Drivers gear up for Mount Porky event

Gunnedah’s Apex Drive is set to come alive to adrenalin motorsport with the Mount Porcupine Gunnedah “Weeks of Speed” Hill Climb.

Traditional rivalry of Holden and Ford camps will be impressed by standard and modified variants on the hill climb entry list.

Gunnedah Motoring Enthusiasts’ event secretary Geoff Hood said a variety of Clubman vehicles will contest the event.

The ascent from the start line begins with a short straight to little porky, a left sweeping corner, over a crest into a three-unit chicayne. The course continues up the fast straight to a super elevation hairpin left hand corner, leading to the  finish line before the top – a real test of driver skills.

There is a strong possibility that the Cox father and son team from Tamworth will unveil a new vehicle to complement their present very potent Hyper Hugger, under two-litre open wheeler.

Also from Tamworth, Neil De Pau has entered his Radical Prosport, Hayabusa-powered championship winning vehicle Gunnedah has had difficulty running a hill climb in March due to a state round of the NSW hill climb series held in early march at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, which attracted 90 competitors. Additionally, last weekend’s Grafton Mountainview circuit fielded 70 competitors and an interclub hill climb at Kempsey’s Mount Cooperabung attracted 45 entrants.

Despite the challenges of event clashes, Mr Hood hoped to good interest in this weekend’s Gunnedah hill climb.

“If we get half those other event visitors to town would be great, however some locals are going ‘to have a go’ as well,” he said.

“The event has been sanctioned as a ‘come and try’ which means that newcomers can have an introductory licence ($25) and event instruction, hill climb event entry at $100.”

Gunnedah’s hill climb practice is scheduled for Saturday 3-5pm on Apex Drive, followed by racing on Sunday 9.30am-5pm. Spectators welcome.