Llys y Fran July 2008 report

After a summer of rain which had filled the reservoir to overflowing, the sun came out just in time for the Swansea Motor Clubs hillclimb at Llys y Fran which was supported by Chevron's Pembroke Refinery, and the spectators were treated to a display of power driving from Cardiff driver Henryk Kozlowski who took the Fastest Time of the Day Award, after taking just 42.84 seconds to complete the challenging 1000 metre course. Kozlowski driving a Jedi single seat racing car was in commanding form all day and set the time on his first timed run. Although he eased back a little, after the track slowed later in the day, his slower time would still have been enough to put him in to the Top 10 run-off. Henryk only needed one run to seal that too, taking both of the days’ top prizes, adding the Top Ten trophy to the FTD Award.

After a days sport enjoyed by all, Andrew Webber from Sevenoaks made the long trip home with some silverware, after winning the well supported Class 1B for up to 2 litre Road Cars, in his Lotus Elan, but he was run close by Neil Watkins from Swansea. David Williams and Huw Schofield from the Gwendraeth & Teifi Valleys respectively, featured in a dead-heat for 3^rd place.

Swansea’s Andrew Meek, who is a bit of an expert at Llys Y Fran, dominated Class 1C for over 2 litre Road cars, his Subaru Impreza being over 5 seconds faster than the second place man whereas only 2 seconds covered the next 5 cars.

Other notable performances came in the Sports car Classes with Andy Rusworth winning the up to 1700 cc class in his Westfield Bird, despite having the smallest engine in the class. Richard Kerr won the well supported over 1700cc Class in his Westfield Jocksport despite only finishing 1 timed run.

In the Modified Car Classes Martyn Ferris from Swansea won the battle of the Minis in Class 3A. Gareth Griffiths won Class 3B but Nick Meakin and Tony Barber upheld Swansea Motor Club honours and seemed to enjoy themselves, as did David Kirk who took Class 3C in his wonderful sounding BMW 325 Sport.

The drive of the day however came from Simon Rogers, who won Class 3D in his Caterham R400 with a time of 44.69 seconds which was only better by Henryk Kozlowski in his single seater! Simon, who went on to finish 2^nd in the Top Ten run-off, was ably backed up by fellow Swansea M C members Kevin Evans, Clive McCall and Michael Cond who managed to group themselves together in the middle of the well supported class.

Barry Slingsby driving a Westfield SEi won Class 3E, but if there was an award for the nicest looking car Geraint Davies’ Hawk Lancia Stratos would surely have been a top contender, the Swansea M C drivers’ car looking a real picture. One of the most interesting cars in the Single-seater classes was Nina Morgans’ vintage JW car which uses a Norton motorcycle engine running on methanol, which added a new sight, sound and aroma to the event. Fellow Swansea member Nick Knight ran her close with his interesting Abarth 033 car which using a Fiat engine has raced in Italy in their version of Formula Ford. Nick steadily reduced his times throughout the day, finishing with a time of 49.32 seconds which was good enough for 20^th fastest time, not a bad effort on his first run in the car at Llys y Fran.

In the Classic & Rally car classes, Huw Edwards won Class 6A on his debut in his Austin Healey 3000 and Tim Ayres was the fastest of the Morgan Championship runners to win the class. Roger Turner gave his vintage Austin 7 a run.

Eurig Howells won the 1600 c.c Rally Car Class, but Swansea driver Colin Caplin had a wild ride in his Vauxhall Corsa, actually rolling the car in the 2^nd practice run! However there was only slight damage to the car and after a medical check and some panel bashing, the car and driver were cleared to carry on competing.

There was a Battle Royal in the over 1600 cc Rally Car Class with only a couple for hundredths of a second separating the Mk1 Ford Escort of Mike Griffiths and the Mk2 of Graham Hollis throughout the day until Griffiths sealed the class with a sparkling final run. The rivalry between Griffiths and Hollis inspired them both and they continued the battle into the Top 10 run-off, with Griffiths finishing as the fastest saloon in 7^th place overall.