Contrasting days for final Shelsley events

Terry Graves with his victorious Gould

MAC member Terry Graves from Cornwall took both Fastest Time of Day awards on a weekend of diverse conditions for the last event of the season at Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb.

Driving his 3.5 litre Gould GR37, chassis number 001, competitors enjoyed perfect conditions on Saturday with Terry posting a time of 26.68 seconds to win FTD, with fellow club members John Jones of Kington taking second place in his Pilbeam MP88 with a time of 27.22 and local man Darren Gumbley from Tenbury Wells taking an excellent third place in his 1100 Class Force PT single seater, with a time of 27.39.

Terry commented: “I usually compete in the British Sprint Championship and at some of the South West hill climbs, but have driven at Shelsley Walsh some years ago in a Pilbeam, however, this was my first visit in this, the original Gould, so I took things pretty steady at first, but was delighted with the end result and have had a fantastic weekend.

“I found the track very green in places and quickly realised that you are never going to learn to drive it correctly in just one weekend, so I am looking forwarding to returning here on more occasions with this car next season.”

Paul Howells in his Porsche 911 RSR took the class win in the Porsche Club Speed Championship, while David Hardcastle won the TR Register class.

Ben Wilkins on an Aprilia won the NHCR motorcycle run off with a time of 30.39 followed very closely by Honda rider Paul Jeffrey on 30.71, with Sam Matthewman on a Suzuki TL in 31.06.

Sunday saw the conditions change dramatically, but Terry Graves once again managed to repeat his FTD, posting a time of 31.16 seconds in appallingly cold and wet weather, which thankfully seemed to make competitors respect the conditions and drive with some caution, ensuring that the meeting still ran smoothly.

The Ferrari Drivers maintain sporting behaviour despite close competition!

Following Sunday’s very close results, the Pirelli Ferrari Championship will now go down to the wire at the MAC’s last event of the year at Curborough Sprint Circuit, near Lichfield, in October, where Chris Butler, Richard Prior and Andrew Holman are all still in with a chance of taking the title.

Invited clubs on Sunday provided close competition with Clive Glass taking the class win in the MSCC Techniques Morgan Speed Championship with a time of 41.70, Matthew Oakley won his class with a time of 39.66 in the TVRCC Speed Championship and Richard Mason took class honours with a time of 41.24 in the Healeysport Championship.