LANGLOIS TOPPLES 26-YEAR-OLD RECORD
26th August, 2024
The Jersey Motorcycle & Light Car Club returned to Bouley Bay for their final hill climb of the 2024 season on bank holiday Monday. Another packed entry with over 100 competitors on two and four wheels took to the closed-road course all aiming to reach the finish line as fast as possible. Dry conditions throughout the day were favoured by spectators and racers alike where an impressive total of 9 records were broken, some great action for those that lined the banks and bends of the hill watching on.
The first record of the day was claimed by Jack Hinton in his Vauxhall Nova. He would further improve on his own time in the final run of the day to set a new record of 49.69 seconds in the 1401-1600cc Rally Cars class.
Displaying good pace in the morning practice was Darryl Morris in his Skoda Fabia R5, he would go on to lower the record three times over the course of the afternoon and by the end of the day the Rally Cars 4WD record was down to 44.31 seconds, more than two seconds quicker than the previous record from 2010.
Making the trip over the water, Guernsey’s Emma Rayson took the record in the Racing Cars 601-1100cc class, powering her Empire 00 car to the finish line in a time of 41.58 seconds.
Fellow Sarnian Kieran Power enjoyed success of his own in his Honda Civic, in the final run of the event crossing the line in 48.98 seconds to take the record in the Sports Libre Saloon 1601-2000cc class that has stood since 2014.
Three drivers also lowered their own records from earlier in the year. Notable performances from Ross Le Noa, Colin Malzard and Michael Salmon all saw them improve their times respectively.
Image - Alan Huelin
It was another record-breaking day in the Motorcycles 251-350cc class with Jack Clayden tussling against Archie Langlois. Clayden lowered his own record from earlier in the season and with Langlois hot on his wheels there was just 0.04 seconds between the pair going into their final runs. Ultimately it was Jack Clayden who came out on top retaining his record with a new time of 44.36 seconds.
Another two-wheel record to fall on the day was the long-standing record of the Motorcycles 201-250cc class. Archie Langlois on his AAL Recycling KTM 250, by the smallest of margins, initially came within just 0.01 second of the existing record. His following run saw him take the accolade, achieving an impressive time of 44.43 seconds. The 26-year-old former record of 44.71 seconds had been held since August 1998 by the late Steven Jeanne, a well-respected name in the motorsport community. Both Archie and father Alan Langlois took to social media to celebrate the new record whilst also paying tribute to Steven describing him as a very good friend, an amazing human being and an idol to so many.
(words by Ryan Hidrio)
