Gurston Down Championship Sponsorship – Turbo Dynamics

 

We are excited to announce that Turbo Dynamics have renewed their sponsorship of Gurston Down’s Championship. The championship will be known as the Turbo Dynamics Gurston Down Championship and runs alongside the Online Cleaning Technologies BARC SW Top Ten Challenge.

Turbo Dynamics has a long association with Gurston Down. Peter Marsh, Turbo Dynamics MD, is the son of Tony Marsh who was instrumental is the design and creation of Gurston Down in 1967.

 

Gurston Down Top Ten Challenge Sponsorship – Online Cleaning Technologies

We are very pleased to announce that Online Cleaning Technologies have renewed their sponsorship of Gurston Down’s Top Ten Challenge. The challenge will be known as the Online Cleaning Technologies BARC SW Top Ten Challenge and will run alongside the Turbo Dynamics Championship.

Steve Holland, Online Cleaning Technologies MD, said that “We are very proud to associate ourselves with Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb and very happy to renew our Top Ten Challenge sponsorship.”

Those of you who were following us here at Gurston Down in 2023 will know that Steve won the Top Ten Challenge on the very last run of event. We are sure that Steve will be looking to retain his title.

 

 

SET UP DAY 2024 – 17TH MARCH 2024 – HELP NEEDED

Our 2024 Annual Set-Up Day is 17th March 2024.

We need to prepare the hill for the 2024 season. There are many jobs, large and small, that need to be completed before our annual Test Day in April.

If you are attending, please let Pete Hammock know by emailing him at facilities@gurstondown.co.uk particularly if you have some special skills, fencer, electrician, plumber etc.

There will be tea and coffee available but the Restaurant will NOT be open.

 

 

NEW HISTORIC SPEED CHAMPIONSHIP LAUNCHED

Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb are welcoming The National Historic Speed Club Championship to our hill in 2024. Here’s the NHSC’s press release introducing their championship.

“A newly formed MSUK recognised club, the National Historic Speed Club (“NHSC”), has announced a speed championship for historic cars, sports cars and race cars built between 1st January 1947 and 31st December 1976.

Sponsored by Hagerty UK, thenew speed championship will be contested over twelve rounds at classic venues such as, Goodwood, Aintree, Shelsley Walsh, Prescott, Loton Park and Harewood.

NHSC is also honoured and delighted to announce that John Fitzpatrick has agreed to be President of the new club. John is of course famous for his winning exploits in Minis, Anglias and Escorts during the 1960s. Subsequently winning the European GT Championship in 1974 and going on to run his own WEC team. NHSC chairman, Steve Akers, said “This exciting new championship is intended to fill a big gap in the hillclimb and sprint calendar. Owners of historic cars will now have the chance to compete against each other on a much fairer basis, rather than having to  take on more modern machinery. The popularity of this era of motorsport has increased massively in recent years and we aim to bring fans the spectacle of these cars in action on a more regular basis around the country.”

The overall champion will be awarded the Innes Ireland Trophy, a trophy kindly donated by Christianne Ireland, his daughter. It is expected that Christianne will be competing in the championship, no doubt with the intention of winning it back!

Entries for the new championship open on Saturday 13th January via the club’s website, www.nationalhistoricspeed.co.uk.”

 

Apex Magazine and BARC’s 2023 Season Review

Apex, the BARC member magazine and BARC’s 2023 Season Review are dropping through a letter near you soon.

The Turbo Dynamics Championship and the Online Cleaning Technologies Top Ten Challenge are featured on page 61 of 2023 Season Review and the final report of the 2023 year on page 61 of Apex magazine.

 

 

2023 Winners

After a great season in 2023, we are pleased to detail a list of all the winners.

Online Cleaning Technologies Top Ten Challenge

1st Steve Holland wins THE GUARDS AUTOCROSS TROPHY and £250.00

2nd Ben Bonfield

3rd Andrew Forsyth

The Turbo Dynamics Gurston Down Championship

1st Steve Butts wins THE WADHAM STRINGER / BRUNTON TROPHY and £250.00

2nd Adrian Lewis

3rd Russell Davies

CLASS AWARDS:

Class 4 MX5 – Series Production Mazda MX5 Road Cars up to 2000cc

Chris Burch, wins THE RECORD DESIGNS MX5 AWARD

Class 4a – Series Production Road Cars up to 1400cc

John Davey

Class 4b – Series Production Road Cars 1401cc – 2000cc

Russell Davies

Class 4c – Series Production Road Cars over 2000cc – Supported by Turbo Dynamics

1st Steve Cox

2nd Simon Neve

Class 4d – Specialist Production Road Cars

Adrian Lewis

Class 5 – Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars up to 2000cc

Steve Butts

Class 6 – Modified Limited Production Marque Sports Cars over 2000cc

Graham Beale

Class 7 – Modified Production Cars up to 1400cc

Jim White

Class 8 – Modified Production Cars 1401cc – 2000cc

Steve Jackman

Class 9 – Modified Production Cars over 2000cc

Stephen Moore

Class 11 – Modified Specialist Production Cars, any capacity

Steve Holland

Class 13 – Historically Interesting Cars, pre 1973, any capacity – Supported by Kelvin Jouhar

Fyrth Crosse, wins the KEIR & CAWDER QUAICH

Class 15a – Sports Libre Cars up to 1400cc

Tim Pitfield

Class 16– Sports Libre Cars over 2000cc

Mike Rudge

Class 19 – Racing Cars 601cc – 1100cc – Supported by Rhiannon

1st Ben Bonfield wins the TOM ELTON TROPHY

2nd Luke Trotman

3rd Stephen Loadsman

Class 20 – Racing Cars 1101cc – 1600cc

Andrew Forsyth wins the A & S RACING TROPHY

Class 20B – Racing Cars Built up to 1985

Peter Hannam

Class 21a – Racing Cars 1601cc – 2000cc (Normally Aspirated) – Supported by New Techniques

Tony Wiltshire wins THE CHAIRMANS CUP

Class 22 – Racing Cars over 2000cc

Paul Crute

ANNUAL AWARDS

MARSH & MASTERS TROPHY – Awarded to the competitor scoring the highest number of points in the Gurston Championship who at the beginning of the season was 65 or over – Jim White

MARSH MEMORIAL TROPHY – Awarded to the BARC SW Championship Competitor who makes the greatest improvement in, or is nearest to, their class record during the two July Meetings – Steve Holland

PENSKE MARSHAL OF THE YEAR – Darren Fry

HEATHER BRAMPTON TROPHY – Awarded to the lady competitor who finishes highest in the Gurston Championship – Jennifer Stangle

TERENCE TATTAM MEMORIAL TROPHY – Awarded to the driver of the highest placed Open Sports Car in the Gurston Championship –Steve Butts

LOGETTE CUP – Awarded to the driver of the highest-placed Saloon or Closed Sports Car in the Gurston Championship – Jim White

PITT TROPHY – Awarded to the driver of the highest-placed Sports Libre Car in the Gurston Championship – Mike Rudge

DORCHESTER PLANNING CONSULTANCY TROPHY – Awarded to the competitor who has not won an award at any Gurston meeting, however, has scored the highest number of points in the Gurston Championship– Rob Brodie

CORONA CHALLENGE CUP – Awarded to the BARC SW member who makes the greatest improvement in a Class Record during the season – Steve Butts

PAT CHANT MEMORIAL TROPHY – Awarded for the most outstanding contribution by a Gurston lady during the season. – Gwyneth Wright

KEITH SALMON MEMORIAL TROPHY – Awarded to the Competitor based on concours presentation AND Championship performance, judged by the Gurston Committee – Graham Beale

PARKHOUSE & WYATT CHALLENGE TROPHY– Awarded to the Championship competitor based on concours presentation throughout the season. Cars are judged by the Gurston Committee on the basis of age, cleanliness, finish, safety and fitness for purpose – Paul Crute

PITSTOP TROPHY – Awarded to “Driver of the Season” who has not won an Annual Award – Dan Friel

THE JOHN FORSYTH ENDEAVOUR AWARD – Andrew Hext

STAN HUNT MEMORIAL TROPHY – Murray Wakeham

 

A&OE

In 2024 – Introducing New Classes and Have Class Changes

We are making some changes to our Championship classes and adding new classes. Here’s a summary, there will be more information once the details are finalised:

Road Cars MX5 Class – MK3 or NC Mazda MX5s will be included in this class. All 1.8 and 2.0 litre MK3s will be permitted. MK3s will be required to run on list 1A tyres and have no modification to their inlet and exhaust manifolds. Forced induction is not permitted as are modifications and remaps to the ECU.

The Over 2000cc Road Car Class – This class will be split into two, separating the four-wheel drive cars from the two-wheel drive cars.

We will be introducing two classes:

Standard Road Cars Class – This class will be in accordance with the MSUK Blue Book regulations, subject to some additional safety requirements.

Rally Car Class – This class will be for Rally Cars.

Fuller details will be published once these have been formally agreed.

 

 

 

Reminder – Annual Awards Dinner – 25th November

The 2023 Annual Awards Dinner is being held at The Stones, High Post, Near Salisbury on the 25th of November 2023.

Get your place using the forms below:

Word Version of Annual Awards 2023

pdf Version of Annual Awards 2023

Places are limited so please get your forms back as soon as you can.

We have a discounted room rate at The Stones for the night of 25th November, including breakfast. Make sure you call The Stones, and mention that you are part of the BARC SW / Gurston Down Awards.