May 31st/1st June 2008
Speed hill climb action returns to the world famous Shelsley Walsh on May 31st and June 1st when the Nicholson McLaren MSA British Hill Climb Championship pays a visit for the first time in 2008. The event also incorporates rounds of the Power-Mec MSA Hill Climb Leaders Championship, the UK Changes Midland Hill Climb Championship, the Paul Matty Sports Cars Lotus Championship and the Pirelli Ferrari Hill Climb Championship.
With 215 entrants there is bound to be hot competition in all classes. British Championship Leader Scott Moran (Gould GR61-NME) is bound to renew his battle at the top of the standings with his own father Roger in the same car and Trevor Willis in the sizzling OMS-Powertec. Three times champion Martin Groves also Gould mounted has had a torrid start to 2008 but as the current Shelsley Walsh outright hill record holder will be certain to make his mark.
Class record holders Robert Kenrick in his 1600cc Force PC Suzuki and Brodie Branch in his similar but 1100cc Force will be a challenge to any of their class contestants and Kenrick can be expected to give the larger 2-litre cars a run for their money. OMS constructor Steve Owen will be out in the latest 2008 motor cycle engined model now up-sized for the 2-litre class to challenge the car engined entrants that includes the Dallara mounted Paul Haimes and Pilbeam driver Tom New.
Whilst firmly established as a modern venue, tradition is never far away at Shelsley Walsh and there is a special handicap class for the immortal Shelsley Specials with David Leigh entered in what is arguably the most famous of all these amazing devices, the GN Spider originally constructed by the legendary Basil Davenport. Also out for the first time this year is the Farley Mark 2 Shelsley Special driven by Martin Walford of Droitwich. This incredible device which runs on six go-kart wheels has everything driven by chains including the massive supercharger which forces air into the unusual vee-twin Godden engine which was once seen in grasstrack sidecar racing.
Amongst many other local drivers entered are Ian and Simon Fidoe from Worcester in their Pilbeam sports racer, Mark Goodyear from Great Witley who shares an OMS racing car with Ireland’s Pat Roche, Peter and Ben Cox from Abberley in their immaculate classic Chevron single-seater and Will Hall from Romsley in his new Force-Suzuki racer.
You must not miss this exceptional event held at the world’s oldest race track set in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside.
Shelsley Walsh is AA signposted approximately 10 miles North West of Worcester. Practice starts at 10:00 am on Saturday and the event starts at 10::00 am on Sunday. Admission is £10 on practice day, £14 on event day and accompanied children under 16 get in free. This includes parking, transfer to the paddock, and seated trackside enclosures. Excellent catering and light refreshment/bar facilities are available as are a range of souvenirs and regalia.
