Report - Round 5 - 2004 Ferrari Hillclimb Championship - Club Racing Series'

When we were last at Shelsley in June 2003 it was uncertain if we would ever race at this country’s premier hill climb course again, which would have been a woeful situation to say the least. But, thanks to the stirling efforts of the Midland Automobile Club, with a small amount of help from some FHCC members, the lease on the hill has been retained (although things are still precarious).

So it was that 12 grateful Ferrari hill climbers turned up at this British championship meeting. Grateful not only to be at Shelsley again but also for the brilliant weather. A shame Shelsley stalwart Geoffrey Rollason was not with us due to a wrist injury but good to welcome new man Marco Pullen in his relatively underpowered 308 GTBi, which he nevertheless manages with very well, and Leon Bachelier in his relatively overpowered 512M, which he also manages very well, as indeed he should being a successful 2ltr single-seater driver for some years.

First practice saw Colin Campbell’s 246 Dino preferring to take it steady, followed by young Marco doing a reconnoitre run on which he would improve nicely. Next up was Richard Allen, the 328 in which he was entered still at the Damax workshop following its Donington calamities, so he was in his (maybe more suitable on this hill) 355 getting straight down to business with a nice 36.08 followed by his old sparring partner Geoff Dark sandbagging with a 37.56. Andrew Duncan had to miss first practice as is his want, probably reading the lesson at church or mowing the lawn – maybe his laid back attitude is the right one? John Marshall, has, I think recorded the fastest ever 328 (or small car, as we now call them) time here was also going gently by his standards with 38.38. Spicer was pleased with 36.46 , at last faster than the infamous old ‘blue car’. Championship leader Richard Prior was also sandbagging on 37.53, as was his class rival Nick Taylor. But of course it was record holder Jon Goodwin with 35.76 that was quickest as expected! Peter Rogerson, recovering from both a fall and a cam belt accident, took a steady run on his first visit here.

Weather still good (so important here for full commitment) for second practice saw improvement for some - Marco knocking nearly 4 seconds off, Allen down in the 35’s, Spicer delighted to be there too, Prior and Taylor low 36’s, Goodwin, much to the relief of others slower. Goodwin and Taylor managed to blag a third run but did not improve, serves them right!

Most repaired to the excellent Peacock restaurant Saturday evening for dinner whilst those with children prefered burnt sausages made at the campsite.

Much has been done to improve the venue even further over the winter and it really was particularly evident on such a beautiful Sunday morning as we awaited the first official runs. Colin had problems with the Dino and was quite a bit slower and Marco took a chunk off his practice time to a useful 40.60. Richard Allen put in a 36.39 but then had to rush off for personal reasons. Geoff Dark, now serious, put in an excellent 35.81 which apparently had the crowd on its toes as he locked up at the bottom ‘S’ and slithered through – good time though! Andrew Duncan, having mown his lawn, put in a low 37 with Marshall close behind. Spicer, unable to match practice promise had a slide trying to attempt the crossing flat which resulted in a not-so-good 36.30. Prior, still improving with 36.84, Taylor undoubtedly fired up by unfair comments from Spicer the previous day, put in an impressive 36.03, Goodwin in command (on scratch anyway) with 35.61 somewhat off his record here for unknown reasons. Bachelier probably missing the handling of the Dallara improving to 39.04 and Rogerson on 40.60.

Whilst our boys were involved in all this, even more impressive were Adam Fleetwood and Graham White Jnr breaking the already sensational hill record no less than four times, which is quite something when you remember that it stood for 9 years until Graham broke 25 seconds in 2002. Anyway, the record is now 24.08 which involves a run which would certainly make most Ferrari drivers pass out!

Back to the important stuff – final runs and Colin improved to his weekend best of 52.03, Marco dropped slightly to 40.80, Dark slower on 36.13, unlucky Duncan’s immobiliser cut in and he ended up with 63.83, Marshall improving (but not showing his true potential), Spicer conservative, Prior finally getting it together, although it should be remembered that last year Richard set one of the fastest 1st split times ever recorded in a roadgoing Ferrari only to do a very neat spin at the bottom ‘S’. Taylor absolutely wrung the neck of his poor Mondial 3.4t, had a long slide at Kennel that again had the crowd on their feet, and was slower. Bachelier made a very useful improvement to 37.52 and Rogerson to a 40.36, but at the front Gooders improved to 35.22 to keep his overall lead. But once the PEP (Performance Equalisation Percentage) had been applied it was Dark who took home the maximum 20 championship points to move him up to second place in the Championship ahead of Jon Goodwin.