aunted ills Hillclimb

6.5K

Afield of approximately 30 travelled to the Haunted Hills Hillclimb track just outside Moe. Despite some early fog on the drive to the track, the day was fine, the sky clear and indeed temperatures reached around 30C in the afternoon. It was warm in any car that was not running air conditioning! Indeed, a number of drivers who regularly compete in full race suites opted for more casual attire - still complaint with regulations for coverage from neck to wrists to ankles of course.

The Haunted Hills track can be configured as three alternative circuits. All the circuits are relatively tight and technical, with average speeds of 70 to 90kph and top speed around 130 to 150kph. After a low speed “sighting lap” the drivers took on the 1.3km length “Figure 8” configuration. This was a bit of challenge first up, as there are a few rises with a surprise just beyond the crest – a sharp corner. Nevertheless, with the benefit of the “siting lap” and for some drivers, experience from previous years, all navigated the circuit without incident.

This included three Entrée class drivers. I enjoyed acting as mentor for one of those drivers, in arguable the best-looking car on the track – a white Boxter Spyder 718. I love my 3.4l Cayman S, but that 4.0l engine in the Spyder just sang as we were on the gas and building revs. (I did offer to take it home, but no deal!!!)

After 4 runs around the “Figure 8” configuration, the field enjoyed four more runs on the slightly shorter “Outside Circuit”. This comprises virtually the same sections of track, but with about half it run in the reverse direction to the earlier configuration – and those corners look and feel very different when trying to circulate quickly through them in “reverse” sequence.

After a further four runs around the 0.8km long “Short Circuit”, we all headed home about mid-afternoon after an incident free day.

Many thanks to the Officials and Marshals who persevered through a hot, sunny day and without whom we drivers could not enjoy a safe, professionally managed competition.

Bryant Park Haunted Hills Climb

Sunday, 5 March 2023