The British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) Yorkshire Centre organised two very different events over the weekend of the 7th and 8th June 2025. This weekend would see the largest difference in classes of cars from the dawn of motoring on the Saturday right through to the modern hot hatches of today, on the Sunday.
The first was for the Vintage Sports-Car Club (VSCC), founded in 1934 for owners and competitors to enjoy pre-war cars both competitively and socially. The club is active in most forms of motoring and motorsport for these pre-war cars. With events such as Racing, Sprints, Road Rallies, Trails, driving tests and the event on Saturday a hillclimb at Harewood Hill. Also joining members of the VSCC on the Saturday, included the following invited clubs Austin Healey Club, Classic Marques Sports Car Club.
Saturday was cloudy and we had a couple of heavy showers but still managed to get in both practice runs and a timed run before the lunch break. The track conditions in the afternoon improved.
A couple of Class records were set during the meeting.
In Class V1 for Standard and Modified Sports Cars and Saloons, up to 750cc non supercharged. This record had stood since 4th June 2011 and was set by William Marsh driving an Austin 7 Ulster.
Class V11 for Special Sports Cars and Saloon Cars over 3000cc non supercharged and over 2250cc supercharged. Again this record had stood since 4th June 2011 and was set by Wilfred Cawley driving a GN Ford Piglet.
Class C19 for Classic Saloon Cars built up to and including 1972. This record had stood since 1st June 2019 and was set by Paul Bewsher driving a Mini Mk3.
Full Results from the Classic and Vintage Hillclimb can be found here:
https://www.harewoodhill.com/_files/ugd/882d72_dff807c36cde4d289c5f1b628d4280dc.pdf
Fast Time of the Day (FTD) and Top 4 in Class:
https://www.harewoodhill.com/_files/ugd/882d72_efaeb68423b541448a0eb1da5878b972.pdf
Jim Thomson Hillclimb took part on Sunday this event was part of the Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship along with competitors from the Aston Martin Owners Club joining in with the Morgan Sports Car Club and again competitors from the Austin Healey Club and Classic Marques Sports Car Club.
Sunday was very windy with a couple of showers but the track did dry out.
Only the two practice runs were completed before the lunch break, after a number of red flags due to a number of competitors getting a wheel or two onto the grass. This included the VW UP of Harewood Championship leader Adam Riley. Adam shares the car with Doug Mitchell. It was Doug who was driving, during his third timed run he went on to the grass, hit the tyres and Armco coming out of Farmhouse bend. He was assisted by the Marshals and Adam didn’t take his third timed run but still manages to hold onto the Championship lead.
Henry Moorhouse driving his Honda powered Westfield, went straight on going into the Esse’s and onto the large grass area during his first timed run but still manages to hold on to second.
Meanwhile James Hudson driving his Subaru Impreza now moves up to third place, with less than half a point separating him and Mark Teale driving a Suzuki Swift in fourth place.
Full Results from the Jim Thomson Hillclimb can be found here:
https://www.harewoodhill.com/_files/ugd/882d72_ec74a37c0fff4138bbf633bc5fa48a36.pdf
Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship Standings:
https://www.harewoodhill.com/_files/ugd/882d72_bfd1131f6b994cb3847c0502ddda87bd.pdf
In the Fastest Time of the Day (FTD) was taken by Mark Hemingway driving a Force TA, with John Prickett driving his Radical PR6 taking second and Stephen Owen driving a Westfield 7 taking 3rd.
Wallace Menzies still leads the FTD Award Series with John Prickett in second and Matt Ryder in joint third place with Mark Hemingway.
Harewood FTD Award Series:
https://www.harewoodhill.com/_files/ugd/882d72_6b4f6dc66e52442d8439b5e0feedbe5e.pdf