We have around 110 cars and drivers competing on both days with a separate event on Saturday and Sunday as well as the motorbikes and combinations of the Auto Cycle Union’s Hill Climb Championship.

All will face the challenge of the legendary 12 feet wide, fast and twisty course at Wiltshire’s famous, award winning Speed Hill Climb Venue, Gurston Down.

With unrivalled access to the hill, paddock, cars, drivers and facilities available to our spectators, the weekend promises to be a veritable sceptical of sound, smell, skill and speed. We have excellent catering and refreshments on site too!

You really can’t get closer to the action!

There are four rounds of the Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Championship, two rounds each day and two rounds of Cavendish Ships Stores Top Ten Challenge the Challenger, one round each day.

The Meadens Skoda Championship is close after the first eight rounds. The performances at the July meetings might well determine the overall championship but as ever that will depend on the performances during every timed run.

The current championship leader is Mark Crookall in his Mazda MX5. Second is Jason Richardson in his Mazda MX5 is second. Mark has 73 points and Jason 69 points. Shaun Fudge (Subaru Impreza) and Tim Pitfield (DJ Firecat) are third equal on 68 points.

The Challenge is currently lead by Steve Holland. The challenge results will probably be decided at the July meetings but there are plenty of people who might knock Steve off the top spot.

We also have over 30 motorbikes and side-cars running both days. There is more on that in the Motorbike Preview that will be available soon

In addition to the regular Meadens Skoda Gurston Down Championship classes, there are a number of invited clubs on both days.

Invited Classes:

The Sevenoaks and District Motor Club Speed Championship Class

There’s a good entry in the class both days. Dave Rayner in his Caterham S-Sport was last years class winner and should be the one to watch. Dave has a much lighter car than his competitors but there are some quick cars in this class.

Bugatti Owners Club Henney’s Cider Classic Speed Championship Class

This class only runs on Saturday but with a line-up of some beautiful cars. There are Ford Escorts, a Ginetta G4, two Brabhams., two MGs just to name some of the cars in this class. There are 17 cars, all of which will be beautifully presented and will be looking for great times too.

Historic Rally Car Register Speed Championship Class

This class only runs on Sunday. There is another great mix of cars in this class. Nigel Patten brings a Renault R8 Gordini, Stephen Akers, aMini Cooper, Phil Cheek an MG B and there are two Lotus Elans.

Downton Motor Club Class

There is a small entry in the class just three cars both days. Steve Harris and Stuart Lugger are both entered in Minis but they will have to fight hard to beat the Locost of Andrew Mathis. His power to weight ratio should keep the other two at bay.

Westfield Sports Car Club Speed Championship Class

It’s good to see such a strong entry from the Westfield Sports Car Club. Five drivers on Saturday and six on Sunday. With Charlotte ad Adam Phelps and their Megabusa being the car / driver combination to beat. But none of the other drivers should be discounted, performance on the day will be critical.

The Regular Gurston Down Regular Classes:

The Gurston Down Mazda MX5 Class, supported by The Window Doctor:

This class has been an incredibly competitive class since it started and this season is no expection. The class record has been broken event after event and event, this season. It now stands at 39.13s and is held by Mark Crookall. Mark in his RS will have the usual stiff competition from both Jason Richardson in his RS and Chris Burch in the car he shares with Mark. Mark and Jason are first and second in the overall Meadens Skoda Championship and will both be looking for solid points. Mark looking to cement his lead and Jason to over-take Mark.


The Road Going Series Production Class up to 1400cc Class

John Davey, Managing Director of Cavendish Ships Stores, our Top Ten Challenge sponsor currently leads the class championship. He’s sharing the car with Gordon Weston this weekend. John needs to keep Dabid Nutland and his Mini at bay as both need great points to secure their position in the class championship.

The Road Going Series Production Class 1401cc to 2000cc Class, supported by Record-Designs

There’s a large entry in this class. Miles Horne bring the Peugeot 306 back after issues at the June meeting. Miles is the current class record holder but needs to secure solid points to hold onto or extend his lead over Christopher Davies in the Honda Civic Type R and Dean Cubitt in the Mazda MX5. This class might be decided on drop scores. Miles will need reliability to maintain the lead.

The Over 2000cc Road Going Series Production Class supported by Turbo Dynamics

There is a ten driver entry in this class. Shaun Fudge, in the Subaru Impreza is third in the overall championship and first in the class championship so he will be looking for some good points to secure his championship position. He will have a tough weekend. The current class record holder and former Gurston Down Championship is entered in his Road Going Mitsubishi Evo as are Jenny and Clive Stangle in their Mitsubishi Evo. And we shouldn’t forget Steve Cox in the VW Golf R and Mike Rudge in the Ford Focus RS. This really will be a tough class for everyone.

Road Going Specialist Production Class supported by Fieldfare Trailer Centre

Adrian Lewis in the Westfield Superbusa must start favourite in this class. The “Screaming Tangerine” is very fast and driven well by Adrian. Mark Parrett, Manager of the class sponsors, in his lovely Autotune Gemini will be looking for points to help secure his class championship position.

The Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars up to 2000cc Class

Simon Purcell runs his supercharged Lotus Exige with it’s smaller engine in the upto 2000cc class. He hasn’t got any competition but as ever he will be looking for personal best times.

The Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars over 2000cc Class

There are just three entries both days but this should be a scrap between Phil Price in the Porsche 930RS and Graham Beale in the Ginetta G33. Sadly the E Type of Paul Slade will struggle against these two monsters. If you are in the paddock you should come around and take a look at all three of these cars!

The Modified Series Production Car up to 1400cc Class

The all Mini line-up in this class, it will be down to Gurston experience. James White starts favourite but David Bean will be looking to score some valuable points in the championship as the current class record holder and class championship leader, Neal Turner isn’t competing.

The Modified Series Production Car 1401cc to 2000cc Class

The Peugeot 306 with Colin Satchell at the wheel will probably dominate this class. Colin’s car is outstandingly quick and Colin is an accomplished driver.

The Modified Series Production Car Over 2000cc Class

The beautifully presented Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of Tim Painter and Andrew Fraser will have some stiff competition on Saturday. Mark Walker in the Porsche Cayman S will make sure they both have to work for the win on Saturday. Mark will be looking for championship points both days.

On Sunday, the class record holder and former Gurston Down Champion brings his fantastically quick Mitsubishi Evo to the hill. With the form Stephen is in at the moment, the rest will be chasing each other for second.

The Modified Specialist Production Class, supported by Gates of Brokenhurst

Steve Holland in the Caterham Hayabusa is the current overall leader of the Cavendish Ships Stores Top Ten Challenge. Not only will he be looking to be in the fastest ten on both days but he will be chasing championship points as he also leads the class championship.

The Historically Interesting Class, supported by Kelvin Jouhar

There are five entries on Saturday. The lovely Brabham BT35 of Christopher Bentley-Jones has the Tiga SF83 of Robin Johnson and Joe McKrell are joined by the Ginetta G12 of James and David Tearle. Winner of the class, that’s far to difficult to predict!

The Sports Libre Cars up to 1400cc Class

Tim Pitfield in the DJ Firecat is having a great season so far. He is the class current record holder, current class championship leader and has broken the class record twice this season already. Look out for Pete Steele in the Radical SR1, he looking for a 33s run providing the weather is good. Tim will have to be on top form take the win.

The Sports Libre Cars 1401cc to 2000cc Class

The V8 powered Lancia Stratos replica of Malcolm Cole is the only entry in this class. It’s another great car to take a look at when you are in the paddock.

The Sports Libre Cars Over 2000cc Class

Geoff Twemlow brings the Saker GT to the hill. The Subaru engined car hasn’t been behaving properly over the past few meetings, hopefully Geoff has had time to sort it out, enabling him to enjoy a full weekends racing. The Force SR8 shared by Chris Cannell and Sue Hayes also goes in this class. On current form Chris will probably take the win but he will be looking for Top Ten points as well as class championship points. Chris will also be looking for Fastest Time of the Day too!

500 Owners Association Speed Championship / 2001 Rules

Saturday see a good entry in some proper classic racing cars in this class, all with engines of 500cc or less. The drivers almost throw themselves and their cars into the corners. They are a spectacle! On Sunday, John Dent in the Cooper Mk8 runs on his own.

The 601cc to 1100cc Racing Car Class, supported by Drynham Project Management Limited

There is a good entry in this class both days. Murray Wakeham in the OMS CF96 is having a great season so far and is dominating the class championship. James Moore in the Empire Evo will make sure Murray really has to work for the win.

Formula Ford Race Cars up to 1600cc Class

There’s a great entry in this class on Saturday. The current record holder, Shaun Macklin in his Swift SC92 must start favourite. But with Russell Haynes in the Zeus ZR163, Simon Andrews in the Van Dieman RF90, Doug Auld in a Swift SC93 and Samantha Lester in a Van Dieman FR92 to name just a few, Shaun will have to be in class record breaking territory to grab the win. This class is usually separated by hundredths of a second.

On Sunday, there a six more entrants. So it’ll be interesting to see how Sunday shapes up!

Racing Cars 1101cc to 1600cc Class

Pete Hammock in the lovely 1600cc Empire Wraith has the class to himself both days. The car is new this season so Pete will be looking for new personal bests and learning more of how the car behaves.

Racing Cars up to 2000cc (Normally Aspirated)

Although there are just three entries in this class. This could be one of those that is tough to call. Look out for Tony Wiltshire in the Ralt RT34 who leads the class championship from Roger Cock in the Pilbeam MP54. But you can’t discount Ian Tucker in the OMS 28. This class could bring us Fastest Time of the Day.

Racing Cars up to 2000cc (Force Induction)

Saturday sees Paul Haimes in the lovely turbo-charged Gould GR59. He will be one of the contenders for Fastest Time of the Day.

With a weekend packed with great cars and great motorsport – Why not join us?

Key info
Location: 1 mile west of Broad Chalke, 9 miles SW of Salisbury, Wiltshire. Turn off the A354 at Coombe Bissett on the unclassified road to Broad Chalke, follow AA signs.
Dates: Saturday July 20th and Sunday July 21st
Times: Competition runs from approx. 1300, practice runs from 0830 both days.
Admission: Only £10 for adults each day, accompanied under 14s free, free paddock entry, free parking.

 

Anthony Record – Press Officer – BARC SW, Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb