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 FERRARI HILL CLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP
Ronnie Peterson round the old Woodcote, Rosberg round Paddock – some of the most dramatic sights I’ve ever witnessed in motor sport across the world. You don’t get that at Prescott but I’ll tell you what … sitting under this apple tree on a brilliantly hot Sunday afternoon in Prescott’s paddock must rank with the aforementioned; it even compensates for my mood as I’m driving like a nerd. And so the regular Ferrari drivers assemble for first practice on Saturday with some welcome additions at this British Championship meeting. First away was Maranello Concessionaires man Tony Willis, the 330 GTC fresh from the valet department and looking good, recording a steady 59.84; moving on to very much the young hot shot of the year Richard Prior on 52.93. There are many places Christopher England excels but none more so than here which showed with a 52.69, but not quick enough for easily our most experienced competitor, Geoff Dark at 52.36. Kevin Engelbrecht was comfortably ahead of Tony Willis with 59.05 which also put him ahead of Rogerson’s 355 no less. But when you think poor Peter had not had time for a course walk after coming down from Yorkshire - he didn’t even know which way the hill went so had to ad lib – under these circumstances a sub 60 second time of 59.32 was okay. Simon Burn recorded his fastest ever time here with a useful 56.63; Spicer, hampered with chronic understeer, recorded a useless 53.97, Geoffrey Rollason, hot from unofficially shattering Jon Goodwin’s Shelsley record was in confident mood which was soon subdued when he left the traction control switched on and recorded an unprintable time (for him) in his new 360. Jon responded with a slow (by his electrifying standards) 50.98. Second practice saw a good improvement from Willis to 58.33; Prior on a flyer flew off into the kitty litter at Pardon! England 52.65, Dark 52.41, Engelbrecht his weekend best of 58.78, Rogerson starting to use his 380 bhp, 56.90, Burn unable to maintain form, 58.24, Spicer finally sorting it out on 52.92, Rollason happier with 50.34 and Jon Goodwin on 49.76, close to Geoffrey’s record. At this meeting all competitors were allowed a welcome third practice run - as it turned out no so welcome as nearly everyone went slower! Sunday dawned with even better weather - the meeting progressing smoothly and a large crowd came to maybe witness Graham Wight Jnr. clinch his second successive British Hillclimb title. Tony Willis got off to a personal best of 58.25 followed by Richard Prior on 53.15, Christopher England 52.40, Geoff Dark into the 51s with 51.37, Kevin recording nearly all his weekend’s runs in 59 something, Peter Rogerson a best of 55.72, Burn a better 56.71, Spicer trailing at 53.64, the overnight understeer remedies making no difference at all. Geoffrey Rollason much better with 50.21 and his long-time adversary Goodwin only three hundredths away from his record with 49.54. The final runs were much the same, the exception being Prior with a stonking 52.10 – fourth on scratch – Dark less than a second away from Robin Ward’s 308 territory on 51.23, Rollason too much out of shape on 50.32 and Goodwin finally taking Rollason’s record with 49.36. Talk about a dog with two tails… and that man Wight Jnr. is the 2002 British Hillclimb Champion. RESULTS :
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