THE opening meeting of Shelsley Walsh's hill climb season takes place this weekend.

Heralding the start of the 99th year of motor sport at the Worcestershire hill, situated in the Teme Valley, two separate one-day meetings will be full of historic and modern racing cars.

Practice takes place tomorrow and on Sunday from 9.30am with the main competitive action kicking off at 2pm both days.

Tomorrow sees an enormous amount of road-going cars entered, many of which are highly modified.

History

A look back into the past of Shelsley's history will see some Frazer Nash cars running, including the GN Spider which held the record at Shelsley in the 1920s.

Smaller capacity single seaters up the pace during the middle part of the programme, with classes full of Morgans and then Porsches in their Michelin Porsche Speed Championship.

Six-time former British champion Tony Marsh is looking for best time of the day with his Gould 2.5 litre single seater.

Ken Sims from Malvern Wells is looking to push Marsh right to the limit for the best time up the 1000-yard hill in his powerful MG Metro 6R4 Group B car that has been a winner on the hill before.

Over the winter, the Midland Automobile Club has worked hard on the hill with additional safety features being added just before the speed trap area on the approach to the Bottom S, proving that as cars get faster, the club reacts to their speeds.

Other season's dates: June 5-6, rounds 11 and 12 of the British Hill Climb Championship.

July 3, roadgoing and racing cars; July 4, pre-war and vintage cars.

August 14-15, main meeting including Classic Team Lotus F1 cars.

September 11-12, Midland Hill Climb Championship meeting.