The 2005 Season
SHELSLEY WALSH 100th - A TRULY STUNNING WEEKEND
The three day meeting at Shelsley Walsh to celebrate the 100th anniversary
of the Speed Hill Climb was simply stunning from start to finish. With a record
crowd bathed in perfect summer sunshine, the action was non stop from start
to finish over the three days with six new records on Saturday's British Hill
Climb Championship meeting going to Robert Kenrick, Ash Mason, Roy Standley,
Rob Stevens, Sue Young and Martin Groves for a new outright hill record with
23.77 seconds
Sunday was a double dose of action with cars from all the eras of hill climbing
at Shelsley Walsh, plus demonstration runs from the D-type Auto Union, The
BRM V16, Andy Priaulx in the BMW 3 series WTCC, Jeff Allam in the Bastos Rover
SD1, the Bert Hadley Austin 7 750 S/C, Gareth Howell in the BTCC leading Team
Halfords Honda Civic just to name a few. Lotus Test Driver Tony Shute drove
the brand new 10 day old Lotus Track Day car as it appeared in public for
the very first time at Shelsley, the World launch of the car taking place
in front of journalists from as far away as Japan, Germany, Czech Republic
and California.
Nic Mann lowered his own sports car record with his self built Mannic Beattie
4wd on Sunday in front of a packed house that saw the action on the big screen
TV at the base of the hill.
The crowds were packed up the hill and the finishing straight in scenes reminiscent
of the enormous numbers of spectators who came through to the hill in pre
war days. Two time Champion Adam Fleetwood said, "It was better coming
down the hill so then I could look at the crowds; it was amazing to see so
many people here." 1100 record holder Mark Budgett said, "On my
first run on Sunday I couldn't concentrate as there were so many people watching.
I came out of Top S and I looked away from the track over to the field on
the right up the finishing straight - they were 4 deep up there. Unbelievable!"
"The best meeting of the year." Martin Groves, 23.77 seconds
"It was a day I shall remember forever." David Gould, Gould Engineering.
" I thought Goodwood had a special atmosphere but this matches
it." Paul Jeffrey, first time visitor.
"All organisers, staff and racers (oh yes and the 'gods' for ordering
the weather) should be congratulated for making this an extra special weekend.
Keep up the good work." Howard Mills, spectator.
"I wanted to thank you and all the team at Shelsley Walsh for a spectacular
weekend. It was fabulous to see the host of wonderful cars pedalled
by so many great enthusiasts in such glorious weather conditions. And
we enjoyed seven records. Simply magnificent. By the look of the crowds
on Sunday, Shelsley must have achieved - if not over achieved - its spectator
targets. You certainly deserved to do so." Chris Willows, BMW
UK.
" Thanks to everyone for weekend not to be forgotten!!" Martin Depper,
MAC member.
The Midland Automobile Club thanks everyone who worked tirelessly to organise
and then run the meeting, but our thanks go to the spectators who came to
support the 100 year old Speed Hill Climb by attending and buying raffle tickets
to win a brand new Lotus Elise, the proceeds of which are going to the future
of Shelsley Walsh and more days out hill climbing in the Teme Valley, Worcestershire.
Request . If anyone has pictures of when I (Toby Moody) interviewed
Martin Groves in front of the Big Screen on Saturday when he had returned
to the paddock after his 23.77 second run in the first run off, I would appreciate
seeing them please. Many thanks... tobymoody@shelsley-walsh.co.uk