Anniversary racing for Torbay Motor Club

The action at Wiscombe Park, the speed hillclimb venue near Honiton, has been relentless – there have been three race weekends since the end of April.

The season started with the Woolbridge Motor Club Spring meeting. Then the clocks were turned back to the earliest days of motorsport when the 500 Owners Association and the world- famous Vintage Sports-Car Club took to the hill.

Last weekend it was the turn of Torbay Motor Club, celebrating their 75th Anniversary, and the Wildlife Autosport event – organised jointly by Taunton Motoring Club and Burnham-on-Sea Motor Club.

The weather conditions were ideal for record breaking – and on Saturday there were three new records set. In Class A2, Torbay MC member Jon Langmead achieved a 42.88s run in his Lotus Elise 135R.

It was probably no surprise, given his current form, that Ed Hollier set a new Class E1 record – 34.93s - in his Force H/C. And to round off the day, Matt Vann produced a 42.37s run to set a new Association of South Western Motor Clubs record in his Audi TT.

There were 32 Torbay MC members competing on Saturday – amongst the Class winners, Andy Stoddart (Class C1) - the leader of the Torbay MC Speed Championship going into the weekend.

Class C1 was an “all Torbay MC” battle – positions 2nd – 4th  were filled by Neil Tuckey (Ford Fiesta), Shaun Tuckey (Ford Ka) the 2024 Speed Champion, and John Tandy (MG Midget) - Torbay MC Speed Champion in 2023.

In Class C2, it was a father and son battle between Gerry and Russ Tout in their beautifully engineered, highly modified Ford Fiesta. It was a narrow margin securing the win – Russ topping the Class, shading his father’s performance by just seven tenths of a second.

The event was not all about cars – the National Hill Climb Association members were in action on their bikes and sidecars too. On Saturday, 11 times Champion, Paul Jeffery, set FTD – 41.95s - on his Devtech KTM. It was a close battle with Tommy Hodges on a similar machine – Paul taking the win by just two tenths of a second.

On Sunday, Wiscombe was bathed in sunshine from early morning and after Saturday’s new records, it was almost a certainty that more records would fall. Torbay MC’s Jon Langmead got the day off to a record-breaking start, setting a 42.38s time on his second run in Class A2, taking five tenths of a second off his record run from Saturday.

Matt Vann was also on stunning form – after setting a new ASWMC record on Saturday – he broke it on Sunday taking another tenth off – 42.36s - for the rapid Audi TT racer.

Saturday’s fastest man, Ed Hollier, completed the double on Sunday – this time no record – unusually, just over a tenth of a second slower – 35.05s - enough for Fastest Time of the Day.

Around the Classes, there were many drivers claiming the “double” adding to their success from Saturday.

A summary of Sunday’s Class winners: Class A1 – Julian Rinaldi; Class A2 – Jon Langmead; Class A3 – Matt Vann; Class A4 – Jack Ellis; Class B1/B2 - Tris White; Class B3 – Ian Ingleheart; Class C1 – Neil Tuckey; Class C2 – Russ Tout; Class C3 – Jonathan Williamson; Class C4 – Paul Reynolds; Class D1 – Francis Gillett; Class D2 – Mike Lee; Class D3 – Mike Dixon; Class E1 – Ben Bonfield; Class E2/E3 - Andrew Forsyth; Downton MC – Derek Kessell; FTD – Ed Hollier 35.05s.

Ed Hollier maintains his lead in the Wiscombe Park Tillicoultry Quarries Hillclimb Championship after four rounds, from current Champion, Ian Ingleheart and Matt Vann.

On two wheels, it was a welcome return to Wiscombe on Sunday for current NHCA Champion Tom Short after his absence on Saturday. He set FTD with a 40.80s run - beating Tommy Hodges by just under a second. Saturday’s fastest man, Paul Jeffery, was third.

The venue now draws its breath – the next meeting at Wiscombe Park is the British Championships on July 26 and 27. This event features the fastest cars and drivers in the UK racing for national honours.

For all the latest news please visit the website www.wiscombepark.co.uk