FASSI Classic Speed Championship Round 4

Round 4 of the Bugatti Owners Club FASSI Classic Speed Championship took place at Loton Speed Hillclimb on Saturday 13th May.

The Loton Park Speed Hillclimb course is extremely challenging for competitors with a wide variety of corners and a changing character as the ascent progresses. We were blessed with perfect conditions & a dry surface but put a wheel on the grass or enter a bend at excessive speed & this hill bites hard.

Scuderia FASSI found this out during first practice when Dave Fripp lost traction pushing hard through Loggerheads and span across the grass at 50mph before re-joining the track with no harm done. Later that day Martin Saunders in the Ford Escort Mk1 also took a trip over the grass, this time through Keepers, but again re-joined the track with no damage & ooh’s & aah’s from the crowd.

We were all pleased to welcome Tim & Ben Cross back to the sports car class after missing the last round while rebuilding their gearbox. The MG Midget was back with more power & tweaked suspension & stormed the hill over 3 seconds quicker than handicap. Tim edged his son Ben into second place with Gary Cox in the Scimitar Coupe in third.

The saloon car class was hotly contested with six drivers in the mix for the top three places as we entered the second timed run. Alistair Clark came out on top in the Triumph Vitesse Mk2 from John Louch in the Austin A40 Farina & Stephen Akers in the Mini Cooper S, all with times well under handicap.

Two cars ran in the racing car class with Ben Fisher taking the class honours as well as fastest ascent of the hill in the Mallock Mk2. Martin Jones bought the Elva Mk7 home in second place.

Many thanks as always to Stuart Wing for his photography & also Steve Louch who managed to take some good shots despite also competing himself! Many thanks to all the staff & marshals at Loton for a well-run event.

For the overall championship points table follow this link.

Click here to go to the championship photo gallery.