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MSA British
Hill Climb Championship |
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Shelsley Walsh June 2006.
Friday night Deb & I drive over to Shelsley (only about half and hour from home) to visit Chateau d'Abigail. Simon & Charlotte Durling had very kindly invited half the paddock up to their lovely new home at the top of the hill. What an awesome driveway to have! As we arrived a bit late, most people had been and gone. We grabbed a lift up the hill with Richard & Gill Marshall and spent until about 10.30pm at the Durling's. Many thanks for your hospitality. Watching up at Kennel during one of the early batches I decided to wait for a while before taking my first practice due to the amount of dust in the track. Dad & I decide to go up in the last two batches before lunch. I wanted to be on the pace straight away as I find you can get left behind here as there is little track time to get into the swing. 1st practice run is a 25.40. Very happy with that although I know I'm not carrying enough speed at the bottom of the hill. Dad's run is not quite so quick on a 26.40. The rest of practice goes well with Dad on another 26 second run and then into the 25's on his last run. My 2nd practice is a 25.38 and 3rd is a 25.41. All pretty consistent times which I was happy with, but concerned that this was as quick as I could manage. Sunday morning and from the start the times are good. Robert Kenrick is flying as usual and the Mod Prod road going boys are looking really quick. Well done to Will Hall on the class win. A welcome return (for some!) for Phil 'Smithers' Cooke who hasn't been out all year but still managed to win the class and to qualify for both run offs, and score points in his awesome 1600cc Force. Sue Young was also on a mission and again broke the Ladies record and was very close to a 25 second run. A big well done must also go to Sandra Tomlin, who in a now dated car, managed to get under the old Ladies record and qualify for the 1st run off. A tremendous achievement at such a venue. Had Sue been registered there would have been 2 ladies in the run off! Qualifying went well and I'm into the 24's which should give me a good slot for the run off. I didn't however, bank on Deryk Young going quicker and qualify 2nd. Of course, Grovesy was fastest and would again be last to run. Into the run off and Dad is 3rd man up on a 25.06, his best of the weekend, Rob Turnbull then sets the pace on a 24.89 which not so long ago would have been FTD by a mile, amazingly with the following 6 cars posting 24's Rob ends up 7th with Dad 8th! With now our best rubber on I give it my best shot and post a 24.43 a P.B. for me which edges out Deano who was on a 24.63. Deryk is next and ends up just 6 hundredths behind Deano. With 'RoboGroves' left to go I was at least guaranteed 2nd. We all watch for Martin to come out of the Esses which he does but a bit wide losing time. He had obviously done more than enough on the bottom part of the hill as he crosses the line in a 24.06.
For me, two second places at Shelsley was great, and especially breaking the 24s barrier. Paul Ranson had managed an excellent 3rd FTD and so was due to be up the hill for the awards presentation. Unfortunately nobody thought to ask him or give him a lift up and so Grovesy & I had to stand up on the podium for press etc without him. A poor show really for what otherwise was a very well ran meeting. Loton Park is next, where hopefully I can try to get some points back.
Scott. |
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After
an enjoyable weekend at Gurston we were now getting ready for our first visit of
the year to Shelsley. At Gurston we tried a different set of gear ratios, which
were OK but not what we had hoped for. This meant a change would be needed for
this weekend. Not a huge job but still something else to put on the 'to do'
list.
2nd
qualifying went OK for most. We hadn't needed to touch the car all weekend
which was good. Dad & I both qualify with Groves quickest again. Dad runs 1st
and whilst in the tyre warming area he complains of cramp in his left leg. For
anyone who has had this when strapped into a racing car they will know what he
was going through. He managed to get to the line but had to stop the car 3 or 4
times to get comfortable. After asking for the green light Dave started the car
for the last time and Dad left the line on a mission, leaving black lines almost
to Kennel! The time wasn't good with a 25.89. This would eventually leave him
6th. Not too bad after all. Paul Ranson was next to go and posted his PB which
was a great run on a 24.57. This would give him 3rd in the run off and 3rd FTD.
At Shelsley you cannot help but look at the clock whilst coming to the line
during the run off as it is right in your face. With nobody beating Paul's time
Deano knew what was needed but even he couldn't match it on a 24.71. I was next
with just Grovsey left to go behind me. I knew where I needed to be faster and
also that I needed to set another PB. I gave the tyres a few good spins to get
some more heat into them and with the start line having loads of rubber down I
dropped the clutch. My heart nearly sank as the car bogged down. I quickly
stood on the brakes to stop the car before the rear wheels crossed the start
line. Thankfully I was quick enough and the start marshalls lined me up again.
I again drop the clutch and the car almsot bogs again but I give it a big boot
and away we go. On braking into the Esses I lose the back of the car slightly
and enter the Bottom Esse on a bit of opposite lock which lines me up nicely to
give it a big punch between the corners. Out of the Top Esse and flat out to
the finish. 23.97. I can't quite believe it. At least I know that its a good
target for Grovesy to go for. Watching eagerly at the exit of the Esses we hear
Groves on a mission. His split time is quicker than mine and somehow I know
that's it. He crosses the line on a 23.81, just 4 hundredths away from the
record. Lucky for me as he could have had another point for that!