Etretat-Bénouville Hillclimb 2018 - Post Historique

Fastest "VHC" time of the weekend went to Ian Davies in this 1993 OMC-RA Susuki.

Prior to the accident on Sunday, the mood at Etretat-Bénouville had been its usual end of summer party atmosphere.  The fastest of the "VHC" cars were the Post -Historic brigade.  There were seven cars in this class ranging from a specialist hillclimb single seater, a continuation model of a sixties sports car, and some GT and touring cars.  Fastest was Ian Davies in the OMS but some way off of James Wilkinson's record.  These pictures were all taken on Saturday.

Paul Deslandes was runner-up in his 1995 Caterham 7.

Third was Tim Jeffrey is his rapid Alpine V6 GTA Turbo.

Neil Brogden in the 1987 Peugeot  205 GTi was fourth in this group.

Fifth was David Strange in the 1999 Crossle 9S.

Final classified car in the post historics was this 1996 Ginetta 27R of Anthony Williams.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 

Also present and running on Saturday in practice was Ryan Eamer in this 1981 MG Metro.

Etretat Hill Climb 2017 - VHC Post Historic

One of the best looking post-historic cars was this 1987 Alpine V6 GTA Turbo of Tim Jeffrey.

The third category of the VHC cars at Etretat were the Post-Historique cars built after 1976.  This was a relatively small category of nine cars but it wasn't decided until the last run and added a nice variety of cars to the event.   James Wilkinson held the hill record for these post-historic cars prior to the event in his Formula Vauxhall Reynard and it was never challenged.  James had gearbox issues with his Radical but eventually took the win on the last run.

James Wilkinson in his 1997 Radical Prosports was fastest but only managed a time on the last run. 

Paul Deslandes was fastest after the first two runs but had to settle for second place in his 1995 Caterham 7.  He also won his class.

This 1999 replica of a sixties Crossle 9S was third fastest of the post-historic category.

Taking a wide line in the under-steering 1981 MG Metro is Ryan Eamer who won his class.

Cutting a fine apex is Francis Da Silva in this 1980 Volkswagen Golf GTi

The 1987 Peugeot 205 GTi of Neil Brogden.

A welcome French competitor was Francois Prieur in this 1979 Fenouil JF79.

Finally their was this Lotus Eleven look-alike produced by Westfield and driven by Rob Hume.

For the pre-war cars at Etretat, click here.

For the post war VHC cars pre-1977, click here.

For the modern cars competing in the French Course de Côte at Etretat click here.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.

Etretat Hill Climb 2017 - VHC Post War

Tony Gomis was fastest of the VHC cars in his 1976 1.6 litre Marcadier CanAm. 

There were lots of lovely post war VHC cars at the August 2017 Course de Cote Etretat-Benouville.  Most are shown in this blogpost in order of the scratch time they achieved with the fastest first.   Most of the cars were from Britain with a couple of French entries.  It as good to see the beautiful French sports car, the Marcadier, come first.  Tony Gomiz has competed many times at Etretat as has Lyn Padfield and Bob Gibson; they had a good battle for FTD.  This was the 19th running of the VHC Hill Climb run between Etretat and Benouville in Normany, France.

Lyn Padfield, 1968 1.6 litre Lotus Seven

The 1973 1.6 litre Alpine A110 of Bob Gibson.

Mark Linworth and his 1973 2 litre Ford Escort Mk1.

The 1972 2 litre Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT of Duncan Richardson.

Spectacular driving from Tim Greenhill in his MGB.

Johnny Hulme's 1974 1.6 litre Alpine A110

Dave Wheeler's Renault R8 Gordini.

Stephanie Wilton's 1953 2 litre Grand Prix F2 Cooper-Bristol T23Mk2.

The French Alpine A110 1300S of Alain Marie.

The unique 1954 Jacobs-MG special of Stuart Dean.

For more about the Jacobs-MG Special, click here.

The 1961 Lotus Seven of Chris Davis.

The 1960 Formula Junior Cooper T56.

Sheridan Bell of Alpine A110.

The 1965 Renault 8 Gordini of Nigel Patten.

The 1953 2 litre Cooper-Bristol 2 seater Sports of Jonathan Harmer.

1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Super of Michel Deldon

The 1971 Mexican built Dinalpin A110 of Andy Owler

The 1953 Frazer Nash Le Mans of David Knight.

Australian Ernst Luthi with a 1961 TVR Grantura Mk2.

Liz Owler's 1976 Matra-Simca Bagheera S.

The Pre-War cars at Etretat can be seen by clicking on this link.

The post-historic cars at Etretat can be seen via this link.

The modern cars competing in the French Course de Cote can be accessed by clicking here.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.

Etretat Hill Climb 2017 - VSCC Pre-War cars.

Francesca Wilton, hair blowing in the wind, driving her 1935 Austin Seven down the hill.

For the third year in succession I was back at Etretat for the annual pilgrimage of the VSCC cars to France to drive in a hillclimb on public roads and over a distance somewhat longer than their normal climbs up Shelsley Walsh and Prescott.    The participants are pretty much the same old bunch each year and there is only one corner to spectate at, but something brings me back each year to this end of summer vintage fiesta.

Nearly 30 VSCC participants turned up with their pre-war cars, including the usual plethora of Frazer Nash and MGs.  This year the French spectators had the pleasure of seeing a 1939 Talbot T150SC amongst the participants and I was looking forward to seeing the GN and Bolster specials.  The drivers are a real mix, with some driving at what appears to be a fast Sunday afternoon drive in the country pace whilst others are clearly driving near the limit. What they all share is a passion and enthusiasm for these lovely old cars.  This is motor sport at completely the opposite end of the spectrum to the Belgian GP that was taking place at the same time.  Great fun and long may it continue.

You can see photos of all of the VSCC competitors below on Sunday afternoon during their second competitive run up the hill of the weekend.  They are listed in order of their scratch times with the fastest first.  None of the competitors beat the 1 minute barrier for the 1.62km course and thus Rob Cobden’s record remained intact.

Julian Grimwade was the fastest of the pre-war VSCC class runners in his 1934 3.6 litre Frazer Nash Norris Special.

Sue Darbyshire is always fast in her 1.3 litre 1929 Morgan Super Aero.  She was second overall in the pre-War section and won her class.

Peter Edney won his class in this 1.35 litre 1936 MG TA.

For more about the MG TA, click here.

Its a family affair so next up was George Edney in this 1939 1.5 litre MG TB

One of my favourite cars was this 1923 1.5 litre GN Spider.

Another favourite was this 1923/32 1.3 litre Richard Bolster Special.

One of the many fast women competitors was Joanna Blakeney-Edwards in this 1929 Frazer Nash Super Sports. 

Mark Roper in a 1929 3.3 litre Frazer Nash Super Sports.

A crowd pleaser was this lovely 1939 Talbot T150C driven by John Guyatt.

Another of the later cars was this 1939 Frazer Nash BMW 328 2 litre driven by Alastair Pugh.

Some serious understeer from Steven Pryke in his 1933 Frazer Nash TT Replica.

Andrew Morland in his 1933 1.1 litre MG L1.  He won his class.

Robin Balmain in his Aston Martin/Riley International  of 1931/9.

Tyre or brake smoking action from Kevin Morton in his 1931 Riley 9.

Duncan Potter's 1931 supercharged MG Montlhery.

Spectacular opposite lock driving from Paul Weston in a 1934 Frazer Nash TT Replica.

For more about the Frazer Nash TT Replica, click here.

Roger Buxton in a 1930 suprcharged Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport.

Annabel Jones cutting the apex in her 1926 Frazer Nash 1.5 litre Boulogne Vitesse.

Timothy Pryke in his 1935 2 litre Frazer Nash Colmore.

An MG PB 1 litre supercharged of 1935 driven by Rachel Holdsworth.

Gerald Wilton, 1932 1.5 litre supercharged Riley TT Sprite.

1935 750cc Austin Seven driven by Francesca Wilton.

Andrew Messent, 1927 1.1 litre Morgan Super Aero. 

1934 Fazer Nash TT Replica driven by B.Mellors.

Robin Lightwood, 1928 1.5 litre Frazer Nash Sports.

1925 1.5 litre Frazer Nash Super Sports driven by Andy Cawley.

Richard Wyatt, 1931 750cc Austin Seven.

For the Post war cars at the 2017 Etretat Hillclimb, click here.

For the Post Historic cars at the 2017 Etretat Hillclimb, click here.

For the Modern cars at the 2017 Course de Cote Etretat/Bénouville click here.

For pictures of the 2015 Etretat Hillclimb, click here.

For Pictures of the 2016 Etretat Hillclimb, click here.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.