EC Journal

Read for in-depth highlights, as fantastic conditions led to a flying finish for the Scottish Hillclimb Championship in Doune.

The weather was surprisingly kind as we went into the final Scottish Hillclimb Championship round at Doune. Hot asphalt helped the tires and cold air boosted the engines to give us close class battles, new records and an extraordinarily clean Saturday.

J1 – Drivers aged 14-16, Standard Road Car Under 110hp / The Bruces

Euan Bruce began the running as usual, with both Bruces flying on Saturday taking half a second off their bests.

The first runs on saw them separated by just 0.02s, Euan setting a new Class Record with a 58 dead.

On the second runs Euan found a near unbelievable second to set a record 57.02 and Dad John put in a seemingly impossible lap – taking the MG ZR to a 56.93. 

John was punching the air alongside shouting in joy and disbelief as he entered the top paddock. 

“I’m lost for words. That was just, just, perfect…Nailed every corner. Cannot ask for more than that.”  – John Bruce

Euan was also chuffed, as he should be only a tenth off what might be the fastest possible run in the car. 

“Good run, aye, wish it just sneaked into the 56’s.” – Euan Bruce

I also noticed this weekend that Euan was very impressive at using all of the track. Smoothly running no more than an inch or two from the grass at all times, without going over once. 

A1 – Road Cars up to 1400cc 

Jody Gordon was fastest, matching his own class record from April – a 52.09.

Campbell Gordon was 2^nd in the same 205. Graham Shee and Peter Lawton both set personal bests. Graham did so on Saturday and Peter on his first timed run, though he missed a gear in Garden Gate halting any time gains in the second run.  

Anthony Reid was close to his own bests in his Datsun Cherry 

“Scary!”

Said Anthony, when I asked how his run felt. 

A2 – Road Cars 1400-2000ccc

Euan Catterson and Malcolm McDonald were both faster than they’ve ever been in their C2 GT’s. 

“Happy, happy chappy. And the weather stayed nice, so that always helps…

It’s still a learning experience every time. Try and take too much and you end up grass-cutting.” – Euan Catterson

“Getting near the limit of this slow thing, you gotta carry so much speed around the corner. It’s scary for an old man like me!” – Malcolm McDonald

A3 – Road Cars over 2000cc

Class A3 saw a very close fight all season with the Imprezas of David Reid and Thomas Rapson, and the TTRS of Tommy Rapson – Thomas’ Dad. This weekend Thomas needed to win, with David behind Tommy. If David Finished 1^st or 2^nd he would win the season. All three were flying come Sundays Timed runs, on the last runs Thomas came home first with a new lap record of a 47.97. The class Record had stood since 2010. 

“No words. Still shaking” 

Said Thomas after his run. 

Tommy then set a new personal best of a 49.25, his first time under 50 seconds. And it looked like it could be enough to secure his son’s win. 

Like Father, like son, Tommy was full of adrenaline at the top of the hill. 

“I’m still shaking, there was a few close ones there like…” 

David Reid then came across the line, also setting a new personal best with a 48.54 enough for second place, meaning he had secured his win for the year overall. 

“It’s been so close, and it’s been so good having the three different cars here this year.” 

“It’s a wee bit of luck here or there that goes either way.” 

The luck David is likely referring to this year was Thomas’ painful timing failure at Doune in June, this put him in Tommy’s TTRS for that event and sidelined him for Forrestburn a few weeks later. 

Brian Hunter’s R53 Mini isn’t quite at the pace of the top three but he was flying nonetheless, taking over a second off his personal best in Saturday practice. 

A4 – Road Sports Cars up to 1400cc

Ruari Mathieson ran in his Westfield on Saturday and Sunday Morning, but something went wrong on the first timed run, forcing him to pull off the track at Junction. He didn’t set a timed run on Sunday. 

A5 – Road Sports Cars 1400-1700cc

Guy and Jamie were very close as usual this weekend. 

Guy, the class record holder, was fastest on Saturday. But, Jamie still brought his personal best down to a 50.10 in practice. 

Come the timed Runs on Sunday Jamie came out the gate flying. A 49.25 was enough to steal his brother’s class record, following up with an impressively consistent 49.26. 

“Very consistent. So, I’m pretty happy with that.”

“just gutted we haven’t got another one after this…It’s been great fun!” 

Guy also went slightly faster than his record with a 49.63, rapid, but not quite enough to catch Jamie. 

“Still fast, still happy.” 

Colin McAteer also ran in class A5, setting a 53.54 in his Caterham 7. 

A6 – Road Sports Cars over 1700cc

Class A6 saw Sandy Reid in his Rx-8 engined Luego Velocity and John Welsh in his Westfield XTR2. 

The two set exactly the same time on the first runs, a 53.72 which was also a new personal best for Sandy. 

Sandy didn’t set a second timed run, but John went quicker on his second run to take first place with a 52.75. 

A9 – Mazda Mx5 

All four Mx5 entries set Personal Bests on Sunday, With Mike King leading the charge only 0.03 seconds off the class record. 

“I’ve been trying to get into the 51s for ages… I think I’m only a few hundredths or something off the record… I was shaking, I knew it was a good run!” 

Mike’s father Jim was second, with a very hairy but well held moment at the top of East Brae on his first timed run. 

Alan Cuthbert was 3^rd, and Andrew Moir 4^th of the 100% PB Mx5s. 

B1 – Modified Saloon Cars up to 1400cc

Peter Wearing ran alone in B1, setting a new personal best in his Gulf-liveried Morris Mini. 

“It’s been good, yeah, thoroughly enjoyed it. Absolutely brilliant! Track conditions were a lot better, warmer, tyres were good.” 

B2 – Modified Saloon Cars 1400cc-2000cc 

Alan Ligertwood led B2 in his Vauxhall Nova, with a 53.45 his fastest, keeping consistent but not improving on his second run.  

“It was good, yes, not as good as the last run, there was a PB in the last run!” 

Second in the class was Mel Chisholm in his Ford Anglia. 

“Best of the day!”        

Said Mel, 

“You never take it easy, you can’t relax there at all. It’ll kick your butt if you do!” 

C0 – Saloon Libre 

2024’s Scottish Hillclimb Champion, Gary Warren, wrapped up 2025’s title with 3 rounds to go. Taking this opportunity, Gary decided to part with the Empire Evo that took 2 championship wins.

With the new car only ready for the final Sprint of the year in Kames, Gary entered his Fiesta at Doune this weekend – the first time he’d be driving it competitively in 3 years.

It got off to a rocky start, with issues leading to the only failed run of Saturday. After many repairs, including to a driveshaft with a proclivity to disconnect itself, Gary managed to get it together and running for a rapid final run.

A 43.83 fast enough for the class win. 

“I’m in the ballpark again but eh, the handling of the car… The back end just feels really light every corner, I’m overworking the wheel and it’s throwing the back end about… But, I’m happy with a 49 today. I’ll go home satisfied.” 

Marc Rennie was fast behind, matching his personal best on the first timed run, Marc was having a smooth weekend. But, as he went to leave the paddock for his final run loose CV bolts prompted immediate repairs.

With help from fellow competitor Jody Gordon, the Fiesta was back up and running just in time for a final run. Not wasting the opportunity, Marc flew to a 51.14 – half a second up on his previous personal best. 

In third was Paul Ramsay and his Vauxhall Nova, setting a 53.23 on his last run. 

C1 – Sports Libre Cars up to 1400cc 

Martin Chittenden was the only timed runner in C1, setting a 51.91 in his 919cc Honda CBR engine Pulsar (Made by MNR Sportscars, not Nissan). 

Grant Sinclair also entered in his very Scottish Imp Macguire, setting a personal best on Saturday morning. However, as he rolled to the photoshoot his steering rod broke – unfortunately ending Grant’s weekend.

Whilst disappointing I’m sure, at least it failed in the paddock, and not at 70mph into Junction! 

C2 – Sports Libre Cars 1400cc-1800cc 

Part 2 of the Scottish Super Imps, Chris McDaid was another lonely competitor in C2.

This didn’t stop him putting on a show though, with an intimidating tankslapper summiting East Brae.

Despite the slide, it was still a personal best 57.77. 

C4 – Racing Cars up to 1100cc

Charlie Forsyth won class C4 in his homebuilt 130R, a terrifying final timed run where Charlie used all of the track and more was still enough to set a 42.1, a new personal best and the class fastest. 

Garry Dickson having recently sold his frontrunning Corsa, was half a second behind with his old single seat Force PT.

On his first run, Garry had the tiniest bit of oversteer which was just enough to dip his back wheel on to the grass at the top of East Brae, this sent him spinning across the track as he went backwards into the most cushioned crash I have ever seen. Landing on piles of cut grass, the single seater was parked neatly and undamaged, though awkward to remove from the dipped bank.

For his second timed run, Garry told me he was taking it slightly easy to make sure he got a time, although looking back on his run it still seems plenty twitchy! 

Here’s what he had to say after his run, 

“It was fun, aye. Here, it’s an old car and it’s been a long time so it’s a great going machine. It’s quite good power for a wee thing. So, yeah, it’s good, it was a hooley ya-ya.” 

It’s entirely possible I’ve mis-transposed the last few words of that quote! 

Another half a second behind Garry came Scott Sheridan for 3^rd, a wide moment in Junction on his first run must have been a little heart-in-mouth, but he bounced back strong setting a new personal best on his final timed run.

Lesley Sheridan followed in 4^th, in the same TKD Reynard, the first of our single seater drivers to keep it clean on both runs. 

Tom Graham was 5^th, with his Bright Yellow Megapin sporting a shiny metal nose, a battle scar of his last visit to Doune.

I’m not sure if the car had an issue, but Tom’s times were uncharacteristically off the pace this weekend. 

C5 – Racing Cars 1100cc-1600cc 

Ruaridh Seaton ran alone in C5, he and his force HC setting a very impressive 42.53, the fastest Scottish Championship time of the day.

This meant he had to do a speech at the end of the day, fear of all drivers in the paddock, on the week of his Birthday it led to double the red cheeks as the crowd then sung his birthday praise in unison. 

C6 – Racing Cars over 1600cc 

Ruaridh’s Dad, David, followed in C6. New to his OMS CF09, Doune is a challenging place to begin learning.

David managed it well though, keeping it clean on all runs and going fastest on his final timed run of the day. 

D1 – Classic and Thoroughbred Road Cars

D1 was a busy class with a fun mix of classics. Winner was Steve Bryant and you could hear every moment of Steve’s laps, no matter where you were spectating.

He and his 7.5L Ford Falcon [roared] up the hill to a 56.11. 

Jenny and Alex Howells were having a blast in their Hillman Imp, 2^nd and 4^th respectively, both setting PB’s by a large margin.

A new engine rebuild had a big part to play in this, but there’s no doubt that it took some skill and guts going that much faster than ever before. 

“My PB was 61.23, just done a 59.41… Oh, it’s just flying!” – Jenny Howells 

Tom Marr was only 0.01 seconds away from Jenny on his first timed run, unable to improve on his second run, the time was still fast enough for third. 

“Best venue ever! Absolutely the best, if you’re not shaking when you get up here you’ve no done enough! But it’s been amazing to be honest.” 

On his final run, 

“I’ll no win any prize money cos there isn’t any! But I’m winning for myself.” 

And whilst tempting me to save up and give it a go myself, 

“Cheap and cheerful, doesn’t have to be anything outstanding like this 7.5L beast!

[Gestures to Steve Bryant’s Ford Falcon]

You can throw that up, or you can throw a Mini up, it’s that good, I love it!” 

Cliff McKinnon came 5^th, with a rather smokey Triumph Tr7 and Malcolm Galloway followed in the third Saltired Imp.

Malcolm Galloway set a new personal best on Saturday afternoon and was only 2 tenths off for his first timed run. 

Richard Morris closed the class with a personal best in his Triumph GT6. 

D2 – Classic and Thoroughbred Modified Cars 

Alex Hazelwood went faster than he’d ever been in his Turner Sports at Doune, doing it on his last run too for good measure. 

D3 – Classic and Thoroughbred Competition Cars

And last Scottish entry this weekend was John Albiston in his beautiful Brabham BT38C. After going only 6 tenths off his own PB, he was as well-spoken as ever at the top paddock. 

“Sub-50 was really the target so 49.16 is very pleasing! Car’s been fantastic, as always. The driver just needs to be a bit better.” 

“It’s certainly the most beautiful car going up the hill, I would say, but I may be a little biased!” 

“It’s been a good year, cars survived, I’ve survived, engineers still speaking to me, so it’s all good!” 

As the engines fell silent and the sun fell behind clouds, a day of shattered records and emotional personal victories ended the 2025 Hillclimb Championship on a high.

Of course, the perfect weather couldn’t last forever. The moment the prize giving concluded, mother nature remembered her script, upholding my unbroken record of every hillclimb I visit getting soggy at some point.

A fitting end to a memorable year.