Three times Australian Hillclimb Champion Gary West has confirmed he will be a starter in the 75th Australian Hillclimb Championship to be conducted at Mt Panorama on 1-3 November.
West only has his race car and a spare set of tyres in his car trailer left after a fire destroyed his West Australian workshop on Saturday night 19th October.
The 1999 Pilbeam MP82 was the only thing, normally in the workshop not damaged, all Wests data and spare parts were totally destroyed, and “I hope the car behaves as I don’t even have a spare sparkplug” West said.
West has won two Australian Hillclimb Championship’s at Bathurst, but Mt. Panorama has not been kind to him. In 2006 his campsite on top of the mountain was flooded and as well the engine suffered mechanical drama’s on the first day. West was able to effect repairs to defeat the then current British Champion on the last run of the meeting.
In 2008 West again had problems with his car and as in 2006, won the event on the last run of the day which was his only competitive run.
Please see AHC Preliminary Entry List @ 17/9/19 .For queries regarding classes email ahcc@blcc.com.au & I will have the scrutineer investigate.
Please see AHC Further Regulations approved 13/9/19.
See attached file.
To all that would like to be an official at the 75th CAMS Australian Hill Climb Championship from 1 - 3 November to be conducted at Mount Panorama Contact Robert Wells on 0422 819 896 or email escort45@bigpond.com.
For your help you will receive an event souvenir cap and polo shirt. Those officialling for two or more days will receive two souvenir event polo shirts. Lunches and a post event BBQ on Sunday will be provided.
Your shirt sizes must be advised by 16 September 2019 to fit in with supplier scheduling.
If there was any doubt as to three times Australian Hill Climb Champion Gary West’s commitment to victory in the 2019 event, his entry in Bathurst Light Car Club’s August 25th hillclimb would put the doubt to rest.
West has indicated to the club his intention to travel from Western Australia for a second time this year to further fine tune his Supercharged Nissan powered Pilbeam MP82.
The Bathurst Light Car Club’s May Mountain Straight Hillclimb saw West finish one run short after a spin at high speed at Reed Park gate resulting in minor damage to the Pilbeam’s front wing mount and end plates.
West has won the Australian Hill Climb twice before at Mt Panorama, in 2006 where he defeated the then current British Champion Martin Groves on the last run of the event and in 2008, again on the last run of the event, he defeated Andrew Howell from Victoria.
Times set at the August 25th Esses Hillclimb will be a true guide to the Pilbeam’s progress as West has contested this course many times before.
The first Australian Hill Climb Championship was held at Rob Roy in Victoria in 1938 and won by Peter Whitehead in an ERA R108 after which he won the first Australian Grand Prix held at the new Mt Panorama Circuit at Bathurst.
Other noted Australian race drivers to win an Australian Hill Climb Championship were Sir Jack Brabham, Bill Patersen, Lex Davison, once at Mt Panorama, Tim Schenkin, Alan Hamiltion, Peter Holinger and 2018 champion Malcom Oastler, former technical director for BAR F1 and chief engineer for Jaguar Racing, to name a few.
Potential AHC competitors & friends are advised that the weekend of AHC 1,2,3 November 2019 is a packed weekend for Bathurst with multiple sporting events taking place. Accommodation is already at a premium with many venues already booked out.
If you are considering entering the event I would recommend you book accommodation ASAP.
As per previous events there will be free camping available in McPhillamy Park as part of the event with all facilities open from Wednesday 30th October.
There is a Bathurst accommodation list on this page website or for further information you may wish to contact the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre on 1800 681 000.
The AHC Committee has now setup a dedicated email address for all enquiries regarding entries for the AHC to be conducted on Mountain Straight, Mt Panorama on November 1, 2, 3.
The AHC Event Secretary contact is:
Kathy Hanrahan
Phone: 04077 84590
Email: ahcc@blcc.com.au
Three times Australian Hillclimb Champion Gary West will be crossing the Nullarbor Plain from his base in Western Australia.
West will be using Bathurst Light Car Club’s May Mountain Straight Hillclimb as practice for the 75th Australian Hillclimb Championship to be held at Mt Panorama 1st – 3rd November 2019.
West contested the Australian Hillclimb Championship at Mt Panorama in 2006 where he defeated the then current British Champion Martin Groves on the last run of the event. In 2008, again on the last run of the event, he defeated Andrew Howell.
Bathurst Light Car Club is pleased to announce that BlendLine TV will be live streaming both days of competition of the Australian Hill Climb Championship 2019. We are extremely excited to have Blend Line TV on board. All runs will be covered via 7 cameras as well as pit coverage. This offers an exciting opportunity to both competitors and sponsors of this event. More news to come!