Lee Adams dominated the time sheets in his stunning Graham Wight Racing developed Raptor at the GAC Fintray Hill Climb. Setting blistering times in almost every practice and competition run, Lee Adams was consistently quicker than the rest of the field. Claiming Fastest Time of the Day on both the Saturday (25.37) and Sunday (25.82), Lee’s best time on Saturday was within a tenth of the outright hill record of 25.28 held by Stewart Robb Jnr. This was despite some variable track conditions which caught out a few of the competitors.
Lee Adams' GWR Raptor at Fintray
A newcomer to the singe seater fratenity this year, local driver Eric Kiltie improved considerably throughout the weekend as he became more familiar with his recently acquired OMS, setting a Personal Best of 28.30 seconds on his first timed run on the Sunday afternoon. Eric proved to be Mr Consistent with regards to 64 feet times, with all 6 Sunday runs within 2/100ths of each other.
Eric Kiltie getting to grips with his OMS at Fintray Hill Climb
In Class A6 for sports cars over 1700cc, business partners Les Mutch and Mike Jolly have been campaigning their Dax Rush to great effect for the past few years, with Les having the upper hand until this event. Mike powered up the hill in 29.23 seconds in his first timed run on Saturday afternoon, which also secured him the honour of fastest road car. Trevor Gordon in his very capable Caterham R500 came a close second with a best of 29.39, edging Les into 3rd with his best time of 29.62 coming on his last timed run. On the Sunday, the fortunes were reversed, with Les taking the honours with a 29.38, just 0.06 seconds ahead of Trevor who had some spectacular lock-ups into the hairpin. With everything to play for, Mike Jolly set off on his last run of the day just as it started to rain, but ran wide on the aptly name “Ruin” corner and collided with the embankment, ripping off the front wheel. Thankfully Mike was un-injured.
Mike Jolly crashing during 2nd timed run
Trevor Gordon locking up at the hairpin
In class B2 for modified saloon cars, David Adam from Alford headed the times during morning practice in his Peugeot 205 Gti, with a best run of 31.60 seconds before disaster struck in the form of a broken driveshaft. In true hill climb style there was soon a swarm of people, including some of his closest competitors, giving up their lunch break to get David’s car ready for the afternoon. David couldn’t quite match his morning runs, losing out by 3/100ths to Aonghus Drummond who ran a best of 31.74 seconds in his Integra to take class honours.
John Burr taking a tight line at Ruin
In Sports Libre Class (up to 1400cc), the friendly but ultra competitive rivalry between John Plenderleath (Radical Prosport) and Angus Buchan (Radical Clubsport) was renewed. Angus took the honours on the Saturday with a best time of 29.32, with John upping his efforts on the Sunday, dipping into the 28s with a best of 28.97 to take the win.
In class A5 for sports cars between 1400 and 1700cc, the result could not have been closer. Peter Marshall in his Caterham seven set a time of 33.14 on his first timed run, only for Lovat Fraser to match this benchmark in his Sylva Striker. On his second timed run, Peter was unable to better his first run, but still took the class honours by virtue of setting the best time on his first run. It was a family affair for the Frasers, with Lovat’s wife Peggy taking on the role of meeting secretary for the first time with high praise from the competitors.
Local driver Jim Gray had the upper hand in his Mitsubishi Lancer all weekend in Class A3 for Saloon cars over 2000cc, bettering David Coutts in his Lancer by a few tenths on each run and taking the class win with a best time of 30.41 seconds on the Sunday. Missing from the timesheets on Saturday was Donald McCaskill, who suffered a supercharger failure in his monsterous Lancer Evolution, which features both a supercharger and turbocharger! In true competitive spirit, Donald ran his tow car (Mitsubishi estate) up the hill on the Sunday in 33.48 seconds, a remarkable time for such a large car in standard road trim!
The series continues on 23rd May at Kames in Ayrshire.
Words: John Stewart
Images: Flat Out Photography
