It's an all-Hampshire battle in the up to 1400cc modprod sports car class on Sunday as the curtain comes down on another season at Gurston Down's Hill Climb venue.
Ian Gaskell from Bordon in his Westfield SEi just heads another former Gurston champion Andy Russell from Alresford in his 1.1 Ginetta G15 going into the last Gates of Brockenhurst Champ-ionship event.
Championship sponsor Jona-than Gates (Westfield) still has a chance of overhauling Bristol's Terry Luff for the 2000 Modprod Sports Car class
Fareham's Paul Webster (Pulsar) should tie up the 2000cc sports libre class title, but Tim Daniel (Newbury) in his 2.0 Vision has a round in hand and could spring a surprise. The amazing twin-engined Force SR8 of Chris Cannell (Salisbury) has sewn up the over 2000cc sports libre class, but the car's pace has been increasing all year, so look out for fireworks from the former Top Ten Challenge winner!
Among the racing cars, Rob Barksfield (Corfe Mullen) flew up the hill at the August British Hillclimb Championship round at Gurston in his 1.1 PCD Saxon, and is likely to overtake Totton's Duncan Barnes (1.0 Force) for the 1100cc class title race.
In the 1600cc racing car section, Ian Chard (New Milton) has set consistently rapid times in his 1.6 DJ Firehawk, and another similar effort should net him the class title. But Peter Sexton (Lymington) equalled Chard's time last month in his less powerful 1.4 OMS and he could spring a surprise.
Top Ten Challenge champion Nik Gregory and his father Mike are out of action after Mike's off-course excursion in August when Mike emerged unscathed but the family Pilbeam was badly damaged, so the unlimited capacity racing car class should come down to a tussle between the new 2.5 Gould GR55 of Petersfield's Tony Marsh and the more powerful 3.5 litre Lola of Rod Eyles (Wellington).
2004 calendar:
April 17: National B event. August 18: Gurston Down Hillclimb Championship event. May29/30: British Hillclimb Championship + motorbikes. June 19: National B event. June 20: Gurston Down Hillclimb Championship. July 18: Gurston Down Hillclimb. Championship. August 28/29: British Hillclimb Championship. September 12: Gurston Down Championship event.
Southern Centre
Auto Cycle Union
This week's schedule
Sunday: Waltham Chase MCC Trial (solo - closed to club). Weymouth & South Dorset MCC Trial (adult solo, open to Centre). South Hants SC Motocross (solo regional restricted). Salisbury Motorcycle and Light Car Club are staging a reunion meeting at Redlynch Social Club in Woodfalls on Friday (7.30).
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