Summer Holiday Hillclimb meeting at Harewood Speed Hillclimb 

Report and Images by Chris Bannister

30^th August 2020

After the success of the BARC Yorkshire centre members hillclimb event run at the beginning of the month, the BARC Yorkshire Centre organized its second event of the 2020 season, Summer Holiday Hillclimb on Sunday 30th August at Harewood Hill.

Running again under the latest guidelines from both HM Government and Motorsport UK. The social distance restrictions would effect everyone throughout the entire event, from extra spacing between the competitors in the paddock to Marshal’s whilst on post at two metres, ‘bubbles’ excepted or 1+ metre if attending any incident but only if wearing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

With to no access to the paddock office during the event for drivers, all required documentation would have to be fully completed and returned, electronically days before the event.

Sunday would see all communications with officials, scrutineers etc. to be by email, text message or telephone. Each driver was only able to have one mechanic or helper to comply with ‘track and trace’ required to run the event.

The on-line entry was fully subscribed at a maximum of 100 competitors up from the 80 set at the last event. Even though the event was not part of any championship, which was perhaps why non of the main 2019 Championship contenders had entered the event.

With the event been run behind closed doors, therefore unfortunately no spectators are allowed on the Yorkshire hill. With a large variety of car engine notes, from the road going class though to various Race cars and of course the screeching tyres.

Along with a restriction on the number on other people attending the event including marshals, officials and limited to four media/photographers, this had increased from two.

Photographers are allowed to roam track-side, as long as it is behind the safety barriers, and keeping at a social distancing or wear suitable PPE.

All Competitors would need to complete the Pre-Event Scrutineering Declaration via electronic means prior to the event. However drivers should expect the scrutineers to make checks on a small number of competition cars, observing social distancing, during the day

Under current Motorsport UK guidelines marshals are not allowed to touch any competition cars, so BARC Yorkshire centre would therefore be operating the European hillclimb method of starting within a one metre zone.

Meaning that it would be the competitors responsibility to ensure that the car is positioned in this zone. Due to this relaxed start procedure, all class and hill records standing at the end of 2019 will remain in place and no new records will be recognised until further notice.

With no access to the paddock office for drivers, competitors would have access to their times through the Harewood live timing website: www.hwtiming.co.uk

With a couple of non starters. Competitors had two practice runs and one timed run before the lunch break. With three more times runs during the afternoon.

Several red flags had to be shown to competitors during the day, once when liquid was dropped on the track by one of the cars, which had to be cleaned up by the Marshals before any more cars were allowed to go up the hill.

The competitors who had been shown the red flag are then allowed to have a re-run.

Unfortunately a small number of competitors had mechanical issues during the day and had to retire.

The weather was mainly very overcast though the sun did get out for a little while but at least it did stay dry.

Times for the Summer Holiday Hillclimb meeting can be found here: The Event Results Report 

The BARC Yorkshire centre reminding events for the shorted 2020 season is the double header on 19th & 20th September.

Many thanks to BARC Yorkshire centre for the opportunity to cover the event and not forgetting all the Marshals, Medical and Rescue teams without which, the event could not take part.