NEWS
ERAs go head-to-head as battle for ‘Fastest Time of the Day’ goes down to the wire at VSCC Prescott Speed Hill Climb 2013.
Monday 05 August 2013
Mac Hulbert’s ‘R4D’ claimed ‘Fastest Time of the Day’ at this year’s Vintage Sports-Car Club Prescott Speed Hill Climb in a battle that came down to the wire in the closing minutes of a thrilling weekend’s competition.
Practice on Saturday enjoyed warm sunshine which saw many achieving respectable times, and after partying to the sounds of ‘Eureka Jazz’ and ‘Black Elvis’ in Prescott Clubhouse on Saturday evening, they all dreamt of breaking class records on Sunday; but it was not to be, as storms gathered and the first runs on Sunday morning were all taken in very wet conditions.
A unique gathering of very early Aston Martin cars from the Pre-1927 Bamford and Martin era paraded up the hill during the lunch break, after which, the weather improved with periods of sunshine allowing some to take the upper hand against their fellow competitors as the track began to dry.
As the faster cars of the latter classes took to the hill, the overall accolades were all still to play for. Robert Cobden had the fastest practice time (42.03 seconds) after Saturday, but he was over exuberant and spun the Riley Falcon Special at ‘Pardon Corner’ so at this stage, 2012 victor, Terry Crabb was ahead of the field with a climb of 45.89 seconds in ERA R12C, which gave him the Class 14 win. Charlie Martin put the ‘RIP’ Special in prime position in the Vintage stakes with a blistering run of 46.28 seconds to take first Vintage in the Class.
Tension in the paddock rose as Classes 15 and 16 warmed up and the two ERAs of James Baxter (R4A) and Mac Hulbert (R4D) made their way to the start line to duel for the spoils. Commentator Chris Hartley had the crowd on the edge of their seats as he relayed the pair’s split times on the course. It was impossible to call if Mac was going to nudge ahead of Baxter’s excellent 44.14 second run, a great achievement in his first attempt at Prescott in the recently acquired machine, but Hulbert put all his vast experience into his run and crossed the line a nail biting 0.36 seconds faster to collect the crown of ‘Fastest Time of the Day’ and the coveted Mays Berthon Trophy. The action was far from over however as the crowd cheered their hero, Nick Topliss, who took first Vintage in his GN ‘Gnome’ in the same class. The paddock was rumbling to the sounds of Chris Williams’s 24 litre Napier Bentley making for the line, whilst Robin Baker achieved Fastest Vintage and topped Class 16 with his 1930 Hispano Amilcar Special. Two plucky females were also in the awards in this class with Anne Scaldwell taking 2nd overall and 2nd Vintage with the 1908 GN/JAP Grand Prix, and Amber McHamish winning 1st Handicap in her 1929 Stinson Special.
The ERA drivers were jubilant in the paddock after their heroic battles and all of the competitors at the event set off for home with the common thought that this had been a truly memorable ‘Vintage Prescott’.
Provisional results and photographs are now live. Click on the ‘Events’ tab (ensure ‘2013’ is selected on the event filter on the right). Scroll to the Prescott page and open, the Gallery displays at the bottom and the results can be accessed via the ‘Results’ tab. For a quick link click here
A unique gathering of very early Aston Martin cars from the Pre-1927 Bamford and Martin era paraded up the hill during the lunch break, after which, the weather improved with periods of sunshine allowing some to take the upper hand against their fellow competitors as the track began to dry.
As the faster cars of the latter classes took to the hill, the overall accolades were all still to play for. Robert Cobden had the fastest practice time (42.03 seconds) after Saturday, but he was over exuberant and spun the Riley Falcon Special at ‘Pardon Corner’ so at this stage, 2012 victor, Terry Crabb was ahead of the field with a climb of 45.89 seconds in ERA R12C, which gave him the Class 14 win. Charlie Martin put the ‘RIP’ Special in prime position in the Vintage stakes with a blistering run of 46.28 seconds to take first Vintage in the Class.
Tension in the paddock rose as Classes 15 and 16 warmed up and the two ERAs of James Baxter (R4A) and Mac Hulbert (R4D) made their way to the start line to duel for the spoils. Commentator Chris Hartley had the crowd on the edge of their seats as he relayed the pair’s split times on the course. It was impossible to call if Mac was going to nudge ahead of Baxter’s excellent 44.14 second run, a great achievement in his first attempt at Prescott in the recently acquired machine, but Hulbert put all his vast experience into his run and crossed the line a nail biting 0.36 seconds faster to collect the crown of ‘Fastest Time of the Day’ and the coveted Mays Berthon Trophy. The action was far from over however as the crowd cheered their hero, Nick Topliss, who took first Vintage in his GN ‘Gnome’ in the same class. The paddock was rumbling to the sounds of Chris Williams’s 24 litre Napier Bentley making for the line, whilst Robin Baker achieved Fastest Vintage and topped Class 16 with his 1930 Hispano Amilcar Special. Two plucky females were also in the awards in this class with Anne Scaldwell taking 2nd overall and 2nd Vintage with the 1908 GN/JAP Grand Prix, and Amber McHamish winning 1st Handicap in her 1929 Stinson Special.
The ERA drivers were jubilant in the paddock after their heroic battles and all of the competitors at the event set off for home with the common thought that this had been a truly memorable ‘Vintage Prescott’.
Provisional results and photographs are now live. Click on the ‘Events’ tab (ensure ‘2013’ is selected on the event filter on the right). Scroll to the Prescott page and open, the Gallery displays at the bottom and the results can be accessed via the ‘Results’ tab. For a quick link click here
