Hillclimbing and Sprinting in Scotland

Transcription

1 Hillclimbing and Sprinting in Scotland

2 SPEEDSPORT SCOTLAND Magazine of the Scottish Sprint and Hillclimb Championships Committee Editor: Robert Smith, 25 Ballochmyle View, Catrine, Mauchline, Ayrshire KA5 6EN Tel Northern Editor: Ian C Thomson Issue 5/2015 Mid July/August 2015 SCOTTISH SPRINT & HILLCLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBERS Chairman: Steve Marr, 141 Jesmond Avenue, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB22 8UG Tel Steve.marr@nautronix.com Vice-Chairman: Graeme Bremner, Tigh-an-Iasgair, Ackergill, Wick KW1 4RG graemebremner170@aol.com Secretary: Leslie-Ann Scoular, Triquerta, 15 Bonnyside Road, Bonnybridge FK4 2AD. Tel lesliescoular@alansteel.com Treasurer: Mike Murchie, 3 Cyprus Avenue, Elderslie, Renfrewshire Tel mike@heatherick.orangehome.co.uk Sprint Championship Co-ordinator: Iain Scoular, Triquerta, 15 Bonnyside Road, Bonnybridge FK4 2AD. Tel ian@iwsconsultants.com Hillclimb Championship Co-ordinator: Ian C Thompson, Easter Woodlands, Dalcross, Inverness IV2 7JE Tel celia.thompson@virgin.net Club Representatives: Aberdeen & DMC: David Baker Caithness CC: Roy Munro: roy@morrich.co.uk East Ayrshire CC: Russell Fair: russell@faircu.plus.com Grampian AC: Trevor Park: trevor.park@plexusplc.com Lothian CC: Tim Thomson: tim@andypriaulx.com Machars CC: Robin Christie: airlour@btinternet Monklands SCC: Colin McLatchie: colin@mclatchie.com Scottish Sporting CC: Stephen Alexander: mobat@madasafish.com Competitor representatives: Ross Napier: rossandrewnapier@yahoo.co.uk David Reid (Sprints): d.reids@hotmail.com Eligibility Scrutineer: Rob McKinna: r.mckinna@sky.com CLUB CONTACTS Aberdeen & DMC: Janet Dickson Caithness CC: Jennifer Bremner East Ayrshire CC: Janet Garner Grampian AC: Peggy Fraser Machars CC: Roger Anderson or Gavin Campbell: gavinc68@freezone.co.uk Lothian CC: Billy Cater Monklands SCC: Marion Hopkins Scottish Sporting CC: Alistair Reid Wigton MC: Graeme Forrester Any views expressed in Speedsport Scotland are not necessarily those of the Scottish Sprint & Hillclimb Committee Front Cover: Russell Macfarlane has made great progress in the past two seasons bringing his elderly Nemesis chassis within touch of the leaders in the 1100 c.c. racing car class at sprints and hillclimbs throughout Scotland and occasionally south of the Border as well. He is seen here at Forrestburn s top hairpin during the August meeting. With Forrestburn behind us (our report is in the next issue, due to lack of space) we can look forward to Doune, Loton Park and Boyndie with interest as there are a number of championship issues still to be decided. At the moment Wallace Menzies is at the top of his game with an impressive string of top four places which could see him finish in the top three of the British Hillclimb Championship while Colin Calder has not given up hope of retaining his British Sprint Championship title after a troubled campaign, although he must come up with top scores in the two remaining rounds at the Anglesey track (twice). Nearer to home Les Mutch has won the Guyson Scottish Hillclimb Championship and Stuart Sudgen the Guyson Scottish Sprint Championship in which Les Mutch has also taken the Top Ten award, leaving a solitary point separating Louise Calder and Russell Macfarlane in the fight for the runner-up position in that series. Ronnie MacGregor is the 2015 Guyson Scottish Speed Champion. The National Scene The Avon TTC Group British Hillclimb Championship PRESCOTT SEPTEMBER 6TH Wallace Menzies had probably the best result of his career at this worldfamous venue in Gloucestershire with top spot in each of the two Championship run-offs. It was tight throughout, with the first session being won by a mere one-hundredth of a second. There was more good news for the Scottish contingent when Les Mutch finished twelfth in the afternoon run-offs despite a wee bit of a moment in the Raptor at the second hairpin. Graeme Wight Junr went home a happy man when a second GWR Raptor in the hands of Richard Spedding was sixth in the first run-offs and ninth equal in the second. Round 29: 1. Menzies 36.20; 2. Alex Summers (3.5 Gould-NME GR61X) 36.21; 3. Trevor Willis (3.2 OMS-RPE 28) 36.29; 4. Scott Moran (3.5 Gould-NME GR61X) 36.38; 5. Tom New (3.5 Gould-NME GR55B) 37.68; 6. Richard Spedding (1.6 GWR Raptor-Suzuki) 37.80; 7. John Bradburn (3.5 Gould-Cosworth HB GR55) 37.82; 8. Eynon Price (1.6 Gould-Suzuki GR59) 38.03; 9. Alastair Crawford (2.8 Gould-NME GR55C) 38.33; 10. Oliver Tomlin (4.0 Pilbeam-Judd MP97) 38.42; 11. Sean Gould (1.6 Gould-Suzuki GR59) 39.40; 12. Lee Griffiths (1.3t OMS-Suzuki 25) Round 30: 1. Menzies 35.80; 2. Moran 35.94; 3. Willis 36.37; 4. Summers 36.51; 5. Dave Uren (1.3t Force-Suzuki PC) 36.73; 6. Price 37.72; 7. Tomlin 37.74; 8. New 38.06; 9=. Crawford and Spedding 38.20; 11. Paul Haimes (1.3t Gould-Suzuki GR59) 38.47; 12. Les Mutch (1.6 GWR Raptor-Suzuki) STOP PRESS.. BLYTON PARK SPRINT SEPT 13TH Colin Calder kept the door open in his effort to retain his British Sprint Championship title at this new round in Yorkshire by setting fastest time in the Championship run-off. He now trails Mark Smith by 110 to 103 points with two rounds to come and dropped scores coming into the picture. The final two rounds are at the Anglesey circuit in north Wales. On October 3rd and 4th John and Roy Munro also made the long trek south and young John was rewarded with tenth place in the run-off driving his one litre OMS. 1. Colin Calder 54.77; 2. John Graham 55.13; 3. Nick Algar 58.12; 4. Craig Sampson 58.44; 5. Terry Holmes 58.55; 6. Bradley Hobday 58.66; 7. Matt Hillam 58.75; 8. Mark Smith 59.03; 9. Steve Miles 59.35; 10. John Munro 60.52; 11. Graham Porrett 61.74; 12. Jim Belt

3 2015 Guyson Scottish Sprint Championship Alford July 12th Grampian Automobile Club RECORDS TO SUGDEN AND McCASKILL AT ALFORD Les Mutch Russell Macfarlane Chris Stirk Donald McCaskill Paul Rhodes Wullie Beaton Graham Clark Davie Littlejohn Craig Beaton Norman Insch Photos by Ian Thompson The Grampian club attracted another large entry for the only one-day meeting remaining on the Guyson calendar. With only a handful of the regulars crossing the Tay, possibly put off by only one set of Championship points being on offer, the event had a nice local clubbie atmosphere. Although much of the day was sunny with only the occasional shower, it was not a day marked by many records being smashed. Mind you, Stuart Sugden and Donald McCaskill did shave small slices off their own records in B1 and B3 respectively. Nevertheless there was some fine sport with thirteen of the seventeen classes being contested, although the best contests were for placings rather than class wins. In the nine-strong Class A2 for example, winner Jim King held off a challenge from Ewan McDougall (Nova) who had reduced a deficit of 0.68 to 0.45 of a second, while the struggle for third spot was equally interesting. Martin Milne (Toyota Starlet) led Michael King s Clio by to at the turn but failed to register an improvement. Fortunately for him Michael s second run of failed by the narrowest of margins to take the place. It was a similar story in Class A3 where Chris Randell s convincing victory took some of the attention off a hot scrap for the runner-up position. After one run, Gordon Brodie (Golf) led the Mini Cooper S of Darren Shepherd by to and had to hold off a strong charge from his rival to scrape home on against Darren s Yet again it was the race for the second place which was the main interest in the 1700cc Roadsports class, Graham Sinclair having enjoyed a comfortable success in his Caterham 7. Behind him there was not a lot of daylight between Gordon Sinclair and Matthew Mackenzie, double-entered in a Fisher Fury. Only 0.38 separated the pair after Run 1 but Gordon managed to increase his cushion on the second session to 0.56 of a second. A rare sight on a Scottish speed event was the Ariel Atom 3 with which Nev Wood finished runner-up to Craig Nicol in the large-engined Roadsports category. Nev was another driver cutting things fine, Dave Penny in his Westfield Seiw closing to one fifth of a second after failing on his first attempt. Brian Innes gave a good account of himself in Class A8 bringing his Porsche Cayman to within 0.69 of class record-holder Martin Smith. Behind B2 victor Stuart Reid there was a close contest for second spot, this finishing Malcolm Milne (Nova) 58.41, Iain Addison (Sunny) and Gordon Brodie (Golf) Even the small fields at the end of the entry came up with good sport with Donald McCaskill coming up with a new class record. A grandstand finish was averted in Saloon Libre when neither Steven Johnston and James Steven (Golf) managed to make an improvement, leaving the former with a winning margin of 0.01 of a second. Graham Clark looked comfortable going into the last runs but David Littlejohn, like Graham in a Radical reduced the deficit from 0.93 to 0.26 leaving Graham a trifle relieved at the end. Class A1 (Record 57.50): Stephen Anderson (Peugeot 106) Class A2 (Record 57.75): Jim King (Clio) Class A3 (Record 53.34): Chris Randell (Evo) Class A4 (Record 51.50): Norman Insch (Locost 7) Class A5 (Record 51.64): Graham Sinclair (Caterham 7) Class A6 (Record 51.34): Craig Nicol (Caterham 7) Class A8 (Record 55.70): Martin Smith (Vauxhall VX220) Class D1: Gus Carnegie (MG Midget) Establishes Record. Class D2: Alistair Grant (TR& V8) Establishes Record. Class B1 (Record 55.19): Stuart Sugden (GWR Mini) New Record Class B2 (Record 55.51): Stuart Reid (Peugeot 205) Class B3 (Record 51.64): Donald McCaskill (Evo5) New Record. Class B4 (Record 50.86): Chris Stirk (Westfield XTR2) Class C0 (Record 54.56): Steven Johnston (Nova) Class C1 (Record 51.67) Graham Clark (Radical) Class C4 (Record 46.98): Russell Macfarlane (Nemesis) Class C5 (Record 45.12): Les Mutch (GWR Raptor) FULL RESULTS AVAILABLE ON GRAMPIAN AUTOMOBILE CLUB WEBSITE

4 Alford Part 2

5 2015 Guyson Scottish Sprint Championship KAMES July 25th & 26th East Ayrshire Car Club MUTCH MASTERS KAMES Photos by John Crae Saturday (Clockwise) Les Mutch Stewart Robb Russell Macfarlane Bill Lambie Junr Graham Clark Billy Lambie Senr Lenny Bray Darren Coleman Drew Murray Craig Morrison Sunday (Anticlockwise) Les Mutch Russell Macfarlane Graham Clark Bill Lambie Junr Craig Morrison Lenny Bray Martin Banks Melvyn Hartley Billy Lambie Senr Darren Coleman The racing classes were poorly supported at yet another sprint although Saturday s paddock was enhanced by Stewart Robb s Pilbeam MP88 and the Van Diemen RS 82 of Vernon Williamson, who attracted a lot of attention at lunchtime by giving the JP Special a few demonstration laps of the track. Of course Les Mutch stole the show again with two FTDs and getting within half a second of the Class 5 record for the anticlockwise layout. As at the recent Alford sprint, Stuart Sugden lowered the B1 records each day while Alex Graham beat the newish D1 record on Sunday. Not bad for the man who set the first outright record at Kames thirtyone years ago! The lowish entry in the competition classes was made up for by sixteen MX5s and several always-welcome Cumbrians chasing Cross-Border Championship points. One wonders if it is only a matter of time before the canny Aberdonians get to hear about the economics of MX5 sprinting and then most events up there will be grossly over-subscribed. Peter Locke started the weekend poorly but came back to oust Saturday s A2 winner Peter Marshall. Similarly in A6 Les Mutch was several seconds clear of the opposition both days at Muirkirk Graham Denholm came back from a disappointing set of runs to steal success on his final attempt of the weekend to deprive David McGeachie of a double. Bill Lambie Junr scored two clear-cut wins in A4 while Les Golding was unopposed in Sunday s A5 category. Marque Sports went to Stuart Ullathorne the first day but only by one-tenth of a second from Chris Harris (Elise). Stuart s MR2 was withdrawn during Sunday practice and the newly arrived Ronnie Mac- Gregor took advantage to add another win to his impressive 2015 tally. The MX5s were good value for spectators with the first three covered by half a second on Saturday, but Andrew Connell is a man setting a scorching pace. In B1 and B2 respectively David Dennis and Craig Morrison had walkovers while Darren Coleman took both the B6 awards over the Border although Melvyn Hartley got within half a second on Sunday in his Autotune Gemini. James Steven is the new star in C0 but keep an eye on Cameron Fair in his Peugeot 205 who closed to within 0.34 of James on Saturday. Drew Murray made a brave appearance and did well to stay in touch with Graham Clark and Lenny Bray (MNR LMP) before retiring the DMS1 at Sunday lunchtime. In Saturday s Classics group were Jenny and Malcolm Milne with their neat Mini making their first appearance at Kames for some time. Class A2 Saturday (Record 92.48): Peter Marshall (Clio) Sunday (Record 84.16): Peter Locke (Mazda RX8) Class A4 Saturday (Record 84.24): Bill Lambie Junr (Westfield) Sunday (Record 76.33): Bill Lambie Junr Class A5 Sunday (Record 74.54): Les Golding (Caterham) Class A6 Saturday (Record 82.09): David McGeachie (Noble M12) and Iain McKenzie (Caterham 7) Sunday (Record 74.56): Graham Denholm (Caterham) Class A8 Saturday (Record 88.04): Stuart Ullathorne (Toyota MR2) Sunday (Record 80.03): Ronnie MacGregor (Honda S2000) Class A9 Saturday (Record 97.66): Andrew Connell (MX5) Sunday (Record 87.60): Andrew Connell Class B1 Saturday (Record 90.54): Jim Sugden (GWR Mini) New Record. Sunday (Record 82.77): Stuart Sugden New Record. Class B2 Saturday (Record 90.43): David Dennis (Clio) Class B4 Saturday (Record 80.88): Craig Morrison (Formula 27) Sunday (Record 73.94): Craig Morrison Class B6 Saturday (Record 80.10): Darren Coleman (Sylva Striker) Sunday (Record 71.98): Darren Coleman Class C0 Saturday (Record 90.62): James Steven (Golf) Sunday (Record 80.85): James Steven Class C1 Saturday (Record 78.51): Graham Clark (Radical) Sunday (Record 71.74): Graham Clark Class C4 Saturday (Record 74.68): Russell Macfarlane (Nemesis) Sunday (Record 67.10): Russell Macfarlane Class C5 Saturday (Record 71.11): Les Mutch (GWR Raptor) Sunday (Record 64.59): Les Mutch Class C6 Saturday (Record 70.05): Stewart Robb (Pilbeam MP88) Class D1 Saturday (Record 99.83): Alex Graham (Firenza) Sunday (Record 94.76): Alex Graham New Record. Class D3 Saturday: Vernon Williamson (Van Diemen RS82) Establishes Record Sunday (Record 90.87): Andrew Paterson (Lotus 61) FULL RESULTS AVAILABLE ON EACC WEBSITE

6 KAMES 2 Alex Graham Andrew Patterson Ronnie MacGregor Darren Coleman Fergus Haggart James Steven Leslie-Ann Scoular Craig Morrison Martin Banks

7 2015 Guyson Scottish Sprint Championship GOLSPIE August 8th Caithness Car Club SUNSHINE AND RECORDS BUT FEW SURPRISES Photos by Ian Thompson Saturday (Littleferry) Les Mutch Louise Calder George Coghill Senr Russell Macfarlane Paul Rhodes Wullie Beaton Craig Beaton David Littlejohn Graham Clark Graeme Wight Junr Sunday (Kylestrome) Louise Calder Russell Macfarlane Paul Rhodes Craig Beaton Graham Clark Greme Wight Junr Craig Morrison Wullie Beaton David Littlejohn Sandy Donaldson That this has been a dampsummer for the sprinting community is reflected in this second of the Caithness weekends being the only meeting when all the runs over the two days have been held on a dry track. It was not surprising then that several competitors were in a record breaking frame of mind. Some records of course are keener than others and though it is difficult to compare these with no official records being shown in the published results, we would think Louise Calder and Les Mutch lowering their Littleferry records must be among the highlights of the two days. Sunday s class winners changed very little from the previous day s, the most eyecatching being the tussle between the Radicals in Class C1. David Littlejohn came from behind to take the first-day honours by 0.41 from Graham Clark but had to produce a new record in doing so. Graham got off to a flier at the shorter Kylestrome layout and even an improved second effort by David failed to deprive Graham of his revenge. As expected Les Mutch set FTD with a new C5 record for Littleferry but was not entered for the following day when Louise Calder took centre stage. She missed the Kylestrome class record but lowered that for Littleferry in her runner-up place the day before, Russell Macfarlane and George Coghill Senr seemed well matched as George took the opening day by 0.43, the anticipated clash failed to materialise next day when George never made it through to the afternoon session. Paul Rhodes finished behind Russell both days and he was followed home on Saturday by Wullie Beaton and Craig Beaton. On the Kylestrome layout, however Craig proved faster than his dad. A welcome sight at Golspie was Graeme Wight Junr in the Dax Rush notching up an A6 double. In the modified classes Stuart Sugden and Stuart Reid continued their successful runs with double class records for both drivers. Class C0 had the biggest entry for some time but James Steven still won both days by comfortable margins. Mike Murchie was runner-up on Saturday with Ross Alexander third, both in Fiestas but the placings were reversed on Sunday. Class A1 Saturday: Jody Gordon (Peugeot 205) Sunday: Jody Gordon Class A2 Saturday: Jim King (Clio) Sunday: Jim King Class A3 Saturday: Chris Randell (Evo8) Sunday: Chris Randell Class A4 Saturday: John Morrison Junr (MNR Vortx) Sunday: John Morrison Junr Class A6 Saturday: Graeme Wight Junr (Dax Rush) Sunday: Graeme Wight Junr Class A7 Saturday: Graham Ball (MG Midget) Sunday: Graham Ball Class A8 Saturday: Ronnie MacGregor (Honda S2000) Sunday: Ronnie MacGregor Class B1 Saturday: Stuart Sugden (GWR Mini) New Record. Sunday: Stuart Sugden New Record. Class B2 Saturday: Stuart Reid (Peugeot 205) New Record. Sunday: Stuart Reid New Record. Class B4 Saturday: Craig Morrison (F27 Clubman) Sunday: Craig Morrison Class B6 Saturday: David Baker (Ginetta G4) Sunday: David Baker Class C0 Saturday: James Steven (Golf) Sunday: James Steven Class C1 Saturday: David Littlejohn (Radical) New Record. Sunday: Graham Clark (Radical) Class C4 Saturday: Louise Calder (Jedi) New Record. Sunday: Louise Calder Class C5 Saturday: Les Mutch (GWR Raptor) New Record. Sunday: Sandy Donaldson (OMS) Class C6 Saturday: George Coghill Senr (Force) Class D0 Saturday: John Albiston (Lotus 23B) New Record. Sunday: John Albiston

8 Golspie Part 2 Kevin Gray Ronnie Macgregor Gus Carnegie Graham Ball Matthew Albiston David Littlejohn Bill Lambie Jim King

9 2015 Guyson Scottish Hillclimb Championship FINTRAY August 15th & 16th Grampian Automobile Club MUTCH IS RAINMASTER, NAPIER WINS IN DRY Saturday Les Mutch Ross Napier Steve Marr Chris Randell Graeme Wight Craig Nicol Iain Rainnie Aonghus Drummond Norman Insch Charlie Fleming Sunday Ross Napier Les Mutch Steve Marr Keith Weeks Graeme Wight Colin Graham Graham Clark Paul Rhodes Craig Nicol John Morrison Junr Photos by Ian Thompson Heavy rain on the opening day played havoc with competitors plans, times being around five seconds outside personal bests. But some drivers thrive in these conditions - they can be recognised by their webbed feet - and some fine performances were recorded. It must be said though, that quite a few of the later runners declined their second run. Les Mutch adapted well, setting FTD in his GWR Raptor, but Ross Napier was only 0.38 adrift in the disadvantaged big Gould. This promised much for the following day, if only the weather changed. And change it did. Classes A1 and A3 remained in the hands of Stephen Anderson and Chris Randell respectively but Jim King took A2 away from codriver Mike King in their shared Clio with half a second in hand. Saturday A4 victor Norman Insch was relegated to second being bettered by John Morrison Junr by Jonathan Neale was only 0.01 ahead of Colin McAteer at the break but both made improvements, Neale ending up 0.35 ahead. In a monumental struggle Graeme Wight completed the double over Craig Nicol with a margin of Brian Beverley won B1 on Saturday but was 1.69 off the lead when Jim Sugden arrived on Sunday. In Marque Sports Martin Smith held off a late charge by Brian Innes (Porsche Cayman) to complete a weekend double. Jamie Gibbon also repeated his success of the previous day in D1 but unlike Alistair Grant and Andrew Paterson, he missed out on a new record. In B2 Aonghus Drummond held off Saturday winner Iain Rainnie to win by almost a full second, while the Johnston boys reverse the previous day s order, Duncan leading Steven home by In the Competition classes there were comfortable wins for Graham Clark, Steve Marr and Les Mutch who was unable to repeat his weekend double, falling short of an inspired run from Ross Napier by 0.21 Class A1 (Record 35.44) Saturday: Stephen Anderson (Peugeot 106) Sunday: Stephen Anderson Class A2 (Record 32.48) Saturday: Mike King (Clio) Sunday: Jim King (Clio) Class A3 (Record 30.34) Saturday Chris Randell (Evo8) Sunday: Chris Randell Class A4 (Record 29.36) Saturday: Norman Insch (Locost 7) Sunday: John Morrison Junr. (MNR) Class A5 (Record 30.35) Saturday: Gavin Marshall (Caterham) Sunday: Jonathan Neale (Caterham) Class A6 (Record 28.68) Saturday: Graeme Wight (GWR Rush) Sunday: Graeme Wight Class A8 (Record 31.47) Saturday: Martin Smith (Vauxhall VX220) Sunday: Martin Smith Class D1 (Record 38.40) Saturday: Jamie Gibbon (Sprite) Sunday: Jamie Gibbon Class D2 (Record 36.14) Saturday: Alistair Grant (TR7 V8) Sunday: Alistair Grant New Record. Class D3 (Record 34.43) Saturday: Andrew Paterson (Lotus 61) Sunday: Andrew Paterson New Record. Class B1 (Record 31.49) Saturday: Brian Beverley (Nova) Sunday: Jim Sugden (GWR Mini) Class B2 (Record 30.97) Saturday: Iain Rainnie (Corsa) Sunday: Aonghus Drummond (Integra) Class B3 (Record 28.21) Sunday: Adrian Milne (Evo8) Class C0 (Record 31.93) Saturday: Steven Johnston (Nova) Sunday: Duncan Johnston (Nova) Class C1 (Record 28.31) Saturday: Graham Clark (Radical) Sunday: Graham Clark Class C4 (Record 26.97) Saturday: Steve Marr (PCD Saxon) Sunday: Steve Marr Class C5 (Record 25.30) Saturday: Les Mutch (GWR Raptor) Sunday: Les Mutch Class C6 (Record 25.28) Saturday: Ross Napier (NBR Gould) Sunday: Ross Napier FULL RESULTS AVAILABLE ON GRAMPIAN AUTO.CLUB WEBSITE

10 Fintray Part 2 Lewis Duncan Ewan Macdougall Brian Innes John Morrison Keith Weeks Jamie Gibbon Aonghus Drummond Steve Marr