The 2nd Bo'ness Hill Climb Revival Meeting
The second Bo'ness Hill Climb Revival (BHCR) meeting was held in glorious sunshine on the 12 and 13 of September. Drivers travelled from all over the UK to compete and there was a full entry of almost 100 competing cars, which ranged in age from 1913 to the 1970's. There were also three overseas drivers with one from Germany, one from Nigeria and one all the way from Australia.
There were more than 7000 spectators packed into Kinneil Estate over the Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the racing action. The newly extended track really added to the racing thrills with drivers finding the new hairpin quite a challenge and the increased run-up made the Gil Burn bridge a very daunting prospect.
Event Report - Saturday 12th September 2009
By Kenny Baird
Class 1 had some very interesting cars with Alex Brown in the 1914 Vauxhall A/D Type battling it out with Branislav Sudjic in the 1914 Stutz. However, the Class win went to Peter Wilke in the lovely Bugatti T44 despite overshooting the hairpin in practice and almost ramming the hay bales in what would have potentially been the most expensive accident of the day!
In Class 2, Michael Smith's little A7 Ulster was up against David Leigh in Spider and predictably lost out to the hard charging and very noisy ex Basil Davenport Special.
Neil Bennet had Class 3 all to himself on the Saturday and his Batten Special romped home to a very quick time of 31.82 seconds.
Class 4 had the other ex Davenport GN Spider, driven by Martin Spencer, and it scorched to a remarkably fast 30.10 second time easily winning the Class and delighting the crowds with a display of noisy, tail sliding action. Stewart Gordon had a rare outing in his Trice - a car he built over 40 years ago - and he competed for the runner up spot with Steve Smith's A7 racer and Mike Mohr's lovely Lagonda Rapier.
Class 5 was dominated in 2008 by Scott Goodfellow but his Terrier MkII was misbehaving this year and he struggled all weekend with engine problems. Bob MacGillivray managed one fast run to win the Class in his Turner MG before co-driver Mike Stewart clipped the stone bridge rendering the car undriveable for the rest of the weekend. Reinhard Hipel made the trip all the way from Hamburg in his lovely mint green Aston DB2, and thoroughly enjoyed himself. Donald Third's weekend came to an abrupt halt when his resurrected 1960 Turner caught fire in the Paddock and he took no further part in the proceedings.
In Class 6, Keith Thomas' sidevalve 1172 cc Buckler struggled against George Laycock in the fiery Chapman Mercury One who was quick at 32.49 secs. Keith's car should be supercharged next year, which should give him more of a chance!
In Class 8 Stewart Robb had a rare Historic outing in his well used but very, very quick ex Bill Wood Midget. He was pushed all the way for the Class win by Alistair Simpson in the Sunbeam Tiger who just lost out by 0.7 seconds.
In Class 9, Peter Speakman was flying in morning practice in the Fisher Spyder. He set the two fastest speeds through the trap of the whole weekend (65 and 70 mph) but unfortunately caught the bridge on his competition run and badly damaged the car thus handing the Class win to Neville Anderson in the Nike.
Class 11 had eighteen entries and overall times were pretty close although Andrew Smith in the 1973 Morgan +8 ran away with the Class win at 29.50 seconds closely followed by Brian Beverley at 30.6 secs. Special mention should go to John Bennett in the gorgeous Alfa 1750 TZ who was brave enough to drive his beautiful (and rather valuable) machine up the hill in under 33 seconds.
Class 12 was the Invitation category and the Escort Mk II of local Bo'ness driver Mark Jardine scored a fairly comfortable win over Simon Scott and Colin McLatchie who, unusually, recorded identical times and shared second place.
Class 13 was the SMRC Sports and Saloons and it was a big change for the Knockhill drivers who are more used to circuits than hills. This Class saw all the drivers record consistently fast times but Edinburgh's Andy Smith - driving in his first ever hill climb event - was well ahead, easily winning the Class and also setting overall BTD with a scorching 28.66 seconds in his +8 Morgan. Last year's winner Stan Bernard was second and Falkirk's Willie Toye was third.
Class 14a was for the Vintage Bentleys and Susan Shoosmith came out tops in her very fast 3/4½ Model which previously raced at Bo'ness in the hands of the McCosh family. Fraser Ewart had an outing in both Bentley Classes and won Class 14b in his Mk6 Special.
Class15 for 500cc cars had three entrants with Richard Bishop-Miller's Cooper Mk2 winning in 35.42 secs from Australian David Reid in the Squanderbug. Douglas Turner's JP suffered engine and drivetrain problems but Douglas managed to get a run out in the Squanderbug to compensate for his mechanical misery!
Class 16 had some lovely Formula Junior cars and the Class win went to Fyrth Crosse in his Mallock Mk2 from Malcolm Wishart in his recently acquired T65 Cooper.
The Saturday awards were presented by Margaret MacMillan, BHCR Membership Secretary.
Margaret presents a delighted Sue Shoosmith with her Class 14a award for a spirited drive in her Bentley 3/41/2 Litre.
BHCR and Bo'ness Hill Climb Revival are trading names of the Bo'ness Hill Climb Revival Limited
Bo'ness Hill Climb Revival Limited is a company registered in Scotland under Company Number SC345445
Registered Office: BHCR, Kinburn Castle, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9DR
MSA Registration No. 213183
SACU Affiliated
Last updated 4 October 2009
THE SPLITS
not what you think!
Kenny Baird, our statistician (and Press Officer/Minute Secretary/Programme Editor etc) has produced these Top Ten tables from Ken Laidlaw's report on splits. (link to splits)
They will no doubt provoke much discussion over the winter months. Hopefully they will also make Peter Speakman feel slightly better after his "off" at Crawyett on Saturday afternoon in the Fisher Spyder. If you are speaking to Peter please tell him about this article. It may just persuade him to buy a computer and get on-line.
Peter rounds the New Hairpin on his way to Fastest Speed through the speed trap. The left hander at Crawyett beckons in the distance.
