TIN TOPS RULE IN THE BIG WET!
Date: 15/5/11 | Host Club: Grafton Sporting Car Club
Saturday’s practice session was just great with quite a few drivers (including first time visitor Brett Hayward) at or about record pace. Then Sunday it rained…and didn’t let up all day.
Straight out of the box, Stuart Inwood (Nissan GTR) showed the value of AWD, setting the early pace from Nick Contojohn (WRX) and Scott Tutton (Mitsubishi EVO), while the open wheeler drivers realized they were in for a very, very long day.
The conditions might have made it miserable for some, but it meant that fastest time see sawed between four or five drivers with the result in doubt right down to the end of the final run.Nick Contojohn, Scott Tutton and then Heath Campbell (VW Beetle) took turns to edge ahead but to his credit, Stuart Inwood was always able to counter-attack despite a problem with third gear.
Stu finished the eventual winner with FTD of 59.37s, less than four tenths ahead of Tutton with Campbell third outright on 59.83s. Championship leader Tim Edmondson (Gould GR55B) struggled with traction off the line but stuck to the task to finish a creditable fourth outright.
Next quickest was Nick Contojohn (WRX), Col Mayman (VW Beetle) and Fastest Lady, Christine Campbell, sharing hubby’s VW Beetle. Local driver Darryl Watt (Westfield) was next. Our favourite farmer, Doug Barry (Lola F3000) rounded out the top ten – probably wishing he had brought the Ferguson tractor rather than his trusty Lola F3000.
Collecting their trophies at the end of the day the ecstatic trio of Stu Inwood, Scott Tutton and Heath Campbell all agreed that when it comes to motorsport, “Bring on the Rain”
Alan Barlow – NSW Hillclimb Website Editor
EDITORS NOTES:
- Full credit to the hard working team at GSCC as they kept the show ticking over despite the conditions.
- I believe that the last time we had Tin Tops as outright winners it was over ten years ago when Matt Halpin managed the feat in his Torana at a wet Ringwood round.
- Any truth in the rumour that Messrs Inwood, Tutton and Campbell have organized a team of professional rain dancers to appear for the next round?
- Congrats also to Mike Allen, he appears to have the measure of Steve Purdy of late. Careful though Mike, that will only make him more determined.
PHOTO GALLERY:
Courtesy ebarlowphotos.com
-
- Philip Edwards
-
- Andrew Walker
-
- Reece Presland
-
- Brett Hayward
-
- Phil Pratt
-
- Christine Campbell
-
- Scott Tutton
-
- Garry Ford
-
- Dave Shylan
-
- Jim Norris
-
- Wayne Allen
-
- Bob Bell
-
- Time Edmondson
-
- Glenn Potter
-
- Adrian Peck
-
- Stuart Inwood
