THERE are few venues which emanate such a compelling atmosphere as Shelsley Walsh amid the enduring spectacle of the hill climb.

The smell of the paddock, the friendliness of the competitors and the wonderfully historic course lends itself to one of Worcestershire's most entertaining events.

On Saturday and Sunday, hundreds of motor-mad spectators were treated to another superb weekend of action as drivers, involved in nine separate championships, took on the famous 1,000-yard hill.

And it was an old favourite - Deryk Young from Hereford - who was fastest over the two days with some scintillating times on the famous 1,000-yard course.

Young, in his newly built four-litre V8 Dallara Judd, clocked 26.15 seconds yesterday -- just .87 seconds behind the outright hill record set by Graeme Wight Jnr last year. Young had set times of 28.04 and 27.68 on the Saturday before his Sunday best.

"It was an outstanding time," said Midland Automobile Club president John Moody.

"He's only got that car together over the winter by himself so it is some effort. He's a great favourite at Shelsley Walsh and a very experienced driver. He's been doing these hill climbs now for 20 years."

Other local successes came from Kington's John Jones who went quickest in the class J field with a fine 29.61 while Keith Harris, of Stockton on Teme, broke his own class J1 record when he clocked 33.74. Young won the K class with aplomb, as Tenbury Wells' Adam Jones tasted victory in the Morgan section with a time of 33.96.

The spectators, however, were the real winners over the weekend as Shelsley again hit the right spot.

"It was a huge success," added Moody. "There was a big turnout over the weekend, especially on Sunday. From the club's point of view we actually did very well with spectator attendance and money on the gate which, of course, is important because you cannot do what we do on fresh air."

Another crowd puller arrives in two week's time (June 1-2) when Formula One legend Sir Stirling Moss returns to Shelsley for the British Hill Climb Championship event.

"Stirling competed here in the 1940s," said Moody. "So he's coming back to drive a few cars up the hill and take part in demonstration runs. It should be quite a weekend."