CAMS NSW Hillclimb Championship » ARCHIVED REPORT: Grafton Hillclimb R4 2008

Tim Edmondson

Date: 8/6/08 | Host Club: Grafton Sporting Car Club |

A good sized field made the trek to the northern rivers area of the state for Round 4 of the NSW Championship at Grafton’s tight Mountainview course. Series leader and eleven times state champion Peter Gumley was a shock last minute withdrawal after suffering mechanical maladies at the Queensland championship, the week previous. This certainly opened up the possibilities for a surprise result, helped by a good compliment of entries from over the border.

The weather started fine and warm, which matched the local hospitality as Tim Edmondson (Force PC) got things underway with a 45.61s run, ahead of Dave Morrow (Krygger Suzuki) 47.47s and Allan Hindes (Piranha) 49.02s. The second run saw Tim set a new Formula Libre 1300cc-2000cc class record of 44.12s with Dave Morrow 46.43s, Dick Willis (Cheetah) 47.13s and Phil Pratt (Trojan) 47.27s.

On the third run Tim Edmondson had an uncharacteristic spin just short of the finish. Dave Morrow improved to 46.43s while Queenslander Bill Norman bobbed up in the timesheets with the unconventional Gek Sports at 46.78s. A light shower then intervened to slow times for most, Bill Norman being one exception, moving to a record setting second outright on 45.20s on his final run.

Further down the field in Imp Prod 1601-2000cc, Nathan Abbott and Heath Campbell ignored the slippery track as they traded places in their VW Beetles. Nathan claimed the victory, with a new class record of 51.51s only a tenth or so ahead. Other new records were set by Brian Veal (CRX), Stu Inwood (Nissan GTR), Craig Albertson (VN Commodore) and Mark Wright (Commodore).

Alan Barlow – NSW Hillclimb Website Editor

EDITORS NOTES:

An enjoyable weekend for the visitors, thanks to the hard working GSCC team lead by Bill and Ken Norton and Event Secretary Gail Layton.
Improved Production 1601-2000cc was hotly contested, with a total of eleven entries.
Bike engines were well in vogue, eight of the top twelve cars so powered.
Bad luck claimed Tom Donovan’s effort with engine problems sidelining him on Saturday. The Pilbeam looks impressive though, now sporting a huge turbo and reportedly producing prodigious power. We look forward to its next outing.