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Revington TR / TR Register Sprint & Hill Climb Championship - Werrington

Nick Smith

Werrington, 30th April 2011 (just outside Launceston in Cornwall) featured a mostly sunny day and a wide variety of interesting machinery, but only two TRs: Hugh Maund's immaculate TR8 and Nick Smith's recently prepared TR6 PI. Roger McEwen's TR6 PI unfortunately had fuel pump problems which meant he did not make it.

The track is narrow and runs gently up through splendid parkland, over a cattle grid, then twists tightly round the main house, through a challenging "S" then into a lane with grass down the middle, before finishing just before the local church carpark (with attendant vicar).

Hill climb courses are simple to drive up steadily, but the satisfaction comes in the finesse and skill with which you do it, leading to improving times. Essentially this means anyone can enjoy participating, with no pressure to score a fast time, but lots of pleasure when you do.

One of the other pleasures is in meeting like minded enthusiasts driving a wide variety of cars - unmodified MX5s costing £2500 to DFV engined Pilbeams (they look like F1 cars and are as quick up the hills) costing £0000s.

There were two practice runs in the morning. Hugh was suffering handling problems due partly to his TR8 independently reversing off its trailer and dislodging its front spoiler, and also due to some suspect front suspension geometry, and posted a best of 44.58 seconds. Nick was cautious with his sighting run, but improved with his second run, attacking the cattle grid at full throttle, posting a time of 50.73 seconds. The afternoon competition beckoned.

Unfortunately the day dragged somewhat because of defective timing equipment, and by the first timed run at 4.30pm rain was threatening. It duly arrived five minutes before the TR's run! Hugh was on slicks so slithered up the hill to a brave 59.04 seconds, and Nick cautiously pedalled to a similar 59.32 seconds in his road tyre shod TR6. Because of the dodgy timing, the event was then curtailed after just one run.

This is becoming a trend (same thing happened at Gurston), but it was a very relaxed event, nice people, great location, and we will certainly be back with hopefully a better TR turnout.

If you are reading this and fancy a go at hill climbing and sprinting, don't be intimidated by the fear of having a go. It is very relaxed, you go at your own pace, you get to drive your favourite car as fast as you dare off the public roads, and you meet like minded people who enjoy the same thing. And it is never too late. The age range seems to be mid thirties to mid eighties, so come along to the next event near you, and find out more…

See you at Wiscombe!

If you want to see a video of Nick’s runs in the dry and wet, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTKTDDt4Ry0