This weekend sees the Midland Automobile Club host its first competitive event of the year called Speed into Spring, when a wide range of drivers and cars from across the UK will be competing in the highly popular Midland Hill Climb Championship at the iconic hill, set in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside.
Shelsley Walsh is celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2015, maintaining its proud tradition as the world's oldest motorsport venue in continuous use and regularly attracts a wide range of competition classic, sports and racing cars ranging from original Minis to the latest high-tech F1 style machines.
Organisers report a full entry list with additional classes for invited marques including the Porsche Club of Great Britain National Hill Climb Championship, the Cheltenham Porsche Specialist 'B' Licence Championship, an invitation class for AC cars and an eclectic mix of over 20 cars competing in the Paul Matty Sports Cars Lotus Championship.
Twenty cars will be competing in the highly competitive Road-going Specialist Production Class for cars such as Caterhams and Westfields, while another 20 will be taking part in the 1100cc single seat racing car class. A new and very welcome class for this season is the classification for normally aspirated and forced induction engines in the 2000cc racing car class, which separates the lightweight motorcycle-engined cars from classic machines such as Lola and Pilbeams.
Reigning Midland Hill Climb Champion Mike Turpin, of Hereford, will be defending his title in his Vauxhall VX220 having won his class at the weekend's season opener at Prescott Hill Climb, near Cheltenham.
The Sports Libre and Super Sports class will see entries from Charles Williams in the OMS SC1, Thomas Grantham-Wright in his Brytec Bullett and Graham Loakes in a Lola Porsche, while a special class for side-vale engine cars attracts evocative names such as Bellamy Ford V8, Allard J1, Batten V8 and Ford Roadster.
Proving very popular again this year is a large class for B licence holders with drivers turning up in fully road-legal cars including Renault Clio, Mini Ritz, Mazda MX5 and Lotus Elise.
The Shelsley Walsh action starts at 9.15 each morning with practice and qualifying on Saturday, followed by timed competition runs with full commentary on Sunday. Further details can be obtained from the club's website at www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk
Photo Credit: Geoff Robinson
