Terry Crabb was the surprised, but jubilant winner at the Vintage Sports-Car Club’s annual visit to Prescott Hillclimb on 6-7 August.
Driving ERA R12C (above), Crabb lucked out with a dry run before the heavens opened, and clocked an impressive 43.43secs time, while favourite James Baxter in the rapid Alvis-engined Frazer Nash special could not better 46.68secs later in the day, on the now very slippery course.
As always it takes more than heavy showers to dampen spirits at a VSCC meeting, and the 8,000 spectators were treated to some very sideways action on the wet course.
Undoubted star was Mark Walker who drove his exposed 1905 200hp Darracq with great gusto and dominated the Edwardian class with a best of 49.61secs.
The 22-litre V8 machine (below) took the Land Speed Record in Christmas 1905 at 109.65mph, and in the best VSCC tradition Walker drove the beast to and from Prescott on the road with his suitcase strapped to the back. The slingshot acceleration from the start of the ex-Sir Algernon Guinness 117mph veteran was stunning.
The Walker family had a good weekend with Tom Walker recording 67.40secs in his Hispano-Suiza Alphonso, one of three present at the event. Both performances were an appropriate tribute to their father John, a VSCC stalwart, who recently passed away.
Appropriately at Prescott, there was a fine turn out of Bugattis with Geraint Owen in his very quick Type 35B fastest with an impressive 46.07secs first run, to claim the Peter Hampton Tankard.
The next VSCC hillclimb is Loton Park on 15-16 September.
