A dramatic day at Wiscombe Park: Neil and 'Scollob' Take on the Hill

What a weekend it turned out to be at the Wiscombe Park Hillclimb!  

The MG Car Club Wiscombe Hillclimb is always a good event, this year held on the 12th September. 

Usually, the weather is good, and this year was no exception. Neil took his purpose-built Triumph Beta race car affectionately known as 'Scollob' to the event, deciding to drive there, as the countryside between Middlezoy and Honiton, Wiscombe's nearest town, is pretty spectacular.

For those who haven't seen Scollob in action before, she is a spectacular piece of engineering. Neil dropped a powerful 6-cylinder TR5 engine into a lightened TR4 type chassis and clothed it in a Beta body shell with fibreglass outer panels, specifically built for hill climbing.  

The morning session threw up all the usual technical challenges that Wiscombe is famous for, but Neil put the Beta through its paces on a fantastic run clocking an official time of 51.14 seconds. Neil has achieved 48 seconds previously but 51.14 was good enough for second place on the one timed run when usually competitors get 3. We are incredibly proud to share that this brilliant drive secured 2nd Place in a fiercely competitive class! 

The event started well but sadly came to an abrupt early end after 2 runs (1 practice, 1 timed) when a competitor ran into a marshal post. No serious injuries but the damage caused the event to be terminated after one practice run and one competitive run. 

An early finish and the inability to vacate the paddock meant only 1 thing - Neil offering to buy drinks!

Len Olds topped the TR class with 48.54, Neil second, then Kieth Odell was 3rd with a time of 51.31. Ed Hollier took the overall Fastest Time of the Day at 35.95s, in a Force H/C. 

Even though the day was cut short, it was wonderful to see 'Scollob' perform so brilliantly and bring home a podium finish. 

 
Credit to Nigel Cole & Nicky O'Dell for the photos.