Running Bear

Trevor Willis was seen stripping bare his OMS 25, removing all the bodywork on the final practice run on Saturday afternoon at Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb. Trevor continued his naked hillclimbing in the timed runs, to assess the efficiency of the air filter intake of the V8 power unit. The experiment was slightly inconclusive, though he did achieve a personal best time at the venue of 23.77 seconds in the first of the Top 12 Run Offs, that also secured him 2nd place. In the second run off a treated oil spill from a previous runner caused Trevor to have a moment that cost him vital tenths, leaving him in 4th position overall.

Rounds 25 & 26 of the Nicholson McLaren British Hillclimb Championship visited the Worcestershire hill for the final time this season and found conditions far more favourable than the earlier June meeting. Large crowds came to spectate the strong entry and enjoy the sunshine at this famous hill. There was even an impromptu air display from a bi-plane at lunchtime, much to the pleasure of the crowds.

Most of the OMS drivers in the 1600cc single seater class set personal best times, with James Blackmore topping them all with a 26.34 In practice on Saturday Neville Rollason was also running in the 26's but in the timed runs the fuel pump failed on co-driver Craig Bates run causing the engine to overheat. Neville was forced to retire from the meeting much to his disappointment, having not achieved the same times as he set in practice.

With only four more championship meetings to decide the final positions for 2011 the competition is ramping up, the next round is at the equally fast Gurston Down Hillclimb in Wiltshire on 27 and 28 August.

Date: 21/08/2011 | Author: L.Owen