Trevor Jackson
IT is a long way from an Adelaide wrecking yard to the Legend of the Lakes hill climb, but for Anthony Norris, it has become a regular pilgrimage.
Norris runs Grand Auto Wreckers in Reynella, a Nissan and Datsun wrecking yard specialising in 4x4s and SUVs, through which he has been a sponsor of the hill climb since its inception.
But on his time off the pace of everyday life changes and one weekend a year he roars up the Valley Lakes looking to remain at the pointy end of the Marque Sports class.
He has the right equipment under him too, with a well-prepared Nissan Silvia, S15, 200SX, which he uses to good effect at various other hill climbs throughout the year.
But Mount Gambier, set to roar into life on November 11. 12 and 13, holds a special place in his heart, for many reasons.
“I can’t praise them up enough,” Norris said of the South Eastern Automobile Club who run the Legend of the Lakes hill climb.
“The organisation is amazing and the volunteers do an amazing job.
“If there is an incident on the track they are straight onto it and don’t hold up the productivity of what is happening during the day.
“It is always a sensational event.”
As a sponsor, Norris has been allowed to do runs on Fridays, which he used well last year.
“Last year on Friday, straight off the bat I almost broke the record first run up the hill,” he said.
“Everyone was astounded by the run.
“I thought the car felt good so I put the pedal to the metal, took it to the limit and did the fastest time of the day.
“I am honoured to be allowed to run on the Friday.”
Norris’s rear-wheel drive Silvia is in basic form.
The SR20 turbo charged is standard and produces 340 kw at the rear wheels.
It runs an R33 Nissan Skyline gearbox, is lowered with good suspension components, a roll cage and sticky tyres.
Norris is regularly at the pointy end of his class and simply puts it down to experience and seat time in the car.
At 52 years of age Norris has no real plans on slowing down, with the sport of hill climbing well entrenched in his family.
“I just love hill climbs,” he said.
“I think it is in my blood.
“My father is a state champion – Jim Norris over in NSW – and every time there is an Australian championship we fly each other over and race each others cars.
“Unfortunately I can say my father beat me by two-tenths of a second in my own car.
“That is hard to say.
“But he is 78 and building his next race car, a 350z with 370z running gear.”
As for the course at the Valley Lakes, Norris said it is sensational.
“The track is really good, it is very well prepared and very fast,” he said.
“Up the top of the hill, the bus stop, is amazing the way they have set it up.
“I also find the on-camber, off-camber section going through the esses really special.
“You don’t think of the guard rails on each side of you, you just concentrate on getting to the top as fast as you can.”
Fast he certainly is, with speeds of around 150 to 160 kilometres per hour up the open section before standing on the brakes for the bus stop, equating to course times in the low 50-seconds.
That particular section is another of his favourites.
“It is a beautiful thing the way they have set the bus stop up,” Norris said.
“You get to the top and see the full crowd up there and wow, just seeing the crowd is inspiring.”
At the end of the day Norris certainly enjoys his time in Mount Gambier for what has become a must-do event on the hill climb calendar.
His hopes for this year, apart from good weather, are quite simple.
“It is such a great atmosphere and the rivalry is good,” Norris said.
“But I just want to have fun, enjoy myself and drive it on the trailer at the end of the weekend.”
