As reported on Friday, the championship holder and winner in Jersey last year, Martin Groves from the UK, set a time of 38.47 seconds to break the previous overall record held by Guernseyman Andy Priaulx and win round 20 of the Nicholson McLaren British championship, which was being hosted by the Jersey Motor Cycle and Light Car Club’s Troy Estate Agency hill climb.
Despite temperatures initially being low, with the lack of grip causing seven drivers to spin at the first corner, when conditions improved the records started to tumble in various categories.
The first to lower a record was experienced Jersey driver Ken Thomson in his Bona Togs Clan in the Modified Production Class.
He lowered his own record to 47.08, and is now aiming for the 46 sec run.
A minute later, historic bike rider Mick Bellée stopped the clock at 53.36 sec to lower his own record once again.
He was not completely satisfied, however, and he went on to lower it to 53.23 later in the day.
Simon Le Rougetel threw his beautifully prepared Ford Anglia up the hill and set a record for the Historic Car Class of 48.33 sec.
He then decided to follow in Bellee’s footsteps by lowering it again, on his last official run, to 48.30 sec.
The motorbike class featured many riders setting personal bests.
Martin Keith decided to throw his commentator’s microphone away and set two PBs, eventually settling on 46.63 sec.
Eddie de Feu lowered his PB to a 53.46 sec, joined by Mike Conway, who stopped the clock at 48.51, and James Le Sueur set a 46.75 run.
And although Lee Le Feuvre had two falls through the day his commitment paid off being the only rider to complete a sub 45 sec run when he set a PB of 44.94 sec.
Local single-seater drivers and possible contenders for the national events – rounds 19 and 20 were run – had mixed fortunes on the day.
Chris Le Bonniec had to retire when a drive shaft broke, and OMS drivers Richard Twinam and Colin Le Galle had to withdraw due to a crash in practice.
Glyn Moignard was struggling all day due to new tyres that were eventually confirmed as faulty and caused handling problems with his OMS, while Jason Mourant was having mechanical problems throughout and only clocked one official run.
However, Christina Holley would have been very difficult to beat as the Force driver clocked two personal best times, finishing the day with an excellent 42.80 sec – the fastest time of the day by a Channel Islander.
Groves was a real favorite to win both national rounds but it was Simon Durling who shone to take round 19 with a 3-litre single seater record of 38.71 sec.
Round 20 featured a close battle between 12 qualifiers, with Rob Turnbull and Durling the only two with sub 40 sec runs.
With temperatures now dropping and the track starting to lose grip, the current championship points leader Scott Moran set a super quick time of 38.70.
The next six drivers could not match this time, the closest being Guernseyman Mike Deans with a 39.14, but next up to the start line was Martin Groves – and history was about to be made.
