Report - Round 13 - 2007 Pirelli Ferrari Hillclimb Championship - Club Racing Series'

Harewood hillclimb is one of the most popular venues on the PFHC calendar, which usually means a large turnout for the Ferrari class. 18 cars were entered for this September meeting, a slight improvement on the 15 who competed here in May, but down on previous years undoubtedly due some Brothers being out on circuit racing duty at Oulton Park the same day. The Championship could be decided here today if Richard Prior (348ts) took the maximum points, though it could in theory go down to the last round at Curborough in October if Butler (355), Dark (355) or Taylor (348GTC) got them instead.

Conditions were clear and dry, although a heavy dew on the grass meant a few wheel-spinning manoeuverings around the parking spaces in the paddock, and a few grumbles from a certain camp follower who was wearing flip-flops and whose tootsies got a bit damp.

The organisers have always put us at the head of the programme and we were the first batch to run, possibly to sweep the track for the wussy single-seaterists who hate getting their tyres dirty, so we were called forward for first practice just as the scrutineers had finished their inspections. Prior dipped under the 70 second mark, but Chris Butler took control of the class by immediately setting a leading time of 67.63. For the remainder of the field, Nick Taylor was on 70.48 and fellow 348GTC fast guy and former Champion Nick Frost on 70.96 were next best.

During the second practice run Jeffrey Cooper (360F1) knocked over 6 seconds off his previous run! The Haynes family improved on their first times but it was still Tracey (328) in the lead by over 1 second. Other notable changes included Richard Preece (GT4) making a 3.5 second improvement, Mike Spicer 5 seconds better, clearly getting the hang of his 355, with Prior, Butler and Frost all now down into the 67 sec bracket.

After good helpings of local fare from the chuck wagon, the real contest began at 12.30 on the dot. Charles Haynes (348GTC) had turned the tables on Tracey, leading now by just 11 hundredths of a second. In the 308 scrap, the GT4 of Richard Preece had pulled further away from Sergio Ransford in the GTB who had a less than perfect run and lost time compared to his morning effort. Peter Rogerson in his left-hooker 355GTS posted his best time of the day with 71.81, Lorraine Hitchman (328) also found this to be her best official time on 76.31, again slower than she had been in the morning practice session.

Chris Hitchman (Mondial t) and Mike Spicer were now neck-and-neck with 71.99 and 71.90 repectively, and Dark had now found better speed out of Farmhouse and brought his time down to 72.57. Richard Prior had a great time cutting across the curbs to post his best of the day at 67.59, just ahead of Chris Butler who had a lower speed trap of 74 mph and a finishing time of 68.22. However, Taylor in the 348GTC soon wiped the smile from his face, taking the lead away by just 5 hundredths of a second, but the next runner, Nick Frost in his similar [but better sounding - Ed] tipo went slower than in practice to end up third overall. Peter Hitchman had jumped into the still warm family seat and posted what was to be his best run on 72.40, doing very well to sneak ahead of multiple Champion Geoff Dark who is clearly still getting to grips with his recently-acquired 355.

The track was at it’s warmest for the second runs and confidence was growing. Cooper amazed everyone with a speed trap reading of 83, the same as during Jon Goodwin’s class record set almost five years to the day. Tracey Haynes reached her peak with 74.94, and Mad Dog Holman boosted his chances by howling across the line in 70.36 but was brought to heel by the very next car, the 328m of John Marshall, who finished on 70.27 and thus was Cane superiore di Anglia this time!

Ransford fought back against Preece and took the advantage with 73 seconds dead as Preece who could only manage 73.68. Lorraine was again trying hard but suffered another departure from the black stuff (tarmac not Guinness). The next two drivers were still within a gnat’s of each other, Chris Hitchman with a major improvement on 69.68 and Spicer with 69.50, which meant fifth place on scratch in his newly-acquired 355. Prior was on a mission until approaching the last corner (Quarry) when the rear end of the car went light and got away from him resulting in a 180 degree spin and a lost run (to finish first, first you must finish…).

Nick Taylor and Chris Butler were both shown the red flag. Nick was directed back across the farmhouse to retake his run, and extended his lead further with a 67.34, but Chris had to carry on to the top of the hill before returning to the start. A helpful spectator informed him on the way down of the new time to beat. With his warm tyres, brakes and an extra practice under his belt Chris was really trying and with a perfectly smooth run he got down to 66.58, beating his personal best by 0.65. Nick Frost couldn’t match the pace on his local patch and went slower on 68.87.

By the time the third run had been called the sky had clouded over slightly and the cold wind had picked up, but Jeff Cooper held a perfect line through Farmhouse bend which was rewarded with a speed trap of 82 and an better time of 69.72, very good for a first appearance.

Charles Haynes put in his best performance ending the day with 74.50. Geoff Dark brought his time down to 71.93 which gave him 11th place, but Prior couldn’t improve on his third place, but it would still be enough for the 20 points, providing Butler, Taylor and Frost didn’t go faster, but the track was growing ever colder as the Yorkshire dusk descended.... Butler stopped the clock on 66.84, slower than his stunning second run which gave him an easy scratch win and the 17 points.

Nick Taylor was only a fraction down on his previous run with 67.40 and still walked away with the second place trophy but only 13 championship points due to carrying the extra 1% PEP for being the reigning Champ. It would have been highly likely in previous years for Nick Frost to put in a storming final run and spoil the party but it wasn’t to be this time, he crossed the finish on 67.92 and fourth place. So a well-deserved win for Chris Butler who has now moved into second place in the Championship ahead of Geoff Dark.

The handicaps had been set at lunchtime by a younger committee than usual and its fresh-faced naivety showed at the end of the meeting when some of the targets were actually met or even beaten!! Jeff Cooper came in first place after beating his set time by 0.53 of a second, Charles Haynes met his goal of 74.50 and Chris Hitchman was close to the mark, just 0.18 away.

Oh yes.. Almost forgot… a bloke called Prior settled the 2007 Championship by taking the 20 points.