IT was another successful running of the ninth Twin Peaks hill climb for the South Eastern Automobile Club at the picturesque Port MacDonnell course.
A full field of 70 drivers enjoyed the two testing road layouts that form the event along the coastline.
Similar in length, the first track is complex with many corners, some off camber and double apex, with a mix of wind-blown sand on the bitumen road surface that continually changes the available grip level.
The second track has a wide open straight with a corner at each end and a chicane placed between them to control the speed of the vehicles.
To be crowned the champion, drivers need the fastest time for each day, which keeps the pressure on for those at the top end.
Last year’s winner Doug Johnson would have gone into this event quietly confident of a repeat performance in his own prepared Subaru WRX, with any one of four or five of the hard-charging 4WD Subarus or Mitsubishi Evos that had made the return in the hope of claiming the honours.
Add to those, Peter Gazzard put in an entry for his first run for quite a while at any motorsport event and his first run at the Twin Peaks.
Saturday opened with some cool weather and then a bit of wind to keep the track temperature down, resulting in a loose track with not a lot of grip on offer.
Most drivers used the run to settle in and find out how the car reacted on the available surface.
However, Johnson, Gazzard, Sean Day and Damien Brand pushed each other from the start, along with Derrick White, Ashley Blanchard, David Harris and Brenton Byfield, the quickest group on both tracks for the 4WDs.
Luke Day, Philip Wilson, Chris Hortop and Shaun Williamson were at the pointy end of the sheets for Saturday’s run in their 2WD cars.
Juniors had a drive for the first time at the event, with Henry Sims, Max Viitanen, Harrison Bliss, Alexander, Lukas and Zachary Byham all enjoying the challenge.
Sunday’s track suffered from the heat and with confidence from the previous day’s efforts, caused the odd error or two in the last attempt at a better run.
Some had a moment along the way that may have been captured by the drone in action on the weekend, or by the on-track live broadcast which put the event on show to the world to see.
When the final results had been sorted for the two full on days, Johnson backed up last year’s win with another title, ahead of the smart-looking Subaru of Day’s, with Gazzard rounding out the podium.
Outright (Top 20): Douglas Johnson, Subaru WRX, 3:25.17; Sean Day, Subaru STI, 3:30.66; Peter Gazzard, Mitsubishi Evo 1X, 3:30.76; Damien Brand , Subaru WRX, 3:33.00; Derrick White, Subaru Liberty , 3:39.39; Ashley Blanchard, Mitsubishi Evo V, 3:40.05; David Harris, Subaru WRX, 3:41.01; Brenton Byfield, Subaru WRX, 3:42.02; Paul Keen, Mitsubishi Evo VII, 3:42.06; Patrick Hitchcock, Subaru WRX , 3:52.76; Martin Radford, Mitsubishi Evo VII, 3:52.84; Luke Day, Nissan Skyline, 3:58.50; Philip Wilson, EA Falcon, 4:00.03; Shaun Williamson, Baby Grand Chevm 4:00.26; Kenneth Rowland, Subaru WRX, 4:00.69; Russell McKenzie, Pulsar GTI-R, 4:03.45; Chris Hortop, BMW Mini, 4:04.57; Tania Langcake, Subaru WRX, 4:05.10; Marc Lyell, VW Polo Gti, 4:05.59; Murray Height, Toyota Corona, 4:05.97.
Class Placings
Improved Vehicle 4WD: Sean Day, Derrick White, Ashley Blanchard.
Modified Vehicle 4WD: Douglas Johnson, Peter Gazzard, Damien Brand.
Standard Vehicle 2WD 2501cc-4000cc: Chris Hortop, Cohen Hamilton, Justin Devlin.
Improved Vehicle 2WD up to 1800cc: Jason Sims, Michael Ruff, Guy Chet.
Improved Vehicle 2WD 1801-2500cc: Joshua Munn, Luke Lamont, Dillan Young.
Improved Vehicle 2WD 2501-4000cc: Luke Day, Mark Lyell, Damien Hurst.
Improved Vehicle 2WD 4001cc and over: Alex Bohner.
Modified Vehicle 2WD up to 1800cc: Shaun Williamson, David Cantwell, Katelyn Bowering.
Modified Vehicle 2WD 2501-4000cc: Philip Wilson, Murray Height, Bruce Hamilton.
Modified Vehicle 2WD 4001cc and over: Jason Jordan, Steve Grinstead, Glenn Latter.
Junior: Max Viitanen, Henry Sims, Katelyn Bowering.
Ladies: Tania Langcake, Zoe Rule, Susanna Brauer.
Masters: Brenton Byfield, Russell McKenzie, Chris Hortop.
