Turbo Dynamics Gurston Down Class Championship after June Meetings

Jun 26, 2022

The 2022 Turbo Dynamics Championship has just four events and eight rounds left and with all to play for in the class championships it looks like many classes won’t be decided before our August meetings. The Sunday meeting in August has DOUBLE points too!

Turbo Dynamics Championship – Class Championship

Class 4 – Road Cars – Mazda MX5, sponsored by The Window Doctor

Richard Morton, who shares the Mazda Roadster with Chris Burch, is driving Chris very hard in the class championship. Chris is first in the class championship and second in the overall championship. Richard is second and eighth respectively. Chris has to stay ahead of Richard, not just for the class championship but to keep his hopes alive for the overall championship.

Class 4a – Road Cars Series Production up to 1400cc, supported by Cavendish Ships Stores

David Nutland currently leads this class and is running third in the overall championship. Things are likely to change with the return of Stephen Wareham in July. Stephen has scored a perfect 11 points at every event he has entered this year. July’s meetings will probably give this class it’s champion but that’s down to performances on the day.

Class 4b – The Road Cars Series Production 1401cc to 2000cc

Russell Davies in the Honda is having a great year so far. He will need to keep at it as Daniel was missing from the June events giving Russell a good buffer of points. Dropped scores will probably play a big part of this class’s outcome.

Class 4 c – Road Cars Series Production Over 2000cc, sponsored by Turbo Dynamics

Clive and Jennie Stangle in their Mitsubishi Evo are dominating this class in 2022. Clive is currently leading the overall championship so he needs to maintain his form of scoring maximum points at every future event to make sure he wins both the class and the overall championship. Simon Neve is not only contending with the Stangles but he has some tough competition from Steve Cox in his Golf R. Simon’s third place is looking particularly vulnerable at the moment.

Class 4d – Road Cars Specialist Production, any capacity

Clive Skipper and Chris Burridge were having a pretty solid season in the Caterham they are sharing. Although damage to the car may lost them some good points at the Sunday June meeting. Rob Brodie benefiting, winning both Sunday events.

Class 5 – Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Car Class up to 2000cc

Only one championship entrant in this class so Tony Record, Gurston’s Press Officer, in his Mazda MX5 is last and first too.

Class 6 – Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Car Over 2000cc

Graham Beale in the Ginetta G33 is having a great season so far. When the Porsche of Phil Price has been behaving, Graham has been pushed very hard. Phil and Paul are unlikely to knock Graham off his first-in-class position based on Graham’s current form but who knows, hill climbing is a funny old sport.

Class 7 – Modified Series Production Class up to 1400cc, sponsored by Cock and Sons

Class champion, class record holder and current holder of the Tony Marsh Memorial Trophy, Neil Turner in his super-fast Mini did not compete in June, leaving David Bean to himself.

Class 9 – Modified Series Production Over 2000cc

The Tim Painter leads in the lovely Aston Martin Vantage he shares with Andrew Fraser but Jim Herbert and his Mitsubishi are not far behind. Another class that might be decided upon in August.

Class 11 – Modified Specialist Production Class

Steve Holland in his Caterham has had a great season so far, leading the class championship and being the highest placed non-race car in the Top Ten Challenge. Martin Watson is second and will push Steve for every point this year.

Class 13 – Historically Interesting Class, supported by Kelvin Jouhar

Fyrth Crosse and his Dempster Ensign LNF3 have had some great finishes so far this season and is in a good position in the overall championship. Not only will Fyrth need to keep winning but he’ll need entrants in his class to help bump his points to be in contention for the overall championship.

Class 15a – Sports Libre up to 1400cc

Last year Gurston Down Champion, Tim Pitfield is competing on his own in his DJ Firecat. Sadly, the lack of entries in his class doesn’t help his overall championship fight. But he will take the class win.

Class 15b – Sports Libre 1400cc to 2000cc

Mike will win this class as Chris has retired from hill climbing.

Class 19 – 601cc to 1100cc Racing Car Class supported by Rhianco

Adrian and Ben must be pleased with their performances so far this season. But they will have to maintain and improve them to stay ahead of the other drivers in this class looking for championship points. Mark Crookall, Murray Wakeham and James Moore will all be looking for points and will be the drivers to watch. This class is one where the double points in August will change the results significantly.

Class 20 – Racing Cars 1101cc to 1600cc

Class 21a – Racing Cars 1601cc to 2000cc (Normally Aspirated) supported by Tom New

Roger Cock is having a good season so far. He is just ahead of Tony Wiltshire. But with Tony back in July, will he be able to hold onto his class lead.

Class 22 – Racing Cars Over 2000cc

Paul Crute in the lovely OMS28 Jaguar is on his own in this class. He will be looking for run-off points at every event.

COMPETITOR INFORMATION – Tony Marsh Memorial Weekend – Signing on OPEN

Jun 26, 2022

Signing on for the two meetings on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July has opened.

Please check your email for the links.

These emails were sent out earlier today, make sure you check your spam folder.

You can also complete these forms by logging into Gurston’s Alpha entry system with the login details used to enter the event.

You are also able to complete the online scrutineering documents and add your assistants, helpers and mechanics.

Overall Championship and Challenge Review after June Meetings

Jun 26, 2022

The 2022 Turbo Dynamics Championship has just four events and eight rounds left and with all to play for in the overall and class championships it is looking like the 2022 Championship may go right down to the wire at the August meetings.

Turbo Dynamics Championship – Overall

Clive Stangle in the Mitsubishi Evo, which he shares with his wife Jennie, is in a very solid first place in the championship. He has produced some great performances that have led to a maximum of 11 points in scoring rounds. Clive’s position could be threatened by some of those in the top ten but also by Stephen Wareham, in his Mini, who has scored a maximum 11 in every round he has entered this season. He is currently 16^th overall. With both Clive and Stephen having scored maximum points in seven rounds, it looks like dropped score might well determine the 2022 overall championship.

Chris Burch in the Mazda Roadster RS is currently second in the overall championship. Chris will need to make sure he stays ahead of the driver he shares the car with, Richard Morton to maintain his title hopes.

David Nutland in his Mini is hot on the heels of Chris Burch. It looks like David and Chris will be slogging it out for second overall if Clive can maintain his current form.

Cavendish Ships Stores Top Ten Challenge

The 2022 Cavendish Ships Stores BARC SW Top Ten Challenge is looking like it another championship that is going to be decided at the August meetings, with drop scores playing their part..

Tony Wiltshire leads by a very slim margin over Ben Bonfield who in turn is being chased very hard by Murray Wakeham. But with Mark Crookall and Adrian Lewis jumping into the top five after the June meetings and James Moore scoring a maximum suddenly, the top three places in the challenge seem to be very open. July’s run-offs will bring the likely 2022 challenge results into focus.

July Meetings – ACU Motorbikes – The Jim Goddard Memorial Weekend

Jun 26, 2022

In conjunction with the Auto Cycle Union’s Hill Climb Club, Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb and Jim’s family, this year’s July ACU motorbike weekend’s meetings with be known as the Jim Goddard Memorial Weekend.

As many of you will know, Jim (James), collapsed after completing his first timed run at our Saturday, June meeting and died later in hospital.

July 2022 Meetings – Tony Marsh Memorial Weekend

Jun 26, 2022

Entries for the July meeting have closed and there is a full entry for the Tony Marsh Memorial Weekend.

Drivers are reminded that The Tony Marsh Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Turbo Dynamics Championship registered competitor who makes the greatest improvement in or is nearest to their respective class record in any of the timed runs at either of the July meetings.

Tony Marsh was a multiple British Hill Climb Champion and was key to the creation of Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb. He designed the course and was heavily involved in its construction. If you have time, pop into the restaurant and you’ll see some of the original plans and designs of the course and pictures of it in construction.

Simon and Peter Marsh are still involved with the hill being a drive school tutor and hill and championship sponsor. They are both regular competitors on the hill.