Chevron Racing’s new GT3 and driver Jordan Witt played a starring role at the Classic Nostalgia event at Shelsley Walsh on Sunday 29 July.
With the Chevron GT3 invited to make its debut at Shelsley Walsh and be part of the hill climb schedule, Jordan Witt completed four demonstration runs, setting his fastest time of the day – 30.96 seconds – on the GT’s fourth and final run.
Witt was close to challenging the Shelsley Walsh hill climb record for a closed cockpit car, which is currently held by Mike Endean who has previously finished the course in 28.06 seconds.
Having enjoyed the event, and now fuelled to attempt to break the record, Jordan Witt commented; “The Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb is not as scary as some make out, but being my first time there I wanted to take it easy on my first run to get to know the course. After that, I knew I could continue to set faster and faster times throughout the day.
“As you exit the Bottom ‘S’ section there’s a wall and embankment, it’s a heavy breaking area, and on the final run I think I actually made the commentator gasp, as I nearly clipped the back of the Chevron GT3 – but not quite!
“It is a great hill climb track, I really enjoyed it, and many thanks to the organisers for inviting us to the Classic Nostalgia. The plan is to return to Shelsley Walsh at some point later this year to try and beat the closed cockpit record.”
Regular demonstration runs were given by Jason Blott, of Northampton, with the stunning and original black Raymond Mays Ford Zodiac, which featured a host of original modifications. Another special machine to feature was a careful recreation of a 1954 Mercedes-Benz grand prix car, which had a streamlined body, and has been made from the remains of a Mercedes 300 saloon.
The Streamliner is a very close replica to the original racing car and features a tubular chassis, with all Mercedes-Benz mechanical parts and is fitted with a six-cylinder W124/R129 engine. The iconic car has recently been on display at the Mercedes-Benz World Museum at Brooklands and was enthusiastically demonstrated over the weekend by journalist and author Ed McDonough.
In the Concours d’ Elegance on the Sunday, a partially restored car – on its first public outing – took one of the top honours.
The event was hosted for cars up to 1980 and spectators and officials alike were encouraged to wear period dress to add a little style and colour to the occasion.
A very unusual 1954 Lancia Aurelia, driven by Michael Wilson and owned by Anthony Pritchard, was chosen as the best entry of its decade in the Concours d’Elegance, with class awards going to a further 15 of the 100 cars entered, all of which had actually been driven to the meeting.
Renowned motoring journalist Simon Taylor, of event sponsors Classic & Sportscar magazine, took time out from competing in his Stovebolt Special each day and judged the cars, commenting on the diverse range and very high standard of cars entered.
Class winning Lancia owner Mr Prichard, from Woodburn Green, in Buckinghamshire said: “In my early years I owned one of these beautiful Aurelia cars and vowed to get another one in my later years which I have now done, having bought it from America last year. It has undergone some restoration work so far this year but we still have a few jobs to do, and I am delighted to win this prestigious award at the first outing of the car.
“I have in fact visited here before, but have been amazed at the wonderful setting and atmosphere created over this weekend, and I will certainly be returning in the future, hopefully to defend my title! The overall winner of the Concours competition was a Left-hand-drive 1966 Alvis TF21, bodied by Graber in Switzerland, originally owned by a Swiss shipping tycoon and driven on the day by Peter Male.
Simon Taylor added: “This was meant to be a light hearted competition for people with their prized cars who were having a splendid day out and attending a special event anyway, but I was staggered and hugely impressed by the cars presented and had the almost impossible task of judging, as every one of them had something special or unique to offer, and had obviously been cherished by their owners, and many brought a smile to my face.”
The next event at Shelsley Walsh will be the British Hill Climb Championship and Lotus Celebration weekend on the 18th and 19th August.
