AND CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE
A wonderful array of Aston Martins were on display as The Midland Automobile Club celebrated the centenary of Aston Martin at the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, with race cars from all eras also competing and being demonstrated throughout the weekend.
History was made at the weekend, with the reuniting of the works Aston Martin DB2s of 1950 and 1951, being displayed together for the very first time in 62 years. VMF65 was driven at Shelsley Walsh in 1950 by George Abecassis, who then returned the following year to drive XMC77 which was joined by its sister car XMC76 driven by Reg Parnell. All of these cars had never been back to Shelsley Walsh at the same time until this last weekend.
Making its UK debut was Aston Martin Lagonda‟s Hydrogen Rapide S which took to a UK race track for the very first time, being driven on the Saturday by their works driver Jamie Wall and then on Sunday by British Touring car driver Tom Onslow Cole who delighted the crowds in his final run with a 64ft burnout from the start line.
A timeline parade of 35 Aston Martins wowed the crowds with some of the earliest cars leading the parade. LM10 which competed at Shelsley was first off. The parade included all cars which competed at Shelsley Walsh and included a first, being the Lola Aston Martin DBR1/2. Stratstone Aston Martin provided 13 cars of which 9 were in the parade including the new V12 Vantage S and the Vanquish.
Around the venue were displays of past racing Aston Martins, including the 2011 AMR-ONE Le Mans car seen for only the second time in public, Nimrod, AMR1, the DBR9 GT1 and the current GTE. Complete Racing represented the current batch of GT racers with their GT4. There was also a wonderful display from the Aston Martin Heritage Trust with Green Pea and A3 on display and a current Rapide.
Local drivers faired exceptionally well in the British Hill Climb Championship meeting - regarded as the UK‟s premier event - held at Shelsley Walsh on Sunday.
Young driver Alex Summers from Tenbury Wells was voted as Man of the Meeting‟ for two outstanding drives, against much more powerful cars, taking 3rd and 6th places with his supercharged 1340cc DJ Firehawk racing car in the two separate championship run-offs.
MAC member Alex commented: "The conditions were ideal and really favoured the bigger racing cars as Shelsley Walsh is regarded as the ultimate power hill‟ in the series, so I was absolutely delighted to score so many points in the championship, helping me to aim for a seeded top-ten number for the first time ever next year."
Clifton-on-Teme driver Clive Austin brought his brand new Empire Wraith racing car to Shelsley Walsh for the first time and the Formula 1 designed machine showed its future potential by giving Clive a 'personal best' time in the 1100cc racing car class.
Clive said: "With so much F1 technology, design and aerodynamics put in to this new car it was great for me to do so well in front of such a massive crowd and thanks must go to the volunteer marshals and organisers who make this such a spectacular event."
Worcester driver and current British Champion Trevor Willis in his V8-powered OMS 28 could only manage a 4th and 2nd place in the run-offs, but is still well in contention, with this season‟s current championship leader Scott Moran of Ludlow driving a Nicholson McLaren Gould GR61X.
Scottish driver Wallace Menzies took maximum points in the first run-off in his Cosworth-powered DJ Firestorm and three-times former champion Scott won the second run-off to maintain his lead in the championship.
Reigning Midland Hill Climb Champion Mike Turpin, of Hereford, won his class in his supercharged Vauxhall VX220 well in line for his second Midland title.
Next event is the Autumn Speed Finale on the 21st and 22nd September. For further information, visit shelsley-walsh.co.uk
