Round 16 - Harewood, Sunday 25th August

Were you there that day?
 
The BARC Harewood Summer Championship Hillclimb on Sunday 25th August 2019 started exceedingly well and for many sport fans the day just got better and better.  ​We arrived as the sun was burning the dawn mist off the hillside of Stockton Farm to reveal marvellous views of North Yorkshire.  

​There was none of the usual jockeying for a parking space, the organisers had provided each competitor with a numbered spot, albeit a rather small one.  Scrutineering was carried out in the car park before drivers individually attended the paddock office for signing on.  This was the brainwave of one of the club members who was scrutineering, and avoided any queuing.

TVR Class A was represented by Mark Hankins in a TVR 2500, and charming newcomer Peter Caygill with a smart blue TVR 3000M.  Class B comprised Dave Barrowclough Chimaera 500, Richard Blacklee Chimaera 450, and John Carter in the ex-Steve Cox Green-And-Yellow V8S.  Yorkshire locals Peter and John attracted a following of TVRCC members who were enlisted to take action photographs of cars on the hill to accompany the write up.

​We were parked alongside our chums running in the Classic Marques class, the wooden rail surrounding the car park making a handy impromptu seat for use during a chat.  Conversations inevitably started with ‘were you here that day it was so foggy the start was delayed?’  This year’s event will be remembered for the spectacularly glorious weather, a steady twenty-nine degrees and cloudless sky.  The day the Buzzards and Red Kites were grounded, and overheated TVR starter motors struggled to operate, and drivers wilted.

Our TVRs were in the first batch of cars to take to the hill after some motorbikes.  This was a real treat as most organising clubs put us near the end with the excuse ‘spectators like watching the TVRs.’  It meant we could relax after our runs whilst listening to the excellent commentary and watching competitors rounding the final bend called Quarry.  We saw former TVR regular Steve Lyle’s Boxster spin through 360 degrees on the entry to Quarry, and a Mini doing a showman Terry Grant style two-wheeler around the corner.  

​Peter, who lives in nearby Darlington, told us the story of tailoring heir Arnold Burton who helped to revive the TVR marque and also helped establish the hillclimb on his farm in 1962.  When the farm came up for sale a group of Harewood hillclimb members, with the help of BARC, raised the money to buy it and preserve the hill.  Over the subsequent years the layout has been lengthened.  The current course starts by going away from the hill across the Wharfe valley floor through Clark’s, the Esses, Chippy’s and Country, before ascending from Willow to Orchard, between the farm buildings (and spectating chickens) to Farmhouse bend then climbing steeply towards Quarry and the finish.

Hank arrived fresh as a daisy after driving up from London.  He wisely avoided the Bank Holiday traffic of the previous day.  He was however asked to pay double for petrol in an Esso garage due to him wearing a BP hat.  Indeed, Hank was on top form and the day really belonged to him.  He led on handicap after each of the two practice runs and two-timed runs.  John Carter was quickest on scratch time but the G-A-Y car is crucified on handicap despite the recent new clutch and suspension mods.  Dave narrowly beat him to second place on handicap.  Peter was able to put into practice what he had learned at a recent Harewood Driving Academy.  He is a most welcome new member of our championship and we look forward to introducing him to more of the ‘old hands’ at Blyton in a couple of weeks.

​Hank didn’t have it all his own way at Harewood, he endured a couple of sweltering re run delays after motorbike mishaps, and survived a ‘moment’ at Clarke’s when he pressed the accelerator and the brake pedal together.  He showed us a replay from his on-board camera via Bluetooth to his phone which we thought most clever.
 
A promised third timed run was cancelled due to the marshals overheating.  As a result of our early batching we could pack away leisurely and have plenty of time to enjoy the look on overjoyed Hank’s face when his crushing victory was confirmed.  Fortunately, he had brought along a bottle of Belgian Monk’s Trappist beer to celebrate.

​The amazing day continued for many sports fans, with England beating Ireland at the rugby, and Ben Stokes defeating Australia at Ashes cricket, just down the road at Headingly.
                         
Richard Blacklee

(Photography: Dave Adams, Tony Hodgson, Frank Tombling, Richard Blacklee)