RACING CARS THAT MADE HISTORY AT SHELSLEY WALSH - JULY 3RD 4TH
This weekend sees the third weekend of Speed Hill Climbing at Shelsley Walsh. We have two separate meetings, each with practice in the morning and racing in the afternoon. Saturday July 3rd sees a meeting for many road going cars and a few racing cars, whilst Sunday July 4th sees the highpoint of the weekend with our annual VSCC day seeing yet another bumper entry.
Saturday’s meeting gives a chance for some new drivers to sample the hill at Shelsley. With the British Championship away up at Harewood in Yorkshire this weekend, we can see some drivers for the future of hill climbing in Worcestershire this weekend – hence the ‘B’ rating for the meeting. But not all of the drivers are new. Names such as Roy Standley (Evo 5) and Geoff Rollason (Ferrari 360 Modena) are quick and regulars!. Rollason for one is not afraid of chucking his car about!
One of the highpoints on Saturday is Nic Mann’s Mannic in Class 4. Nic made the Ultra swift Morris Minor in the late 80s that Autocar magazine tested and said, at the time, it was the fastest road going car they’d ever tested. That was a turbo charged V8 with nitros oxide, but now Nic has been away and returned with a self built clubmans car with a normal 1700, but laid on its side and turbo charged. The difference is there is a helicopter starter engine that always keeps the turbo spinning at high revs, and hence the power. It could be termed as another form of anti-lag, but with two turbos. For one of his four runs on Saturday, you absolutely must see the Mannic leave the line, as it is 4WD launches it from 0-60 in less than 2.5 seconds.
The single seaters see many of the usual class merged but the spread of cars is no less with 6 time hill climb champion Tony Marsh in his ultra modern Gould 2.5 litre GR55.
Sunday will be a completely different kettle of fish with a look back into the past as many cars that built the tremendous history at Shelsley return. Bugatti, ERA, Delage, Lagonda, Alvis, Invicta, Bentley Talbot Lago, and Aston Martin are all represented. Charles Dean in his 2.3 Supercharged Bugatti Type 51 is one of the finest racing cars to come from the pen of Jean and Ettore Bugatti in pre-war days. Their cars really were ahead of their time and in many respects, still offer ideas to the designers of today. A total of 6 Bugattis will be present on Sunday.Mac Hulbert in ERA R4D (English Racing Automobiles) flew to the top of the hill to claim a new pre-war car record at this meeting last year when he clocked 34.05 seconds. It was a tremendous run that thrilled the crowds and drew just applause as he returned down to the bottom of the hill afterwards. The car is probably one of the most historic Shelsley cars, having first set the outright hill record in 1938, and last setting one in 1956, with regular reappearances since then.If you want big machinery, then how about the Napier Bentley of Chris Williams with 24 litres, or if that’s not enough, then go for Robin Baker’s Hispano Delage with an incredible 27 litres!The beauty of the VSCC Sunday meeting is that the cars, buildings around the startline and the hill are still the same as when the cars first drove the hill before the war. The only change is that the trees are a little taller…With action starting at 10am and racing at 2pm both days, make sure you are there! Parking and seating is all included together with access to the paddock. Bring a picnic and soak up more historic Shelsley Walsh.Shelsley Walsh is 10 miles West of Worcester, just follow the Yellow AA signs.
