mx5cartalk.com

The Hillclimb at Fairbairn Park, Sutton Road on the edge of Canberra is on this Sunday 18 Nov (last one for 2012).

There are usually a number of MX5s running. Entries are closed, but spectators are welcome and free.

I have lashed out and put some 2nd hand extractors on Britney so she can exhale a little better.

On same day is the annual Marques in the Park car display in John Night Park, Belconnen in Canberra. Usually get 800 to 1000 cars from various car clubs so also worth a look if in the region.

Have fun Peter. Could you have a think about writing an article about your hillclimb season for the February edition of Club Torque? Plenty of interest in hillclimbs. Neil would need some photos too.

Bryan

I will do a write-up of the 2012 season. MX5s do well as it is a mixed topography hillclimb that actually forms a full loop, with a downhill section. At 48 to 55 seconds for a MX5 it is a relatively long hillclimb.

Results for past events and the program of upcoming hillclimbs can be found at www.sdmahillclimb.com.

Stewart Clode was the ACT Hillclimb Champion in 2009 in his NA6. MX5s are regular class winners and hold two current club class records:

Type ½ 0-1600 Stewart Clode NA6 50.44
Type 4 0-1600 Peter Browning NA6-Fanta 48.0

Class winners in MX5s for 2011 were ;

Ian Vickers NB8 Type ½ 1601-2000 1st in class
Joe Craddy NA8 Type 3 1601-2000 1st in class

Steve Green and the Rewell family often travel from interstate to compete in their MX5s.

Unfortunately only one event annually is an open CAMS event (state round) eligible to all clubs.
Local events are closed for SDMA members only and have tighter noise restrictions.
The SDMA allows one single day membership to allow members of other clubs to try the circuit, but after that they need to join the SDMA.

Hillclimbing is a specialised skill as you are flat out on cold tyres. You also get only 5 or 6 runs a day, compared to many laps at a track-day, so get limited track time and limited learning time - so it is very satisfying to get it right.

On 21 October seven of the 51 entrants were driving MX5s. Results included 2 class wins :

Type 1 /2 Up to 1600 1 Tom Ballard 52.47 NA6
3 Gareth Blom 54.61 NA6
4 Nicholas Baxter 57.05 NA6

Type 1 /2 1601 – 2000 2 Colin Roberts 50.94 NB
4 Stephen Delaney 52.4 NB
6 Greg Sadler 53.74 NB

Type 3 0 – 1600 1 Peter Browning 50.59 NA6

Fastest time of the Day was Malcolm Oastler in a Hyabusa powered Dallara hillclimb special with an impressive 39.86.

PeterB wrote:Joe Craddy NA8 Type 3 1601-2000 1st in class

If you want to be pedantic, mine is an NA8 engined NA6.

Still haven't done a single run this year

A good day weather wise and 7 runs were completed as the numbers were down a little. Six of the 35 entrants were driving MX5s. Results included 3 class wins for MX5s:

Type 1 /2 Up to 1600
1st Tom Ballard 52.22 NA6
4th Nicholas Baxter 56.05 NA6

Type 1 /2 1601 – 2000
3rd Colin Roberts 51.35 NB
4th Stephen Delaney 52.47 NB

Type 3 0 – 1600
1st Peter Browning 50.31 NA6

Type 3 1601-2000
1st Steve Green 50.29 NB

As at other events, type 2 1601-2000 was won by a Lotus with Honda S2000 2nd ahead of the MX5s.

50.31 was a new pb for me.

I will do a report for the magazine when the series results are finalised.

Richard (my housemate in the s2000) did say he was proud of getting in front of the MX5's in his class.