Perfect weather conditions added a bonus festival atmosphere to the last competitive events of the hill climb year at Shelsley Walsh over the weekend, finishing off an exceptional year of motor sport, according to the Midland Automobile Club's competition secretary Robin Webb.
The two separate one-day events entitled 'Autumn Speed Finale' saw a capacity entry for both days and fierce competition throughout in the culmination of several individual championships.
MAC Competition Secretary Robin Webb, commented: "The setting doesn't get much better than Teme Valley for a pleasant weekend's motorsport with beautiful sunshine and shirt sleeves, combined with a huge variety of cars and many drivers fighting hard for final championship positions.
"Overall it has been a superb season of competition with over-subscribed entries for every event here at Shelsley Walsh and credit must go to the MAC officials and marshals who ensure that these events run so smoothly, allowing both competitors and spectators to enjoy their chosen sport."
Adding a little more flavour to the weekend mix were over 30 motorcycle and sidecar combinations competing on Saturday in their own National Hill Climb Association championship, with wins for solo riders Glyn Poole, Tom Short, Peter Short and Peter Jeffery, with Sam Matthewman and passenger Kelly Martin taking the sidecar class.
Keeping it in the family, sponsor Paul Matty admitted to being only 'mildly embarrassed' by winning his class in the final round of his own 25th anniversary Paul Matty Sports Cars Lotus Championship, with wife June having won the Fastest Lady award, David Hampton having already sealed the overall title in his Lotus Atlantic.
The Morgan Sports Car Club saw handicap wins for George Proudfoot followed by Rob Toon and Clive Hall, with Steve Mogg, Jes Firth, Mark Everett and Alan Hugh-Davies taking the handicap honours respectively in the TVR Car Club Speed Championship.
Best Time of Day on Saturday went to Richard Hollingworth with a time of 27.49 seconds in his DJ Firehawk racing car, with class wins for drivers including Russell Haynes, Bruce Atkinson, David Gidden, Antony Browne and Derek Kessell.
Sunday produced a 26.95 run taking Best Time of Day by Gary Thomas in his Force PC racing car, with class wins for Mike Walters, Chris Berrisford, John Bradshaw, Duncan Andrews, Tim Barber, Matt Carter, Martin Jones and Simon Andrews.
Further information can be obtained from www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk
For all media enquiries, please contactMidland Automobile Club+44 (0)1886 812211press@mac1901.co.uk
About the Midland Automobile Club and Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill ClimbThe club was established at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham on the 11th January 1901 by a number of prominent members of the early motor industry whilst Queen Victoria was on the throne and as such is arguably the oldest motor sport club in the world.
Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb is the oldest motor sport venue in the world still in continuous use. It was first used in 1905 and still uses its original layout, although there are a few close rivals.Our first speed event was held in 1901 on the edge of the rolling hills of the Cotswolds at Sun Rising Hill.
The club has always been innovative. In 1932, the BBC chose Shelsley Walsh for its first ever outside broadcast. Electronic timing was first introduced at Shelsley and in 1998 the club organised the first ever classic trial on the Isle of Man.
The MAC hosts rounds of the British Hill Climb Championship, The Midland Championship and The Leaders Championship, with classes for a variety of cars from road going to full on specialist hill climb cars. The MAC also organises, sprints, sporting trials, classic car, and social events. The Midland Automobile Club features something for every motor sport and motoring enthusiast.
