Event Updates March 2025

Trydel EZIUP AND GO Victorian Hill Climb Championship Round 2 Review 

The 2025 Trydel EZIUP AND GO Victorian Hill Climb Championship continued on February 22nd with Round 2 of the Championship hosted by Gippsland Car Club and held at Bryant Park.

Instead of running the traditional clockwise course, Gippsland Car Club chose to run the rarely used ‘Reverse Figure 8’ layout, with competitors heading down past the clubhouse at the start of the run.An untimed practice session was held on Friday, which a number of competitors used to familiarise themselves with the layout. 69 competitors arrived on Saturday, and due to a later start time, a practice run was afforded to competitors before competition commenced.

With a hot and dry day forecast, track records were in danger of being toppled. Greg Ackland showed just how fast the track was on his first run, firing in a time that was .6 slower than his outright course record. Greg's time on his first run of 51.82 in his Ninja GA8 was ultimately fast enough to win the event, with Queenslander Dean Tighe making another appearance in Victoria, ending up 2nd fastest with a 53.54 in his Empire Wraith and Alan Foley making up the podium in his RFOLEY open wheeler with a 54.16. In 4th position was reigning VHCC champion Mike Barker, with a 56.04, and David Mahon rounding out the top 5 with a 56.83.

In the battle of the tin-tops, Mirko Grbic came out on top in his Time Attack Mitsubishi Evolution with a best time of 59.84, with Brent Coleman 2nd in his WRX with a 61.53 and Zachary Hanlin in his BMW M140i with a 63.34. Christine Crombie was once again the fastest female in the field, with a best time of 69.84 in her BMW 135i.

In the class battles:

• Scott Slater (68.05) and Harold Roberts (68.35) were separated by 0.30 seconds after 5 runs in Formula Vee

• Ewen Moile (Ramblebee Mk8 - 57.83)and Matthew Healy (Yakar - 58.28) were separated by 0.45 seconds in Formula Libre up to 1300cc

• Lasith Liyanage (Subaru BRZ – 67.75) and Ian Speight (Mazda MX5 – 68.62) were separated by 0.87 seconds in Production Sports up to 2000cc

• Thomas Foley (Audi S3 - 63.93) and Jordan James (Mitsubishi Evolution – 64.01) were separated by 0.09 in Sports Sedans 4wd

Plenty of Class records were broken at this event, all listed below:

• Formula Vee - Scott Slater - Elfin - 68.05

• Formula Libre Up to 1300cc - Ewen Moile – Ramblebee MK8 - 57.83

• Formula Libre 2001cc and over - Dean Tighe - Empire Wraith - 53.54

• Sports Cars Open/Closed up to 2000cc - Sei Vella - Mazda MX5 - 64.50

• Sports Cars Open/Closed 2001cc to 3000cc - Casey Pilcher - Datsun 260Z - 73.21

• Improved Production up to 1600cc - Rhys Yeomans - Honda Civic - 63.93

• Improved Production 3001cc and over - Zachary Hanlin - BMW M140 - 63.34

• Improved Production 4wd - Brent Coleman - Subaru WRX - 61.53

• Historic Ground N up to 2000cc - Steven Weymouth-Wilson - Morris Cooper S - 68.64

• Historic Other - Craig Webb - Cyclo Kawasaki - 68.26

Round 3 of the Trydel EZIUP AND GO Victorian Hill Climb Championship continues on March 22nd, with a 2-day event at Mount Leura, Camperdown.

Event Updates January 2025

Post Event report VHCC Round 1

Round 1 of the 2025 Trydel EZIUP and GO Victorian Hill Climb Championship kicked off with a bang at the historic Rob Roy on the 19th of January.

A capacity field of 110 entries rolled into Smiths Gully to take on the ‘long’ version of Rob Roy, with competitors coming from South Australia and Queensland to compete in Australia’s most competitive Hill Climb series.

Weather conditions were hot and dry, with many competitors enjoying the track conditions and setting personal best times throughout the day.

By the end of the day reigning VHCC Champion, Mike Barker and his Hayward06 had held off all comers with a best time of 23.90, edging out David Mahon in his Dallara Hayabusa who ran a 23.98 on his final run and the always spectacular Patrick Malanaphy in his Yacar CrossKart who ran a 24.15 on his final run.

Dean Tighe and his Empire Wraith made the huge trip down from Queensland to compete with Victoria's best, running 4th with a best time of 25.82 on an unfamiliar track. Keith Wilson rounded out the top 5 with a best time of 26.26 in his Ninja BH1.

David Bell was the fastest Tin Top in his Subaru WRX, running a 26.60, with David Harris keeping him honest on a 26.82 and Brenton Byfield rounding out the top 3 Tin Tops on a 27.51.

Christine Crombie proved to be the fastest up the Rob Roy hill, with a best time of 30.95, fast enough for 34th outright and 2nd in her class.

Fastest car across the speed trap at the top of the hill was Dean Tighe, at a very rapid 168kph – 12kph faster than the next car, David Mahon at 156kph!

In the class battles:

• Lasith Liyanage (Toyota BRZ) pipped Daniel Leitner (Mazda MX5) 32.05 compared to 32.16

• The Formula Vee battle between Ryan Nothard, Harold Roberts and Scott Slater was decided on the last runs of the day, with 0.66 seconds separating the 3 drivers.

• Sports Sedans 2wd 2001cc and over podium was decided by 0.35 seconds, with Daryll Combridge (30.61) pipping Damien Reilly (30.74) and Gavin Langmuir (30.96).

For all the photos from Jojo at Seven70 Photography, please CLICK HERE and remember to tag Seven70 Photography in your social media posts!

Photo - Mike Barker on his way to Outright victory at Round 1 of VHCC. Photo credit - Jojo at Seven70 Photography.

Round 2 of the Trydel EZIUP and GO Victorian Hill Climb Championship is on the 22nd of February at Bryant Park. Entries are NOW OPEN.