Newsletter of The National Hill Climb Association Ltd
Tel.
01275 854789 (7pm-10pm weekdays, any
time weekends)
Email. tonypquinn@netscapeonline.co.uk
Club
Web Site: www.nhca.co.uk
Results
Web Site: www.sims703.freeserve.co.uk
May 2002
Here’s your May Hillclimber. I’m afraid it’s a bit thin, but that’s
because there’s been very little by way of contributions. Maybe it’s too early in the season. Many thanks to Jamie Mitchell in particular
who is not only a very active rider, but who has also taken the trouble to
write two articles for this issue.
Thanks too to Pete Fisher for both acting as entry secretary for the
April Loton and doing the necessary as report writer.
I hear of a number of folk falling off, but not many
of them seem to be writing reports.
Some of them may well be pulling their weight in organising events etc.,
speaking of which I heard that Doug Parnell did a nasty at the 500OC Wiscombe
on 1 May. But there are a few of you
out there who could usefully put pen to paper occasionally. So, IF YOU FALL OFF OR DO SOMETHING DAFT,
YOU WRITE THE REPORT. If two of you
fall off, one can write the report and the other can write something else, ‘My
favourite hill’ or maybe a limerick… now, there’s an idea. If you have never written anything before
and need a template report (a bit like Jasper Carrot’s all-purpose country
song), I will be happy to provide an outline report. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.
Tony
Doug Parnell has been up to Harewood scouting the
course to see what it’s like from a two-wheeler point of view. The course is currently awaiting ACU
inspection, but hopefully this will be completed well in time for our meeting
on 25 August. Harewood is a lovely
course, 1500 yards long at least and we are very grateful for the invitation.
Also, for those either living in Northern parts or
those who fancy some ’climbing in Yorkshire, the Auto 66 Club organises an
excellent series of twisty sprints and hillclimbs which are well
supported. For details, please
write to Auto 66 Club, The Circuit
Office, Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough, N Yorks, YO11 2YW.
However, we don’t seem to be doing too well for
entries in the early part of this season.
We have some excellent events coming up including an additional Shelsley
Walsh with a larger entry on 7 July as well as the traditional invitation
meeting in August.
There’s always something unexpected on the
administrative side. The ACU have
requested that we have an up to date certified Clerk of the Course at each of
our meetings. This must be a person who
(a) is not competing, (b) has completed the one-day ACU course and (c) has sent
off notification to the ACU that they have recently acted so as to keep their
certification valid. We have some
members who have completed the ACU training day, but as the ACU hasn’t been
made aware of their ‘currency’, there is a suggestion that their qualification
may have lapsed. At the moment I am
negotiating furiously with the ACU so that we can hold all the scheduled events.
I was invited recently to the Channel Islands to
carry out track inspections on a number of hillclimb and twisty sprint
courses. This took me not only to
Jersey and Guernsey, but also to Alderney.
I have promised Tony an article for the next Hillclimber.
Nothing much to report on the bike front. I took the magneto off and asked Henry Body
to look it over. We’ll see how it goes
at the 500 OC Wiscombe which will be over by the time you read this.
Some reminders…
Please do not telephone Event Secretaries at the last
moment for an entry.
Remember to look at the events list. Opening and closing dates are clearly
stated.
If you have lost your events list, a phone call to me
or Tony will produce one by return of post.
Don’t forget to send stamped addressed envelopes with
your request for entry forms and also with your completed entry form if you
want to be sent the results.
Any queries about events, please ring us on 01392
436880.
Mrs M Woods
168 Huddersfield Road
Birstall
Batley
WF17 9AY
It
has been a few years since bikes were last at an Easter Loton meeting and
Easter was particularly early this year.
This combination of circumstances seems to caught several people unprepared,
so many thanks to those who contacted me in time to get in an entry, in view of
the Hagley Club phoning to ask for a firm number of machines before I had even
received the first completed entry form other than my own. Particular thanks
are due to the classic/vintage contingent who made up the majority of the
entry. Also, to Robin, Geoff, Ian and Doug for scrutineering, stewarding and
general advice.
The
one day format helped to keep the waiting time down, but kept me fit walking up
and down the paddock road keeping tabs on when it was time for our next run. We
hope to improve communication with the start line marshals next time and/or set
up base closer to the start.
The
first runs prompted a little over enthusiastic throttle operation by a couple
of competitors including Jason Reeve managing to spit his passenger out on the
approach to Museum. Fortunately Robin
Sims' mate Benny arrived to spectate just in time to lend a replacement helmet
so that subsequent runs could be completed without complicated logistics. The early dampness dried up nicely by the
first timed run and respectable times were put in by most. Newcomers Paul Jarrett and Gavin Lloyd had
already showed that their supermoto experience forms an excellent introduction
to hillclimbing by getting under 70 seconds on their first ever attempts at
their first ever hill climb course.
By
the last run the expected rain had arrived and so not surprisingly nobody
improved their times any further and Tony Madgwick's thumb unfortunately
protested at the treatment meted out by his earlier fall too much for him to
take his. Several car competitors opted
not to take their second runs so allowing time for a top six run off for bikes. Paul Jarrett not being content with solo FTD
proceeded to also take maximum overall championship points on a thoroughly wet
track as Jason lost too much time off the start line to press home his lead
going in to the run off.
A
warning – I go on holiday to France for three weeks the day after entries close
for the August meeting so there will be no point at all in trying to get hold
of me to be squeezed in late.
First Wadebridge weekend of the year, only 25 bikes
on Saturday. The weather bright but
with a little nip in the air, and plenty of rides for everyone. Paul Jeffery won the 250s, Martin Short the
350s and I managed to beat Paul again in the 500s, this can't go on forever
? Geoff won a closely fought battle in
the 750s with Alan Jolly Hockey Sticks 2nd and Jon "all right
maaaate" Staden 3rd. Only one sidecar entry, the Keates, but then Stu
turned up and asked me to passenger for him.
I did one practice and then Suzie his old passenger with the dodgy
kneecap, said she would like a go to see if her knee was up to Road Racing. All the official bits done she jumped in and
felt OK for the rest of the day. I was
a bit relieved as Stu had finally got the thing to run right and it was
actually quite scary in there.
The meeting was all finished by 3 pm, so we set off
to Rock for a couple of pints. Bill
took us to the Upper Deck which had a top storey balcony overlooking the Camel
estuary and Padstow. It was a beautiful
afternoon and the view was stunning. We
then drove over to Polzeath and walked up to the Atlantic Hotel, which
overlooks Polzeath Beach and the Atlantic, obviously. (Cornish Tourism bit here, I won't mention the Eden Project, nothing but plants and traffic
jams).
We had our year 2000 awards down in the Caravan park
in the evening, the one we got banned from 5 years ago. Local bike author Jeremy Jackson done the
honours and the Devon Cornwall rivalry was left all square on the Pool
table. Judge who lives there got that
pissed in the afternoon, he forgot all about us over in the club, I had to go
and drag him out at about 10.30. I must
thank Judge and Doreen for all their help in supplying Caravans. Everyone who wanted to stay had a big mobile
home for a tenner.
After a freezing night in our caravan (forgot to put
the heating on) we woke up to wet roads.
After a very slippery practice session, the sun made an appearance, so
it was decided to have a long dinner break, to see if the track would dry
out. The gamble paid off and battle
commenced.
Paul again won the 250s but this time had the Shorts
to beat, Martin again showed he's going to give absentee Robin some grief this
year, and my luck finally ran out, with Paul pipping me on the 2nd run to take
the 500ss. Geoff took the 750s which
looks like being the class to be in this year, with Jon 2nd and Pete 3rd on his
"for sale VOR". The Keates had it all their own way on Sunday as Stu
saw the rain and kept the outfit in the van, just like he did at Tregrehan, he
must have turned into a southern wuss, living down here for so long now.
That just leaves the Top 10. No dramas here, Paul put in a blinder to set
FTD with me 2nd and Geoff 3rd, must have been the beard trimming that did
it. I think everyone enjoyed
themselves. Plenty of rides and weather
not to bad, Judge just about tolerable, hope to see you all in September.
Saturday
250
1 P
Jeffery 38.76
2 P
Jenkins 39.56
3 G
Webber 40.65
4 B Hallett
52.05
5 C Keates
54.82
350
1 M
Palmer 38.97
2 D
Whitney 42.16
3 P Jenkins 42.39
4 D
Harris 45.80
500
1 J
Mitchell 38.00
2 P
Jeffery 38.41
3 M
Palmer 39.20
4 G Hodges
41.12
5 A
Jolly 41.54
750
1 G
Hodges 39.40
2 A
Jolly 39.89
3 J
Staden 40.19
4 D
Whitney 41.67
5 R
Bowker 44.38
S/C
1 P
Keates 41.58
2 S
Stobbart 43.45
Sunday
250
1 P Jeffery
43.49
2 P
Short 45.20
3 G
Webber 45.98
4 P
Jenkins 46.26
5 M Short 46.42
350
1 M
Palmer 44.12
2 D
Whitney 47.21
3 P
Jenkins 47.31
4 D
Harris 51.71
500
1 P
Jeffery 42.53
2 J
Mitchell 42.77
3 M
Palmer 44.55
4 G
Hodges 45.81
5 S Hill 47.87
750
1 G
Hodges 43.86
2 J
Staden 44.31
3 P Short 45.08
4 A
Jolly 45.86
5 G
Emery 47.08
S/C
1 P
Keates 46.39
Top 10
1 P
Jeffery 42.44
2 J
Mitchell 42.65
3 G
Hodges 43.46
4 J
Staden 43.94
5 M
Palmer 44.32
6 A
Jolly 44.48
Easter Tregrehan was up to its usual standard this
year, two glorious days leading up to the event and then midnight tolls on
Saturday night and the heavens open.
The paddock was damp and soft and the track damp and muddy.
20 bikes braved the scramble-like conditions, luckily
the rain stayed away most of the day. 60 cars had to negotiate the paddock
trials section before reaching the sanctuary of the tarmac and this is where
the meeting was ruined. A mixture of
mud and straw all over the start line.
Rumour has it that Dingle had Judge picking it all up to take home and
start building a Cob wall bungalow overlooking Polzeath beach. When it's finished he'll flog it to some
geezer from London for half a million, bargain Mr Staden.
Anyway Pete Short took FTD on his little tiddler
2-stroke with a time of 23.01. He did
this time on the 2nd practice run but all the riders agreed beforehand that
Pete's a wan???, sorry, agreed beforehand that, with the car club only having 3
runs to avoid more damage to the grounds, that we would only have 1 practice
run and 2 timed runs.
Paul Jeffery followed in 2nd place with a 3 year old
Michelin on the back, with Mark Short third.
In the 350s, Paul Jenkins took his bored-out Kawasaki to the class win
ahead of Dave Harris and Tregrehan Virgin Les Wilson. I managed to pip Paul for the 500s and just missed FTD by .09 of
a second, Mr Jolly Hockey Sticks was third with another virgin Kevin James
4th. The shock of the day was in the
biggest supported class the 750s. Jon
Staden who had got up at 2am in the morning to get to Tregrehan took his new
KTM to a surprise win after binning the Dunlop, it was sporting at Hartland and
replacing it with a Michelin. Pete
Short came in 2nd on his (for sale) VOR and Gerald Spiers 3rd on his (sold my
VOR) Chutney Velo Yamaha. Gerald was
able to play with himself in the 1300s on that 916 again, brave boy, fancy
playing with yourself on a 916 in front of that big crowd (honest the car park
was surprisingly busy).
See you at Wadebridge or wherever,
PS. I'm
looking for some old results to try and trace where my dad had ridden and if
anybody has any from the list below I would appreciate copies, I'll pay for any
postage.
Tregrehans 1980
- 1985
Baitings Pre-1976
Predannacks Pre-1976
Wadebridge 13
Sept. 1980
Tredegar July
1993 2 days (for me)
250
1 P
Short 23.01
2 P
Jeffery 24.28
3 M
Short 24.83
4 P
Jenkins 25.28
5 G
Webber 25.88
350
1 P
Jenkins 26.08
2 D
Harris 28.36
3 L
Wilson 30.53
500
1 J
Mitchell 23.10
2 P
Jeffery 23.58
3 A
Jolly Hockey Sticks 25.24
4 K
James 29.71
750
1 J
Staden 23.58
2 P
Short 23.74 Fell off on last run Should be writing this !!
3 G
Spiers 23.93
4 A
Jolly Hockey Sticks 24.21
5 M
Short 25.39
6 P
Barker 27.49
7 R
Bowker 28.04
1300
1 G
Spiers 26.27
£25 Special Offer for
first timers
Don’t forget that this offer is available for 2002 to
any rider wishing to enjoy their first competitive meeting with the NHCA. It includes entry to the event, ACU day
licence, day membership to NHCA (if not already joined) and a free Hillclimber
as a follow-up. It is available for the
following events –
¨
Curborough
¨
Withycombe
¨
Fairoak
¨
Manor Farm
¨
September
Wiscombe
¨
End of
Season Hartland
Any new competitor may take advantage only once. When returning the entry form, mark it ‘£25
Offer’ and be prepared to complete the one-day licence form on the day.
Copy by 10 July for publication by 20 July.