Dec 5, 2023
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-Sun-228-1024x683.jpg)
We are making some changes to our Championship classes and adding new classes. Here’s a summary, there will be more information once the details are finalised:
Road Cars MX5 Class – MK3 or NC Mazda MX5s will be included in this class. All 1.8 and 2.0 litre MK3s will be permitted. MK3s will be required to run on list 1A tyres and have no modification to their inlet and exhaust manifolds. Forced induction is not permitted as are modifications and remaps to the ECU.
The Over 2000cc Road Car Class – This class will be split into two, separating the four-wheel drive cars from the two-wheel drive cars.
We will be introducing two classes:
Standard Road Cars Class – This class will be in accordance with the MSUK Blue Book regulations, subject to some additional safety requirements.
Rally Car Class – This class will be for Rally Cars.
Fuller details will be published once these have been formally agreed.
Oct 6, 2023
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Prize-Giving-5-of-153-1024x683.jpg)
The 2023 Annual Awards Dinner is being held at The Stones, High Post, Near Salisbury on the 25th of November 2023.
Get your place using the forms below:
Word Version of Annual Awards 2023
pdf Version of Annual Awards 2023
Places are limited so please get your forms back as soon as you can.
We have a discounted room rate at The Stones for the night of 25th November, including breakfast. Make sure you call The Stones, and mention that you are part of the BARC SW / Gurston Down Awards.
Oct 2, 2023
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/B4B87F1EC2F949E29EC74C5DDA56CC71-1024x791.jpg)
Reg sadly died on 28th September aged 91.
Originally from South London, Reg joined the Hawker Siddeley aircraft company as an engineering apprentice. Later he applied to join British Airways and became a flight engineer. He thoroughly enjoyed the work, and in particular long-haul flights as the stop overs allowed him to enjoy his other passion which was golf at some of the best international golf courses.
His introduction to motorsport was in the 50’s when he rallied a TR2. Later Reg purchased an Aston Martin DB4 which he raced with a friend. However, the cost was such that he had to stop and later purchased a 500. His love affair with Gurston goes back to at least the 1970’s and he regularly competed right through till the 2000’s. Even in his later years he still occasionally competed at Shelsley Walsh, Prescott and Wiscombe. His wife Jean was always at his side encouraging him to continue to use both Coopers. His twin cam powered Cooper T65, and his 1956 Cooper Bobtail which he had restored back to ex-works condition.
Reg never lost his interest in hillclimbing, and always wanted to know how his friends were doing. He always had a wide smile and made friends right across the paddock. He was excellent company and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Mike Broome
Oct 1, 2023
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-Sun-322-1024x683.jpg)
2024 Season Event Dates
Here are the 2024 Event Dates, since our original announcement, back in June, we have changed the date of the July meeting:
Sunday 7th April 2024
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th April 2024
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May 2024 – British Hillclimb Championship
Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June 2024
Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July 2024 – The Tony Marsh Memorial Weekend
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August 2024
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August 2024
Set down day is expected to be Monday 26th August 2024 – a Bank Holiday
DATES ARE PROVISIONAL BUT WE DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO CHANGE
School dates will be published in due course, but these are expected to be:
Tuesday 2nd April 2024
Tuesday 7th May 2024
Tuesday 4th June 2024
Tuesday 2nd July 2024
E&OE
Sep 19, 2023
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Tony-Bishop-683x1024.jpg)
We are sad to announce that Tony Bishop died on the 14th of September 2023.
Many years ago, Tony served as our Chief Scrutineer; those who competed back then will probably remember him. Here is a picture of him enjoying his other passion, vintage tractors.
Rest in Peace.
Sep 10, 2023
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Turbo-Dynamics-Logo-INSIDE.png)
The 2023 Turbo Dynamics Gurston Down Championship finished on a high after our August meetings.
Our overall champion was confirmed as Steve Butts. Steve has now one the Gurston Down Championship a record four times, quite an achievement.
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Car-100-1024x683.jpg)
CLASS RESULTS
Here are the class results in the Turbo Dynamics Gurston Down Championship.
Class 4MX5 – Road Cars – Mazda MX5
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-Sun-228-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Chris Burch |
Mazda Roadster RS |
301.36
|
2
|
Richard Morton |
Mazda Roadster RS |
270.67
|
Chris Burch, who shares the Mazda Roadster with Richard Morton, has had a great season. The lead in this class, and the overall championship at many points, has been switching between the two throughout the season. Chris finished sixth overall and Richard was thirteenth overall in the championship.
Class 4a – Road Cars Series Production up to 1400cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-Sun-322-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
John Davey |
MG Midget / Renault R8 |
266.24
|
John had a great season, at one point he was eighth overall and ended the season fourteenth. The MG Midget has been suffering from minor oil leaks all season. The leak forced him out of the Saturday in August, meaning he dashed home to get the recently acquired Renault R8.
Class 4b – The Road Cars Series Production 1401cc to 2000cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/JuneSat-270-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Russell Davies |
Honda Civic Type R |
307.64
|
2
|
Daniel Friel |
Honda Civic Type R |
305.78
|
3
|
Gary Hull |
Ford Fiesta ST |
53.24
|
Russell Davies and Daniel Friel, in their respective Hondas, have been swapping places in this class and the overall championship all season. Between them, they took third and fourth in the overall championship with Russell third and Daniel fourth.
Class 4c – Road Cars Series Production Over 2000cc, sponsored by Turbo Dynamics
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-Sun-370-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Steve Cox |
VW Golf R |
261.31
|
2
|
Simon Neve |
Mitsubishi Evo |
234.51
|
3
|
Clive Stangle |
Mitsubishi Evo |
87.45
|
Steve Cox in the VW Golf R has had a great season, not just winning the class but he qualified for a few Top Ten Run-offs too.
The results don’t show how close Steve and Simon Neve in his Mitsubishi Evo were all season. They have been swapping first and seconds in class for almost all of the year’s rounds.
Class 4d – Road Cars Specialist Production, any capacity
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Car-47-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Adrian Lewis |
Westfield |
309.88
|
2
|
Clive Skipper |
Caterham |
275.71
|
3
|
Rob Brodie |
Fisher Fury |
259.53
|
Adrian Lewis in his Westfield, had a great season. He not only won the class but came second overall, a great result. Here is another car and driver combination to watch out for in 2024.
Class 5 – Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Car Class up to 2000cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Car-100-1024x683.jpg)
Only championship entrant in this class was Steve Butts in the Lotus Elise. His performance throughout the season gave Steve the overall championship and his fourth Gurston Down Championship.
Class 6 – Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Car Over 2000cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Car-51-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Graham Beale |
Ginetta G33 |
288.65
|
2
|
Paul Slade |
Jaguar XKE |
198.88
|
3
|
Mark Walker |
Porsche Cayman |
137.19
|
Graham Beale in the Ginetta G33 had a great season. Qualifying for multiple Top Ten run-offs as well as taking the 2023 class championship and ninth overall.
Class 7 – Modified Series Production Class up to 1400cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Car-57-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
James White |
Mini |
297.48
|
2
|
David Bean |
Mini |
207.19
|
3
|
Neil Turner |
Mini |
74.59
|
James White in his super fast Mini has made this class his own this season. He also finished eighth overall. In the early part of the season, Neil Turner was switching places and points with James but didn’t compete during the second half. These two would probably pushed each other and there may have been a very different result in the overall championship.
Class 8 – Modified Series Production 1401cc to 2000cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-Sun-202-1024x683.jpg)
Steve had this class to himself this year and scored 96.71 points.
Class 9 – Modified Series Production Over 2000cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Gurston-July-182-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Stephen Moore |
Mitsubishi Evo |
140.76
|
2
|
Jim Herbert |
Mitsubishi Evo |
118.27
|
Stephen Moore and Jim Herbert in their respective Mitsubishi Evo have been fighting in this class all season. They have been breaking and re-breaking the class record all season.
Class 11 – Modified Specialist Production Class, supported by Online Cleaning Technologies
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-Sat-373-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Steve Holland |
Caterham Hayabusa |
300.28
|
2
|
Dan Young |
|
156.80
|
Steve Holland in his Caterham has had a great fantastic season. Not only leading the class championship, setting a new class record, winning the Tony Marsh Memorial Award, and winning the Online Cleaning Technologies Top Ten Challenge but he’s also finished 7th in the overall championship. Looks like the Awards Dinner will be a busy night for Steve.
Class 13 – Historically Interesting Class, supported by Kelvin Jouhar
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-Sat-99-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Fyrth Cross |
Dempster Ensign LNF3 |
283.84
|
2
|
Mike Broome |
Alexis Mk17 |
147.11
|
Fyrth Crosse and his Dempster Ensign LNF3 have had another great season full of consistent performances and finishes giving him the class title.
Class 15a – Sports Libre up to 1400cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Gurston-July-617-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Tim Pitfield |
DJ Firecat |
82.59
|
2
|
Craig Russell |
Westfield XTR |
66.70
|
Tim Pitfield and his DJ Firecat had significant issues during the season which held his championship and top ten challenge back.
Class 15b – Sports Libre Over 2000cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Gurston-July-620-1024x683.jpg)
Mike in the Force SR8 had a very good season after acquiring the SR8 late last year. He finished fifth in the Online Cleaning Technologies Top Ten Challenge and it will be an interesting next season now Mike is getting used to the car.
Class 19 – 601cc to 1100cc Racing Car Class
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-Sat-46-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Ben Bonfield |
Jedi Mk4 |
303.24
|
2
|
Luke Trotman |
|
265.23
|
3
|
Stephen Loadsman |
OMS |
241.88
|
Ben Bonfield has had a great season. He has finished second in the Top Ten Run-off and fifth in the overall championship. Various issues with the Jedi he shares with Tony, did not seem to affect his class results. There were great performances by the entire class.
Class 20B – Racing Cars Built up to 1985
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sat-17-6-23-140-1024x683.jpg)
Class 20 – Racing Cars 1101cc to 1600cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-Sun-573-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Andrew Forsyth |
OMS |
258.53
|
Andrew Forsyth entered just eight weekend events in 2023. He competed alone in the class. He was third in the Online Cleaning Technologies Top Ten Challenge, had he competed at more events, he may well have been the 2023 Challenge winner.
Class 21a – Racing Cars 1601cc to 2000cc (Normally Aspirated) supported by New Techniques
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Car29-89-1024x683.jpg)
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Points
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Tony Wiltshire |
Ralt RT34 |
123.33
|
Tony Wiltshire and his Ralt did not compete for the full season but finished 11th in the Challenge.
Class 22 – Racing Cars Over 2000cc
![](https://gurstondown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Car29-90-1024x683.jpg)
Paul Crute in the lovely OMS28 Jaguar is on his own in this class. He finished with 261.76 points and fourth place in the Online Cleaning Technologies Top Ten Challenge. A great season for Paul.
We thank Turbo Dynamics for their continued support of our championship in 2023.
E&OE