 2000cc Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Car Class saw Simon Purcell’s Lotus Exige take the win (34.57s) with Steve Holley (TVR Griffith) second from Bob Mortimer and his Porsche 911. Simon scores a joint leader score of 21.50.

Derek Mullis won the 1400cc Modified Series Production Class with a 38.44s run. Earning him 21.50 points in the Meadens Skoda Championship.

Mark Walker in his Porsche Cayman managed to stave off the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of Tim Painter by 0.25s. Tim and Andrew Fraser have a light-weight 4.3 supercharged Vantage that’s “in progress”. Can’t wait to see that!

Ritchie Gatt (33.29s) beat Steve Holland to the Over 2000cc Modified Specialist Production Class win in his Westfield Sei to make it two class wins in a row and scores 21.50 points in the championship.

Fyrth Crosse’s Ensign LNF3 won the Historically Interesting Class in 35.16s. Hugh Kemp (Palliser WDF3), couldn’t match Fyrth’s pace, managing 36,31s.

Yesterday’s result was reversed in the Sports Libre Class up to 2000cc, Peter Sexton,(Force LM), the Gurston Down Hill Climb Championship sponsor, came in with a 29.81s run in that car he shares with Jonathan Gates, who was second.

The over 2000cc Class was dominated by the Force SR8 of Chris Cannell and Sue Hayes who ended the day first and second. Jeffrey Way’s amazing Chevrolet Camero sounded awesome leaving the line. Chris earns 21.50 points with this win.

The 500 Owners Association class was a close run event. Charles Reynard’s Cooper taking the win from Alistair Dent’s Hornet.

David Cuff took the Up to 600cc Racing Car Class in his Jedi Mk4 with an improved time over Saturday.

The 601 to 1100cc Racing Car Class saw Stephen Loadsman (OMS) challenge Tony Levitt’s Empire Evo in the first timed run but he didn’t make the second so lost out to Tony’s first run time of 34.49s.

Russell Haynes in his Zeus won the Formula Ford Class from Paul Morcom.

Peter D Smith’s Force took the 1100cc to 1600cc Racing Car Class from Richard Gaylard also in a Force. But it wasn’t to be a repeat of Saturday’s FTD.

The Fastest Time of the Day went to Simon Marsh in the 1601cc to 2000cc Racing Car Forced Induction Class where he beat his brother Peter in their DJ Firehawk. It was, only 0.10s in it!

Ben Stapley made the winners announcements and John Davey from Cavendish Ships Stores, the Cavendish Ships Stores BARC SW Top Ten Challenger sponsor, presented the awards.

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

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