Speedy Terry claims Shelsley Walsh double (From Worcester News)

Speedy Terry claims Shelsley Walsh double

6:10pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in Sport

MIDLAND Automobile Club member Terry Graves took both fastest time of day awards on the final hill climb event of the season at Shelsley Walsh.

Driving his 3.5-litre Gould GR37 and enjoying perfect driving conditions, Graves posted a time of 26.68 seconds with fellow club members John Jones, of Kington, taking second place in his Pilbeam MP88 and Darren Gumbley, from Tenbury Wells, taking third spot in his 1100 Class Force PT single seater racing car.

Graves said: “I usually compete in the British Sprint Championship and at some of the South West hill climbs, but have driven at Shelsley Walsh some years ago in a Pilbeam.

“However, this was my first visit in this, the original Gould, so I took things pretty steady at first, but was delighted with the end result and have had a fantastic weekend.

“I found the track very green in places and quickly realised that you are never going to learn to drive it correctly in just one weekend, so I am looking forward to returning here on more occasions with this car next season.”

Paul Howells, in his Porsche 911 RSR, took the class win in the Porsche Club Speed Championship, while David Hardcastle won the TR Register class.

Ben Wilkins, on an Aprilia ,won the NHCR motorcycle run-off with a time of 30.39 followed closely by Honda rider Paul Jeffrey in 30.71, with Sam Matthewman, on a Suzuki TL, in third place.

Sunday saw the conditions change dramatically, but Graves once again managed to repeat his FTD, posting a time of 31.16 in cold and wet weather, which thankfully seemed to make competitors respect the conditions and also drive with some caution, ensuring that the meeting still ran smoothly.

Following Sunday’s close results, the Pirelli Ferrari Championship will now go down to the wire at the MAC’s last event of the year at Curborough Sprint Circuit, near Lichfield, in October, where Chris Butler, Richard Prior and Andrew Holman are all still in with a chance of taking the title.

Invited clubs provided close competition with Clive Glass taking the class win in the MSCC Techniques Morgan Speed Championship, Matthew Oakley winning his class in the TVRCC Speed Championship and Richard Mason taking class honours in the Healeysport Championship.