Torbay MC & Wildlife Autosport 2025

Nigel Cole
Dec 3, 2025
3 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Torbay MC's Jon Langmead was in record breaking form

The Wiscombe Park 2025 season started in relentless fashion at the end of April with three race weekends in a month. The racing got underway with the Woolbridge Motor Club Spring meeting. Then the clocks were turned back to the earliest days of motorsport with the 500 Owners Association and the world-famous Vintage Sports-Car Club taking to the hill. Then it was Torbay Motor Club’s turn in the spotlight, celebrating their 75th Anniversary, and the Wildlife Autosport event – organised jointly by Taunton Motoring Club and Burnham-on-Sea Motor Club.

The weather conditions were ideal for record breaking – and at the Torbay MC event there were three new records set. In Class A2 Torbay MC member Jon Langmead achieved a 42.88s run in his Lotus Elise 135R. It was probably no surprise, given his current form, that Ed Hollier set a new Class E1 record – 34.93s - in his Force H/C. And to round off the day, Matt Vann produced a 42.37s run to set a new Association of South Western Motor Clubs record in his Audi TT.

There were 32 Torbay MC members competing on the Saturday and they produced some great results. Amongst the Class winners, Andy Stoddart (Class C1) - the leader of the Torbay MC Speed Championship going into the weekend. Class C1 was an “all Torbay MC” battle – positions 2nd-4th were filled by Neil Tuckey (Ford Fiesta), Shaun Tuckey (Ford Ka) the 2024 Speed Champion, and John Tandy (MG Midget) - Torbay MC Speed Champion in 2023.

In Class C2 it was a father and son battle between Gerry and Russ Tout in their beautifully engineered, highly modified Ford Fiesta. It was a narrow margin securing the win – Russ topping the Class, shading his father's performance by just 7 tenths of a second.

The event was not all about cars – the National Hill Climb Association members were in action on their bikes and sidecars too. On Saturday, eleven times Champion, Paul Jeffery, set FTD – 41.95s - on his Devtech KTM. It was a close battle with Tommy Hodges on a similar machine – Paul taking the win by just 2 tenths of a second.

On the Sunday, Wiscombe was bathed in sunshine from early morning and after Saturday’s new records, there was high expectation that more records would fall. Torbay MC’s Jon Langmead got the day off to a record-breaking start setting a 42.38s time on his second run in Class A2 taking 5 tenths of a second off his record run from Saturday.

Matt Vann was also on stunning form – after setting a new ASWMC record on Saturday – he broke it on Sunday taking another tenth off – 42.36s - for the rapid Audi TT racer.

Saturdays fastest man, Ed Hollier, completed the double on Sunday – this time no record – unusually, just over a tenth of a second slower – 35.05s - enough for Fastest Time of the Day.

Around the Classes, there were many drivers claiming the “double” adding to their success from Saturday.

Ed Hollier maintained his lead in the Wiscombe Park Tillicoultry Quarries Hillclimb Championship after 4 rounds, from current Champion, Ian Ingleheart and Matt Vann.

On two wheels it was a welcome return to Wiscombe on Sunday for current NHCA Champion Tom Short after his absence on Saturday. He set FTD with a 40.80s run - beating Tommy Hodges by just under a second. Saturday’s fastest man, Paul Jeffery, was third.

On three wheels it was multiple sidecar Champion’s Simon and Jayne Foster completing the double with the fastest times on both days on their F2 Honda.

Next up - the British Championships!