Posted: February 8, 2015 11:32 AM - 3808 Hits
Posted: June 12, 2014 10:38 AM
After making his Cultra Hillclimb debut in 2012 Stuart Biggerstaff will once again return to “Ulster’s Motoring Garden Party” with one of rallying’s most iconic rally cars, his father’s MG Metro 6R4 No.1
The June 14th event is centred around the twisty 640m long Cultra Hillclimb course, which sits in the spectator friendly parkland grounds of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum North Down. First run on the 6th May 1905, it has now become the World’s Oldest Active Speed Hillclimb.
When Biggerstaff made his event debut in 2012, the 2010 NI Rally Champion gave one of the standout appearances of the day by taking 5th place overall, winning Class E for modified saloons and was the fastest rally car in a time of 34.16. The car was acquired in 1988 and records show that the upgraded chassis 00184, Reg. No. A658 NJO is the first 6R4 built. No.1 was driven by Tony Pond and David Llewllyn in the Group B rallying period.
The car has an extensive competition history at the hands of Biggerstaff’s father Denis and was driven to British, Northern Ireland and Irish Rallycross Championship title wins and NI Hillclimb and Sprint Championships. The car still holds the Outright Record for the Spelga Hillclimb in the Mournes and in later years the car won two NI Rally Championship.
Organised by The Thoroughbred Sports Car Club NI, this year’s annual event will celebrate the theme of “Mini, Mods and Monsters”, evoking memories of the swinging sixties. The Edwardian Cultra Manor which sits in the middle of the course, again plays host to a vintage fair and prominent car displays, which this year celebrate the career Paddy Hopkirk and his 1964 Monte Carlo win. An Autotest demonstration will showcase Hopkirk’s first motorsport activity.
This is the second year that the event has been over-subscribed for this non-championship competition with Biggerstaff going head to head with 100 other like minded competitors and with over half the field in Modified Saloons, Sports Cars and half a dozen single-seaters, the Mods and Monsters are well represented.
Other activities will see local Crossle Racing Car Company host a preview event for a new book about its history, “Hidden Glory” written by Plum Tyndall and due for publication in the Autumn. In addition, a group of Crossle sporting trials cars will give a demonstration of their highly specialised skills, in the Glen behind the Manor.
For younger visitors to the Event, and their parents, their will be an exhibition by the STEM Programme and displays by ‘Formula Student’ UUJ Racing and ‘F1 in Schools’ Team Nero.
Posted: June 10, 2014 2:01 PM
Fermanagh’s Mervyn Johnson and his famous Mini Cooper ’S’ will making their competition debut at the renowned Cultra Hillclimb event, next Saturday 14th June. “Ulster’s Motoring Garden Party” is centred around the twisty 640m long Cultra Hillclimb course and sits in the spectator friendly parkland grounds of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum North Down. First run on the 6th May 1905, it has now become the World’s Oldest Active Speed Hillclimb.
Dubbed the ”Tullyhommon Flyer” Johnson has always been synonymous with minis, right from his first rally in 1961, with 50 plus years of competition behind him Johnson has won the Irish Historic Tarmac Rally Championship a record four times.
His first major success came with victory in the 1964 Circuit of Ireland Touring Category and six years later he added the Ulster Rally Championship, not with standing a break of 14yrs Johnson came back to rallying and won his historic championship titles in 91,92,02 and 2004.
In 2012 Johnson’s career was celebrated by his priers and he received an outstanding contribution award for rallying from the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association at their annual end of season prize giving.
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Organised by The Thoroughbred Sports Car Club NI, this years annual event will celebrate the theme of “Mini, Mods and Monsters”, evoking memories of the swinging sixties. The Edwardian Cultra Manor which sits in the middle of the course, again plays host to a vintage fair and prominent car displays, which this year celebrate the career of one of Johnson contemporaries Paddy Hopkirk and his 1964 Monte Carlo win. An Autotest demonstration will showcase Hopkirk’s first motorsport activity.
This is the second year that the event has been over-subscribed for this non-championship competition with Johnson going head to head with 100 other like minded competitors and with over half the field in Modified Saloons, Sports Cars and half a dozen single-seaters, the Mods and Monsters are well represented.
Other activities will see local Crossle Racing Car Company host a preview event for a new book about its history, “Hidden Glory” written by Plum Tyndall and due for publication in the Autumn. In addition a group of Crossle sporting trials cars will give a demonstration of their highly specialised skills, in the Glen behind the Manor.
For younger visitors to the Event and their parents, their will be an Exhibition by the STEM Programme and Displays by ‘Formula Student’ UUJ Racing and ‘F1 in Schools’ Team Nero. Further event information can be found at www.tsccni.info and http://www.nmni.com/uftm
Posted: May 30, 2014 9:07 AM
The Entry List for the Cultra Hillclimb 2014, on the 14th June, reached its 100 capacity at the weekend and with two weeks still to go to the Official Closing Date the Thoroughbred Sports Car Club(NI) organisers have opened a Reserve List.
TSCC President and Cultra Event Co-ordinator William Heaney commented :-
“This is the second year that we’ve been over-subscribed for this non-championship competition within the Cultra Event at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. It’s unprecedented for a Northern Ireland speed event to have this level of interest, so we must be doing something right! After all, Cultra is just a fun day out for competitors, display participants and Museum visitors and we are really flattered by this continuing level of support”.
Posted: February 25, 2014 9:12 AM
“Minis, Mods & Monsters” will be the overall theme for Cultra Hillclimb Event 2014 at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum on Saturday, June 14th.
The Thoroughbred Sports Car Club(NI) will again run the 109 year-old hillclimb to their Club Championship Regulations, with the addition of a Ladies Class.
The North Down Borough Council (Tourism) supported competition is open to all hillclimb eligible cars, with deals available for competitors from the UK mainland and overseas. Classic, Historic and Vintage cars are especially welcome.
Specific feature attractions will be announced as they are confirmed.