NEWS
ERA R4A dominates VSCC Prescott Hill Speed Climbs in 2014
Thursday 14 August 2014
The ex-Bob Gerard ERA R4A proved the toast of the Club’s blue ribband Prescott Speed Hill Climb weekend this year, as the revered voiturette scored an impressive double with ‘Fastest Time of Day’ in both Friday’s Anniversary Hill Climb and the traditional weekend Vintage Speed Hill Climb events at the famous Gloucestershire venue over 1-3 August.
To mark the Club’s historic 80th Anniversary this year, a special one-day event on Friday started proceedings, with 120 cars tackling the long course for the first time in the Club’s history. There was overwhelming response to the ‘new’ course with the inclusion of ‘Ettore’s Loop’ proving an enjoyable challenge. Following the learning curve of the morning’s Practice Runs, attention quickly turned to the afternoon competition with first car up the hill, Clare Mudie’s 1930 Austin 7 Ulster Replica momentarily holding the VSCC Hill Record at 78.54 secs. The records tumbled in turn, with intermittent showers keeping the drivers on their toes throughout.
Entering his first ever Hill Climb in the ERA, R4A owner Nick Topliss set a serious marker with 50.70 – the only sub-51 second run of the first round – just ahead of perennial challenger, Rob Cobden in his Riley Falcon on 51.74 and Paul Richardson in the sister ERA R14B, also formerly of the Gerard stable. The run proved good enough as the second runs of the front-runners were hampered by another cloud-burst with no-one improving on their first attempts, awarding Topliss the 80th Anniversary Prescott Trophy for ‘FTD’ and Cobden the Orchard Trophy for next fastest Pre-war. The ever-present Sue Darbyshire scored a popular Fastest Vintage crown and the Pardon Trophy in her Morgan Three Wheeler with Jo Blakeney-Edwards winner of the Ladies Trophy in her Frazer Nash Shelsley. The Diamond Trophy went to John Earle Marsh, whose Alvis Silver Eagle was the dominant 1934 Sports-Car of the day’s entry.
The ever expected full entry of 260 arrived for the weekend’s two-day event, many of them survivors of Friday’s special addition to the programme. As is tradition, Saturday comprised the Practice Runs, when again, the weather played its part with the varying showers and sunshine through the morning providing testing conditions before an epic hailstorm struck the valley midway through the afternoon. Proceedings came to an immediate halt as Competitors, Marshals and Spectators took cover from the deluge of rain, save the unlucky drivers of Class 8 who were left stranded in their cars in the Assembly area. The sun soon returned, however, and it was only down to the hard work and efficiency of the marshalling team that second runs were completed in good time before the curfew, following a loss of over an hour – an impressive estimated rate of 125 cars per hour up the hill was mooted. At day’s end, ERA R4A proved the one to beat again, now in the hands of James Baxter, as he found himself nearly a second clear of Cobden in the Riley. The evening’s Hog Roast, kindly provided by Bonhams and musical frivolity at the Clubhouse ensured the day ended on a high and the promise of a fantastic day’s competition on Sunday.
The forecast sunshine for Sunday was most welcome with the morning’s well supported traditional Bicycle Races again starting the track action – our thanks to Simon Diffey and Merry Printers for their support.
It was soon clear that competition would be fierce throughout the classes with many first runs proving far more competitive than the previous day. Notable results amongst the Sports-Cars include a dominant showing in Class 1 for William Way in his Austin 7 Ulster whilst young Edward Williams proved the best of the eight-strong Frazer Nash brigade in Class 3. John Guyatt overcame his ‘incendiary’ issues of Friday to take a competitive Class 6 in his Darracq Talbot-Lago, just 0.2secs ahead of an ever-improving Marcus Black in his equivalent T23 model. David Pryke continued his supremacy in Class 9 in his ultra-quick lightweight Morgan/Riley whilst Brian Maile edged a close-fought Alvis battle in Class 11. But with an outstanding time of 43.44secs, it was Brian White’s rapid 1934/38 Frazer Nash/BMW TT Replica that topped the standings, successfully defending his Fastest un-supercharged Sports-Car crown from last year.
Amongst the Edwardians, all eyes were on Mark Walker and his revered 1905 Darracq 200HP and he did not fail to disappoint with an incredible sub-50 seconds run on his second attempt enough to reclaim the Sam Clutton Memorial Trophy. The popular ‘Pic-Pic’ of Geoff Smith proved the class of the non automobile-engined runners, safely ahead of Tony Lees in the Vauxhall Viper and the Hildyard battle as Nick and William shared the Theophile Schneider. James Gunn triumphed in the small capacity Racing Car Class 13 in the blown MG Q Type Replica whilst at the other end of the scale, Julian Grimwade continued his remarkable progress with the vaunted Frazer Nash Norris Special, his final run of 42.32 secs enough to see off the competition in Class 16, including the dependable Hispano/Amilcar of Robin Baker, who once again took the day’s Fastest Vintage award.
So could Robert Cobden take the challenge to the formidable ERAs? Two sub-43 second runs in the mighty Riley Falcon were enough to take the spoils in Class 14 ahead of Riley rival Pete Candy and Terry Crabb’s ERA R12C but alas could not compete with the higher powered R4A as he once again had to settle for Runner-Up on the day. In the same class, young Charlie Martin continued to demonstrate his skills in the unusual Morgan RIP Special as he topped the Vintage standings ahead of regular challengers, Sue Darbyshire (Morgan) and David Leigh (GN Spider). Tim Dutton continued a most impressive campaign with the Bugatti T51, following victory in the revered Williams Trophy at Cadwell in June with Fastest Bugatti of the weekend, taking the Peter Hampton Tankard whilst a 42.79 sec could not see Paul Richardson challenge Baxter in the sister ERA R14B. With two consistent, quick runs of 41.49 and 41.42 secs, the Club’s reigning Hill Climb Champion proved a worthy winner and regained his Mays Berthon Trophy, presented to him by last year’s winner, Mac Hulbert.
Provisional Results from both events are now available on the event pages. Follow the links below to download the relevant results:
Click Here for the Anniversary Hill Climb Provisional Results (Fri 1 Aug)
Click Here for the Prescott Speed Hill Climb Provisional Results (2/3 Aug)
A Photo Gallery covering all three days of competition is also live on the weekend Event Page (follow the second link above).
More photos can also be found at photographer, Peter Tierney’s website http://www.petertierney-photography.co.uk/. Peter is a freelance photographer based in Brighton, who is raising money from his ‘Finishing Line’ series from Prescott for the Brighton School of Singing, a non-profit community interest group of 50 young people. Any voluntary donations in return for copies of his photos would be welcome. Please visit his website for more information.
Entering his first ever Hill Climb in the ERA, R4A owner Nick Topliss set a serious marker with 50.70 – the only sub-51 second run of the first round – just ahead of perennial challenger, Rob Cobden in his Riley Falcon on 51.74 and Paul Richardson in the sister ERA R14B, also formerly of the Gerard stable. The run proved good enough as the second runs of the front-runners were hampered by another cloud-burst with no-one improving on their first attempts, awarding Topliss the 80th Anniversary Prescott Trophy for ‘FTD’ and Cobden the Orchard Trophy for next fastest Pre-war. The ever-present Sue Darbyshire scored a popular Fastest Vintage crown and the Pardon Trophy in her Morgan Three Wheeler with Jo Blakeney-Edwards winner of the Ladies Trophy in her Frazer Nash Shelsley. The Diamond Trophy went to John Earle Marsh, whose Alvis Silver Eagle was the dominant 1934 Sports-Car of the day’s entry.
The ever expected full entry of 260 arrived for the weekend’s two-day event, many of them survivors of Friday’s special addition to the programme. As is tradition, Saturday comprised the Practice Runs, when again, the weather played its part with the varying showers and sunshine through the morning providing testing conditions before an epic hailstorm struck the valley midway through the afternoon. Proceedings came to an immediate halt as Competitors, Marshals and Spectators took cover from the deluge of rain, save the unlucky drivers of Class 8 who were left stranded in their cars in the Assembly area. The sun soon returned, however, and it was only down to the hard work and efficiency of the marshalling team that second runs were completed in good time before the curfew, following a loss of over an hour – an impressive estimated rate of 125 cars per hour up the hill was mooted. At day’s end, ERA R4A proved the one to beat again, now in the hands of James Baxter, as he found himself nearly a second clear of Cobden in the Riley. The evening’s Hog Roast, kindly provided by Bonhams and musical frivolity at the Clubhouse ensured the day ended on a high and the promise of a fantastic day’s competition on Sunday.
The forecast sunshine for Sunday was most welcome with the morning’s well supported traditional Bicycle Races again starting the track action – our thanks to Simon Diffey and Merry Printers for their support.
It was soon clear that competition would be fierce throughout the classes with many first runs proving far more competitive than the previous day. Notable results amongst the Sports-Cars include a dominant showing in Class 1 for William Way in his Austin 7 Ulster whilst young Edward Williams proved the best of the eight-strong Frazer Nash brigade in Class 3. John Guyatt overcame his ‘incendiary’ issues of Friday to take a competitive Class 6 in his Darracq Talbot-Lago, just 0.2secs ahead of an ever-improving Marcus Black in his equivalent T23 model. David Pryke continued his supremacy in Class 9 in his ultra-quick lightweight Morgan/Riley whilst Brian Maile edged a close-fought Alvis battle in Class 11. But with an outstanding time of 43.44secs, it was Brian White’s rapid 1934/38 Frazer Nash/BMW TT Replica that topped the standings, successfully defending his Fastest un-supercharged Sports-Car crown from last year.
Amongst the Edwardians, all eyes were on Mark Walker and his revered 1905 Darracq 200HP and he did not fail to disappoint with an incredible sub-50 seconds run on his second attempt enough to reclaim the Sam Clutton Memorial Trophy. The popular ‘Pic-Pic’ of Geoff Smith proved the class of the non automobile-engined runners, safely ahead of Tony Lees in the Vauxhall Viper and the Hildyard battle as Nick and William shared the Theophile Schneider. James Gunn triumphed in the small capacity Racing Car Class 13 in the blown MG Q Type Replica whilst at the other end of the scale, Julian Grimwade continued his remarkable progress with the vaunted Frazer Nash Norris Special, his final run of 42.32 secs enough to see off the competition in Class 16, including the dependable Hispano/Amilcar of Robin Baker, who once again took the day’s Fastest Vintage award.
So could Robert Cobden take the challenge to the formidable ERAs? Two sub-43 second runs in the mighty Riley Falcon were enough to take the spoils in Class 14 ahead of Riley rival Pete Candy and Terry Crabb’s ERA R12C but alas could not compete with the higher powered R4A as he once again had to settle for Runner-Up on the day. In the same class, young Charlie Martin continued to demonstrate his skills in the unusual Morgan RIP Special as he topped the Vintage standings ahead of regular challengers, Sue Darbyshire (Morgan) and David Leigh (GN Spider). Tim Dutton continued a most impressive campaign with the Bugatti T51, following victory in the revered Williams Trophy at Cadwell in June with Fastest Bugatti of the weekend, taking the Peter Hampton Tankard whilst a 42.79 sec could not see Paul Richardson challenge Baxter in the sister ERA R14B. With two consistent, quick runs of 41.49 and 41.42 secs, the Club’s reigning Hill Climb Champion proved a worthy winner and regained his Mays Berthon Trophy, presented to him by last year’s winner, Mac Hulbert.
Provisional Results from both events are now available on the event pages. Follow the links below to download the relevant results:
Click Here for the Anniversary Hill Climb Provisional Results (Fri 1 Aug)
Click Here for the Prescott Speed Hill Climb Provisional Results (2/3 Aug)
A Photo Gallery covering all three days of competition is also live on the weekend Event Page (follow the second link above).
More photos can also be found at photographer, Peter Tierney’s website http://www.petertierney-photography.co.uk/. Peter is a freelance photographer based in Brighton, who is raising money from his ‘Finishing Line’ series from Prescott for the Brighton School of Singing, a non-profit community interest group of 50 young people. Any voluntary donations in return for copies of his photos would be welcome. Please visit his website for more information.
