Wiscombe Park - Woolbridge MC / Manor Farm Hillclimb 5th and 6th June 2021
- NMC
- Jun 10, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 18, 2021
Wiscombe Park hosted the Woolbridge Motor Club Manor Farm Hillclimb at the weekend. The event is normally held in the grounds of the Manor Farm Holiday Park at Charmouth, but due to Covid restrictions, the venue is currently closed. Wiscombe was able to hold the event, but no spectators were allowed.
The dry, warm conditions were perfect for record breaking runs up the 1000 yard hill comprising challenging long straights and tight hairpins. In Class A1, Stephen Wareham set a new Class Record at 45.87s in his trusty Mini. Stephen’s 2021 season got off to a great start at the first Wiscombe weekend when he set a new record at 46.11s...and on Saturday he beat it with a 45.87s. Stephen holds a number of Class records across various South West venues.
In Class A3, triple British Sprint Champion Rod Eyles also set a new Class Record at 42.67s in his stunning Alfa Romeo 4C – beating his existing record of 43.06s set last year.
In Class E1, Ben Bonfield in his Jedi Mk4 set a new ASWMC Class Record with his 37.69s run on Saturday – the 5th fastest run of the day. On Sunday, he bettered that with a 37.40s run.
The battle for the honour of setting the Fastest Time of the Day was an intense battle between two of the South West’s fastest drivers – Ed Hollier and Andrew Forsyth. In the end, by the very narrowest of margins, it was Ed Hollier in his Pilbeam MP62 who took the honours on both days – 36.18s on Saturday and 35.97s on Sunday – from Andrew in his OMS CF04.
Because of Covid restrictions, stage rallying has been suspended, so a number of drivers have been entering hillclimbs. Class D3 for Rally Cars just gets bigger with each meeting – 10 cars were battling for Class honours. Amongst some Wiscombe regulars, there were some new cars to admire. Andy Slade was out in his unique MG Metro 6R4. There were also a couple of Subaru Impreza’s that stirred the memories of two great British rally Champions sadly no longer with us – Colin McRae and Richard Burns.
Steve Furzeland set the fastest time in the Class with a 42.69s in his Impreza while Danielle Furzeland set 8th fastest Class time on 47.04s in her Impreza.
And on the subject of rally legends, a very special car made a brief appearance in the paddock at lunch time on Saturday - a Mini Cooper S – an exact replica of the Mini Cooper S in which Paddy Hopkirk won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally. This car was one of 4 replicas built by Paddy himself in the early 90's.
On Sunday, the cars were joined by a collection of bikes and sidecars, members of the NHCA, adding to the great variety of fast machinery on display. It was Paul Jeffery on his KTM who claimed the fastest time of the day with a 43.40s climb.
After Rounds 4 and 5 of the Tillicoultry Quarries Wiscombe Championship, it is still Alfa Romeo 4C driver Rod Eyles leading on 70.98pts from James Hudson (Golf GTi) 66.83pts and John Simpson (Ford Escort Mk2) 65.58pts. As always, the Wiscombe Championship will be exciting right to the final round.
Top Ten times:
Saturday 5th June
Ed Hollier Pilbeam MP62 36.18
Andrew Forsyth OMS CF04 36.50
Andy Short OMS CF07 37.00
Tony Wiltshire Ralt RT34 37.49
Ben Bonfield Jedi Mk4 37.69
Rod Thorne Pilbeam MP43 38.61
Paul Crocker Jedi Mk1 39.35
Tony Bonfield Jedi Mk4 39.99
Kevin Frost KMD004 42.02
Steve Clarke Subaru Impreza 42.33
Sunday 6th June
Ed Hollier Pilbeam MP62 35.97
Andrew Forsyth OMS CF04 36.52
Andy Short OMS CF07 36.79
Ben Bonfield Jedi Mk4 37.40
Tony Wiltshire Ralt RT34 37.44
Rod Thorne Pilbeam MP43 38.43
Tony Bonfield Jedi Mk4 39.68
Kevin Frost KMD 004 41.05
Mike Williams MWR Storm 41.06
Geoff Blake Westfield SEiW 41.27
A selection of my photo's from this event are available to view on the Wiscombe Park Facebook page:
A selection of my photo's of the bikes of the National Hill Climb Association (NHCA) members in action are available to view on the Wiscombe Park Facebook page:
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