SHC Home

HealeySport Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge 2008 - Sponsored by Denis Welch Motorsport and The Frogeye Spares Company

Round Two - MIRA (Saturday 3rd May)

A short report this time with no pictures as the use of cameras are strictly forbidden at this location as its used as a test track by vehicle manufacturers. Thirteen Healeys attended this event on a warm and sunny day - 6 Big Healeys and 7 Sprites. Unfortunately, Huw Edwards was missing for a second event but there were two new drivers taking in part for the first time (Lyn Wheadon in a Healey 100 and Richard Pugh in a 948cc Sebring Sprite).

The notable event in practice was Allan Cameron returning to the paddock in a mass of steam - the result of a blown head gasket. Last year it was a clutch and meant the end of the event but, as usual, the drivers gathered around to help, either with parts, tools or advice (useful or otherwise!) whilst Allan and Murray set to and changed the gasket in about 45 minutes and in plenty of time for the afternoon timed laps.

In the Big Healey Class, Tom Walker threw down the gauntlet with a course record 56.58 on his first timed run, beating his previous record of 57.30. The ever hard charging Richard Mason went too fast into the tight hander and spun hitting the cones and getting a NTR (no time recorded). Pat Cooper put in a quick 60.58 to take second place with Pete Walton in third, Nick John fourth and Lyn Wheadon fifth.

In the Sprite class, Allan Cameron also posted a course record on his first run of 58.34 and then declared he was not going to take part in the second run as he was concerned about doing further damage to his engine. Paul Baker was second, Martin Ingall was third in his much quicker Sebring with a new 1330 engine, and Murray Wakeham fourth. Colin Gale made fifth and Ralph Haywood was penalised 5 seconds for hitting a cone and dropped to sixth. Richard Pugh brought up the rear with an excellent attempt for a first run in his freshly prepared Sebring Sprite.

On the last run in the Big Healey Class, Tom Walker was the class act on the day and took another half second off his earlier record beating time to post a 55.94 and take top slot. Richard Mason needed to record a time and posted a 59.40 which was just enough to hold off the Pat Cooper who achieved his target of beating the 60 sec mark with a 59.76. Pete Walton was very pleased with his fourth spot as he had gone quicker than an Aston Martin DB9 also taking part on the day. Fifth was a much improved Nick John with Lyn Wheadon in sixth - a good effort given it was his first time to MIRA.

The last run in the Sprite class was a nail biter. Paul Baker posted a 58.53 which broke the previous course record but was 0.19 short of beating Allan Cameron's first run time - so Allan took the win and Paul took second. Martin Ingall went slower on his second run which allowed Murray Wakeham the chance to take third. Unfortunately, Murray mis-read some moved cones and went off track getting an NTR, so leaving Martin in Third and Murray in fourth. Ralph stayed away from the cones and came fifth. Colin improved his time and retained sixth, which left newcomer Richard Pugh in seventh nursing what looked like an engine or gearbox problem.

For the full results from this event and from all event in 2008 (results and points awarded) click here. To see the pictures from all events click here.

Don't forget, If you own a Healey, like what you see on these web pages and would like to find out more about this sport, email Allan Cameron on the contact details shown at the bottom of the page or come along to the next event and have a chat with any of the drivers. New drivers are always welcome.

New Rules and Regulations - to download a complete set of Sprint and Hill Climb rules in .PDF format click here.

If you want to download the latest Adobe Acrobat PDF reader click on the following link

Record times - click here to check out the Hill and Sprint records for all the recent venues for the Sprites and Big Healeys.

Round One - Gurston Down (Sunday 20th April)

The HealeySport Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge is an amiable affair with everyone enjoying their cars the way Donald Healey intended, but running through the centre is a tough competitive edge. All the drivers want to do better than they did in their previous season. So, with some serous modification work carried out over winter period by many of the drivers, this new season promises a lot. We also have some new drivers out this year. Some co-driving and others in their own cars. At Gurston Jon Giles co-drove with cousin Ed in Ed's 3000, which he swears is a standard car but most know differently!!

Nineteen Healeys were shown in the programme, but unfortunately, Huw Edwards was a no-show due to gearbox problems on the M4 on the way to the event - so left us with 8 Sprites and 10 assorted Big Healeys (1 Silverstone - pictured right, 3 100M's, 1 100/6 and 5 3000's). Unusually for Gurston at this time of the year the weather was warm and dry and perfect for hill climbing.

As the Healey's were in the first batch to go up the hill at 08.30, it meant an early start for some and the usual late-comers just making it in time to join the end of the batch. Isn't it always the way that those who stay in a B&B the night before near the event are invariably those late to the event - why is that?

Anyway, off went the cars on the first run. Most took it easy as the track was decidedly greasy as the early morning sun had not cleared the dampness off the track. So with the first run out of the way, the drivers got down to the serious business of breakfast in the Gurston Down Restaurant. Always excellent and much appreciated by those who've been up since daybreak and looking forward to a full English overlooking those taking the hill in the following batch.

By the time of the second practice run, the cars are warmed up and the hill was virtually dry and the drivers could think about how they want to tackle each of the bends at full racing speed. The only incident of note was had by Murray Wakeham in his Sprite (pictured left) when he left his braking for Karousel a little too late, locked up the front wheels and had to take to the emergency slip road. A quick reverse up on to the track and away with no damage done.

So, lunch was taken early and the Healey's were the first out in the afternoon for the proper timed runs. In the Big Healey class, Tom Walker started where he left off last season with a very quick 39.77 in his now Kumho shod 3000. Just over half a second slower than the course record. Second was Richard Mason with a 40.59 trying to get used to his new cam/engine set up. Third was Pat Cooper with a 41.6 in the Kumho shod 100/6 with an 'all singing an dancing' Welch/Cameron engine. Fourth was Allan Cameron in his 100M with a very respectable 44.17. Fifth, Ed Giles in the 'Standard' 3000, followed by cousin Jon in sixth. Something tells me he must have driven competitively before? Up next was Peter Walton, closely followed by Andrew Taylor in his 100M. John Wiseman was next in his father Stuart's trusty 100M and bringing up the rear was Alan Haste in the immaculate Silverstone with period streamlining.

In the Sprite class, Stuart Bullas led the pack with co driver Robin Johnson in second place. In third place was Murray Wakeham with son Julian in fourth. Fifth was Paul Baker in his Sprite with an engine that was decidedly off colour and a fault that could not be found, despite the collective wisdom and greatly appreciated support from Allan Cameron, Stuart Bullas and the other Sprite drivers. Sixth was Ralph Haywood in his Frogeye with a new engine for the season, closely followed by Neil Cameron also in a Sprite with a fresh and breathed on engine. Bringing up the rear was Colin Gale in his much admired pea green frogeye fronted Sprite sporting an unusual front number plate (pictured right).

On to the last run and the Big Healey class was held up by Tom Walker's car deciding to deposit coolant over the tyre warm up area and the start line (see picture below). Tom was sent back to the paddock to find the problem - a stuck thermostat - before being allowed to go back to the start line. In the meantime, the rest of the Big Healey's went off in turn with Richard Mason putting in a class equalling time of 39.77. Pat Cooper got close to his target time with a 40.63. Allan Cameron went quicker to fend off Ed Giles who had also improved enough to stay just ahead of his cousin Jon. Andrew Taylor managed to get ahead of Pete Walton and John Wiseman kept ahead of the improving Silverstone of Alan Haste. Last but not least, Tom Walker managed to take to the track and improve his first run time with an excellent 39.48 to take the class win.

In the Sprite class, Stuart Bullas posted the fastest time of 38.99 beating co driver Robin Johnson by 0.17 secs into second place. Murray Wakeham went faster and held third. Julian Wakeham went slower but held fourth. Neil Cameron and Ralph Haywood recorded much improved times and pushed Paul Baker back to sixth, with Colin Gale seventh.

As this was also the first nominated event that counts towards the Wiseman Trophy, Allan Cameron took the honours with Andrew Taylor in second place and John Wiseman in third.

For the full results from this event and from all event in 2008 (results and points awarded) click here. To see the pictures from all events click here.

New Rules and Regulations - to download a complete set of Sprint and Hill Climb rules in .PDF format click here.

If you want to download the latest Adobe Acrobat PDF reader click on the following link

Record times - click here to check out the Hill and Sprint records for all the recent venues for the Sprites and Big Healeys.