Shelsley Walsh, the big one, August 18th & 19th
The Big One on August 18th and 19th marks the second visit of the season by the Avon Tyres MSA British Hill Climb Championship and the TTC Group Hill Climb Leaders Championship. The event also incorporates a round of the Midland Hill Climb Championship, the Paul Matty Sports Cars Lotus Championship and special classes for Historic 500cc Racing Cars and significant Lotus Saloon, Sports, Sports Racing and Racing Cars.
As a special bonus, visitors will be able to join in celebrations to mark 50 years of the Lotus Elan, with a parade and demonstration by Team Lotus Cars.
Over 30 very special Lotus cars are booked to attend so far, including a unique Lotus 23B which is powered by six ‘un-silenced’ Ariel Arrow motorcycle engines. That alone should create a few extra decibels in the Teme Valley!
Classic models include the Lotus 69 F2 that was driven by Emerson Fittipaldi, a Lotus 22 with a twin-cam engine, a Jack Brabham Lotus 24 F1 fitted with a Coventry Climax V8 engine, a Mk1 Lotus Cortina FIA race car, a Lotus 18 F1 powered by Alfa Romeo and a Lotus 58 F2 car.
Other special cars making an appearance include a Lotus Elan Shapecraft, and the only aluminium Lotus Elan Le Mans 26R which was driven by Jackie Stewart, alongside a Lotus 7 series 1 which is fresh from restoration, raced and hill climbed by Daniel Richmond of Downton Engineering.
Bringing things up to date will be a Lotus Exige GTS, built by Paul Lazante Racing, which is reputedly very rare and very fast!
The spectator car park will also be thronging with almost every conceivable Lotus car ever made, as several Lotus clubs are attending, including the Lotus Owners Club and the Lotus Drivers Club.
Why do we call it ‘The Big One’? That’s because August Shelsley is the World’s oldest continuous motor sport event dating back to August 12th 1905, pre-dating the very first Grand Prix, the Tourist Trophy and Le Mans.
As usual with our British Hill Climb Championship meetings the double climax of two exciting top twelve run-offs take place on Sunday, the first at the end of morning class runs and the second at the end of the day’s competition. The exact list of entries will be released close to the event but will include most if not all of the seasons leading championship contenders. Current Championship positions can be found at http://www.britishhillclimb.co.uk once the 2012 Championship gets underway and will be updated throughout the season.
Saturday is the practice day when all competitors are offered two practice runs. Sunday is the event day.
Practice will start at 9.15 am Saturday and finish at 5.30 pm or sooner if circumstances permit. On Sunday the event starts at 9.15 am finishing around 5.30pm or a little later dependent on the conduct of the meeting.
Following their successful gathering in 2011 we will also be welcoming back visitors from the Jaguar E Type Club.
More information, tickets, etc, here.
