Bluff Hillclimb Back - Bigger, Longer, Better

Bluff Hillclimb Back - Bigger, Longer, Better

One of the south's most unique motorsport events, the annual Bay View Hotel / Pub Charity Bluff "where the journey begins" Sealed Hillclimb, will take place in Bluff on Saturday 7 March.

After taking place in January for the last two years the event reverts to a March date in 2009 for two reasons. Firstly, the annual Summer Series motor racing meeting at Teretonga Park returned to it's original January date on the calendar this year. The return of that event to it's traditonal date in January would have placed a lot of pressure on local motorsport officials had the two events been held in close proximity. Also, the January date for the hillclimb was already under review as searing temperatures the last two year's have caused officials to monitor road conditions carefully. The heat actually brought about the cancellation of the final run last year as the tar melted in the sun.

The event will again be the second round of the Southern Twin Peaks Challenge this year. The challenge was developed to reward the competitor with the best elapsed time at both the Bluff event and the Bob Scott Memorial Hillclimb, held in Kaitangata each October. Duncan McCrostie of Kaitangata won the first leg of this year's challenge at his home event to gain early favouritism for the title. McCrostie is also the reigning Bay View Hotel / Pub Charity Bluff "where the journey begins" Sealed Hillclimb Champion. However Outram's Glenn Frew and Andrew Graves of Gore were not far behind McCrostie at Kaitangata so will also be in contention for the title.

Last year McCrostie set a new record for the 1.6 kilometre Bluff Hillclimb, scorching to the summit in a time of 59.188 seconds in his Mitsubishi EVO. That effort eclipsed the 2007

winning time of 59.895 seconds set by Frew. McCrostie and Frew are the only two drivers to set sub-minute times on the hill. The only other man to win the climb, Ross MacKay of Ashburton won the inaugural event in 2006 in a time of 1 minute 03.407 seconds.

The route for the hillclimb has been extended slightly this year. The new section of road will add extra distance to the climb and create a great viewing corner at the bottom of the hill.

The event is a joint project each year between Bluff Promotions assisted by the Eastern Southland Car Club and the Southland Sports Car Club. The event forms part of both the Southland Sport Car Club's Speed Championship and the Eastern Southland Car Club's, Club Championship.

ENDS

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