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2008
This page is the archive from 2008, below are a set
of various montages, click on the thumbnails to get a large image you can print
yourself. Further down the page you will find words, pictures and videos
from 2008
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| Barbon |
Craigantlet |
Doune |
Guernsey |
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| Prescott |
Prescott La vie en blue |
The scene |
Shelsley Walsh 1 |
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| Shelsley Walsh |
Shelsley Walsh |
Shelsley Walsh |
Shelsley Walsh |
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| Jersey |
Loton |
Shelsley Walsh |
Shelsley Walsh |
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Doune, Graeme Wight Junior, Martin
Groves + no record.
Gallery Junior and Martin Groves had one great battle at Doune.
Junior looked fast straight away on Saturday and in the first run
off on Sunday got his first win in the Predator. With the win under
his belt the second run off (and indeed the whole weekend) was about
who could break, keep, or walk away with the record. Martin who held
the record at 36.00 seconds or Graeme who held the record prior to
Martin. Graeme thumped a dog ring through the gearbox and got an
amazing 36.53 seconds with the traction control fighting with the
oil on the back tires, the car then caught fire and the whole thing
was caught with the onboard camera. Graeme did oil the track, so the
cement dust was put down and the remaining drivers were driven up
the hill for an inspection prior to their runs. They all have big
balls to run on that track at full commitment, none bigger than the
Champion Martin Groves who set a time of 36.01 seconds, 0.01 off his
own record. Thanks to all at the Lothian car club. We caught the lot
on video. |
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Predators first win video |
Predator on fire video |
Jonathon Rarity video |
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Loton Park, Groves, Groves + new outright hill
record.
Gallery - no apologies for the large gallery, some people wanted
to see how the aero was working, others wanted kids in cars, some
wanted to see their lines. Some wanted to see where they should have
braked.
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If you ever want a picture printed the originals are much higher
resolution than those on the web and can be printed for a song in up
to A3. I reckon £5 for an A3, £3 for an A4. Cropped, edited or
enhanced add another £1. Collect at Doune/awards dinner. 'Fume' is
£7.50. Need to pay the tax man, sorry the accountants, grrr.. going
to quibble. |
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Prescott Groves, Trevor
Willis. Scottie did the bank on Saturday, Roger enjoyed himself
giving 100ths to Scott. Martin didn't break anything but he definitely had
to say
 PARDON after he exited it, SAVED it, and managed to qualify in the
second run off. I would hate to see the cleaning bill from the weekend. It's
was very muddy as well. Greame Wight Junior had an ace weekend in the
Predator, but his hopes sank, or rather his lorry after the finish of the
meeting at Prescott-under-water. A WW2 British Land Rover pulled the Big Red
Lorry out of the mud. The Bugatti Blue and speckled mould effect British 4x4
combined with quite an amount of ballast, and politically correct multi
disciplined, several afflictions, one of them with a learning difficulty,
and several people who should have ASBO's, and multi-cultural-allley corlect
(sic) group got the BRL off the lawn. It was muddy ! Will Hall won the man
of the meeting taking the bike engined Force into third place behind Martin
Groves and GWJ in the first run off. No wins for Scottie this weekend,
it's almost as if he thinks it's all over, and Roger gave the glasses away.
I feel it's all over.. :-) And that's the end of my ribbing of Roger, I just
know I will lose. I would have to, after all I mean him the greatest of
respect.
Well done Trevor, very close Chris Merrick, well done Prescott for handling
the mud. Sorry about the grass, but according to pub talk the incidents were
almost perfectly timed, one at 11am and the next at 3:04. Let's not
quibble 4 minutes in these conditions. If it was 25 seconds, say in a grand
prix, then that could be a different matter. Hamilton won.
Gallery.
 Gurston Groves, Jos Goodyear +
Scott Moran is now the British hill climb champion 2008
Gallery Some people look at this web site ! Sometimes they feel it
should be updated faster, that it should be quicker to praise, less
flippant, and should 'damn well know it's place'. Indeed there has been no
write up from me on my views from the dark side of Scott Moran becoming a
well deserved British Hill Climb Champion. So having said all that, here's
your update Roger !
I said my sentiments on a forum, the words were; A worthy champion, backed,
coached and nurtured by a great Dad, with a mothers backing and an
appreciative wife. What more could you want.
I (and I think Georgia did as well), did want both Martin and Scott to win
the championship. We have done so for the last 2 years. We would have liked
both to win. This year we still wanted both to win, but once again we were
travelling with team Groves & Ranson and ultimately with all the failures
that 'our' team had this year made us biased. [I say what I mean, I didn't
get bruised, and this year my ribs are okay]. The failure of the car on the
first practice in Ireland was the first time we had experienced
'competitive' pain. We left the venue soon after, went for a beer,
re-evaluated, went to the offie' and returned to give our support to the
event at Craigantlet. Friendly chats around the commentators hut could not
disguise the pain and pleasure experienced by both teams. We were Team low,
Scottie leader of team high took the outright hill record as Martin looked
on. Salt into the wounds. That's one of the ingredients of a champion.
Shelsley Groves + new outright hill record, Scotty.
Gallery
Craigantlet. Scott, Scott +
new outright hill record.
Team Groves and Ranson had an early
bath after a drive shaft and the gearbox output shaft failed on the very
first turn of the wheels and put them out of the whole event. We have
travelled with Martin Groves and Paul Ranson for all of their trips to
Craigantlet and the pain hit us as well so we departed the venue to try to
adjust travelling plans, no joy there so we returned to watch both run offs
accompanied by Magners and Stella ! Congratulations to Scott and Roger, they
were definitely the happier party on the ferry on the way back. Martin flew
back to Guernsey to start the family holiday and try to revitalise, but the
weekend would seem to be the pivotal moment of the championship battle
between Scott and Martin..
I hope we see Martin and Paul at Shelsley Walsh, also Graeme Wight Junior in
the Predator and Willem Toet in the twin turbo Pilbeam. Back at Craigantlet
team OMS had Mike Fitzsymonds get 9th place in both run offs to score his
first British championship points. Andrew Platt got two fifth places and
Will Hall was happy with two eighth places.
Gallery
shows some interesting emotions when we returned to the hill. The scenic
pictures are of Bangor. Nick Kemp has done a mid season
View from the Electric Chair,
a very good summary I must say.
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The sunset on Sunday 27th
July 2008.
Our thoughts go out to Alistair Naismith's family and friends.
Alistair passed away on Sunday after fighting a long battle.
The picture shows him on happier days talking to Martin Groves at
the Doune hill climb June 2007.
The funeral for Alistair will be at Avondale Parish Church,
Strathaven, 2pm on Thursday 31st July. Our thoughts go with you. |
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Wiscombe.
Groves, Scott.
Too warm,
a dry Wiscombe weekend and it ended up too hot for an record breaking
performances from the big boys, however the 600cc record went....
..Gallery
Channel
Islands.
Scott, Scott. Groves, Groves...
Gallery
Why can't we race on the main roads on the mainland. Is it worth a political
party? Talking of politics, sign this :
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/YesCurb/
you will be amongst a distinguished
list of names.
Harewood Groves, Scott.
Based on last
years event, a lack of full wet tires for the Moran team could have been
seen as a bit of an oversight. If it had of been Groves then some poor
(volunteer !) bugger would have lost his wheels and found his car jacked up
on bricks with a formal IOU, or he'd have found some way to get more
groves cut in to the semi cut slicks that were available. But Scott and
Roger did not. ?. There is not an inch to be given, only for the taking.
Junior got into a run off as did Will Hall in the force.
Doune June - Groves, Scott.
Nay new
record ! There was a warm welcome at the Woodside as the Friday night steak
night grew from one table, to two, and then more. I apologise for starting
to eat my meal before everyone was served and missing the etiquette that
somehow follows hill climbing. I think Darth Vader was mortified, but too
polite to comment! Junior was on form in the Predator on Saturday with a
36.5 in practice on a glorious sunny dry day. It was not to last ! Sunday
saw some of the best weather in Britain, but it still rained, and rained..
Watching the cars on the bottom of the course with the spray trails
obliterating the sight of the car as it goes out of view is simply
staggering. The hill is an AWESOME track, if you haven't been then make a
date in September for the second national event of the year at Doune. It is
a shocking sight.
The Saturday night entertainment was as good as ever. Thanks to all those
people who work so hard at Doune to make this the special place it always
is. Thanks again to all those people who work so hard at Doune to make this
the special place it always is. A sub note, people at Doune work bloody hard
at the event and 99% of everybody who attends are careful with their litter
and tidy up, however there was 1% who didn't at Doune, maybe they were
visitors, and not regulars to the scene.. The sight of Tony and Bill Wood
picking up the crap after the event made me want to make a comment....so I
have - it was a barbeque, camping chair and enough litter scattered all over
the place to fill a bucket.
Jonathon Rarity provided entertainment in the new Ghost, Jerry Sturman got
really lonely in the commentary hut, Billy Cater entertained us with
Elvis, the club celebrated 40 years of Doune and the cake and bubbly were
great and plentiful. Vernon Williamson and Tim Thompson kept the excellent
www.Torwoodfencing.co.uk quite busy with correct calls for barrier repairs.
Scottie leads the championship, with Martin in second, Trevor Willis in
third and Chris Merrick in fourth. Amongst the litter was a very nice Bell
helmet, complete with it's bag and some old letters to someone called Rob
Turnbull. Chris Merrick decided he could recycle it for you :-)
Gallery
Curborough is under threat. ! Sign the
e-petition now
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/YesCurb/
The first
'sprint' venue that I ever attended was Curborough in about 1984 when a work
mate, Matt Adams took us there and gave his sand racing mini a blast around
the course complete with a cone underneath! I saw a single seater turbo V8
Rover engined thing that simply gob smacked me. Curborough has a long
history of test days, track days, club days, sprints, et al. Do not let this
venue go, there are very positive, government backed incentives to promote
motor sport and it's involvement as a very social project. Bio fuel and
electric power are now hot subjects on the green issue and Curborough
provides a special opportunity for testing these vehicles.
16th June -
Added photos from the week
Loton Park, Scott, Groves, Willem 1,2 !
A new outright record
and a first win with a one two at Canada !
It was a bit of a mixed up weekend. To explain, I went to France last week,
Georgia flew out for the weekend and we went to Hinwill in Switzerland. The
onboard cameras meanwhile travelled to Loton Park to capture Scott Moran's
new outright record in the first run off. Martin Groves attacked Triangle
corner with gusto and a corner latter he was out as fast as Hamilton sees a
red light. In the second run off Martin Groves got the win with Scott a mere
1/100th behind! Scott Moran leads the championship with 115 points, then,
Trevor Willis on 80, Roger Moran 73, Martin Groves 73 and Chris Merrick on
72. Paul Ranson now has 47 points. Will Darth Vader throw in his helmet..? I
hope not.
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in Switzerland after a walk around the lake it was time to join Willem and
Sue Toet on the settee for some Sunday evening songs of praise. The songs of
praise were sung when the BMW Sauber F1 Team who Willem works for not only
got their first win, but a second place as well. So, sorry we didn't
make Loton, but Scott's record from the onboards should be on Motors TV in a
program later in the year. A big thank you to all the people in hill
climbing, if it wasn't for those that have let us mount onboard cameras and
get under their feet whilst we film and parade their highs and lows in video
we would never have had the friends we have now. Your a big circle, drivers,
mechanics, marshals, organisers, officials, press, families and friends.
Thank you to all, especially Sue and Willem for last Sunday evening. Cheers.
See you at Doune.
Gallery
Shelsley Walsh Groves, Groves, and new
outright record of 22.71
- good
news really, why? Well the Groves / Ranson team once again had ECU problems.
The sudden death of the first ECU was very similar to the failure the Moran
team had at Doune last year. No cause for the failure could be found after
removing every connection on the car and when it was all back together with
a new ECU it all worked fine, strange. It was a nervous day for the team (!)
but it all went well in the end. The championship battle is now well and
truly alight. No photos this time, but the onboard record from Martin Groves
car should be on Motors TV in the future. We cannot attend Loton Park, but
will see everybody at Doune. Got to fly, bye.
Gallery
Gurston drown
or La vie en Bleu.
We took the later, the chance to put an onboard on the Senna Turbo car
quickly faded as the rain pummelled the tent on the Sunday Morning.
Still, what a wonderful event. Prescott they even laid on the Can Can girls,
(and I would, would, would :-) They provided the entertainment at the end of
the evening in the Prescott Lodge Restaurant, and all perving apart they
were most enjoyable to watch. I have a private members video, which you can
buy for 1 veyron.
Hill climb - Gurston - Trevor, Martin.
Scary Trevor won the first round, Martin bent it, other people did well. The
resilient when under pressure Groves/Ranson team raided new parts from the
Gould supplied spares box and Martin went on to win the 2nd run off with
Paul Ranson coming 6th. I sure hope they got it on TV as at this rate
a sponsor would be more than welcome.
We got a little damp, but Saturday captured some great video of the Veyron
and F1 car on the hill. Ace.
Gallery
Harewood Scott, Scott
- well Scott already
has the record, but, what a shame it was to miss a very hot battle between
Scott Moran and Martin Groves in the second run off. Martin did the fastest
qualifier at 50.20 with an engine that was starting to show fuelling
problems when Paul Ranson took his qualifying run. Everything in the fuel
system was checked and rechecked but the likely cause was not possible to
fix outside of a workshop. So Scott got 2 well deserved wins and a weekend
of heat evaporated the Ranson / Groves team. Let's hope they bounce back,
the title is best when won after a hard fought fight. May the best man win.
I changed the wheels on the Groves / Ranson car and reassuringly this did
not cause any problems.
Gallery
Barbon Groves, Scott (+record) -
finally a sticker for
Darth Vader. Although I becoming aware of the power of the Moran's galactic
rocket ship. Will it be the dark side or the light side that prevails.. The
onboard camera captured Scott's new outright record Gallery
Prescott Scott, Scott. -
Sometimes memories quickly fade. The championship title last year was no
easy win for Martin Groves. Part way through the season Scott Moran was well
ahead after Martin's after early season 'blues' in the car. Well in what
seems a rerun of last year but in a different place and with different
problems Martin did at least go away with 3 points. Scottie got all 20 ! It
was a great start to the season and a special mention must go to all the
cars, drivers and organisers who as a thank you to the marshals on the 50th
anniversary of the Prescott Marshals Club blasted the marshals up the hill
as passengers in some rather fine vehicles. Scott Moran in an Audi A8, Deryk
Youngs DB9, a rather big and tyre squealing Bentley driven by Ash Mason, a
Zonda, some classic Bugatti's, Joy Rainey's Alfa, the odd Porsche or three
and a whole lot more. It was a bit special and a great gesture from the hill
climb. Helen Moran said Rogers Porsche was not very nice to drive and didn't
come with a spare wheel, I doubt that bothered the passengers. - Envy !
Scott will win. And Martin will go onto his fourth championship
(!) by Doune. That's still the prediction! :-)
Picture Gallery
click the link for
the gallery.
Prescott May 26th & 27th rounds 1 & 2 of the Nicholson McLaren
MSA British Hill Climb Championship.
These are several choice images as thumbnails. Each thumbnail
opens the picture in a new window. There is also a full gallery of each event
from the Gallery link.
Gallery
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| On the grass |
Karl Davidson
- Durling Car |
Sandra Tomlin
focused |
Zonda Jewel |
Trevor Willis
- on rails all weekend |
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| Rapid Kendrick
with onboard camera |
Get off the
lawn |
James
Blackmore also focused |
Smokin' |
The Porsche
exhibition - note pedestals ! |
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