Classic & Vintage and Jim Thomson Hillclimb events at Harewood Speed Hillclimb 8 - 9 June 2024
Report by Chris Bannister of JCB Photography
The BARC Yorkshire Centre organised over the weekend of 8th and 9th June 2024, two every different days of action on the famous Yorkshire hill, located on the edge of Yorkshire’s beautiful Wharfedale valley.
With cars competing from the very start of motoring on the Saturday and on the Sunday much more modern-day cars. Both days would have a full entry list, though a handful of cars did not make the start.
On Saturday the Classic & Vintage Hillclimb, which is Round three of the Vintage and Sports Car Club (VSCC) Speed Championship.
Organised for the VSCC which was formed in 1934 and has provided a platform for people to enjoy from the very start of motoring including pre-war cars, competitively via a number of different motorsports events. With a large number of social and competitive events organised throughout the year, including race meetings, hillclimbs, sprints, road rallies, trials and driving tests all over the UK.
Joining the VSCC were a number of competitors from the Morgan Sports Car Club, Austin Healey Cars, Classic Marques Speed Challenge and a number of Harewood regulars, who’s cars fitted in any of the Classic classes for early 70’s Saloon, Sports and Racing cars.
Saturday's hillclimb started under cloudy conditions but thankfully the sun came out and was with us for the rest of the day.
With only the two Practice runs completed before the lunch break and two timed runs in the afternoon. This was all down to these vintage classic cars taking longer to get up the hill, the top speed been well down against a modern car and also a number of red flags. Any cars competing on the hill, which got a red flag would get a re-run, though the car that had caused the red flag would be given a failed run.
A number of new Class Records were set including William Marsh driving an Austin 7 Ulster, car #85 in Class V1 for Standard and Modified Sports and Saloon Cars up to 750cc.
Nigel Dowding driving a Riley Brooklands, car #96 set a new class record for Class V2, Standard and Modified Sports and Saloon Cars 751 to 1100cc un-supercharged and up to 750cc supercharged.
Jonathan Giles driving a Morgan GN ‘Salome’, car#169, set a new class record for Class V13, Pre 1941 Racing Cars up to 1100cc
The fastest Vintage car up the hill was Michael James driving a Riley 12/4 Cotton Special, car #146.
The fastest Classic car was Harewood regular David Tatham driving a McLaren M12C. David also broke the Class Record in C21 for Classic Racing and Sports Racing cars built up to and including 1975. The record was set all the way back to 8th June 2008.
Full Results from the Classic and Vintage Hillclimb can be found here: Saturday 08 June 2024 - Classic and Vintage Hillclimb
Fast Time of the Day and Top 4 in Class: Saturday 08 June 2024 - Classic and Vintage Hillclimb - FTD & Top 4 In Class
The next main competitive event, for the VSCC competitors is the Seaman Trophy Race meeting at Cadwell Park Circuit in Lincolnshire.
Jim Thomson Hillclimb
On Sunday the Jim Thomson Hillclimb took to the hill, which is Round Two of the 2024 Harewood Championship.
Under some menacing grey clouds the first practice run got underway, during the second practice run we had a light shower. The wind was with us for most of the day keeping temperatures down both on and off the track. With a second shower during the third timed run, for competitors and Championship rules, which allow more than two timed runs during an event.
Joining the Harewood regulars where competitors from the Morgan Sports Car Club, Austin Healey Cars, Aston Martin Owners Club Speed Series and Classic Marques Speed Challenge.
Adam Riley driving the VW UP, car #97 currently leads the Harewood Championship from Henry Moorhouse driving his Honda powered Westfield, car #142 and Simon Green driving his Westfield Duratec is third place, car #176.
Adam set a new class record in only his second meeting in the new car, during his second timed run and then lowered the record again in his third timed run.
The class record before this event was set by Mark Teale in his Suzuki Swift back on 6th June 2021. Adam’s class record, for Production Road Cars up to and including 1400cc now stands at 65.53.
In the Fastest Time of the Day Championship (FTD) only David Tatham, who started in eighth place was at Harewood Hillclimb.
All of the other competitors in the top ten, are regular competitors from the British Hillclimb Championship and were competing last weekend at Shelsley Walsh before competing at Doune over the weekend of 15th and 16th June. Then returning to Harewood Hill over the weekend of 6th and 7th July for the July British Hillclimb Championship.
After the Jim Thomson event Stephen Owen driving his OMS 28, car #191 is now joint leader of the Harewood FTD Championship with Will Hall. Trevor Willis is joint third with Simon Green driving his Westfield Duratec is third place, car #176. Will and Trevor are British Hillclimb Championship competitors.
The drivers that posted the fastest times of the day up the hill on Sunday Stephen Owen driving his OMS28 car#191, from Simon Green driving his blue Westfield Duratec, car #176 and Anthony Middleton driving his Westfield, car #174.
Full Results from the Jim Thomson Hillclimb can be found here: Sunday 09 June 2024 — Jim Thomson Hillclimb Results
Harewood Championship Standings: Harewood Championship June 2024
FTD Championship Standings:
BARC Harewood FTD Award Series June 2024
Many thanks to BARC Yorkshire centre for the opportunity to be track side. Also not forgetting all the Marshals, Medical and the Darlington and District Rescue team, along with all the back office staff without which the events at Harewood Hill could not take place.
Next events at Harewood Hill will see the second visit of the 2024 season for British Hillclimb Championship over the weekend of 6th and 7th July.
The next meeting for the Harewood Hillclimb Championship is over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th August for the Yorkshire Speed and Montague Burton Hillclimb.
For all events check out the British Hillclimb calendar.
Hillclimb Events at Harewood Hill 2024
6th July. British Hillclimb Championship. (Non Harewood Championship event)
7th July. British Hillclimb Championship. (Non Harewood Championship event)
3rd August. Yorkshire Speed Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
4th August. Montague Burton Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
24th August. Rescheduled date for the Spring National Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship.
25th August. Summer Championship Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
21st September. Greenwood Cup Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
22nd September. Mike Wilson Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
Harewood Speed Hillclimb course track details.
Harewood Speed Hillclimb is located between the villages of Harewood and Collingham just off the A659. SatNav postcode LS17 9LA. What Three Words. admit.uncle.piston
Harewood Hillclimb is the longest speed hillclimb in mainland UK with a track length of 1448 metres. The all tarmac track is set against the beautiful backdrop of the Wharfedale valley in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire.
The fastest cars can complete the course in under 50 seconds with top speeds in excess of 130 mph.
Harewood Hillclimb record is 46.39 secs. set by Matthew Ryder driving a Gould GR59J on 03/07/2022.
Ladies Hill record is 50.74 secs. set by Nicola Menzies driving a Gould GR55B on 03/07/2022.
Hillclimb Events at Harewood Hill 2024
6th July. British Hillclimb Championship. (Non Harewood Championship event)
7th July. British Hillclimb Championship. (Non Harewood Championship event)
3rd August. Yorkshire Speed Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
4th August. Montague Burton Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
24th August. Rescheduled date for the Spring National Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship.
25th August. Summer Championship Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
21st September. Greenwood Cup Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
22nd September. Mike Wilson Hillclimb. Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship
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