2017 MX-5 Club Hillclimb Championship Round 1
10 May 2017 / Words by Andrew Digney, Photos by Grant Webber & Jacob Motum
So, I arrived just a little late for the 2017 Round 1 Hill climb at Ringwood. That might have something to do with waiting for two ‘running late’ Sydney members to turn up at my place for a 4 car ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ convoy to the circuit, and arriving to see the organiser (Josh Allen) looking quite tense, like an expecting father in the waiting room – congratulations Josh on another successful delivery - your second Hill climb.
As I had arrived a little late and hadn’t seen the volunteers, due to their own safety briefing and then taking position at their allocated spots around the track, it wasn’t until the end of the event that half of the Hunter Chapter descended from ‘them thar hills’ and I realised how many locals had contributed to a great day. Thanks to everyone that volunteered for making it a great day for the rest of us.
Given that the A3 circuit is basically two laps of the ‘Come and Try’ circuit of last year, there was only time for the 36 competitors to get 5 official runs in each, followed by six attentive individuals sneaking in one extra unofficial run each, and one of those six, sneaking in a seventh run, and ‘no’ it wasn’t me.
It was an interesting day to observe with 30 MX5’s and 6 other cars competing. The was an interesting mix of driving skills on display from the mild to the wild and I’m happy to announce despite a few minor slip ups the worst injury was a bruised ego.
The stand outs drives for the day (in my opinion).
- Lachlan Holswich doing 79.72 in his modified, naturally aspirated NA.
- Jie Ren doing 80.67 in his standard ND
- Young Christian Thompson doing a very relaxed looking 78.28 in a Toyota powered Clubman.
- Sandro Dayrit doing 81.77 in his mildly modified NC on his 1st club outing.
- Ryan Digney getting down to 84.50 in his 1st ever outing in his Renault RS200 Clio.
- Yasmin Allen creating a new circuit for her one and only drive of the day (stupid clutch master cylinder).
- Fastest time of the day, 74.27 to Keith Hammond
Comments of the day goes to “Star Trek Engineer” Josh Fitzgerald – I would be competitive, if I just had 50% more powah.
Look of the day - Helen Green on seeing Lindsay had pipped her time on the last run of the day.
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Two thoughts of the day.
- Where were all the standard NA’s and NB’s.
- The NC and ND classes appear to be finally filling out and the next Club track year looks like it will produce some interesting results.
Keep Sunday 9th July in mind folks, that’s Round 2.
