The final event of the 50th anniversary season at Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb takes place on September 10th. There is a full entry for Sunday’s event which should offer a full day of exciting and entertaining action.
Over 140 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 was decided at the July meeting with Mark Crookall being crowned champion. But the places and most of the class championships are still open and will be dependant upon the performances on Sunday.
The Cavendish Ships Stores BARC-SW Top Ten Challenge is still wide open. Four drivers can win the title. But the mathematical variations will make it almost impossible to predict.
Our September meeting hosts a number of invited championships and classes. These championships are the Triumph TR cars, MG Cars, Austin Healeys, the Reliant Scimitar and Sabre cars, the Classic Marques Speed Challenge and the historic 500cc racing cars.
There are a number of competitors who will be in the hunt for Fastest Time of the Day and with championship points at stake, this will be a hard fought battle. The Fastest Time of the Day might determine the Top Ten Challenge too!
Class Preview in detail:
The TR 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 and Steve Small will probably be very much in contention. You can’t ignore any of the car and driver combinations in this class.
Copyright: Anthony Record
The MG Class
There are twelve cars and driver combinations running in this class. Robert Orford and his MGB Roadster starts favorite. But you cannot discount Steve Luscombe and his MG Midget, on previous form, he is likely to be in the mix.
Copyright: John Hayward
The Austin Healey Class – Big Healey and Warwick Cars Class
There are only three Big Healey and Warwick cars entered in the class. It will probably be between Pat Cooper (Austin Healey 100/6) and Paul Baker (Austin Healey 3000).
Copyright: John Hayward
The Austin Healey Class – Austin Healey Sprite Class
The Austin Healey Sprite Class has eight drivers entered. Based on last years event, this class will be headed by Andrew Taylor and Joseph Mackrill. It is another very competitive class so no-one can be discounted.
The Reliant Scimitar and Sabre Class
The Reliant Scimitar and Sabre Cars class has just two cars entered. James Carter and Richard Carter.
Copyright: John Hayward
The Isle of Wright Car Club Class
The Isle of Wright Car Club class returne for its’s second year. Steve Wells and his Procamp LA Locost start favourite. Steve Wells has Gurston form and finished second last time. He also jointly holds the record for this class. But there’s another Locost entered, by Ricky Sheppard so it will be interesting to see how that goes!
Regular Gurston Classes
The Gurston Down MX5 Class supported by DoctorMX5
The 2017 Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Champion, Mark Crookall, returns to the hill in his Mazda Roadster RS. He missed the August event when Julian Cox (DoctorMX5) won the class. It will be interesting to see who’ll be victorious!
Road Going Series Production Class up to 2000cc, supported by Record-Designs
Tim Forster in his Lotus Elan will have the newly revised Peugeot 306 of Miles Horne to contend with! There are a few new drivers and cars entered so we will have to wait to see whether they can mix things up a bit. Tim needs some goods points to regain his chance of winning the championship in this class.
Over 2000cc Road Going Series Production Class, supported by Turbo Dynamics
The 2015 and 2016 Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Champion, Stephen Moore in his 2.0t Mitsubishi Evo 6 is back. He’ll be looking to secure some good points to maintain his class championship lead. But Clive and Jenny Stangle are entered in their recently finished Mitsubishi Evo 5. We shouldn’t forget the Subaru of Shaun and Sarah Fudge and the turbocharged Mazda MX5 of Jon Maycock. On previous form, Stephen should take the win but who’ll be second?
Road Going Specialist Production Class, supported by Fieldfare Trailer Centre
Clive Skipper’s 2.0 Caterham HPC or Adrian Lewis’ 1.4 Westfield Megabusa are the most likely winners in this class. Adrian has been in form all year but we will have to wait and see.
The Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Car up to 2000cc Class
Steve Butts has this class to himself. He’ll be chansing championship points and class records.
The Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars over 2000cc Class
The 2014 Gurstion Down Champion, Simon Purcell will be favourite to take this class. His class record was snatched away from him at the August meeting so he will be looking for this back and for more championship points. The lovely Porsche 911 of Bob Mortimer, Paul Slade’s Jagaur E Type and the TVR Griffith of Steve Holley will all make sure Simon doesn’t have it all his own way.
The up to 1400cc Modified Series Production Car Class
This all Mini class is always very competitive. Neil Turner, the class record holder starts this as favourite. He needs the points for the overall championship and the class championship. Derek Mullis and David Bean will make sure he works for the win.
Over 2000cc Modified Series Production Car Class, supported by Meadens Skoda
The gorgeous the Aston Martin Vantage of Tim Painter and Andrew Fraser will have stiff competition from Mark Walker in his 4.0 Porsche Cayman S. But who will be first?
The Modified Specialist Production Class, supported Gates of Brockenhurst
Mike Rudge will need a great performance to maintain his challenge in the Cavendish Ships Stores Top Ten Challenge. He will need to be on sparkling form. Antony Orchard, Richie Gatt and Martin Watson won’t let either of them walk away with the win.
The Historically Interesting Class, supported by Kelvin Jouhar
Sunday brings five beautifully presented historically interesting cars. Sue Hayes bring her 1.6 Palliser WDF3 and Geoff Hunt in his Lotus 22. They will have a Jensen C-V8 Mk1 driven by Richard Lovell-Butt, Mike Broome’s Alexis Mk17 F3 and Fyrth Cross’ Dempster make up the rest of the field. It’s likely to be between Fyrth and Geoff for the win.
The Sports Libre up to 2000cc, supported by Class Lewis Property Services
This class will be headed by Jonathan Gates / Peter Sexton in the very fast supercharged Force LM. Peter and Jonathan are candidates for Fastest Time of the Day but there are a few other drivers in a similar position.
Sports Libre over 2000cc Class, supported by Berazzi Wheels
Chris Cannell start favourite in the Force SR8. Geoff Twemlow’s Saker GT being the only other entry. Chris will be looking for fast time so he can add to his Top Ten Challenge points.
The 500 Owners Association – (2001 Rules) Class
The ‘500 Owners Association’ historic 500cc racing cars will run next. There are six cars and drivers. This class is very unpredictable so it could be anyones!
The 500 Owners Association – Other Cars Class
The other 500 class, has only two entries. Ainsley Barwick’s Mk6 Cooper and Charles Reynolds’ Mk7 Cooper.
The 601cc to 1100cc Racing Car Class, supported by Drynham Project Management
There’s a great entry in this class. James Moore and his Empire 00 will be looking for the class win and Top Ten Challenge points. But the class is really competitive.
The Formula Ford Class- Cars up to 1600cc
There’s a relately small entry in the Formula Ford Class! Simon McBeath and his Swift SC92F, the current record holder, must be the favourite. It is so competitive with Russell Haynes, Mark and Lynsey Alley it’s not going to be easy. And Simon needs championship points to maintain his class title hopes.
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 in the hunt for Fastest Time of the Day. But we can’t discount Gurston regulars, Pete Hammock (OMS), Ian Tucker (OMS) and Neal Coles (OMS).
The 1601cc to 2000cc Racing Car Class – Normally Aspirated
There are just three 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 been improving all season. And we cannot discount Malcolm Cole in the Force MV8.
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 10th
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.