A spectator filled event saw record breaking motor-racing at Apex Trust Company Ltd Hill climb on Bank holiday Monday. The afternoon proved to be ideal conditions and saw eight competitors’ lower class records.

The practice runs started at 10am – most competitors expect these early practice runs to be fairly low on grip and so use them to figure out the track conditions. Every competitor appeared to be stopping the clock at respectful times, with some drivers breaking the 44sec barrier. 

The first record to fall was done on the first timed run by the first competitor to take to the start line! Larry Vibert riding a Triton 750cc in the Historic Bike Pre 1967 class lowered the record to an impressive 51.05sec. Vibert did not manage to go faster on the next two timed runs, but impressively did post times under the previous record all day.

The next record to fall was done by experienced Guernsey driver John Dunne in his Mitsubishi EVO 5 GSR in the Road Production Unlimited class who stopped the clock at 47.73sec – lowering the record by a massive 6 seconds!

Local driver Mick Lancashire finished his 2013 season in style by driving his Westfield Megabusa to another record run in the Modified Productions Sports Car up to 1400cc class, stopping the clock at 45.01sec. Lancashire is no doubt aiming to drive his car to the 44sec barrier next season.

Another local driver who has had a fantastic 2013 hill climb season is Tom Walker in his Mitsubishi EVO VI in the Modified Limited Productions Cars Unlimited class. Walker posted record breaking times on every official run, and managed his fastest run to clock 45.06sec – nearly two seconds lower than his previous record set in May earlier this year. Astonishingly, Walker will no doubt aim to achieve 44sec times in this super fast road car at next years hill climbs.

One of the old standing records was also lowered by local rider Adam Vibert on his KTM 125cc in the Motorcycles up to 125cc class. Vibert was posting practice times within one second off the 6 year record and on his second official run managed to clock an impressive 47.42sec – this was enough to lower the class bench mark and set a new record.

Oli Holmes, the current outright hill record holder on two wheels, had a successful day on his Bikers KTM and managed to lower his three year record to an impressive 43.56sec as a new outright record and Motorcycle 351 to 500cc class record. Holmes was being pushed hard by KTM rider Lee Le Feuvre who posted a worthy 43.86sec on his first timed run. Holmes pushed hard on his final run of the day and astonishingly managed to lower his new record even lower by stopping the clock at 43.30sec. Speaking after the event, Holmes had never pushed so hard on the run but still believes there’s more time to find in order to lower this record again! Justin Bush riding his Honda 450cc gained a personal best time in potentially his last outing on his Honda to a 44.65sec and claim a respectful third place in the class – a KTM is now in his sights in order to challenge Holmes and Le Feuvre to class wins next season.

The Sports Libre class saw some hard competition from several drivers. Len Amy driving his well prepared Mallock MK32 race car posted all his timed runs in the 42sec margin with 42.57sec being the fastest. Amy was closely followed by father and daughter pairing, Barry Moignard and Jodie Bush, in the V8 Skoda. Bush took the honours with an impressive 44.42sec which reset her personal best time and Moignard clocked a marginally slower 44.69sec.

Jeremy Phillips had a successful return to hill climbing after a nine year absence in the Racing Cars Unlimited class. Phillips has been preparing his Gould 6.2litre racing car for several years and it was evident he was happy to return back to competition. Phillips managed to lower the class record on every timed run and finished the day by stopping the clock at 41.70sec.

Guernseyman Paul Priaux driving his Force Suzuki powered racing car took the class win in the Racing Cars 601 to 1100cc class when he clocked a 41.69sec run on the final outing. This impressive time was enough to also claim his maiden fastest time of the day honours.

Personal best times were also achieved in the racing car class by three local OMS race car drivers. Glyn Moignard posted an impressive 41.74sec run, closely followed by Richard Twinam with a 42.19sec and Steve Elliot stopping the clock at 43.40sec on his final run.

Local karter and newcomer to hill climbing, Jack Butel, had an impressive debut in the Kart 125 Max class by taking the record with a 45.41sec on his final run of the day – spectators could see the effort Butel was throwing into his kart and will no doubt be one to watch for more class wins.

The Jersey Motorcycle & Light Car Club officials would like to thank sponsors Apex Trust Company Limited, St John Ambulance, Normandy Rescue, Paramedics, Trinity Honorary Police and residents in the area for their assistance at the event.