NEWS
Stunning ERA performance highlights Record-Breaking VSCC Prescott Vintage Speed Hill Climb Weekend
Tuesday 04 August 2015
The sun shone brightly on the Vintage Sports-Car Club’s three-day Prescott Hill Climb as a new outright Pre-war Hill Record for James Baxter in ERA R4A highlighted an exceptional weekend of Vintage motorsport in Gloucestershire.
In a repeat of last year’s triumph, it was another double-win for the ex-Pat Fairfield and Bob Gerard voiturette, with Baxter’s sensational feat following ‘FTD’ success for owner Nick Topliss in Friday’s ‘Long Course’ Hill Climb competition, he too setting a new ‘VSCC Best’ for the longer configuration on his way to a dominant victory.
Having already broken the Hill Record on both attempts during Saturday’s Practice Runs – his own marker set in 2010 in the Frazer Nash Norris Special – the pressure was on the Yorkshire-man to deliver for Sunday’s competition and he duly obliged on his first attempt shortly before the Lunch Break, further improving on the preceding day’s performance.
The VSCC Hill Climb master wasn’t finished, however, as he then became the first ever Pre-war car to break the fabled 40-second barrier during the afternoon’s ascents; his time of 39.68 secs was not only over a second quicker than his previous Hill Record but also brought an end to Anthony Mayman’s 26-year Class Record in ERA R4D, quite possibly the last of the revered racer’s VSCC records to be bested.
Marshals and Spectators cheered as a clearly emotional Baxter took a well-deserved ‘lap of honour’ before being presented the Mays Berthon Trophy for ‘Fastest Time of Day’ – his ninth overall victory.
The accomplishment almost overshadowed a host of other notable performances throughout the weekend’s two competitions. Again, the ever-consistent Sue Darbyshire topped the Vintage classes on Friday in her Three-Wheeler Morgan whilst Julian Grimwade twice found himself ‘almost’ man, taking the runner-up spot in both events in the ex-Baxter Alvis-powered ‘Nash, setting ‘Personal Best’ times that would likely top the competition on any other weekend. With this year’s warm and sunny conditions, his was just one of countless new records set on the day.
The first completely dry VSCC Prescott for a number of years also paved the way for a number of the traditional weekend event’s long-standing records to tumble too. William Way broke his own Class 1 record on his way to becoming the first Sports-bodied Austin 7 to beat the 50-second barrier and Eddie Williams overcame Dick Smith’s 27-year old Class 3 record in his Frazer Nash Super Sports – set a year before the former was even born.
Less surprising perhaps was yet another Clutton Memorial Trophy victory for Mark Walker’s Class-leading 1905 Darracq 200HP, improving his own Edwardian record in the process, whilst young Charlie Martin finally achieved an elusive Vintage Class Record, breaking the 44-second mark in the lively Morgan ‘RIP’ Special.
The weekend proved equally successful off the track, as bumper crowds arrived to enjoy a wonderful Summer weekend at one of the UK’s most picturesque motorsport venues. In celebration of its 80th Anniversary, a ‘world record’ collection of over 20 Riley Sprites formed a stunning display in the Orchard throughout the weekend, which again boasted perhaps the world’s most impressive gathering of Spectator Pre-war cars to be seen anywhere.
Following Saturday’s track activity, Club Members gathered in their hundreds to remember the late ‘Steady’ Barker with a Vintage Champagne Reception held in his honour alongside the annual Bonhams Hog Roast – a jovial and celebratory affair which surely would have met the legendary Past President’s approval.
Whilst the motorsport competition was the undoubted ‘star of the show’, the ever-popular Trade Village thrived across the three days, whilst the traditional morning Bicycle Races and a sensational acrobatic solo Air Display from Mark Jefferies also entertained the crowds on Sunday.
And so a triumphant weekend for the Vintage Sports-Car Club’s flagship event that is sure to go down as one of the most successful in the event’s 77-year history, thanks in no small part to a simply stunning finale.
Our thanks to everyone who played their part, in particular to the Officials, Marshals and other volunteers whose substantial efforts across three days of competition ensured another memorable VSCC weekend.
Provisional Results & Photo Galleries are now live at the respective event pages; follow the links below:
Click Here for Prescott ‘Long Course’ Hill Climb (Friday)
Click Here for Prescott Vintage Speed Hill Climb (Weekend)
Having already broken the Hill Record on both attempts during Saturday’s Practice Runs – his own marker set in 2010 in the Frazer Nash Norris Special – the pressure was on the Yorkshire-man to deliver for Sunday’s competition and he duly obliged on his first attempt shortly before the Lunch Break, further improving on the preceding day’s performance.
The VSCC Hill Climb master wasn’t finished, however, as he then became the first ever Pre-war car to break the fabled 40-second barrier during the afternoon’s ascents; his time of 39.68 secs was not only over a second quicker than his previous Hill Record but also brought an end to Anthony Mayman’s 26-year Class Record in ERA R4D, quite possibly the last of the revered racer’s VSCC records to be bested.
Marshals and Spectators cheered as a clearly emotional Baxter took a well-deserved ‘lap of honour’ before being presented the Mays Berthon Trophy for ‘Fastest Time of Day’ – his ninth overall victory.
The accomplishment almost overshadowed a host of other notable performances throughout the weekend’s two competitions. Again, the ever-consistent Sue Darbyshire topped the Vintage classes on Friday in her Three-Wheeler Morgan whilst Julian Grimwade twice found himself ‘almost’ man, taking the runner-up spot in both events in the ex-Baxter Alvis-powered ‘Nash, setting ‘Personal Best’ times that would likely top the competition on any other weekend. With this year’s warm and sunny conditions, his was just one of countless new records set on the day.
The first completely dry VSCC Prescott for a number of years also paved the way for a number of the traditional weekend event’s long-standing records to tumble too. William Way broke his own Class 1 record on his way to becoming the first Sports-bodied Austin 7 to beat the 50-second barrier and Eddie Williams overcame Dick Smith’s 27-year old Class 3 record in his Frazer Nash Super Sports – set a year before the former was even born.
Less surprising perhaps was yet another Clutton Memorial Trophy victory for Mark Walker’s Class-leading 1905 Darracq 200HP, improving his own Edwardian record in the process, whilst young Charlie Martin finally achieved an elusive Vintage Class Record, breaking the 44-second mark in the lively Morgan ‘RIP’ Special.
The weekend proved equally successful off the track, as bumper crowds arrived to enjoy a wonderful Summer weekend at one of the UK’s most picturesque motorsport venues. In celebration of its 80th Anniversary, a ‘world record’ collection of over 20 Riley Sprites formed a stunning display in the Orchard throughout the weekend, which again boasted perhaps the world’s most impressive gathering of Spectator Pre-war cars to be seen anywhere.
Following Saturday’s track activity, Club Members gathered in their hundreds to remember the late ‘Steady’ Barker with a Vintage Champagne Reception held in his honour alongside the annual Bonhams Hog Roast – a jovial and celebratory affair which surely would have met the legendary Past President’s approval.
Whilst the motorsport competition was the undoubted ‘star of the show’, the ever-popular Trade Village thrived across the three days, whilst the traditional morning Bicycle Races and a sensational acrobatic solo Air Display from Mark Jefferies also entertained the crowds on Sunday.
And so a triumphant weekend for the Vintage Sports-Car Club’s flagship event that is sure to go down as one of the most successful in the event’s 77-year history, thanks in no small part to a simply stunning finale.
Our thanks to everyone who played their part, in particular to the Officials, Marshals and other volunteers whose substantial efforts across three days of competition ensured another memorable VSCC weekend.
Provisional Results & Photo Galleries are now live at the respective event pages; follow the links below:
Click Here for Prescott ‘Long Course’ Hill Climb (Friday)
Click Here for Prescott Vintage Speed Hill Climb (Weekend)
