2014 Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge

Bill Rawles Classic Cars sponsoring the Big Healeys in the 2014 Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge

The 2014 Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge is a 14 round championship series with a Big Healey class sponsored by Bill Rawles Classic Cars Ltd and a Sprite class sponsored by Peter May Engineering Ltd. In addition to the class awards, Cape International sponsors the award for the overall Sprint and Hill Climb champion. Although we sponsor this event, and have done so for a number of years now, we rarely find the time to actually go along to watch. We rely on getting our updates from the brilliant reports and pictures that can be found on the Healey Sport Website.

2014 Sprint and Hill Climb diary of events

Round Three – Goodwood

Big Healey visiting the workshop en route to Goodwood for Saturdays Sprint and Hill Climb challenge

On Saturday 17th May 2014, round three of the 2014 Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge came to Goodwood, near Chichester, West Sussex. The event was organised by Brighton and Hove Motor Club, who had attracted an entry of over 80 cars of which 8 were Sprites and 6 were Big Healeys. On Friday, one of the drivers, Derek Job, popped by the workshop en route and after a quick chat and a cup of tea, inspired us to go along. With the prospect of a warm day, the sun shining and clear blue skies we headed off to Goodwood for a day of motorsport and to support this event. Arriving at Goodwood we made our way through the tunnel, under the track and soon found the Big Healeys and Sprites assembled in the garages. Chatting to the drivers we found out that the format of the day consisted of two laps of practice and then two, single lap timed runs against their pitched target time.

An elevated view from above the pits on the start finish line

For many the practice sessions past without drama but for some a more eventful time was had. Paul Baker in a Sprite, caused a red flag to be waived when he went off at Lavant in a spectacular fashion, demolishing the apex marker board. Nick John in a Big Healey returned to the garages complaining that his overdrive had packed up and wasted no time in trying to fix it over the lunch break. After lunch we headed for the roof area above the pits, situated on the start finish line. The elevated position meant we had a great view of the beautiful surrounding countryside as well as watching the cars start and complete their run.

The event was not without excitement and drama, Steve Cassons Sprite is towed back to the garages after hitting the chicane

It was difficult to know how the competitors were fairing during the afternoon. However the Healeys and Sprites did produce some excitement, commotion and red flag waving. In the Sprite class Steve Casson hit the chicane and the tow truck was deployed, Simon Leeming blew a head gasket and abandoned the second run, engine issues prevented Kevin Rowe participating in the second run. In the Big Healey class Derek Job, had achieved a 119 second first run and on his second run, was naturally trying to beat this time and span at Woodcote, Nick John was still having overdrive issues but was convinced by fellow team mates to stay and compete. Despite no over drive Nick completed the two runs, producing a personal best of 118.71, a second under his previous best time. Trish Cecile-Pritchard, was spotted in the pit lane with a fire under the bonnet and this was rapidly extinguished.

On-board footage using a Go Pro put in Big Healey drivers car Derek Job

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9I-z3N_9nc

Round 3 Goodwood Results – 2014 Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge

Go to www.healeysport.org to get full race reports, photos, results and news

To summarise our first time out on a hill climb event – we had a great day, it was good to see everyone, have a chat, see the cars and watching them participate in the challenge – to see more pictures from our day out please take a look at our facebook album 2014 Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge – Round 3 – Goodwood