Event Report - Sunday 10th August 2008
Very heavy rain fell almost constantly overnight and turned the lower paddock into an unusable swamp. A decision was taken very early to abandon the paddock and relocate it to the upper holding paddock which had the benefit of a tarmac surface. This was achieved with the minimum of fuss and although it wasn't ideal, it did allow the event to proceed smoothly. A stretch of the old Bo'ness to Grangemouth road was used as a turning area and holding paddock at the bottom of the hill.
Morning practice got underway at 10.00 hrs on a wet track which gradually dried as the day progressed. Forty five cars and drivers were ready for action. Most drivers took their first runs fairly gently but the pace setters from Saturday set down impressively quick times from the beginning; Malcolm Wishart recording 21.94 and Stan Bernard 21.77 seconds. On his second practice run Malcolm blasted uphill in 20.97 secs which turned out to be the best time of the whole weekend. It was unfortunate that gear selection problems prevented Malcolm getting the maximum from his car as it looked likely he would continue to improve. Three practice runs were allowed and most drivers took advantage of this to gain more experience of the deceptively tricky hill, made all the more awkward by the intermittent showers. At the end of practice Malcolm Wishart was quickest in the Chevron followed by Stan Bernard in the Porsche with Jimmy Crow, Leon Bachelier, Tom MacMillan, Tom Wilson and Scott Goodfellow snapping at their heels.
The Estate was starting to fill up with spectators, attracted by the sunshine in between the showers. The public car park had to be closed by lunchtime as it was full, with well over 400 cars inside. Around 1500 spectators enjoyed the afternoon's event including the added attractions of the classic car displays, trade stands and beer tent.
Due to the better weather and the smooth operation from the organising team drivers were pleased to have three competitive runs in the afternoon session. Stan Bernard set the pace in the first run with a cracking 21.50 seconds. The spectators loved the sight of the older cars as they slid through the Courtyard and Brian Hopkins in his Bentley, Fred Multon in the Alvis and Jim Campbell in his Aston Martin were particular crowd pleasers. Scott Goodfellow was deceptively quick in his little Terrier and managed a 22.15 sec second run which was good enough for 4th place overall and he comfortably won his Class. David Fyfe and Terry Wright in their Cooper Mk8's were also running well and both managed to record sub 23 second runs. Stan Bernard continued to lead the way and set a cracking time of 21.12 seconds on his third run which was good enough for FTD. Malcolm Wishart was second at 21.24 seconds and Jimmy Crow third in the MkI Escort.
Class 8 for 1961 to 73 Sports cars was Lotus Elan dominated and Tom MacMillan came out on top from Olly Ross (who was borrowing Kenny Allen's car). Other notable performances came from Peter Speakman in the spectacular Chapman Mercury at 22.57 secs, David Fyfe's excellent 22.28 secs in the ex David Good Cooper, Alex Brown managing to control the slides of the Fairley Mercury at 22.91, Bob MacGillivray and Mike Stewart sharing Bob's Turner MG and both under 23 secs.
Sunday 10th August - Results down to 3rd in Class
Class 1. Sports cars pre 31st December 1930
23 BRIAN HOPKINS Bentley 4 1/2 Litre 27.15
25 MICHAEL SMITH Bentley 29.34
27 TOM RICHARDSON Riley Brooklands 30.84
Class 3. Sports cars 1st January 1931 to 31st December 1939
34 FRED MULTON Alvis 4.3 25.31
32 JIM CAMPBELL Aston Martin 26.09
Class 4. Single Seater Racing Cars 1st January 1931 to 31st December 1939
37 STEVE SMITH Austin 26.19
Class 5. Sports Cars 1st January 1946 to 31st December 1960
46 SCOTT GOODFELLO Terrier Mk2 22.15
145 Mike Stewart Turner MG 22.74
45 ROBERT MACGILLIVR Turner MG 22.81
Class 6. Sports Racing Cars 1st January 1946 to 31st December 1960
52 PETER SPEAKMAN Chapman Mercury 22.57
Class 7. Single Seater Racing Cars 1st January 1946 to 31st December 1960
60 DAVID FYFE Cooper Mk8 22.28
59 TERRY WRIGHT Walton Cooper Mk8 22.51
82 ALEX BROWN Fairley Mercury Spl 22.91
Class 8. Sports Cars 1st January 1961 to pre 31st December 1973
71 TOM MACMILLAN Lotus Elan Sprint 22.17
163 OLLY ROSS Lotus Elan Sprint 22.42
65 GRAEME FORRESTER MGB 23.21
Class 9. Sports Racing cars 1st January 1961 to pre 31st December 1973
68 MALCOLM WISHART Chevron B16 21.24
Class 11. Classic Sports & Saloon cars pre 31st December 1973
94 STAN BERNARD Porsche 911 21.12
78 JIMMY CROW Ford Escort 21.99
81 ANDREW SWANSTON Ford Escort RS1600 24.28
Class 12. Other cars as agreed by the organisers
87 TOM WILSON Talbot Sunbeam TI 22.25
88 RUSSELL PATERSON Morgan +8 23.22
86 SIMON SCOTT Morgan +8 23.68
Photos in this report courtesy of Jim Moir
