Tel's Tales Issue 051 -Barbon June 2015
Entry posted by Terry Everall
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Barbon Hill Climb 13/06/2015
Report by Howard Gaskin
Barbon is a new event to the Speed Series calendar although it has been around since 1950 and hosts a round of the British Hillclimb Championship each year. It’s the shortest hillclimb in the UK at 890 yards but nevertheless quite fast and furious, akin to Shelsley or Gurston.
I arrived Friday evening to find Mark Schlanker already there, and perhaps one other small group. A pleasant evening was spent eating, chatting, walking the course, drinking beer and swatting midges. A note for next year and anyone else stopping over: bring insect repellent! They didn’t seem to be noticeable in the paddock fortunately but certainly made their presence felt in the camping field.
Next morning, with only an hour to go before signing on and scrutineering, still no-one else had turned up. However, within that last hour the remaining 90 entrants appeared and the event took on the familiar flurry of activity. John Walters arrived and, unexpectedly, Andy Hargreaves who had been on the reserve list. Mark, John, and I were in class 2B whereas Andy was in 2C for motorcycle engine cars. The event had the usual mix of saloons, hatchbacks, kit cars, single seaters, plus a good handful of Austin Seven Specials.With the largest entry the event had received in many years, the paddock was a little crowded and the classes we Westfields were in was rather bumpy. Unfortunately Mark’s newly repaired splitter was damaged and had to be removed.
Practice got underway at 9.45 with all of us taking it steadily as it was new to us. The course has an uphill start and a short dash to a tight left hander called Crabtree, with intimidating Armco around the outside, followed by a long uphill straight leading to a long, off camber left hander with trees either side, called Richmond, then a longer uphill straight ending with a tight, Armco bordered right hand hairpin called Lafone. After that it’s a short sprint to the finish line and then on to the holding bay outside a farmhouse.Talk was mainly around how fast we dare take the middle corner; was it a stab on the brakes, a lift, or could it be taken flat? More so, how late could we brake for Lafone?
Second practice and we were a little braver, but Mark was disappointed to record a slower time despite having what felt like a more committed and error free run. For some reason, still unresolved, he recorded something like 3.8 seconds for his 64ft time.
First timed runs were slotted in before lunch and, happily, Mark layed his second practice ghost to rest, putting his recently fitted ZZRs to good use by going over 2 seconds quicker than P1, posting a 27.48. I was just 2 tenths ahead on 27.28. John was hot on our heels with 28.22. Meanwhile in 2C, Andy recorded 27.82.
After lunch, and fuelled by an 8” Cumberland sausage in a roll, I dipped (just) into the 26’s with 26.99. Mark got slightly out of shape exiting Lafone and recorded 28.17. John’s car bogged down in second out of Lafone and went slightly slower with 28.26. Andy continued to improve with 27.59.
A few mechanical stoppages meant there was only time for two runs in the afternoon. I took a deep breath, got a good launch, attacked Crabtree, fought the impulse to lift (and failed, although lifted less)through Richmond and braked later and harder into Lafone, scrambled round and made a dash to the finish line to be rewarded with a 26.71. Mark had a good run but got a bit on the grass coming out of Lafone finishing on 28.25. John showed himself to be King of the Starts with a 2.27s 64ft time and went for first gear instead of second exiting Lafone to avoid bogging. He reported that it was ‘a bit squirrelly’ but did the job and he was elated to dip well into the 27s with 27.52, just 4 tenths off Mark’s best. Andy unfortunately bogged down out of Crabtree and this hurt his speed all the way up the rest of the hill resulting in a 28.23.
There were five in class 2B with John, Mark and I taking the top three slots. Andy, in 2C, was in a class of his own.
The weather had stayed warm and dry although a little overcast all day despite the forecasts. The event was well organised and very friendly. Two practice and three timed runs was a good turn around considering the 90 entries. Facilities are minimal but that is to be expected as there are only two events each year: the British Hillclimb Championship and the National B Event. However, it's an enjoyable and challenging course, in a beautiful setting and the village is within walking distance with a good pub that does food: The Barbon Inn.
Speed Series entries were low, probably because of the clash with Anglesey but I’m really glad I went and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Howard Gaskin
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