Bit of a longer event report this time
Shelsley Walsh was my final event of the year, this would be my first time competing and first time driving the hill. I travelled up Friday night after work , putting in a long 3hr non stop stint in the JK composite seat, I think I'm getting used to them as it wasn't actually too uncomfortable. I may invest in some ear plugs for next season though as the car is so loud inside since its been stripped out.
I swatted up the course over a couple of pints of Ale, the track guides available on the HSA (hillclimb and sprint association) give some useful pointers. The main pointers for Shelsley? Be brave!
Like Gurston Down , the course map doesn't look like much on paper, but the corners have blind entries and are super fast. It is key to carry speed here as lifting will really punish you as the gradient is so steep!
An early morning track walk confirmed the steepness, its a proper work out walking up shelsley! The day dawned bright, but it was a fraction damp on the hill.
It was nice to be classed in with the proper road going over 2000cc class rather than the usual random mix of HSA championship runners, as it added a better competitive feel to the event.
Shelsley is regarded as a real power hill, so with only 240bhp to play with carrying speed and attacking the Esses would have to be my priority. After the track walk, the idea of not lifting for Kennel and Crossing bend seemed daunting.
There was a good entry in the class with cars ranging from the usual mega power Subarus, and other 4wd cars including an Audi TT and two Toyota Celicas, there were also more 2wd cars than I'm used to seeing which is good, a particularly rapid Porsche GT3 and a Rotrex charged Elise and a supercharged (!!) Aston V8 Vantage would provide good targets to aim for.
Practice run 1 was a cautious affair, mainly the purpose was to get a feel for what the course looked like behind the wheel and to figure out where I would be changing gear.
Practice 2: I knocked two seconds off to get into the 35 second bracket. My goal before the weekend was to get a 34 second run under my belt. Oh and to record a sub 9.99 S sector after Howard laid down the Gauntlet!
My first timed run recorded a 34.73, a time that I was really happy with. I failed to improve on my second timed run as there was very fine drizzle (psychological rain) and I made a mistake between the Esses.
"How not to approach Top S"
It doesn't look like much on the onboard, and it all seems like it happened in a split second but it nearly ended up in the bank. I had to use all the controls, throttle steering and brake to keep the car under control, its amazing how the brain slows down these moments when you are driving.
Heres the onboard and the T2 moment.
The time left me with P5 out of 12.
Looking back at the video its clear where improvements can be made, I could have carried more speed throughout the bottom of the hill, braked later for the Esses and been a bit neater and more flowing coming off top S. Cant wait to get back there next season and aim for a 33!
It was good to meet up with Tom in his supercharged Mk2 again which was going well.
Well done to Robin (bacon sarnie) for improving all day and putting in a great final effort in the drizzle!
Take home car of the day? an oddball choice, but just look at that intake snorkel!!
Shelsley rounded off a brilliant first year on the Hills. Roll on some winter developments and fun prepping the cars for next season. I have been asked by Speedscene magazine to write a little summary of my first year in the sport and a little about my car so I will do a little season review update in due course.
Oh and Howard.... I did a 9.90 S split!
Game on for next year!!
Good luck.
le sigh