Two-time Le Mans winner Hans-Joachim Stuck found himself with tears in his eyes during his visit to last weekend’s Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, the Midland Automobile Club’s Classic Nostalgia event. Stuck was the guest of honor at the meeting, following the trail of his late father, the legendary Hans Stuck, who exactly 80 years ago drove a similar V16 Auto Union Grand Prix car up the iconic hill in front of a similarly large number of spectators.
“This place and these crowds are absolutely magical,” offered Stuck, “and I won’t be shy with you, I actually had tears in my eyes coming back down from my first run — just thinking about my father doing the very same thing in the same car those many years ago. My reception here this weekend has been simply wonderful, and I am delighted to have been able to put on a show with this famous car for so many people who have all shown such interest, enthusiasm and appreciation.”
Stuck also drove the Audi IMSA S4 GTO that was making its UK debut after arriving in the country just six weeks before. That monstrous racecar is capable of 190 mph powered by its 720-bhp five-cylinder, 20-valve, turbocharged power plant, and certainly made the ground tremble each time it ran up the hill.
Another crowd pleasing aspect of the weekend was the appearance of 25 Group B rally cars from the 1980s, machines that were ultimately banned on safety grounds, but driven over the weekend once again by stars such as Jimmy McRae and his original co-driver Ian Grindrod, Russell Brookes with his co-driver Mike Broad and David Llewellyn in the Audi S1.
A Concours d’Elegance was held for the first 100 cars to enter on the Sunday, and was won by Peter Prosser from Buckinghamshire with his 1935 MG Pillarless Magnette, which will now be invited to be displayed on the MAC stand at November’s NEC Classic Car Show.
“We were invited here today as guests of Stratstone,” explained Prosser, “and just happened to be in time to enter the competition, not really expecting much as this car is in regular use and has just completed a tour of Ireland with the MG Car Club. You can imagine our surprise then when my wife Dot and I were awarded the top prize, and we were thrilled to be presented with our trophy by Jimmy McRae, who then drove us up the hill — being very surprised at how nimble the car was, so much so that he was still smiling when we got back down!”
Adding to the weekend’s festival atmosphere was live music and singing, together with dancing displays in 1940s and ’50s style. This was all enhanced even further by officials, vehicle support staff and members of the public who were invited to dress in period costume to match the occasion.
On the track itself, competition was as fierce as ever through a wide range of varied machines dating back over the decades in various classes, hosting names such as Frazer Nash, MG, Cooper 500, Austin Healey, Lotus and Morgan, through to Austin Mini, Ford Mustang and Ferrari.
Best Time of Day on Saturday went to Nic Mann in his amazing homemade Mannic Beattie Sports Libre car, which posted an ascent time of 25.47 seconds. Sunday’s Best Time of Day was turned in by local driver Keith Harris with a time of 29.18 seconds in his Chevron B25.
Saturday’s class winners included Bill Tuer in a Morgan, Mark Brett in a Bellamy Ford, Martin Spencer in GN Spider 2, Malcolm Thorne in a Lotus-Buick, Mike Gallery in a Morris Cooper S, Stuart Gilbert in an MGB GT V8, Thomas Robinson in an MG Midget, Finlay Mackintosh in a Cooper Mk6, Phoebe Rolt in an Elva FJ Junior, Richard Mason in an Austin Healey 3000, Tim Painter in a Metro 6R4 and Kevin Jones in a Renault 5 Turbo. Sunday’s separate event found most of the above once again taking class wins, with the addition of Andrew Tippett in a Russell Alexis Formula Ford and James Smith in a 1968 Rellard Trials.
Also presented was a very special watch called the “Spirit Of Shelsley Walsh” that had been designed and made by Omologato, timing sponsor at the hill climb. It went to Chris Jaques, who brought back the 1934 Maserati 8CM that Whitney Straight once drove at Shelsley Walsh.
Looking back over the weekend, MAC committee member and event paddock marshal Tony Harrison noted: “Yet again the accolades keep pouring in from competitors and visitors alike for this very special classic event. For example, one competitor, Wayne Wilson, is from Australia and competing in his 1968 Brabham BT21. After this, his first visit to Classic Nostalgia, he is already making plans to return next year and it’s easy to see why, the sight and sound of the Auto Union alone is mesmerizing, and you can watch people simply smiling at its pure power and presence. The crowds have been amazing and with awesome weather, and we believe this could well be a record attendance. The Group B rally cars have also been such a huge success, so this event could be a very hard act to follow!”
Mark Constanduros, Commercial Manager for the Midland Automobile Club commented: “Several years of hard work paid off this weekend. To see Hans-Joachim Stuck drive his father’s Auto Union was a very special moment. He is such a lovely guy who fell in love with Shelsley Walsh. Also, to have three British Rally Champions here, with nine titles between them, was a joy. They were all a bit like naughty schoolboys, great fun to be with.”
For further information please visit www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk
