The 2024 Online Cleaning Technologies BARC SW Top Ten Challenge champion is Paul Haimes in the Gould GR59.
Position
Driver
Car
Points
1
Paul Haimes
Gould GR59
80
2
James Moore
Empire Evo
74
3
Mark Crookall
OMS PT
59
4
Ben Bonfield
Jedi Mk4
48
5
Nic Mann
Manicbeatie
47
The 2024 Top Ten Challenge went all the way down to the last running of the Challenge. The double points bonuses from the Sunday’s in April and August were key to the results. The Championship regulations allowed double points for either the Sunday runs in April or August. Paul Haimes and James Moore benefited with a 20 point maximum, however Paul took the challenge with his consistent first place performances.
Both James Moore’s and Mark Crookall’s performances were very consistent but neither could match Paul’s pace.
Second – James Moore – Empire Evo
Third – Mark Crookall – OMS PT
A Few Honourable Mentions
Ben Bonfield’s engine troubles cost him dearly this year. Nic Mann, fifth and, Mike Lee, sixth, could well have been further up the table had they been with us all season.
Let’s not forget Gary Hull in the Jedi, who finished seventh. Gary has had a great season at Loton Park in Shropshire.
We would like to thank Steve Holland and Online Cleaning Technologies for their support of our Top Ten Challenge. Steve has already agreed to sponsorship of the 2025 Challenge and will be back in 2025.
The 2024 Turbo Dynamics Championship was finally concluded after some stunning performances by so many drivers. We thank Turbo Dynamics for their continued support of our championship in 2024.
We are pleased to announce that James Moore in his Empire Evo is the 2024 Turbo Dynamics Gurston Down Champion.
James has had an outstanding season at Gurston Down. He has also been competing in the British Hill Climb Championship on his weekends off!
Position
Driver
Car
Points
1
James Moore
Empire Evo
312.40
2
Russell Davies
Honda Civic Type R
311.92
3
Paul Haimes
Gould GR59
309.87
4
Neil Turner
BMC Mini
307.56
5
John Davey
MG Midget
302.20
Second – Russell Davies – Honda Civic Type R
Russell was pipped by just 0.48 points, that’s just 0.48 seconds overall. Russell has had another great season, improving on last years third place.
Third – Paul Haimes – Gould GR59
Paul has had a great season winning the Online Cleaning Technologies Top Ten Challenge and he’s mounting a solid challenge to retain a top ten place in the British Hill Climb Championship too.
Neil Turner in the Mini, John Davey in the Midget and Mark Crookall in the OMS PT all scored over 300 points and were fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.
Full Overall Championship Results can be found here:
The Stones is also offering a discounted over-night stay for that evening. Please contact them directly, making sure you mention that you are attending the BARC South West / Gurston Down Annual Awards Dinner when calling.
It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of Geoff Hunt.
Geoff was a long-standing member of the British Automobile Racing Club, a former regular Hill Climb competitor and a South West Centre Committee Member. He will be remembered for many things; most notably being a true gentleman, always happy to help anyone, and his regular participation at Gurston Down in his beloved Lotus 22.
We are not sure exactly when Geoff first competed at Gurston which opened in 1967. However, if it was not from the very start, it was certainly only a year or so later. He later joined the Committee, again we are not sure of his exact service dates as his tenure predates our records which only go back as far as 1987. Geoff was active to the very last and would have been seen by many helping out at the May National Meeting which was only a week before his death.
Geoff will primarily be remembered for his beautiful Lotus 22, which will be present at his wake. However, Geoff competed in several cars over the years including an MGB, Cooper 500, March 733 (1598cc Twin Cam) and a Pilbeam MP51 which he purchased in 1980. He competed in both the Lotus and the March from the mid 70’s.
He retained the Lotus which he said he would never sell and did admit to being regretful at selling the March. So close to his heart was the Lotus, he even held a birthday party for it in the garden of his house where it was guest of honour. He last competed in the Lotus at Gurston in 2013 but only last year he threatened to get it out of hibernation to turn its wheels again.
A competitor and a gentleman who will be sadly missed by all that knew him.
Our condolences go to his wife Glynis, his family and friends.
It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Geoff Hunt, the longest serving committee member at BARC South West and regular competitor until recently, has died.
Geoff was an outstanding member of the committee and a regular competitor at Gurston Down in the beautiful Lotus 22.
Our condolences to Glynis and his family. We will all miss him.
His funeral will be held on 3rd July 2024 at 11:45 at Knights Enham Church, Knights Enham, Andover, SP10 4DS and then after at Manor Farm, Knights Enham. SP10 4DS
Tim Pitfield has been a committee member at BARC South West Centre for more than 30 years, 32 years according to the records we can find. At our recent Annual General Meeting, Tim stepped down as an active committee member.
Tim has undertaken a wide variety of roles during his time on the committee and has worked tirelessly over the years to help make Gurston Down the success it is.
Simon Purcell thanked Tim and presented him with a decanter and glasses to remember his time with us. We will miss him but he’s not going to be taking a back seat. He has kindly agreed to continue the work he currently does and he’ll still be in the paddock, as a regular competitor.
On behalf of all the committee and the membership of BARC South West we thank you.
The entry lists, batch allocations and paddock allocations are available on our online entry system together with any updates of these documents. Please check these.
Unfortunately, due to adverse weather conditions we felt it necessary to curtain Sunday’s meeting for the safety of everyone.
Saturday was a lovely day and some great performances from the drivers that entertained everyone.
We would like to thank drivers, spectators, office staff, clerks, MSUK Steward, Scruntineers, Marshals, particularly today, commentary team and everyone who made this weekend possible.
The picture is from Saturday, taken by Stuart Wing (CaptureYourCarPhotography).
Our next weekend’s motorsport will be on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June.
