Collingrove run report & pics
 26/04/2010 Run Coordinator: Trevor Unsworth...Run Reporter: David Kernich  Phone No. 8522 3302 
Those of us arriving at the earlier, superseded time had an extra opportunity to admire some of the Club's vehicles glistening in the TAFE car park.  It seemed the Bolwell Mk4, the Kestrel Lotus and the Singer Special were savouring the autumnal sunshine. It was first time out for new member Brian Cox's Pontiac Firebird and a first run for Ted Povey's fully rebuilt Austin 1800 motor, featuring multi-coloured plug leads. A total of 55 people signed on the Run Attendance list, with 26 historic cars and two modern cars nominated. Motorbikes were scarce with only Bob Carr's Daytona and Ken Leeks' Suzuki lining up for the run. Vehicles left in a staged departure towards Collingrove,  travelling a picturesque route through Williamstown, Springton and Eden Valley.  No mishaps were reported. There was no admission fee for spectators at the Sporting Car Club's Come and Try Day event at the Hill Climb track. Our vehicles were grouped in the external car park area and occupants walked to various vantage points to watch the timed runs in progress. The track, opened in 1951, is 750 m long and has nine turns.  Though it rises 70 m over that length, some parts are very steep indeed and one section actually goes downhill.  The bitumen surface is very narrow and bumpy.  Come and Try days feature the opportunity for ordinary drivers with their road-registered cars to have a go against the clock.  I found it difficult to relate drivers' skills in performing huge burnouts (in preparation for a start) with those needed to achieve quick, clean runs on the track.  Fran was most amused by the burnouts which included near loss of car control in a few instances. The outright track record, set by Peter Gumley in the 2009 SA championship meeting, stands at 28.67 seconds.  For interest, I checked the times from the recent motorcycle only meeting: the best solo was 34.59 seconds and best quad was 36.15 seconds. Typical Come and Try times for sedans were mid 40s though a few got into the 30s.  So the average speed up the hill is around 94 km/h if you are the outright record holder but only 60 km/h if your time is 45 seconds. In the pits, I was interested to see a small open wheeler special powered by a Suzuki Hyabusa engine that was achieving 37 second times.  The driver told me it was hard to drive because it had too much power and was tail-heavy – he then showed me how light the front of the car was by lifting it from the ground with one hand. Before lunch, Doug Lehmann gave a spirited demonstration run (in an Evo rally car) which was timed in the 32 second bracket. Suitably inspired, the Club's historic vehicles then formed up for an (untimed) parade up the hill. The Drapers' 1928 Model A Ford surged up at a cracking pace and the Easons' Singer Special looked quite at home.  I’m told that Bob Collins in the little Zeta was monstering Trevor Unsworth's Cooper S from the rear.  And I wonder how many Rolls Royces like Jack Schofeld's have been up the hill . After picnicking under some of Collingrove's magnificent gum trees we watched more timed runs or wandered home again, having had a most enjoyable day's outing.

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