The Midland Automobile Club hosts two days of nostalgic competition this coming weekend when both classic and modern cars compete on Saturday followed by the inspiring sights and sounds of Vintage racing cars taking to the iconic hill on Sunday.
Saturday’s event is the Reg Philips Memorial Trophy Meeting, named after the man who played a big part in Shelsley Walsh life from before the Second World War until his death in 2008. This event has attracted a capacity entry in special classes for classics, saloons, sports, racing cars and motorcycles.
The event also hosts rounds of individual club championships including Aston Martins, The Revington TR Register Sprint & Hill Climb Championship with TR2, 4, 6 and 7 model sports cars competing against Dolomite Sprint and Vitesse saloons. There is also a class for Westfield sports cars entered into the Northampton Motorsport Speed Series, together with a Ford Cortina GT and Austin Mini taking part in the Historic Rally Car Register class.
Nearly 30 cars are entered into two classes with specific target times for classic pre-1975 saloon, sports, Sports Libre and racing cars, including names such as Riley, Lagonda, ERA, Morgan, Austin Healey, Cooper Jap and Lotus.
Lovers of more modern machinery can see determined driver and hill climb sponsor Will Gough of Droitwich in action in his Porsche 911, together with Mick Harriman in his Audi Quattro, Chris Westwood in a Lotus Exige, Martyn Silcox in a Subaru WRX and Derek Sweeney of Kidderminster in his OMS 2000M single seater racing car.
Over 30 motorcycles and sidecar combinations are taking part in their own National Hill Climb Championship with machines from Velocette, Triumph, KTM, CCM, Honda, Ducati, Aprilia and Husqvarna in action.
Sunday sees the Midland Automobile Club’s ever popular Vintage meeting, complete with smoking tyres, loud exhausts and the odd drop of spilled oil, which is held in conjunction with the Vintage Sports Car Club, creating a fantastic atmosphere from days gone by. There is an impressive entry list of over 130 cars built between the two World Wars, most of which have competed at Shelsley Walsh since then and to this day, with examples from Lea Francis, Fraser Nash, Talbot, Railton, Alvis and a Stutz Bearcat.
A class for Edwardian vehicles will include entries by local drivers Mike Lemon, of Pershore, in his 1913 Vauxhall 30-98 and well-known local character Hicky Hickling, from Tenbury Wells, with his well-used and very original 1911 Sunbeam 16/20.
The action starts with two practice runs for each driver from 9.15am on both days, followed by competitive timed runs in programme order with full commentary on both drivers and their cars after lunch.
Tickets are available on the gate, at £15.00 for Saturday and £20.00 for Sunday admitting you to the Paddock and seated enclosures. Children under 16 are free. Programmes are available on the day at £3.00.
About the Midland Automobile Club and Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb
The club was established at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham on the 11th January 1901 by a number of prominent members of the early motor industry whilst Queen Victoria was on the throne and as such is arguably the oldest motor sport club in the world.
Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb is the oldest motor sport venue in the world still in continuous use. It was first used in 1905 and still uses its original layout, although there are a few close rivals.
Our first speed event was held in 1901 on the edge of the rolling hills of the Cotswolds at Sun Rising Hill.
The club has always been innovative. In 1932, the BBC chose Shelsley Walsh for its first ever outside broadcast. Electronic timing was first introduced at Shelsley and in 1998 the club organised the first ever classic trial on the Isle of Man.
The MAC hosts rounds of the British Hill Climb Championship, The Midland Championship and The Leaders Championship, with classes for a variety of cars from road going to full on specialist hill climb cars. The MAC also organises, sprints, sporting trials, classic car, and social events. The Midland Automobile Club features something for every motor sport and motoring enthusiast.
More information can be found at www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk
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