Warm Spring sunshine, close racing and a large crowd ensured a bumper start to the Valla/ JMCLCC hill climb season on Easter Monday. Competitor’s enjoyment was also further enhanced by Clerk of the Course, Ron Allen and the team who ran a very tight ship ensuring that Bike competitors got 5 official runs and the cars 4 runs  

However the cool track conditions meant that only one record was broken on the day. This was by the ever improving and impressive youngster, James Labey in his Maranello Rs7 Kart who took nearly a second out of the old record. In fact James broke the record on his first run and then lowered a further twice during the day ending up with a final fastest time of 48.38 which is now the new class record.        

The most competitive battle of all was to be seen in the 351 to 500 Bike class with three riders posting sub 45 second runs during the day. Eventual winner was Oliver Holmes on his Bikers/Fast Suspension KTM but only after a battle royal with Lee Le Feuvre on a Castle cars, Husqvarna. Lee took an early lead with a 44.46 second first run and was only headed by Oliver later in the day. Oliver’s best time was a 43.85 second run which was good enough to take the class win and the fastest bike of the day.  Third place went to Daniel Jeune on a KTM with a very impressive 44.72 second time 

Not content with battling it out in the up to 500cc bike class Oliver and Lee also went head to head in the up to 750cc class with Oli again coming out on top after some very close racing.

Paul Machon took the Historic Bikes fastest time of the day honour with a 52.93 second run on his Aermacchi.

The 5 Ferrari’s racing in the Pirelli UK Hill Climb Championship also enjoyed some close and competitive racing. Getting traction seemed to be a bit of an issue at times, but the glorious sound of a V12 being used in anger will have warmed the hearts of  many of the spectators.  Fastest time of the day and class winner was David Snelson with a 50.97 second run which was just shy of the record.

There was a real scrap for the class victory in the Road going specialist Production class with class honours going to Bob Wood in a Westfield, just pipping Jim Langlois in a Caterham Super sprint by a 10th of a second with a time of 49.12. Close on their heels was Richard Wilson in his Pauls Tyres Caterham R300 with a time of 49.44 seconds.

There was also an epic battle in the Modified Production Sports Car class when Mick Lancashire decided to share his Westfield Megabusa with Len Amy.  Both recorded times that were in the 47second bracket all day with never more than a couple of tenths between them. However Len Amy delivered the coup de gras on his final run popping in a 47.10 second run just snatching the class by a few tenths.  

The Karts too had a good day with Nigel Davis in an Anderson Rotax Kart posting the fastest out right time of the day with a 42.74 second run.

Max Jeune took the 125 Max class with a very quick 44.93 second run, Charles Betts took the Minimax class and Tom Snell took the honours in 125 Gearbox class with an impressive 45.16 second time.   

The club would like to thank all the officials and marshals who turned out to make the day happen, the sponsor, Valla, St Johns Ambulance, Normandy Rescue and the residents on the hill.

The next event is on May 9th, Liberation day.