HSA SPEED CHAMPIONSHIP REPORTS

WEBBER'S FOURTH TITLE

Event 33 at Curborough on 06/10/2024
The battle for FTD on the second day of Curborough’s HSA double-header finale, held on the Figure-8 course, could hardly have been closer with winner Simon Jenks just three hundredths clear of Andy Smith in a 57.12sec run. Unfortunately, the AFS P4t of the previous day’s winner Alex Summers had been withdrawn during practice with incurable front suspension problems and Jenks, aboard his new Ian Dayson built Force TA with, like the P4t, Cosworth/Opel V6 power, stepped in for the win. A newcomer to Curborough’s Figure-8 course, he skated straight on under braking for the tightening Flagpole Bend on his very first practice lap, but he more than made up for that later as he took the outright win, although at the awards presentation he gave due acknowledgement to Alex Summers’ non-start! And the delighted Andy Smith had once again won the 1100cc racing class in the Summers family’s Firehawk (the only spaceframe version and a car which Andy himself had designed at DJ) although his main class rival Richard Brant was another unfortunate practice retirement with a blown engine. In a fine drive aboard his 600cc OMS Hornet-Suzuki, young Morgan Hamer took third FTD just ahead of his father Ben.
          In fact the meeting started with Morgan’s sister Connie driving a Citroen C2 in the Junior class alongside her cousin Jensen Ker, but the main HSA protagonists first appeared in the 2-litre Standard Car class as Neal Bateman and William Hunt strove to keep in touch with Championship aspirant  Andrew Webber’s Europa, running in class U2. Neither were on record pace this time and Rob Thomson took the class win in his MX5. With another class win in his Exige, again from John Caldicott’s Elise, Andy Platt moved up into a final fourth overall on the Championship table ahead of over 2-litre class winner Glen Shaw. The Nissan driver won the class from Pekka Tulokas and James Hunt, maintaining his fifth place on the series table, while Hunt found his chirruping BMW E30 turbo eased down to sixth. Lewis Porto was the only HSA runner in the 2-litre Modified class, which was won comprehensively by Ian Carvell’s rapid VW Scirocco.
          The Pre-94 Formula Fords were out in force again, with Jimmy Harris and Trevor Willis once again first and second. But this time, perhaps fittingly, it was Trevor’s long time assistant Sam Wilson that took a fine third place in his Jamun. Unfortunately it was practice that saw the retirement of yet another potential front runner as the Ryders’ Van Diemen, which was to have been driven today by Alex Coles (who won the 2022 BH Cup in the car) was sidelined with clutch problems.
          Once again running on his own in Class U2, Andrew Webber was not this time on record pace. But he still did enough to secure his fourth HSA title, pushing battling classmates Willliam Hunt and Neal Bateman down to second and third overall in the standings. It was also Andrew’s first title win in the Europa V8, the previous three having all been won aboard his Elan Plus 2,

 

SUMMERS WINS AT CURBOROUGH

Event 32 at Curborough on 05/10/2024
Alex Summers, sharing his unique AFS P4t V6 with Simon Mather, set a 51.51s FTD on the first day of the HSA Championship double-header at the Lichfield sprint course. Summers was chased home at a respectful 4.43s distance by DJ Racecar’s Andy Smith, winner of the 1100cc racing class driving Lindsay Summers’ DJ Firehawk. Having his first single seater drive for 15 years, Andy fought off stern opposition from early leader Richard Brant’s Force PT.
          In a 70-strong entry, 20 HSA contenders were present to contest the final two rounds over the weekend with Saturday’s event run over the 2-lap course and with three timed runs on offer. At the start of the day the outcome of the Championship was still undecided, but in the very first class, for 2-litre Standard cars, current leader Neal Bateman in his Clio was the first of seven contenders on the day to set a new HSA class record. Sixth in the series coming to Curborough, Andrew Platt and his Lotus Exige were also on record pace, winning the 2-litre Production Road class from another HSA record-breaker, John Caldicott in his Elise.
          After Andrew Tennent had set a new HSA record in the 2-car Mazda class A2.1, won by the non-registered Matthew Morgan, just three more were set on the day. In the over 2-litre production class, Porsche Carrera 2 driver Roy Newton, Pekka Tulokas with the Mazda and Glen Shaw in his Nissan 350Z all bagged record points, with Tulokas and Shaw both on a maximum, although the class was won by the non-HSA registered Tim Elmer, driving the Alpine he had acquired just a few days earlier from Roger Moran.
          Ben Bowdidge and Anthony Earl both scored class wins and HSA points, but the highest points scorer and final record-breaker of the day was defending champion Andrew Webber. Running literally in a class of his own, his 18 point maximum score matched those he set at Aintree. Lydden and Werrington earlier in the year. Third overall in the Championship coming to Curborough, his prospects for a fourth HSA title (and his third in a row) were looking good.
          With the weekend also featuring the closing rounds of the Pre-94 Formula Ford Challenge, their 22-strong class was won by the Van Diemen RF85 of Jimmy Harris, the defending champion rounding off a successful season which included joint second overall in the British Hillclimb Cup. As usual, 3-times British champion Trevor Willis was sharing Richard Summers’ elderly RF80 and finished second in class, ahead of newly crowned British champion Matt Ryder, out in the family Van Diemen RF86 alongside his father John.
          After three competition runs, track temperatures had cooled down by the time the Alan Payne run-off rounded off the meeting and no-one improved on their class winning times. But Neal Bateman missed his target by a hundredth to take the win in his Clio by a quarter of a second from Matthew Morgan’s Mazda, while just seven hundredths behind was the 4WD VW Golf R of Ben Bowdidge.

 

A low scoring day at Shelsley

Event 31 at Shelsley Walsh on 15/09/2024
Points were hard to come by at Shelsley Walsh on September 15th with no-one threating the existing HSA class records. This was largely down to the conditions, a bright and sunny morning followed by intermittent rain in the afternoon which meant that grip was hard to predict and, as one competitor put it, more of a pyschological exercise in approaching each run.

Top scorer was James Hunt in his BMW E30 who also won the well supported over 2000cc Series Production class with his first and only run of the day. In a similar fashion, Anthony Earl (Caterham) won the large Kit Car class but was some way off the HSA record and Russell Haynes (Zeus ZR163) won the Formula Ford class.

Sam Trundell and Chris Hancox, still enjoying their first season with their Standard Clio, went well but without a Standard Class on the day they were fighting it out with the regular up to 2000cc Series Production cars.

Bernie Kevill was the only driver to get under 30s and took FTD in his OMS28 with a 29.63s run.

Two of the top three competitors in the 2024 Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship were absent and Andrew Webber retired after practice so there was no change in the overall leader board so, with only five points separating them, the final outcome of the championship will come down to the Curborough double header on October 5th and 6th.
 

Platt, Hunt & Shaw break records at Hethel

Event 30 at Hethel on 08/09/2024
On Hethel's challenging Lotus test track, Andrew Platt (Exige), James Hunt (BMW E30) and Glen Shaw (Nissan 350Z) all set new HSA class records by large margins.

In the Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship, Neal Bateman (Clio) who lies second overall failed to make up any ground on the series leader due to dropped scores coming into play despite narrowly setting a new HSA record and win the Standard class on the day.

Anthony Earl (Caterham) went well to win the smaller kit car class while Paul Beesley (Westfield) and Stephen Laing (Caterham) had a close battle in the well supported larger kit car class with Beesley just taking the win.

Charlie Reilly (Van Diemen RF92) managed to break the HSA formula Ford record and Tony staines took FTD with his familiar Reynard Formula Opel with a 76.26s run.

Bateman & Hunt again at Aintree

Event 29 at Aintree on 31/08/2024
The two front runners in the 2024 Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship, William Hunt (Honda S2000) and Neal Bateman (Renault Clio) continued their season long battle again at Aintree. Both are competing the the Standard class and setting new records by such large margins they regulalry take maximum scores as at Harewood. They repeated performance again at Aintree with Neal finishing less than half a second ahead of his rival who maintains a slender lead in the championship. Not far behind the Standard class pair lies Andrew Webber in the Lotus 47/62 who also took maximum points and still has an outside chance of a 'threepeat'.

Dropped scores and the final rounds at Curborough will determine the final outcome of the championship.

Other competitors to scroe well included John Caldicott (Elise), Dave Mockford (MG Maestro) and James Hunt (BMW E30) while Alex Gilchrist Jones (Mistubishi EVO 9) and Roy Newton (Porsche Carrera 2s) won their classes on the day.

Former British Sprint champion, John Graham, took FTD in his Gould GR55B with a 39.15s run.

Thanks to Danny Walton for the images.

 

Far better day at Snetterton

Event 28 at Snetterton on 25/08/2024
In marked contrast to the day before, both the weather and the other issues which had brought frustration to competitors and organisers alike, had improved considerably and a pleasant and successful event ensued.

The Snetterton 100 sprint course has been a popular event and this year 26 Woodford Trailers HSA speed championship competitors turned up for the Sunday part of the double header with many of them taking class honours.

The Standard class is becoming very well subscribed and, with 13 entries, the class saw HSA competitors fill the top four places. Neal Bateman and Rafe Trundell took the first two places in their Clios followed by championship leader, William Hunt in his Honda S2000 less than a tenth behind with Chris Hancox in the Clio he shares with Rafe in fourth place. The result moved Neal to within three points of William at the top of the championship table. Reigning champion Andrew Webber (Lotus 47/62) went well, setting a new HSA class record and sits in third overall a couple of points further back.

Mike Edwards (Mini), Jonathan Baines (Clio), Andrew Platt (Exige), Glen Shaw (Nissan 350Z) and Tony Beesley (Jedi MK4) all won their classes on the day.

Justin Andrews (Impreza), having changed everything for plugs to coils, couldn't eradicate his misfire so called it a day.

Geoff Ward (Swift SC93) was again the quickest Formula Ford just ahead of Charlie Reilly's Van Diemen RF92 while Les Buck, chasing a misfire all day, won the best car at event award with his Pringett Mistrale.

Chris Jones (Force TA) was as dominant in the dry as he had been in the wet, taking FTD (an astonishing 6 in a row) with a 78.27s final run and moving up to fourth overall in the championship table.
 

More re-runs than Gone with the Wind

Event 27 at Snetterton on 24/08/2024
Incessant heavy rain and timing issues conspired to make life very challenging for the organisers and, according to one report, more than 70 re-runs were given for competing vehicles getting too close to one another. Nevertheless, one practice and three timed runs were completed, even if a bit later in the day than was anticipated.

Consequently for the 24 Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship competitors, scores were a wash out (!) except for those few runners fortunate enough to be in classes where there was no existing record.

There was some good in class competition with Glen Shaw (Nissan 350Z), Andrew Platt (Exige), Justin Andrews (chasing a misfire in his Impreza) and Tony Beesley (Jedi MK4) all winning their classes.

The Formula Ford runners all found their tyres unsuitable for the conditions and each had a spin or indiscretion with Geoff Ward coming out on top in his Swift SC93 ahead of Paul Morcom's Van Diemen RF89.

Chris Jones (Force TA) was the only driver to get under 100s and duly took FTD with a 99.26s

While this was all going on the 2CV 24 hour race was taking place on Snetterton's 200 circuit and the commentators managed to keep the sprinters entertained while waiting for their next run.

Bateman & Hunt battle it out at Harewood

Event 26 at Harewood on 24/08/2024
The two front runners in the 2024 Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship, William Hunt (Honda S2000) and Neal Bateman (Renault Clio) continued their season long battle at Harewood. Both are competing the the Standard class and setting new records by such large margins they are often taking maximum scores. This was repeated at Harewood with Neal finishing 0.7s ahead of his rival who maintains a slender lead in the championship.

Last year's champion, Andy Webber (Lotus 47/62) is running third in the championship and managed to set a new HSA class record but by a smaller margin than the two leaders.

Thanks to Chris Bannister at JCB Photography for the images.

Miles & Jones climb up the table at Llandow

Event 25 at Llandow on 17/08/2024
With the British Sprint and Sprint Leaders championships making a welcome return to Llandow, a full entry of competitive cars assembled on August 17th and enjoyed a good days' competition in the warm sun. Steve Miles (2.0 Van Diemen RF96) and Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) were at the top of the time sheets and both scored well in the Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship moving them up to equal fourth overall. Steve Brown had the Empire Evo running well and set an impressive new HSA class record.

Current champion, Andrew Webber, wasn't far behind in the scoring stakes and moved up to third overall, just behind the two leaders who weren't present. Elsewhere however, points were hard to come by with many competitors struggling to get close to the existing HSA class records or even their own PBs. Matthew Parr  (Fiesta ST) took an excellent win (and a just broke HSA class record) in the 14 strong over 2000cc Roadgoing series production class with Pekka Tulokas a strong second. Julian Harber took a class win in his familiar, purple mod prod Mini Clubman while Paul Davies (Radical Clubsport) was third in the under 1800cc Libre class.

 

MORE HSA ACTION IN WILTSHIRE

Event 24 at Gurston Down on 04/08/2024
Sunday’s Gurston Down round, held in similarly fine conditions to the previous day, saw Mike Edwards and James Hunt once again scoring in double figures. Although not quite on record pace this time, Edwards and his Cooper S moved a couple of places up the table to 15th overall, but Hunt found another half second to leap up the table from eleventh place to sixth in his BMW E30. Unfortunately Andrew Webber had been unable to cure the Lotus 47D’s misfire problem out of Karousel, which returned with a vengeance. However with the leading Championship contenders absent for the weekend his accumulated total of nine points, although perhaps not as many as he had hoped for, was still enough for the defending champion to take sole charge of third place overall on this year’s table, breaking clear of a tie with the absent Steve Miles.
          The17-strong Pre-94 Formula Ford class once again provided great entertainment, with Russell Haynes again leading the challenge from the Association’s five contenders, although this time at sufficient pace to take a new HSA record. Perhaps inevitably, the battle for outright honours featured another duel between Trevor Willis and Shaun Macklin, with Willis this time hanging on to his early lead despite a scrappy second run, but such was the competitiveness of the class that on Sunday Haynes dropped a place to fifth despite running almost half a second quicker than he had the previous day. Nevertheless, he moved up the HSA series table to eleventh place, retaining his status as the best placed Class J1 contender.
          Also with points in double figures on Sunday was last year’s series runner-up Pekka Tulokas, the MX5 driver moving up the table to end the weekend one place ahead of Haynes.

 

EDWARDS ON RECORD PACE AT HSA GURSTON

Event 23 at Gurston Down on 03/08/2024
The first of two warm, dry days at Gurston Down saw Mike Edwards emerge as top Association scorer on the day and, as it turned out, of the weekend. A spirited drive set the day’s only HSA record despite his Mini Cooper S being somewhat outgunned in a ‘catch-all’ general class for Woodford Trailers HSA Championship contenders. Up front, the class featured a close duel between the two relative lightweights, Michael Bartlett’s Radical Prosport and Anthony Earle’s Caterham Roadsport, in which Earle overturned Bartlett’s early lead to snatch the win by a hundredth of a second.
          The weekend also hosted four rounds of the popular Pre-94 Formula Ford Challenge and attracted seventeen contenders each day. Five of them were HSA entrants, among whom Class J1 Gurston record-holder Russell Haynes set the pace in his Zeus, finishing fourth overall in an ultra-competitive class. Haynes was just over half a second adrift of the overall class winner, outright Gurston FF class record-holder Shaun Macklin, who had set the mark back in 2018 in his Swift SC92. Macklin had overturned top British Championship contender Trevor Willis’s early lead in the elderly but rapid Van Diemen RF80 that he shares with Richard Summers by eight hundredths. The next highest HSA scorer was Les Buck, who brought his rare Pringett Mistrale home midfield a couple of seconds behind the class winner.
          Apart from Edwards and Haynes, the only other HSA contender to score in double figures was James Hunt, who moved up the Championship table as he brought his BMW E30 home third overall in the dedicated class for Association members. However defending champion Andrew Webber did not have the best of days, his Lotus 47D V8 suffering from a severe misfire exiting Karousel which was thought to be due to fuel starvation.

 

A better day at Loton

Event 22 at Loton Park on 14/07/2024
Fortunately Day 2 of HDLCC's July Interclub hillclimb was a much drier affair and saw a few more Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship competitors entered.

The top two in the Championship, William Hunt (Honda S2000) and Neal Bateman (Clio) continued their close battle with only a tenth between the so scored the same number of points and keeping Hunt's three points lead intact.

Andrew Platt (Exige) had a good run, setting a new HSA class record and winning the well supported and competitive up to 2000cc Series Production class. There were twelve Formula Fords present and Russell Haynes put in a good perfoance with the Zeus ZR 163 to take second in class and set a new HSA Class record.

Anthony Earl took the 'kit car' class on the day and scored well while Glen Shaw (Nissan 350Z) took a good second in the over 2000cc Series Production class just ahead of Pekka Tulokas (MX50.

In the drier conditions compared with the previous day, normal service was resumed and Ben Bonfield took FTD with a 50.42s run.

Changeable Loton

Event 21 at Loton Park on 13/07/2024
Day 1 of HDLCC's summer Interclub hillclimb week-end was a story of the weather as showers affected just about everyone but at different times. So, some classes enjoyed a drier first run and a soaking second while the reverse was the case for some of the later classes to run. The result of all this was that Dave Banner took FTD with a 54.97s run in his Westfield Megabusa with Rick Leddy's Audi TT RS second fastest!

The weather also had a big impact on the Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship as early runner, William Hunt was able to set a new HSA Standard Class record in his Honda S2000 and move ahead of Neal Bateman (just over a second behind) in his 'Standard Class' Clio at the top of the championship leader board.

Unfortunately for the rest of the HSA runners, points were hard to come by in the prevailing conditions with only Pekka Tulokas (MX5 and third in class on the day) and Michael Bartlett (Radical Prosport and fastest Libre) able to show their potential.

Webber moves up at Lydden

Event 20 at Lydden Hill on 13/07/2024
Reigning HSA Speed champion, Andrew Webber, moved up to third equal in the 2024 Woodfrod Trailers HSA Speed championship with another maximum point score in his thundering Lotus Europ at Lydden Hill.

Organisers Borough 19, ran a typically slick event on this challenging East Kent track helped, in large measure, by the good weather and only a couple of on track incidents throughout the day. A practice, followed by four timed runs and prize giving were all concluded before 5pm allowing most of the 113 entrants to plan their M25 avoidance tactics for the journey home.

The track continues to benefit from investment including some resurfacing and a smart new entrance off the A2 and, although a little dusty and short of grip early on, soon permitted a number of new HSA class records to be set.  

Sam Trundell got things going with a new HSA record in his Standard Clio and a good second, by a couple of tenths, in the large, up to 2000cc Standard Class on his first and very enjoyable visit to Lydden (and all the way down from Manchester!). Sam's shared drive, Chris Hancox, was third in Class three tenths further back. Another new record and class win went to Mike Edwards (Austin Mini) in the up to up to 1600cc Roadgoing Class.

Chris Bennett (Caterham) enjoyed a very close, day long battle with a couple of other Caterhams in the small Kit Car Class, winning on the final run and helped, in part, by a re-run when no time was recorded.

Tony Beesley went well in his familiar, green Jedi and took the Interclub FTD with a 72.33s run. Steve Broughton (1.4 DJ Firehawk) scored maximum points in the 1600cc Racing Car Class and 2nd FTD while Steve Brown has his 1.3s Empire Evo2 running reliably and quickly, posting third fastest overall. Chris Jones (1.0 Force TA) 'only' managed a 16 point score but was still comfortably ahead of the entire field to take the National FTD on 66.10s.

 

Points aplenty at first visit to Mallory

Event 19 at Mallory Park on 23/06/2024
Mallory Park 23^rd June 2024 Event 19: Hot sunshine and a perfect track surface greeted competitors at the Sheffield & Hallamshire organised sprint over 1¾ laps of this well-known circuit, a round of all three Woodford Trailers HSA sponsored championships with 27 participants entered. Paddock parking had been allocated to help both organisers and competitors, masses of space and the ground clean enough, competitors allowed to stay in the paddock overnight.  Paddock catering was available together with the usual facilities and showers. The driver's briefing was at 09:00, practice starting at 09:30 with one hour's lunch break. With an entry of around 120 cars, there were one practice and two competitive runs, the average lap time around 85 sec. The track included Edwina’s Chicane which bisects Stebbe Straight beside the smaller lake, the 2nd lap finish just before, with finishers missing the chicane and returning to the paddock.

This being the HSA Championship contenders’ first time competing at this venue, where a driver won their class, they scored 12 points. Times varied from Pete Goulding’s 64.21s in his Mygale EcoBoost to just over 100s, some drivers happier than others driving the track whilst some had not driven here before.

The event ‘ran to the wire’ with 3rd runs completed after 17:00 after several delays and Sprint Championship runners forgoing their second run-off. It was clearly difficult with several car sharing the Tarmac at any one time, but more of a sense of urgency or a smaller entry list might have taken the pressure off the organisers, something they will doubtless consider with the good news that a double-header weekend is planned for 2025.

Fyrth Crosse

Potter's FTD and Graham Hill trophy at Curborough

Event 18 at Curborough on 16/06/2024
The Owen Motoring Club's ever popular Graham Hill trophy sprint held on Curborough's Figure 8 track saw a close battle for FTD between Stephen Potter's 1.6 Empire EVO and Graham Blackwell's 1.6t Mygale Ecoboost with Potter taking the honours by less than a couple of tenths on the final run.

A new HSA class record for Neal Bateman (Renault Clio) saw him chip away at the absent William Hunt's championship lead and take a class win on the day. James Hunt (BMW E30) and Glen Shaw (Nissan 350Z) both just managed to break their respective HSA class records, with Hunt winning the class, and maintain their strong positions in the top 10 in the overall championship.

Runs galore at Three Sisters

Event 17 at Three Sisters on 16/06/2024
With only a modest entry attracted by Longton & District motor club to their early summer 3 Sisters sprint, held on the 2 lap configuration of the track, competitors were able to take up to eight timed runs.

Andrew Cowell's nimble little 1.0l Jedi MK V was well suited to the tight track and took FTD with a 72.95s time.

From the Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship only Jonathan Baines (Clio) and John Ward (MX5) made the trip but acheived a second and first in class respectively.

Wet Barbon dampens scores

Event 16 at Barbon Manor on 15/06/2024
A rain soaked Barbon for Liverpool Motor Club's June hillclimb left competitors in the Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship struggling for decent points scores. Nonetheless, Jonathan Baines (Clio 200 Cup) took an excellent class win in the very competitive (as in the top four were covered by less than half a second) up to 2000cc Series Production class.

John Ward (MX5) posted a DNF on his second run while Nick Scott (Force TA) failed to take the start for his second attempt.

One run was sufficient for Mark Hemingway to set FTD at 26.63s in his new Force TA fitted with the ex Simon Jenks 1670cc Hayabusa motor .

Bateman closes in at Prescott

Event 15 at Prescott on 09/06/2024
Neal Bateman (Renault Clio) and William Hunt (Honda S2000) were at it again on Day 2 of BOC's Mid Summer double header with Bateman lowering his HSA Standard class record again and closing the gap on Hunt who still leads the Championship.

The class for the Woodford Trailer HSA Speed championship competitors was won by Michael Bartlett in his Radical Prosport while Andrew Platt (Exige) substantially lowered the HSA Class record.

John Bradshaw (Westefield) and Laurence Marks (Van Diemen RF84) both won their respective BOC Handicap classes on the day.

Bateman and Hunt battle for HSA honours

Event 14 at Prescott on 08/06/2024
Day 1 of the Bugatti Owner's club Mid Summer double header saw the two leading contenders for the 2024 Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship the top scorers on the day. Both running in the HSA's Standard Class, Neal Bateman (Renault Clio) set a new HSA class record and just over a second ahead of William Hunt (Honda S2000).

Winning the class for HSA championship competitors was Chris Guy in his 600cc Jedi MK4 while both Anthony Earl (Caterham) and John Bradshaw (Westfield) were running in the BOC Sports handicap class which Anthony won.

Russell Haynes emerged the fastest Formula Ford competitor in the unusual Zeus ZR163 and got close to the HSA class record while Speedscene editor, Michael Calvert, was out in his Caterham, missing out on a podium with the top eight in his very competitive class covered by two seconds.

Broughton & Earl top the scores at Pembrey

Event 13 at Pembrey on 02/06/2024
Day two of BARC Wales summer Pembrey Sprint was held on the Clubman circuit in pleasant, earm conditions with scores being easier to come by than the day before.

After recovering from an exploded brake disk in the morning, Steve Broughton had the Busa powered DJ Firehawk running well and was the only competitor to post a maximum points score setting a new HSA Class record by a wide margin.

On a day with few incidents and a modest number of competitors, everything ran smoothly and the organisers were able to offer five timed runs. William Hunt (Honda S2000) only needed a couple of runs before lunch to secure his class on the day and get well inside the HSA Class record before heading home.

Mike Smith (Striker) again won the smaller 'Kit Car' class and had another close battle with Chris Bennett (Caterham) in the larger class but Anthony Earl (Caterham VHPD) had arrived and put both well in the shade by setting a new HSA Class record by a huge margin.

Mike Edwards (Austin Mini) was alone in his Class but managed to post competitive times close to the record. James Hunt (BMW E30) managed one timed run before having to withdraw but it was still enough to take second in Class on the day and also get well under the HSA Class record.

Justin Andrews (Impreza),switching between pump and race fuel) and Chris Jones (Force TA) completed the HSA record breakers.



 

Jones the big winner at Pembrey

Event 12 at Pembrey on 01/06/2024
Day one of BARC Wales summer Pembrey Sprint was held on the National circuit in very warm and still conditions. Despite this scoring was hard to come by and few records were beaten with the exception of Chris Jones in the 998cc Force TA who was fastest overall on every timed run, took FTD (93.02s) and set new Class records in a couple of Championships. The only other new HSA record was set by Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost) who just managed to improve on the record for unlimited Racing Cars

William Hunt (Honda S2000) was running in the standard class on the day which he won. In the kit car' classes Mike Smith (Sylva Striker) and Chris Bennett (Caterham) both won their respective Kit Car classes on the day and enjoyed close battle.

In the big series production class James Hunt (BMW E30) and Roy Newton (Porsche Carrera 2) were up against a quick Elise and had to settle for 2nd and 3rd in Class.

Dave Mockford (MG Maestro) was having fuelling problems but still managed to post competitive times and enjoy the track. Paul Davies was getting to grips with his Radical Clubsport and reduced his times throughout the day.

Webber ties Hunt to lead Championship at Blyton

Event 11 at Blyton Park on 19/05/2024
Day 2 of Longton's May Sprint week-end at Blyton Park was held on the Outer circuit in warm and dry conditions leading to plenty of good times and new HSA class records.

HSA Speed champion, Andrew Webber, is aiming to emulate John Palmer (2002-2004) and win the Championship in three consecutive years. This year he has swapped cars to the Lotus 47/62 which has taken many years of development but is now proving to be a strong contender. 17 points brought Andrew level with James Hunt (not present at Blyton) at the top of the championship table on 74 points apiece.

Andrew Platt (Exige) repeated his maximum points score from the day before to do the double while Neal Bateman again won the battle of the Clios in the Standard class from Sam Trundell and Chris Hancox. Glen Shaw (Nissan 350Z) took another good Class win. In the Racing Car classes Russell Haynes (Zeus ZR163) just managed to set a new HSA Formula Ford class record but had to give second best to Geoff Ward in the more modern Swift who set a new circuit record for the Class. Both Chris Jones and John Loudon (Force TAs) beat the existing 1100cc Class record by a large margin with Jones coming out on top.
 

Records galore at Blyton

Event 10 at Blyton Park on 18/05/2024
Blyton Park is becoming one of the most popular Sprint venues. This was proved to be the case  - as 26 competitors in the Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship turned up for Day 1 of Longton's May Sprint week-end held on the tricky Eastern circuit.

The good weather saw many HSA class records broken with standout performances from Andrew Platt (Exige) and Glen Shaw (Nissan 350Z) - both class winners on the day.

In the Standard class it was an all HSA Clio affair with Neil Bateman coming out on top ahead of Sam Trundell and Chris Hancox and maintain his position in the top half dozen overall in the championship. In the Kit car class, Anthony Earl (Caterham) faced some stiff opposition and was pipped for the class win (Matt Bramall) by a couple of tenths.

Regining HSA Speed champion, Andrew Webber, has goth the Lotus 47/62 running well and took a good class win and new HSA Class record.

Charlie Reilly (Van Diemen RF92) and Russell Haynes (Zeus ZR163) battled hard in the Formula Ford class but had to settle for second and third behind Geoff Ward back in his Swift SC92.

Fianlly, Martin Pickles made a welcome re-appearance in his Jedi MK1 but had to retire after a single (but competitive) practice run.

 

Rain dampens the paddock but not the spirits at Werrington

Event 9 at Werrington on 05/05/2024
Sunday started overcast with a breeze and the rain arrived late in the morning.  The bottom of the paddock was soon being churned up by the moving cars with mud drawn onto the track before the start. The rain did not last long, but was sufficient to make a mess; wheel spinning was now permitted, although someone with a broom after each spin would have reduced the standing mud. The same HSA entrants were competing as they were on Saturday.  Pekka Tulokas in his Mazda MX-5 set a time of 42.76s for 14 pts in class A3, whilst John Wells on 46.08s scored 6pts in his Mini Cooper S in the same class. On 49.02s, Andy Webber scored 4pts in his Lotus Europa in class U2 whilst both Carole Nicholls (Nike Mk4 FF) and Fyrth Crosse (Mallock U2) each scored 1pt with times of 53.01s and 58.45s respectively.

Ed Hollier took BTD both days in his 1-litre Force, setting a time of 35.34s on Saturday and 35.73s on Sunday.
The weekend is hard work for the volunteer organising team with a large paddock to lay out, number and tape, and then hundreds of ‘5 high’ stacks of tyres to be brought from storage and placed up and down the hill, belted securely in place — and then removed at the end of the meeting! The estate owners love this event and would even like to see a second organised each year. As someone opined, a gap in the hillclimb calendar would need to be found, and then a team of volunteers and officials!
 

Pekka Tulokas leads the HSA pack at Werrington

Event 8 at Werrington on 04/05/2024
The Woodford Trailers HSA Championship travelled south to Launceston and the gem that is Werrington Hillclimb. First run in 1977, this was the 45th anniversary of the event (foot and mouth and COVID-19 having caused some cancellations in the intervening years).  The 1,250 yards long track, which uses the access road of a private estate a mile or so north of town, includes a covered cattle grid and top paddock beside Werrington church. The main paddock is grassed and sloping, which can be difficult when wet. The hill record stands at 32.59s, a 77mph average which includes a slow 90° left in the middle, and unforgiving granite walls line the finish straight. Both days featured one practice and three competitive runs.

Saturday dawned misty — clearing to a blue sky and fair-weather cumulous clouds, perfect hillclimbing weather. With a full entry for both days, the track was clean although the edges were best avoided.  The sloping grass paddock was damp but manageable.  There was to be no wheel spinning before the start lest the Clerk of the Course consider that mud was being drawn onto the track. HSA entrant Pekka Tulokas in class A3 ran 43.31s in his Mazda MX-5 1800GT, scoring 18pts.  Classmate John Wells in his Mini Cooper S set 45.50s for 11pts. Andy Webber did well in his Lotus 47D/62R on a 44.40s for 18pts in class U. Carole Nicholls’ familiar Nike Mk4 FF took 1 pt in class J1 with a time of 49.46s, as did Fyrth Crosse in his Mallock U2 class W on 51.07s.
 

William Hunt consolidates his championship lead at Wiscombe

Event 7 at Wiscombe Park on 28/04/2024
Wiscombe Park Sunday 28 April - Fyrth Crosse reports:

It rained during the night, but Sunday dawned dry and mild with occasional bursts of sunshine and reasonable track conditions. From the HSA perspective Willam Hunt consolidated on his current championship lead with 51.09s in his Honda S2000 and 14 pts, followed by John Wells Mini Cooper S with a time of 48.45s and 6 pts. Steve Chaloner did 52.62s in his Citroen C1 scoring 1 pt. Past champion Andy Webber manhandled his brutal Lotus Europa 47D/62R up the hill on 51.90s collecting 5 pts, his past gearbox problems now resolved with an Audi box. Fyrth Crosse’s Mallock Mk2B, 55.15s and 1 pt. Local Force HC 1100cc driver Ed Hollier took BTD on both days, Sunday his best on 38.77s.
Always picturesque and exciting to drive since the first event in 1958, chatting with Peter Issacs highlighted the problems of running a venue on a privately owned although supportive estate. We are fortunate that the Chichester family wish to continue and preserve the venue, the estate having been purchased by Richard
and Bunny Chichester in 1953 and with the encouragement of Charles Lambton the hill climb was established and prospered. Today a large team of volunteers do an excellent job preserving and maintaining the hill for us to play on.

Sunshine and hail greets Wiscombe competitors

Event 6 at Wiscombe Park on 27/04/2024
Wiscombe Park 27 April - Fyrth Crosse reports:

A large entry for both days of the Woolbridge Motor Club’s first hillclimb of 2024, both days being rounds of the Woodford Trailers HSA Championship. The estate was damp and the paddock difficult but manageable, the track excellent following resurfacing in 2023 and a winter to ‘weather’, Wiscombe Ltd having done considerable work bringing the track edges up to the higher level of the re-laid track. Both days were rather ‘slow’ and lugubrious - one practice and two competitive runs each day, compulsory practice for everyone commencing at 09:20 on Sunday.
Saturday was dry and mild with an odd flash of sunshine; the track dried steadily, then interrupted with a light hailstorm during T2 and most late batch runners declining to run although the track still had grip. There were seven HSA contenders, led by William Hunt and his Honda S2000, with 51.67s and 12 pts. Then John Wells Mini Cooper S on 50.19s and 4 pts, James Hunt BMW E30 on 58.19s on 1 pt, this remaining the score for Steve Chaloner Citroen C1 on 54.06s, Dave Mockford MG Maestro on 56.51s, Andy Webber Lotus Europa 47D/62R on 61.73s and Fyrth Crosse Mallock Mk2B on 54.88s.

 

Good day at Goodwood

Event 5 at Goodwood on 20/04/2024
Thirteen Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship competitors made the trip to deepest Sussex and Goodwood's famous and challenging track.

Leading the way were Sam Trundell and Chris Hancox in their shared Clio 172 Cup with both drivers breaking the existing HSA class record (with Sam coming out on top) and finishing one two in their class on the day.

Anthony Earl (Caterham) and Mike Smith (Striker) did battle in the Kit Car class with Anthony continuing his strong start to the season with another good points finish and new HSA class record.

Reigning HSA Speed champion, Andrew Webber, has his Lotus Europa '47D/62 R'  running competitively and set another new HSA class record while Simon Wallis (OMS 3000M) and Tony Beesley (Jedi MK4) lined up against each other in the 1100cc Racing Car class with Simon taking second in Class on the day.

Finally, the Mygale Ecoboosts of British Sprint Champion, Pete Goulding and Graham Porrett were in contention in the big Racing Car class which Pete won and set FTD with a 74.69s run.

All images courtesy of Colin Dearlove

Spring sunshine at Shelsley

Event 4 at Shelsley Walsh on 14/04/2024
MAC's season opener at Shelsley Walsh on April 14th was the 4th round of the Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship and was held in bright Spring sunshine.

Last year's championship runner up, Pekka Tulokas was back in his boosted MX5 and was the only HSA competitor to score good points in the cold conditions and also won his class on the day against some strong opposition. Another good class win came the way of Fyrth Crosse, in his immaculate, ex Mike Wilds Formula Three Ensign LNF3 in the National Historic Speed Championship class.

Roy Newton was out in his Porsche Carrera 2S and took third in his class while Russell Haynes (Zeus ZR163) and Carole Nicholls (Nike MK4) battled it out in the Formula Ford class.

Bateman and W Hunt again at stormy Anglesey

Event 3 at Anglesey on 07/04/2024
Day Two of Longton's Doran Moore Memorial sprint week-end was held on the longer International Trac Mon circuit and the day dawned bright and windy but with a highly credible forecast of heavy rain moving in after lunch.

Competitors looked to make the most of their only timed run before lunch although the track remained damp in places. The rain duly arrived and many competitors either packed up or sat out the next couple of timed runs but the skies cleared and by late afternoon the track was the best it had been and saw some of the quickest times set.

Repeating their performance from the day before both Neal Bateman (Clio) and William Hunt (Honda S2000) both scored maximum HSA points and won their respective classes on the day. A strong showing in the first rounds of the Championship has allowed Hunt to take an early lead in this year's competition.

James Hunt (BMW E30), Justin Andrews (Impreza), Glen Shaw (Nissan 350Z) and Steve Miles (Van Diemen RF96) all scored well.

Bateman & the Hunts score at tricky Anglesey

Event 2 at Anglesey on 06/04/2024
Day One of Longton's Doran Moore Sprint week-end was held on Trac Mon's shorter National track with the impending storm Kathleen threatening all day. Fortunately the rain held off except for a brief shower late in the afternoon but high winds and permanently damp sections of the track made setting fast times and new records tricky.

However, despite the conditions Neal Bateman (Clio), William Hunt (Honda S2000) and James Hunt (BMW E30) all scored maximum points by setting new records by a margin of more than 3%.

Glen Shaw (Nissan 350Z) wasn't far behind with Anthony Earl (Caterham) and Justin Andrews (Impreza) also setting (just) new HSA class records and winningn their respective classes. It was a strong perfomance from Anthony who hadn't been to the circuit before but got the benefit from doing a track day on the Friday.

It was also good to see Dave Mockford's MG Maestro back on track after a lengthy (6 year!) rebuild and looking rather smart. The car is fitted with a 2litre Rover 820 engine and a Colin Satchell 6 speed sequential gearbox.

A bright start to 2024 at Cadwell

Event 1 at Cadwell Park on 23/03/2024
Despite a soggy start to the year BARC Midlands Cadwell Sprint on March 23rd enjoyed bright and dry conditions for the first round of the Woodford Trailers HSA Speed championship which saw competitors get four timed runs on the challenging Lincolnshire track.

The two Steves (Brown in an Empire EVO2 with a new RLM turbo Busa motor) and Miles (sporting an eye catching new livery) were the top points scorers, smashing the existing HSA records.

Behind this pair, Andrew Platt (Exige), William Hunt (Honda S2000), John Loudon (Force TA) and Glen Shaw (Nissan 350Z) broke the exisitng HSA class records. Joing the championship for 2024, Rob Pallett (Ginetta G20), Jonathan Baines (Clio 200), Roy Newton (Porsche Carrera 2) and John Ward (MX5) all scored points.

Thanks to Chris Bannister at JCB Photography for the images.

DOUBLE FTD FOR TATHAM

Event 32 at Curborough on 08/10/2023
The entry for Sunday’s HSA Championship finale, held  over the Figure 8 course, was almost identical to the previous day. This time six drivers scored record points, half of them from the now 25-strong Formula Ford class.
          Looking back through the classes, after Neal Bateman had taken another win in the 2-litre Standard Car class, the Hamer/Ker family were out in force again, with Jensen Ker running the Citroen C2 on his own in the Junior Sprint class. With the pair split by just over a second, Archie Ker was joined in the car by his uncle Ben Hamer in the 1600cc Roadgoing Production class, as Ben and Wil Ker’s OMS-Suzuki had been sidelined the previous day with turbo problems. But it was Dean Ratcliffe’s MG ZR that took the win. It was David Whiteley’s turn for the 2-litre win as he demoted the previous day’s winner, fellow Elise driver John Caldicott, to second place.
          Harewood regular Terry Deere was a Sunday visitor to Curborough, but even his pristine Talbot Sunbeam Lotus couldn’t quite get on terms with Saturday winner Nick Bayldon’s rapid Porsche 718 GT4 in the over 2-litre class. Anthony Earl took another win, plus an HSA record, in the Roadgoing Specialist class but up into second place, after being amalgamated with the bigger capacity cars in his 900cc Honda Fireblade powered Fisher Fury, came Gurston Down expert Rob Brodie on his first competitive visit to Curborough.
          With the previous day’s 2-litre ModProd leaders Tom Harding and Mike Harriman not present, 2017 HSA champion Justin Andrews took just one run in his de-stroked, 1400cc Impreza turbo to win the 2-litre ModProd class ahead of the hard driven Fiesta of Mark Linforth. After Antony Brown’s Audi TT and Andrew Webber’s Europa had run on their own (with Webber concluding his development weekend – and his victorious Championship year – with a lurid spin at Molehill!) Duncan Barnes took another Sports Libre win in ‘Big Norma’, seeing off a host of Radicals led by Matthew Price’s Prosport, with a run good enough for second FTD.  Peter Hawkey and Chris Guy were now present in their shared 600cc Jedi, with Guy breaking his own class record set back in June.
Unfortunately, after an argument with the bank at Molehill during practice, which resulted in front wing and suspension damage, Stuart Bickley was unable to take his place in the 1100cc racing class. So with his main opposition out of the way Dave Tatham took another class win and FTD with ease, this time with a low 50 sec run, leaving Ben Bonfield to bring his Jedi home in second place with third FTD.
It was no surprise that Trevor Willis took another win in the mammoth Formula Ford class in Richard Summers’ Van Diemen, again from Jimmy Harris, who had now clinched the Pre-94 FF Challenge title for 2023. Of the five contenders present, three ran inside the HSA record, which was bettered by no less than 18 drivers, many of them regular FF competitors at British Championship level. Highest HSA points scorer not only of the day but of the weekend, with 18 points, was Russell Haynes, the Zeus driver finishing seventh overall.
          An excellent weekend of sprinting ended with by a solo run by former sprint regular Richard Prosser, who had just spent 4½ years rebuilding his ex.Brian Moody Ralt, reverting the car to 1983 F3 circuit spec complete with 2-litre Toyota Novamotor engine.

 

CLOSE CALL FOR WILLIS

Event 31 at Curborough on 07/10/2023
Although the winner of this year’s series had already been decided, amid an entry of around 70 each day for the HSA’s Championship finale weekend at the Lichfield sprint course, 14 HSA contenders were on hand to compete for the minor placings. With Andrew Webber already in an unassailable Championship lead coming to Curborough, 19 points clear of his closest opposition Pekka Tulokas, the Mazda driver didn’t enter and Webber, with a third HSA title in the bag aboard his Elan Plus 2, took the opportunity for some development work on his Rover V8 powered Lotus Europa 47C/62R, which featured a new Audi-based gearbox replacing the car’s previous Citroen/Maserati unit.
          Traditionally held on Curborough’s 2-lap course, Saturday’s event also features the Alan Payne class winners’ run-off. On this penultimate round of the Championship there were two HSA class record scores, by Anthony Earl and Anthony Brown, both of whom were also chasing Sprint Leaders points on the day. Earl’s spirited driving in his Caterham Roadsport took a clear Roadgoing Specialist Production win from Stephen Laing, also a Sprint Leaders contender aboard his Caterham R500, while Brown established a new over 2-litre ModProd record in his ‘teamrowdyaudi’ TT. Elsewhere, Connie Hamer battled with more experienced brother Morgan in their Citroen C2 in the Junior Sprint class, with Morgan qualifying for the run-off, while in the 2-litre Standard Car class Midland Speed Championship leader Neal Bateman also made the cut, as did John Caldicott, recovering from a first run spin in his Elise among the 2-litre Roadgoing cars. Apart from the eventual victor of the class winners’ run-off, of whom more later, these were the only drivers to improve on their winning times.
          Nick Bayldon made short work of the over 2-litre class in his Porsche 718 GT4, while Eric Morrey’s turbocharged Imp held off regular British round opponent Phil Tucker’s fleet Vauxhall Nova by over a second in the first of the ModProd classes. The second of them was the property of Tom Harding in his VW Golf, Mike Harriman bouncing back to second place after the first runs, when his Clio took a wrong course after a wayward moment at Flagpole. Webber’s Europa held off Lee Whitmore’s MGB GT in the Pre-76 Modified Classic, Specialist Saloon and Sports car class, and Duncan Barnes’ big Norma-Honda sped to third FTD with a clear win in the  Sports Libre class.
          The top pace was expected to come from the 1100cc racers and so it proved, Dave Tatham taking the win in his DK Firehawk and snatching FTD from perennial rival Stuart Bickley’s Force TA with the only two sub-50 sec runs of the day. No less than 24 Formula Fords were on hand to contest the last four rounds (two per day) of the Pre-94 FF Challenge, with five of them among the 12-car HSA Championship entry. At the wheel of his elderly RF80 Van Diemen, Richard Summers led from FF series leader Jimmy Harris’s RF85 after the first runs with his occasional co-driver Trevor Willis lurking in third place. But on the second runs, 3-times British Hillclimb champion Willis came through for the win. Not only that, but having qualified for the class winners’ run-off, he proceeded to snatch the win from John Caldicott’s Elise by just 0.03 sec!

 

Mixed fortunes at Shelsley

Event 30 at Shelsley Walsh on 16/09/2023
Eighteen HSA Speed championship competitors took part in Shelsley Walsh's Harvest Festival event on September 16th but experienced wildly different fortunes - particularly those running later as conditions deteriorated with many competitors going slower or passing on their second runs.

Pekka Tulokas (Mazda MX5), lying in a secure second place in the championship smashed the existing HSA Class record by more that 3% to achieve a maximum points score - the only HSA competitor to do so. Also setting a new HSA class record and, like Tulokas, winning his class on the day was Andrew Platt (Lotus Exige) ahead of Andrew Feakins (2nd in class) with his Clio 182.

The season long battle between Simon Clemow and Dave Greenslade in their shared Radical SR1 was joined by Speedscene columnist, Clive Wooster in his SR4. A strong first run saw Clemow take the win with Greenslade, the only competitor in class to take a second run, just edged out Wooster for second with Matthew Price just behind in fourth with his SR3.

Russell Haynes won the Formula Ford class in the unusual Zeus ZR163 while elsewhere, former HSA committee member, Fyrth Crosse recorded a very respectable 32s run in his Formula Three Ensign LNF3 and Allan Warburton took FTD with his Gould GR59 on 26.31s.

 

Webber continues to move ahead at Three Sisters

Event 29 at Three Sisters on 03/09/2023
Only championship leader Andrew Webber (Elan +2) and Anthony Brown (Audi TT) of the HSA Speed Championship competitors made the trip to Three Sisters for Longton & District's late summer sprint at the sinuous Three Sisters track.

Webber only needed three of the six timed runs on offer to repeat the maximum score he achieved the day before at Aintree. Brown made good use of the extra runs available to break the existing HS AClass record and score well.

Will Shuttleworth (T89) took FTD with a 70.78s run.

Records fall at Hethel

Event 28 at Hethel on 03/09/2023
A good selection of HSA Speed Championship competitors enjoyed the testing Hethel, home of Lotus, track in warm and sunny conditions with a number of new HSA class records being set.

Mike Edwards (Austin Mini) set the ball rolling with a new HSA record and a class win on the day with Chris Judge (Ford Fiesta) just behind. Alex Sutton (Clio 197RS) went well for another new HSA Class record as did Anthony Earl (Caterham) who also saw off a large kit car class for a win on the day.

Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost) took FTD with a 71.32s and a new HSA Class record.

Andrew Webber's solo Aintree

Event 27 at Aintree on 02/09/2023
Championship leader, Andrew Webber (Elan +2) was the only HSA Speed championship contender to make the trek to Liverpool's iconic Aintree track and duly beat the exisitng HSA Class record by a large margin to take maximum points (and the class win) and cement his position at the top of the 2023 table.

Former British Sprint champion, John Graham took FTD with his Gould GR55B with a 39.43s run.

Weather affected Snetterton

Event 26 at Snetterton on 27/08/2023
Day two of BARC Midlands' Snetterton Sprint on the 100 circuit began as it had finished the day before by being warm and dry but by lunchtime threatening clouds began to move in. As competitors prepared for their third timed run the rain began and as it increased with thunder and lightning the organisers abandoned the meeting leaving only the first two timed runs to count.

These were enough for a number of competitors to improve on their times from the previous day including John Loudon (Force TA), Mike Edwards (Austin Mini) and Andrew Platt (Lotus Exige).

GURSTON - DAY TWO

Event 25 at Gurston Down on 27/08/2023
The second day of Gurston’s weekend double-header ended with Championship leaders Andrew Webber and Pekka Tulokas maintaining their advantage, although neither was able to match their previous day’s pace. Having missed Saturday’s event, Andrew Till and James Rushworth (BMW E30) took the place of Anthony Earl’s Caterham Roadsport in the HSA lineup and Till promptly set the day’s top score in his Fiesta ST-Line.
          Simon Clemow and Dave Greenslade continued their duel in the shared Radical, with Greenslade getting the advantage this time to set the fastest HSA time of the weekend with a 32.40s run. In another close-fought Formula Ford class, it was Russell Haynes that turned the tables on Les Buck this time, by half a second, within Class J1. Although not scoring high HSA points at Gurston, 2007 champion John Bradshaw ran his Westfield SEiW in a well supported Midland Speed Championship class and won both days.
 

Edwards & Platt top the scores at Snetterton

Event 24 at Snetterton on 26/08/2023
 The first day of BARC Midlands' double header on the 100 circuit saw 16 HSA Speed championship competitors enjoy with warm and sunny weather which allowed Mike Edwards (Austin Mini) and Andrew Platt (Lotus Exige) beta their respective HSA class records by a considerable margin to take maximum points scores.

Also scoring well were John Loudon (Force TA), Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost) and Pete Goulding (Mygale Ecoboost). Others though, struggled to match their class record targets but made up for it with their individual battles including Stephen Laing & Chris Bennett (Caterhams), Geoff Lancaster & Alex Sutton (Renault Clio) and Simon Broadbridge & Ed McDonough (Formula Fords).

 

WEBBER STILL IN CHARGE

Event 23 at Gurston Down on 26/08/2023
Despite clashing HSA rounds at Snetterton, twelve contenders turned out each day for the two rounds held over Gurston’s Championship finals weekend. Saturday’s event saw a class dedicated to HSA contenders, which featured the two series front runners Andrew Webber and Pekka Tulokas. With Webber the top scorer on the day, both drivers set new HSA class records and maintained their clear dominance of the series, in which Webber’s Elan Plus 2 now leads Tulokas’s MX5 by a clear 21-point margin once the Snetterton results are taken into account.
          Driving their shared Radical SR1, Simon Clemow took the HSA class verdict over Dave Greenslade, who only took one run. With the weekend hosting four rounds the Pre-1994 Challenge series there was a big Formula Ford entry, of which six HSA Class J1 contenders were present. Despite an earlier trip up the Karousel escape road on a wet and slippery track, which fortunately affected only part of the first runs, Les Buck eventually topped the HSA scoresheet in his venerable Pringett Mistrale ahead of Russell Haynes’ Zeus

Wiscombe wash out

Event 22 at Wiscombe Park on 30/07/2023
Sadly the second day of Wiscombe's July 'national' meeting was damp and Carole Nicholls (Nike Mk4) was the only HSA Championship representative but managed to complete all her runs safely.

Bradley & Nicholls score at Wiscombe

Event 21 at Wiscombe Park on 29/07/2023
Surprisingly Damien Bradley (Subaru Legacy) and Carole Nicholls (Nike MK4) were the only HSA Speed championship competitors in attendance at Wiscombe's July 'National' meeting.

Nevetheless, Bradley set a new HSA class record by a large margin in the highly modified Legacy to maintain his position in the top 10 in the Championship.

Tulokas maintains title challenge at Prescott

Event 20 at Prescott on 23/07/2023

Low scores at a soggy Prescott

Event 19 at Prescott on 22/07/2023
Unfortunately the first day of the Prescott July double header on the Saturday was hampered by continuous rain, heavy at times, and the track did not start to dry out until after the event had been completed. Eight HSA championship contenders took part and all scored just one point except for Andrew Till (Ford Fiesta) and Pekka Tulokas (Mazda MX5) who each bagged 5 points for times between 7 and 9 percent of their respective class records.

Pekka won the combined Triple M HSA class in 56.99s and Tony Feakins (Peugeot 205Gti) was second in 58.19s. FTD was set by Stuart Bickley in his new Force TA in a time of 44.75s.

High scores hard to come by at windy Lydden

Event 18 at Lydden Hill on 15/07/2023
It may have been warm and sunny down in the paddock at Lydden Hill for Borough 19's traditional Ray Heal Memorial sprint but out on the track a fierce wind made life difficult for competitors.

Only championship leader, Andrew Webber (Elan +2), and Mike Edwards (austin Mini) were able to get close to maximum scores and win their respective classes on the day with Chris Judge's Fiesta close behind.

Speedscene columnist, Clive Wooster went well in his Radical SR4 to win his class and post a time that would have qualified him for a British Sprint Top 12 Run Off. Lydden often features unique and unusual cars and this event was no exception and included Dan Fountain' QT Wildcat 300STR (a 'rally raid' type vehicle?) and Stuart Ashwell's Sparton FF82.

Another rain affected day at Loton

Event 17 at Loton Park on 09/07/2023

Greenslade tops the scores at Loton

Event 16 at Loton Park on 08/07/2023
Sadly the changeable British summer weather took its toll on both days of the Loton July double header. Saturday morning was fine and dry but the heavens opened midway through the first competition runs in the afternoon. There was a torrential thunderstorm and the meeting was held up for about half an hour to allow the storm to pass over. The organisers decided to finish the event after just one set of competition runs as a result of the delay and to let everyone dry out overnight.

Dave Greenslade (Radical SR1) got well under the HSA Libre record to take a maximum score on the first day of the Loton July double header and win the class on the day. Co-driver, Simon Clemow, also went well but was a couple of seconds behind.

The Yapps, Jamie and Richard, were out in their venerable Vauxhall Nova which has made appearances in the HSA championship going back nearly 20 years with Jamie winning his class on the day. Anthony Earl put in a good performance in his Caterham to win a large and competitive Roadgoing kit car class - something not always seen these days.

The event was a round of the Pre '94 Formula Ford challenge with 19 competitors taking part including three time British Hillclimb champion, Trevor Willis in a Van Diemen RF80. But it was Richard Summers, also driving an RF80 who took the win fron Bernie Kevill's newer RF90. Best scoring HSA championship Fordster was Les Buck in his Pringett Mistrale.

Tulokas and Webber continue their struggle at hot Llandow

Event 15 at Llandow on 24/06/2023
At a very hot Llandow it was good to see the paddock full to overflowing in this oversubscribed event. Surprisingly only five HSA Speed championship contenders managed to secure an entry but this included two of the main protagonists for this year's title. Both were seeking maximum points by breaking the existing HSA class records by a significant margin. Andrew Webber (Elan +2) had his work cut out, having to replace a clutch master cylinder after practice and missing T1. A decent T2 left him half a second short but he found another second on T3 to achieve his goal. Pekka Tulokas in his potent turbocharged MX5 followed a remarkably similar pattern to Webber. He missed out on T1, set a decent time on T2 but somewhat short and found almost a second on T3 for a maximum score.

Damien Bradley won his class on the day in his well engineered and very quick Subaru Legacy. The car was originally a base model as that was the only one that came without a sun roof. Simon Broadbridge was the sole Formula Ford competitor scored well but couldn't approach Tony Jarvis' 15 year old record.

The Paul Matty championship competitors provided a fine spectacle of classic Lotus racing cars including no less that five type 69s in F3, F2 and Atlantic configurations. Dave Hampton in his 69 was the fastest of the Paul Matty runners with a 78.64s and Philip Montgomery-Smith continued the good form he showed at Pembrey by taking FTD in his OMS 2000M with a 69/69s run.

There were also more interesting and unusual cars including Owen Jones' beautifully presented Fiat 128, Graham Mintram's Delta HF Turbo and David Wheeler's Renault R8 Gordini.



 

Blackwell's FTD as rain arrives at Curborough

Event 14 at Curborough on 18/06/2023
Graham Blackwell (Mygale Ecoboost) took FTD with a 53.15s at the Owen Motoring Club's traditional Graham Hill Sprint held on Curborough's Figure 8 layout. The two practice runs and first timed runs were dry but rain arrived and most competitors either passed on their second run or failed to improve.

With only their first run counting it was a hard ask for competitors to break the existing HSA class records by significant amounts but championship leader, Andrew Webber (Elan +2), Andrew Till (Fiesta ST) and Chris Guy (Jedi MK4)  just set new marks by small margins.

Laurence Marks (Van Diemen RF84) and Ed McDonough (Dulon MP15) battled for Formula Ford honours with Marks coming out ahead.

Andrews scores as Wood takes FTD at Barbon

Event 13 at Barbon Manor on 10/06/2023
Only three Triple M HSA Speed championship competitors made their way to Liverpool Motor Club's Barbon Manor hillclimb but Justin Andrews, making his 2023 season debut in the championship, just managed to break the C2 HSA class record in his unusually powered 1425cc turbocharged Impreza.

The Walkers, Andy and Jack, were present in their Westfield SeiW with Jack just managing to break the 30s barrier with a 29.79s run.

FTD went to Robin Wood in his 1100cc Force PT on 24.61s

Bennett & Webber score at Pembrey Club

Event 12 at Pembrey on 04/06/2023
On the second day of the Pembrey June Sprint week-end, held on the Club circuit Chris Bennett (Caterham Roadsport) and championshile leader, Andrew Webber (Elan +2) both scored 18 points by eclipsing the existing HSA class records by more than 3%.

Stuart Lugger and Mike Edwards had a close battle in their Minis with only half a second separating them at the end and finish third and fourth in their class just behind a quick Honda.

Pekka Tulokas (Mazda MX5) and Chris Jones (Force TA) had higher hurdles to overcome but both beat their own HSA class records by significant amounts to score well and win their respective classes on the day.

After experiencing problems on the Saturday, the Clemow/Greenslade Radical SR1 was running well and, just like the day before, Clemow edged ahead by 0.15s.

 

Webber marches on at Pembrey

Event 11 at Pembrey on 03/06/2023
Reigning HSA Speed champion, Andrew Webber is making another determined assault on the championship in 2023 with his very familiar Lotus Elan +2. At Pembrey, on the first day of the June Sprint week-end he took another new record by enough to secure a maximum points score despite taking only 2 of the 4 timed runs on offer.

Close behind were Stuart Lugger (Mini Cooper) and Steve Broughton (DJ Firehawk) who are both running in the top 5 in the championship.

Simon Clemow and Dave Greenslade were having problems with their shared Radical SR1 with the former only taking three of the five times runs on offer. They are usually closely matched and so it turned out with Clemow coming out ahead by a tenth.

Another championship contender, Pekka Tulokas, in his self engineered and developed tirbocharged Mazda MX5 was facing an uphill battle to outscore his own impressive records and a mistake on his final run cost him a higher score.

Anthony Earl (Caterham Roadsport) went well to win the Roadgoing Specialist class.

Credit should be given to the 'new' team running the event which ran very smoothly especially the organisation of the paddock and startline.

Webber closes in at Blyton

Event 10 at Blyton Park on 14/05/2023
On day two of Longton & District's Sprint Blyton double header, held on the Outer circuit, Andrew Webber (Elan +2) made it a perfect week-end with another maximum score to move to with two points of championship leader Steve Broughton (DJ Firehawk).

Stuart Lugger (Mini Cooper) and Chris Guy (Jedi MK4) also went quickly to post maximum scores and move themselves up the leader board.
 

Broughton and Webber on top at Blyton

Event 9 at Blyton Park on 13/05/2023
On day one of Longton & District's Blyton double header Steve Broughton (DJ Firehawk) and reigning champion Andrew Webber (Elan +2) both broke the existing HSA class records by more than 3% to take maximum scores and improve their positions at the top of the leaderboard.

Using the Eastern circuit asnd with 20 Triple M HSA Speed championship competitors present at this popular venue there were plenty of other good perfomances including Damian Bradley (Subaru Legacy) and Chris Guy (600cc Jedi MK4). Stuart Lugger won his class on the day in his Mini Cooper and scroed well. Andrew Platt (Exige), Anthony Earl (Caterham) and David Spencer (Reynard 883) also won their classes. 

Tulokas outscores Webber at second Werrington

Event 8 at Werrington on 30/04/2023
Two of the early season front runners for the 2023 Triple M HSA Speed championship fought hard on day two of Plymouth Motor Club's spring Werrington meeting. Reversing their performance on day one, Pekka Tulokas (Mazda MX5) outscored Andrew Webber (Elan +2) by 13 points to 8 to leave him in a strong second in the championship.

Andrew Forsyth (OMS CF04) took FTD with a 34.29s a tenth ahead of Ben Wheeler's Empire EVO2.

Webber sets the pace at Werrington

Event 7 at Werrington on 29/04/2023
On the first day of Plymouth Motor Club's Werrington double header, reigning HSA Speed champion, Andrew Webber in his well known Elan +2 took over a second off his own HSA class record to post a high score. Pekka Tuloka (Mazda MX5) continued his strong start to the season with a good result despite taking a single practice and timed run.

Terry Graves (Gould DJ55XB) took FTD with 33.72s by 17 hundredths from Phil Montgomery-Smith's OMS 2000M.

Webber starts championship defence as Goulding take FTD

Event 6 at Goodwood on 22/04/2023
At Bognor Regis Motor Club's Goodwood Regis sprint, current HSA Speed champion, Andrew Webber opened his 2023 title defence with a record setting and maximum points scoring run in his Elan +2. Pete Goulding's Ecoboost powered Mygale took FTD by around a second from Steve Broughton in the Busa powered DJ Firehawk who moved into the lead of the championship.

Anthony Earl continued his strong start to the season by taking a maximum points score in his Caterham Roadsport while Pekka Tulokas (Mazda MX5) also went well to maintain his position near the top of the championship leader board.

Winning their classes at the event were Webber and Andrew Till (Fiesta ST) with an impressive performance to win a large Roagoing Series Production class.

Lugger and Tulokas in the points at Shelsley

Event 5 at Shelsley Walsh on 16/04/2023
Newcomer to the HSA Speed championship, Stuart Lugger (Austin Mini Cooper) and Pekka Tulokas (Mazda MX5) both smashed the existing HSA class records by some margin to post maximum scores. Tulokas, running a very potent, boosted engine in the MX5 moved to the top of the championship leaderboard, showing ominous early season form.

Mike Edwards (Austin Mini), Anthony Earl (Carterham Roadsport), John Bradshaw (Westfield SEiW) and, Speedscene columnist, Clive Wooster (Radical SR4) all went well with Earl winning the large and competitive Specialist Production class at the event. Tolukas and Wooster also won their respective classes.

Alex Summers took FTD with a 24.17s run in the DJ Firestorm.

All images courtesy of Rob MacDonald

LOCAL WIN FOR SPEDDING

Event 4 at Harewood on 09/04/2023
Shaking down his GWR Raptor-Suzuki prior to this year’s British Championship season, Richard Spedding took FTD at Harewood’s opening meeting of the year. The car’s handling was far from ideal on a chilly day, but the local man from Barnsley still beat OMS drivers Lee Griffiths and Steve Owen in their larger engined cars, plus the massed ranks of 1100cc racers, amongst which David Tatham, 4th FTD, led the way after a last minute switch to his DJ Firehawk-Suzuki.
          The BARC Yorkshire Centre’s Spring National Hillclimb was the fourth round of the HSA Championship season and the first hillclimb in the series. One of just two HSA contenders on the entry list, Andrew Platt had run his Lotus Exige at the opening round at Cadwell Park, but had given the two Anglesey rounds a miss. He led Harewood’s 2-car ‘Elise and other non-ferrous chassis cars’ class after the first runs, but after lunch David Leach remembered to pop an additional ‘mechanic’s gallon’ into his Elise’s tank, his misfire disappeared and he took a comfortable win. In HSA scoring terms Platt ran six tenths shy of Michael Thompson’s long-standing A2 record in the Honda S2000, leaving Harewood in 14th place on the series table, to level with the absent Lee Gavins’ MNR Vortex.
          The other HSA contender present was motoring writer Ed McDonough in his immaculate Dulon MP15. He got as close to his PB as most of the FF1600 class managed in the cold conditions but, predictably, it was Harewood Formula Ford ace Rob Spedding that took the win in his Vector. McDonough’s time for fourth place left him 17th on the HSA Championship table after his first appearance in this year’s series.
 

Bradley takes championship lead at Anglesey

Event 3 at Anglesey on 02/04/2023
Round 3 of the 2023 Triple M HSA Speed championship was held over a lap of Anglesey's International circuit in warmer conditions than the day before.

Damien Bradley (Subaru Legacy) repeated his maximum points scoring exploits of the day before to move into a one point lead over Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono) in the championship.

Pekka Tulokas (overcoming new turbo setup issues with his Mazda MX5), Anthony Brown (Audi TT) and Steve Broughton (in the newly acquired, ex Algar DJ Firehawk) all scoring well.

As they have done in previous years, Trevor Willis and Richard Summers bought the mighty F5000 Lola T140 along and Trevor set a new event class record with a fine 87.53s run.

Class winners at the event included Bradley, Tulokas, John Bradshaw (Westfield SEiw), Stan Matthews (Radical SR8) and David Spencer (Reynard 883).

Bainbridge takes early lead in HSA Speed championship

Event 2 at Anglesey on 01/04/2023
Round 2 of the 2023 Triple M HSA Speed championship was held over a lap of Anglesey's National circuit in cold but dry conditions. This provided an opportunity to see how the updated championship scoring method would work under normal conditions. Three competitors Damian Bradley (Legacy), Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono) and Grahame Harden (Radical PR6) all scored maximum points by beating the existing HSA class record by more than 3% while there was a good spread of points further down the field.

Class winners at the event included Bradley, David Spencer making a welcome return in the 1100 Reynard 883 and Matthew Price (Radical SR3) who only joined the championship after the event.

Soggy & challenging Cadwell opens season

Event 1 at Cadwell Park on 25/03/2023
The opening round of the 2023 Triple M HSA Speed championship attracted a good entry including plenty of HSA Speed competitors. However, the conditions remained wet throughout the day and with a number of 'no shows' and on track incidents the event proved a challenge for many.

As the only competitor in a class with no existing record, Steve Brown in his 1.3s Empire EVO2 (with electronics updated over the winter) was able to post a reasonable score although Simon Bainbridge (SBR Crono) with effective aero and wet tyres was able to put in a very creditable perfomance.

Of the other competitors Andrew Platt (Lotus Exige) went well to win his class with a very competitive time matched by that of Chris Guy's class winning 600cc Jedi Mk IV. Also in a 600cc Jedi, Stephen Mason was caught out by the tricky conditions leading to his retirement while Alex Sutton and Geoff Lancaster managed to complete three runs each in their shared Renault Clio.