Preview - British Championship event May 24th/25th 2008

2008 Dates

Other News

New class for Roadgoing Production Cars at Gurston in 2008

Annual Dinner/Awards Evening, November 2008

Background Gurston Information

Our Driving School

Britain's top hillclimbers on show at Gurston

Ian Chard set a brave BTD in the wet on Saturday April 19th ©Copyright Simon McBeath / maximage.co.uk 2008

Over 110 of the country's top hillclimb drivers and cars plus more than 30 riders and motorcycles assemble once again at Gurston Down Speed Hillclimb over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend for rounds of the British Hillclimb Championship.

The British Hillclimb Championship is essentially the domain of the ultra-rapid single seater racing cars, generally fitted with potent V8 racing engines. The most competitive chassis for the past few seasons of course have been built by Gould Engineering and a dozen of the beautifully made Goulds will be vying for qualifying places in the two thrilling 'championship run offs' that can be witnessed during Sunday's competition. Expect to see current British Hillclimb Champion and the outright hill record holder at Gurston Martin Groves fly in his 3.5 Gould GR55B. And Scott and Roger Moran will be trying their hardest to topple the multiple champion with their 3.5 GR61X variant. Currently the quickest non-Gould is the OMS CF06 V8 in the highly capable hands of Trevor Willis, whose pace and fluidity through the slow complex at Gurston is an object lesson to all…

There will be plenty of top action in the other classes over the weekend too, with a high quality entry of modified production cars, hillclimb supersports cars, sports libre cars and single seater racing cars split into 14 different classes. With 23 entries in the unlimited capacity racing car class alone there is certain to be a veritable speed fest from the mixture of four cylinder, V6 and V8 powered cars, many of which can out-accelerate today's Formula 1 Grand Prix cars, and can top 140mph on Gurston's twisty, kilometre long, 12 foot wide tarmac course!

And adding to the spectacle will be the amazing two- and three-wheeled motorcycle action, with over 30 brave riders on their bikes and sidecar/trike outfits.

Neal Masters is one of four locals out for the small modprod class win ©Copyright Simon McBeath / maximage.co.uk 2008

In the classes
Local drivers are sure to feature well in the up to 1400cc modified production saloon car class, and we'll see a great scrap here between Neal Masters, Jim White, Steve Harris and Phil Eaton, all these aboard 1.4 litre Minis. It's anyone's guess who will come out top here! In the up to 1400cc modprod sports car class former Gurston champion Andy Russell will be tough to beat in his 1.1 Ginetta G15 though John Griffiths's Caterham Hayabusa should be quick.

The over 2000cc modprod saloon car class is once again turbo territory, and is likely to see Geoff Twemlow's 2.0 Subaru Impreza battling with Tony Mullis's 1.8 Audi TT. In the over 2000cc modprod sports car class there'll be another local scrap between Steve Holley in his 5.0 TVR Griffith and Ben Stapley in his 3.1 Datsun 240Z

Simon Fidoe could emerge winner in the up to 2000cc sports libre class ©Copyright Simon McBeath / maximage.co.uk 2008

The up to 2000cc sports libre class looks tough to call and Simon and Ian Fidoe probably start as favourites in the family 2.0 Pilbeam MP43. But Gurston regular Keith Diggle will be vying for the top spot too in his 2.0 WEV HCS. And in the over 2000cc sports libre class Gurston Hillclimb Drivers School supporter Chris Cannell will have a fight on his hands but is sure to pedal his stunning 3.5 SPA Judd V8 with aplomb on the hill on which he is a former Gurston Top Ten Challenge winner. However he is up against Charlie Smith's well developed 2.6 Pilbeam MP43 so this could be a hard battle too.

A large contingent of single seater racing cars dominates the entry to this meeting. In the 600cc racing car class former Force Racing Cars constructor Bill Chaplin shares one of his own creations, a 600cc Force DS with Eurosport Moto GP commentator Toby Moody. In a competitive 1100cc racing car class Brodie Branch and Darren Luke have been flying on every hill they have visited with their 1.1 Force PC, and they were stunning in the wet at this event last year.

The three remaining racing car classes see very large entries, and among 20 up to 1600cc racing cars James Blackmore looks favourite in his 1.6 OMS CF04, though BARC (Yorkshire Centre) chairman Tim Wilson also goes very well at Gurston in his 1.4 OMS CF04. Two locals, Peter Sexton (1.6 OMS) and Ian Chard (1.1 supercharged Jedi Mk 4) will also be in the thick of it here.

In amongst the 18 up to 2000cc racing cars are a number of drivers could do well. Tom New is sure to be right up there is his 2.0 Pilbeam MP88 V6 but Paul Haimes can be relied upon for total commitment in his 2.0 Dallara F301. And Chris Guille is also very quick at Gurston in family 2.0 OMS CF04 shared with father Geoff. Father and son duo Mike and Nik Gregory have the potential to go well too in their gorgeous 1.4 supercharged DJ Firehawk.

Sue Young on her way to the Ladies Hill record at Gurston last year. Can she improve in 2008? ©Copyright Simon McBeath / maximage.co.uk 2008

Onto the unlimited capacity single seaters then and 23 cars go here. Fastest local is sure to be former double Gurston Top Ten Challenge winner Basil Pitt aboard his state of the art 2.8 Gould GR55C V8. Basil finished a terrific eighth overall in last year's British Championship and he'll certainly be looking for good championship scores on his local hill this time out. And it's good to see another former Gurston Top Ten Challenge winner, Karl Davison return to the hill in his recently acquired ex-Simon Durling 2.8 Gould GR55B V8. But this class will be all about the fastest drivers attempting to qualify for the 12 places in each of the British Championship Run Offs, so expect Martin Groves (3.5 Gould GR55B), Scott and Roger Moran (3.5 Gould GR61X) and Trevor Willis (2.8 OMS CF06) to come out on top here. And don't forget Ladies Hill Record Holder Sue Young in the 4.0 Gould GR51 she shares with husband Deryk, himself always rapid at Gurston.

Hill record holder on two wheels is Paul Jeffery on his 508cc Honda CR ©Copyright Simon McBeath / maximage.co.uk 2008

Among the solo motorbikes, look out for course record holder and multiple class record holder at Gurston Paul Jeffery on his 508cc Honda CR in the up to 750cc class, always spectacular to watch. Another flyer, Glyn Poole goes on his 491 Honda CR in the up to 500cc class in which he holds the record (just three hundredths slower than Paul Jeffery's outright mark!). And the record holders in the classic sidecar (one wheel drive) class Patrick and Paul Keates run their 1052cc Baker F1 outfit

It's sure to be an exciting meeting packed full of close up action against the clock. Don't miss it!

The BARC (SW) accepts entries and drivers' nominations in good faith but cannot, however, accept responsibility for the failure of any car or driver to appear.

Schedule:

Saturday May 24th Practice, starts 0830, three practice runs
Sunday May 25th, one practice run starting 0830, then first competitive class runs followed by the first "Top 12 Run Off"; lunch break (provisional); second competitive class runs, second "Top 12 Run Off".

Admission: £10.00, accompanied under 14s free. Free parking.
Restaurant and bar.

After the event you'll be able to view all the times from all the cars over the entire weekend by clicking on the TSL logo below and going to the appropriate event date in the listings.

TV Coverage of this event is due to go out initially on June 7th. Check out the links below for further listings details.

Check out http://www.motorstv.com/car/others/british-hillclimbing for the full listings. And the producers, Brayspeed Productions, will be selling DVD's once the event has been televised. Go to www.brayspeed.co.uk for further details or enquire via email by clicking here.

2008 event schedule

The list of remaining event dates for the 2008 season at Gurston is as follows. Full details also appear on the Calendar page.

Hillclimb Events

June 21st, June 22nd

July 20th (plus motorbikes)

August 23rd/24th (British Championship, practice Saturday, competition Sunday)

September 14th

The events on April 20th, June 22nd, July 20th and September 14th will be rounds of the Gurston Down Hillclimb Championship and Top Ten Challenge.

Hillclimb Drivers Schools

May 13th, June 3rd and July 15th.

Test Day

No, not the BARC Ontario Centre's ice racing but Gurston in early April. 4x4 class anyone? ©Copyright Simon McBeath / maximage.co.uk 2008

The Met Office and others in that much maligned trade should be congratulated for telling us a week in advance that it would snow on the Test Day on April 6th, even if we'd rather it hadn't! Nevertheless after a delayed start those who managed to avoid or battle through the disruption to road travel that afflicted the region got plenty of ultimately dry running in, albeit in pretty low ambient temperatures.

More Test Day pics on the Gallery page.

Gurston on

Great news from videographer Tony Bray of Brayspeed (www.brayspeed.co.uk) is that he has secured a deal with Motors TV to show all four rounds of the Gates of Brockenhurst Gurston Hillclimb Championship and Top Ten Challange in 2008! The broadcasts are scheduled to go out on May 3rd, June 5, August 2nd and September 27, all at 21:00. Best to keep an eye out on the schedules closer to the time, but it'll be great to see our favourite hillclimb get a regular slot on the box!

Tony is also supplying coverage of selected rounds of the British Hillclimb Championship too, and our May Bank Holiday event will be televised on Motors on June 7, again scheduled at 21:00.

BARC (SW Centre) Notices

Internet entries

News from the Gurston office is that the the response from competitors to the new internet entry system has been excellent. 'We had over 50 applications the first day, and we have ironed out most of the teething problems' reported competition secretary Jane Harratt. 'And never has so much money from entries gone into the Club's bank account so quickly!!' she added enthusiastically!

BARC (SW) A.G.M.
This will be held on Monday 12th May, 2008 at Gurston in the Restaurant at 7.30 p.m. This is a much later date due to a change in our accounting year. After the formal business there will be the usual opportunity for general discussion.

New class for 2008

A new class is to be trialled at Gurston in 2008, though it will not as yet be a Gurston Championship class. Designated as 'Roadgoing Production Cars, any capacity' the class will be for vehicles complying with the 2008 MSA Year Book Section I.70-81 (per the new section designations in that publication) and tyres to C(e) List 1B will also be permitted. So if you want to have a crack in your road car at those meetings where it is intended the class will run (all except the British Campionship events in May and August) look out on this web site for supplementary regulations and entry forms, and get your licence and MSA 'Blue Book' nice and early so you can bone up on the technical regulations.

Set in beautiful Wiltshire downland, Gurston Down provides a spectacular venue to watch motorsport, with cars topping 140mph in some cases on the narrow twisty track. ©Copyright Simon McBeath 2002

Hillclimbing at Gurston Down involves cars running singly against the clock from a standing start over the measured distance of 967 metres (1057 yards).

The course rises 43 metres (140 feet) from start to finish, although uniquely in this country the first section after the start is downhill.   The course is tarmac, about 12 feet wide and comprises fast and slow bends.

Timing is done electronically to one hundredth of a second (triggered by cars breaking beams of light at the start and the finish).   Speed traps measure speeds at the fastest parts of the hill.   A tight section of bends brings the cars down to around 25 mph before the uphill blast to the twisty finish line, where the fastest recorded speed is 150 mph!  Full commentary is provided during the competition runs.

Location
1 mile west of the village of Broadchalke, approx 9 miles south west of Salisbury.   The venue is at Gurston Farm, with the competition car paddocks in various parts of the farm yard.   The Speed Hillclimb course is tucked away in a valley in Wiltshire´s picturesque chalk downland.   (See our Calendar page for additional details including a Map.)

Gurston Down is easy to get to, and access to the paddock and the course, at close but safe proximity, is excellent, with level or gently sloping routes to some viewing points (although some spectator areas are reached via steeper pathways on grass).    The facilities provided for spectators are excellent, and include a modern Restuarant which serves hot and cold food from 0730 hours to 1600 hours (1900 hours on Saturdays), and a bar from around 1200 noon.

Programmes are available, commentary will be provided, digital speed and time displays will be installed - all designed to inform and enhance your day in wonderful countryside.

The cars
There are classes for every type of competition car from Minis to Formula 1 powered racing cars, and including modified production cars, sports racing cars and single seaters in various engine capacity classes.   Some meetings have classes for invited clubs who bring cars like Ferraris, Porsches, Ginettas, Austin Healeys and Austin 7s.   In fact, there is something for just about every car enthusiast.

The aim
Speed Hillclimbing is about driving a car from a standing start to a flying finish, along an uphill course against the clock.   The fastest driver in any class is the winner, and the fastest driver overall at a meeting receives the Fastest Time of the Day (FTD) award.

General :-

The 2005 admission price is £8.00 for an adult (aged 14 or over); Accompanied children aged 13 and under are admitted free.

Car parking is free.

Campers, Caravans and Motorhomes can all be accommodated, subject to the payment of a small fee to the organisers (free to Marshals).

Our Restuarant will be open from 0730 hours until about 1800 hours, serving hot and cold food until 1600 hours, and offering a bar from around 1200 noon.

Modern permanent toilets and showers are available, and also a disabled access toilet adjacent to the Restuarant.

The Gurston Down Restaurant and Bar - a wonderful facility,
which is open all day, providing meals, refreshments, drinks,
wonderful views and a congenial atmosphere!
_{©Copyright; Simon McBeath}

The 2008 Dinner and Awards Ceremony will again be held at an excellent venue on the outskirts of Salisbury.  This is the Grasmere House Hotel, Harnham, Salisbury.   The Hotel is located on the South Western edge of the City, with excellent access and location. (see below)  Tel 01722 338388

Grasmere Hotel Restuarant

Location of Grasmere House Hotel

As well as a most attractive dining room, there are large separate bar and lounge areas with ample seating.  The accommodation is to a high standard and booking should be made direct with the Hotel.

Ticket details will be issued in due course.

Overnight accommodation at Grasmere House is available - ring 01722 338388, or email info@grasmerehotel.com
Please mention Gurston Down and/or the BARC (South West) when booking, as special prices have been negotiated.

It's narrow.   It's twisty.   And it's fast!   In a nutshell, that's the sport of speed hillclimbing, one of motorsport's most accessible and friendly categories.   With the British Hillclimb Championship coming to Gurston Down over two Bank Holiday weekends in each year, (Late May and Late August) there's great opportunities to see how the best drivers in the country tackle the course at speeds up to 140mph.

But you can actually start hillclimbing in a road car, and there are generally three opportunities each year to start in the best possible way - with a day at the Gurston Down Hillclimb Drivers School.   The dates for 2005 (all on Tuesdays) are 10th May, 7th June and 26th July.   

Hillclimbing is all about driving up narrow windy roads, with timing at competition events done electronically, and there are classes for all types of cars.   But because the roads are private, and closed to traffic of course, the environment is a safe one in which to drive as fast as you feel you can.

To make your entry into this fun branch of motorsport as easy as possible, at the Gurston Down Hillclimb Drivers School you receive classroom tuition on safety and how to drive the course from experienced, licensed instructors before you take to the hill in your car.   And your every-day road-car is ideal for the job, providing it is roadworthy and has a current MoT certificate if appropriate. It's a great day out, and an adenalin-induced grin is guaranteed!  All pupils need to have a full driving licence (not a provisional), or hold an MSA competition licence.

Interested?   Then call the School Principal, Andrew Hext, on 01264 882215 (W) or 07971 989517(M) for further details, or click here to visit our School web page.

Introduction	Championship	News & Press	Cameo	Gallery	Records	Membership	Related Links
Calendar	Challenge	Committee	School	Marshals	Timing	Accommodation	Full Gurston Menu

  Back to the top of this Page