Shelsley Walsh - Speed Into Spring 4th May 2014

[HoTWire]

So I popped along to Shelsley mainly to see it with an actual event running, how they managed traffic, parking, people etc. However I also wanted to check out some actual competitive British hillclimbing, I've been to events at hillclimbs before, but never a round of a hillclimb championship. We're so enamored with European hillclimbs and their crazy specialist Group H cars that it is alsmot easy to ignore the fact that we have some very very serious bits of kit in the UK.

This was a National A/B meeting : www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk/events/content.asp?ms=21&ei=206 which means it had a range of cars and drivers from those with their class B license (which you can get via a simple application and get started doing speed events) through to some out and out hillclimb specialists who also take part in the British Hillclimb Championship, which is running at Shelsley at the end of the month : www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk/events/content.asp?ms=21&ei=207 ... which I think I'll make time to head along to as well.

I will preface to say the photos aren't the best, I took along my camera mainly to take photos for RR Gathering purposes, but seeing as there were a load of cars heading up the hill at great speed I'd grab some shots

Cars ran the full range, from the sublime :

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr

To the ridiculous

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr

Although that McLaren is road legal so that too may be consider ridiculous.

From the oldest of old school

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr

To the latest and greatest

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr
This was powered by a 3.5 litre Nissan lump and it shifted,.. won the pre lunch top twelve run off.

Car park had some interesting bits and pieces in it

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr


Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr

I think I may well paint the Datsun this colour, if anyone knows the colour code please shout

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr

You can get nice and close to the cars as they warm up tyres for the start line

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr

500bhp beast

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr

If you have weekend tickets for The Gathering, this is where we'll be spending Saturday evening

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr

I'll post up some other pictures I took for reconnaissance purposes in The Gathering forum

I didn't really take the right lenses for getting track action, but I made do with what I had

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr


Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr


Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr

It is difficult to describe quite how fast this and the other single seaters were going at this point, mere feet away, you don't get that close to the action at circuit events any more!

Shelsley Walsh 04/05/2014 by RetroSceneMag, on Flickr

The full set is here : www.flickr.com/photos/retroscenemag/sets/72157644099553847/

I'm really looking forward to the 31st May/1st June meet : www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk/events/content.asp?ms=21&ei=207 ... some even more spectacular cars will be out to play for the British Hill Climb Championship event. If you can get there I'd really say give it a go.. or find a round nearer you : britishhillclimb.co.uk/index.php/datesvenues-2/


I'm now even more excited for The Retro Rides Gathering (in association with Retropower)

[DarrenW]

Fantastic!

[kee]

great venue and always good to see british motorsport heritage being pushed. it's a shame the audi's went over to Europe this weekend, the big quattro and the little 4wd 80 with several hundred bhp are something to behold, quicker to 60ft than the single seaters and an immense noise.

[HoTWire]

Yeah I'm hoping to see them at the end of the month event, along with Nic Mann's Mannic Beattie and a couple of the other top twelve run of contenders.

[kee]

mannic beattie is also good. saw them all during the gathering weekend last year thanks to the great offer put on
gutted I'll be in the modern this year though, loved going up the hill last year was really hoping to take my golf up Shelsley this year

[clougher95]

I went on the Saturday (practice day) - it's a great event and my personal favourite hillclimb venue, really looking forward to the RR gathering this year as a result

Here's some snaps I took:

IMG_2906 by clougher951, on Flickr

IMG_2903 by clougher951, on Flickr

IMG_2909 by clougher951, on Flickr

IMG_2914 by clougher951, on Flickr

IMG_2919 by clougher951, on Flickr

IMG_2920 by clougher951, on Flickr

IMG_2891 by clougher951, on Flickr

IMG_2893 by clougher951, on Flickr

IMG_2894 by clougher951, on Flickr

IMG_2900 by clougher951, on Flickr

[Seth]

Great! I bet that McLaren is a handful up a narrow hillclimb course.

I look forward to visiting Shelsley later in the year all being well.

[wheelspinner]

The 500 hp cossie is Richard Brant he is certifiable.

The 80 quattro has a 1.4 block but a massive turbo.

I am doing the class B cheltenham porsche championship in my Mx5 family commitments meant i couldnt make Shelsley but i will be at the next round at Mira.(no cameras allowed there though)

[wagoneer]

Very much looking forward to The Event at Shelsley. I don't think my Fiat 126 will be ready but at least we'll attend and see how it should be done.

[bobblegut]

Here is Richard Brants anti-lag .......

[HoTWire]

Had a lovely chat with Richard Brant about the car and hillclimbing and guest cars for The Gathering ... lovely guy (as was everyone I spoke to actually).

[WillCarter]

May 5, 2014 21:01:29 GMT wheelspinner said:

The 500 hp cossie is Richard Brant he is certifiable.

The 80 quattro has a 1.4 block but a massive turbo.

I am doing the class B cheltenham porsche championship in my Mx5 family commitments meant i couldnt make Shelsley but i will be at the next round at Mira.(no cameras allowed there though)

Would be interested in seeing pics of the '5 giving it some, I'm guessing it's the one I still hold close to my heart.

[richardbrant]

Cheers for the comments guys, here's a few more photos of my Cossie from the weekend:



















Rich

[Maxxxer]

Crikey - this is one heck of a hill climb at that angle...!

Also I do love a good Sierra Cosworth - looking good there....

[HoTWire]

May 6, 2014 14:58:56 GMT richardbrant said:

Cheers for the comments guys, here's a few more photos of my Cossie from the weekend

Great talking to you, the car is an animal .. even with your dodgy launch control... fingers crossed I'll see you again at the end of the month.

[bobblegut]

Would be great to hear some more about the Sierra on here if you have got time Richard ...!

[retropower]

Looks awesome - gutted we couldn't come along! Nice eclectic mix there :-)

Car park looks a good size too which is good news for RRG. I'll give you a shout tomorrow and catch up on the details.

[richardbrant]

Yes you too mate come over and say hello again if you make the end of the month meeting, hopefully have the full blown L/C working by then.
Rich

[richardbrant]

May 6, 2014 18:13:29 GMT bobblegut said:

Would be great to hear some more about the Sierra on here if you have got time Richard ...!

I could bore you for hours on the subject of my Sierra mate, but anything you want to know just ask.
Rich

[mk14dr]

It must take a special sort of crazy to wrestle that Dodge up the hill at pace!
I'm super excited for RRG, and Shelsley looks like a cracking venue. Smashing pics chaps!