Awards and Flatheads
Last Sunday we went to the Hillclimb and Sprint Association’s annual awards ceremony, which this year was held at the Stratstone Restaurant at Shelsley Walsh. As already mentioned in this blog I came fifth in the championship and so collected an award for that but I was also surprised and delighted to receive the Man of the Year award.
Receiving my awards from Samantha Bartlett of REIS Insurance, who sponsored the 2011 HSA Championship. (Photo courtesy of Shireen Broadhurst).
The HSA championship next year will hopefully incorporate two new groups. We’ll see more Ginettas for sure as the Ginetta Owners Club Championship will be incorporated into the HSA championship and we might see some flatheads. Neil Bennett brought along his incredible Batten Special, which he parked just outside the restaurant door so we could all get a little better acquainted with what is obviously his passion. After the meal Neil told us all about a proposed new class that loosely encompasses just about anything with side valves (or so it seemed to me). I’m sure their presence in the paddock and on the track will provide a welcome extra splash of colour. Let’s hope that the MSA gives its approval.
Here’s Neil at Shelsley…
That video (yet another excellent one made and uploaded to youtube by TheEsses14UK) was made last year at the May Midlander event where I also took some pictures of some of the cars which will be eligible in this new Flathead class. Here are a few of those pictures. As a kid my favourite cartoon on TV was Wacky Races, which may explain my attraction to these crazy cars.
Jeremy Turnbull in his Ford Model B (with Eric and Tony looking on)
George Laycock in his Grenfell Special
Geoff Moore in his Railton Terraplane
Neil Bennett's Batten Special
Alex Brown in his Fairley Mercury Special
If you want more information and to see more photos of these cars, check out the Flathead Meltdown website by clicking the image below.
And here’s a video of a Flathead close up…
And finally, just so you don’t think that a Flathead has to be big. Take a look at this little baby…
Here’s hoping the MSA let us come out to play some more…!