‘Mount Porcupine’ to come to life for NSW Hill Climb Championships

Gunnedah’s Apex Drive, ‘Mount Porcupine’, is set to come alive this Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September with the sounds, smells and excitement of motorsport.

The running of round 8 of the NSW Hill Climb Championships will be hosted by the Gunnedah Motoring Enthusiasts (GME) hosting and the Railway Hotel as the naming rights sponsor.

Many competitors are expected to come from all over NSW and some from Queensland and all are keen to experience the challenging 850m climb along the bitumen and ascent to the lookout. This is only the fourth time since 1971 that Gunnedah has been given the opportunity to host a NSW title round.

Miles Hoare’s open wheeler OMS.

Many different vehicle types will provide good entertainment for spectators, for whom a courtesy bus is provided on Sunday competition day, stopping at viewing vantage points of Little Porcy, Hairpin Bend and Top Pits/Paddock, where Scope Empire Catering is set up.

GME has a record event entry list for this century with 50 competitors and which includes many vehicle types – sedans, clubmans and open wheelers.

Tin tops like the Chevy Corvette, Subaru WRX, Mitsubishi Evo, Holden SS, Falcon BA, Mini Cooper S, Mazda RX7 and the old-school Datsun 180 will battle it out against the time clock, along with open wheeler specials like the OMS and the Cox OW1.

Father and son Mark and Lachlan Barnett with their Holdon Commodore SS. Photos: supplied.

Clubmans will be a bit of a battle between a variety of makes including Argus, Carroll, Hunter, Stockman, Locost and Prosport Mulsane.

The Road Registered class has Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris and Corolla, Hyundai I30N, Honda Accord, Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer.

A new feature this year is a GME and Jadamo Motorsport-hosted “Racecars in Gunnedah” event at the Railway Hotel after Saturday practice, from 6pm. A selection of the above vehicles and selected others will be on display out front and in the enclosed hotel car park.

Inquiries about the event can be made to event secretary [email protected] or 0427 421 503.