Gunnedah hosts State Hill Climb

Gunnedah Motoring Enthusiasts and the weather put on a stellar weekend for round eight of the NSW Hill Climb Championships.

Locals and visitors enjoyed a top weekend of motorsport with three practice runs of Saturday, an evening function at the Railway Hotel, and four timed competition runs on Sunday saw personal best times, achieved by many for the adrenalin ascent of Mount Porcupine.

Luca Cox of Tamworth took out the fastest time of the day with a scorching 27.63-second run – an impressive showing as the smallest vehicle on the day with screaming 600cc engine, the open wheeler chassis, Cox OW I built by his father Brian. Brian stopped the clock in Formula Libre Class, with a 29.73-second time.

Jason Perkins of Canberra in a road registered Lotus Elise, the fastest tin top, a on his last run of the day with some spirited driving, edged into second outright with 28.46.

Dave Morrow, a seasoned competitor in his Krygger Suzuki third outright and class win 28.54, Dave first competed in the Apex Drive hill climb in 1968.

Greg Jones led the contingent from Wollongong in his Locost GSL Sports Car 30.34s to out sports cars over 1600cc.

In the ‘Battle of Subaru’ Peter Akers of Newcastle returned to Gunnedah, as he loves the course “where you can really open a vehicle up, full throttle and hang on”. He clocked 30.72s in road registered all wheel drive, a class win, just out-pacing Michael Boaden in his 3C Subaru Rally 4WD Car 30.82 which features an inlet carburettor restrictor to be a compliant rally car.

Les Maloney of Kempsey, driving his Ford Focus RS had Ford fans cheering him on against the Subaru. A very creditable 30.97s in the well-presented Blue Oval Machine.

The fastest Holden on the day was Hunter Valley’s Dave ‘Big Will’ Williams. His time attack, supercharged black ute, produced plenty of smoke at the start line and tire warm up pad. He posted an impressive 31.51s – good two-wheel drive time, just ahead of Tamworth’s Colin Mayman’s Improved Production black VW in 31.87s.

Tamworth’s Gundy Hunt in vehicle 199, an Amaroo Clubman, was another competitor that was at Apex Drive in 1968. He led the unregistered competitor’s field this year with a 32.10-second time, just outpacing upcoming local, Craig Stockman in his Stockman Sports Mk1 (32.27s).

John Gilbert of Queensland’s Gold Coast made a special effort to attend Gunnedah Apex Drive, because of the friendly nature of the town and the event. In his class of, Improved Production over 3000cc, his fresh and powerful V8 Commodore was paired with Tamworth’s Katie Slingsby, also a V8 Commodore. Both drove well, Katie a personal best time at Gunnedah, John 32.42s and Katie 33.57s.

In Improved Production, a little Datsun 1200 coupe of Gerard Gotch (32.96s) was just ahead of Wollongong’s David Hussey Ford Laser TX-(33.31s).

Alex Frodl was well up in the order in his Renault Clio Sport with a 33.87s, however on his last run of the day got a bit out of shape though the chicane mid-course. The driver was okay but his vehicle required pick up by the tilt tray truck.

Fastest Junior, Aiden Whitten, Hyundai Excel, of Tamworth (37.86s) had him smiling ear to ear. Others very happy on the day John Engisch Mazda MX -5 35.18s and Dr Andrew Walker, Turnam Bandit (37.38s).

Well up in the event ranking, Abhay Gupta from Coonamble in his Toyota MR -2, 33.36s went home with a trophy.

Other double-entered vehicles to have a battle between themselves, Austin and Drew Carter, Mitchell and Cameron Brown as well as Geoff and Scott Simms, who were given preference at the start of the run grid order so both entrants could get a good run.

Slowest vehicle of the day was event secretary Geoff Hood, who took the shopping bags out of his wife’s Subaru XV for a late run after being scrutineered (42.52s), enough time to look at the speedo at 100kmh at Little Porcy and 115kmh at the hairpin – most importantly no damage! Mr Hood said overall it was a great weekend for the visitors to Gunnedah and motorsport in the NSW North West region.